Wuppertal finance issues

Petition addressed to: Stadtrat

Dear Members of the Wuppertal City Council,

We are following the current developments surrounding the adoption of the budget and the budget consolidation plan on May 7th with great concern. So far, it appears that no agreement has been reached between the parties.

Should a timely adoption fail to materialise, a great deal is at stake for the entire city — across all areas and all departments. But above all, many social institutions as well as actors in the cultural scene are facing acute financial uncertainty and an existential threat. Subsidies they urgently depend on are being delayed by months — with the result that valuable work for the urban community is being put at risk, or in the worst case, comes to a complete standstill. And this has a direct impact on Wuppertal's economy and the city as a whole.

This is happening at a time when supplementary budgets and amended budgets offer real opportunities for course corrections and compromise. Against this backdrop, it is incomprehensible to us that an agreement has yet to be reached. What is needed now is responsibility, the capacity to act, and the willingness to find consensus.

The adoption of the budget must not be delayed any further! It is the foundation for stability, planning security, and the continued existence of a diverse social and cultural infrastructure in Wuppertal.

We, the independent scene, engage every single day — and have done so for decades — with the most diverse range of perspectives. We are varied, we are colourful, and we are accustomed to finding solutions through dialogue. This has always made us strong and capable of action, and it makes us strong and capable of action today as well.

We therefore make the following offer:
We offer the Council our expertise in solution-oriented design: we can help open up new paths. We know that sound, workable decisions are possible when all those involved are heard and take on responsibility together. We have developed methods for doing exactly this, and we are happy to make them available to the City Council in a facilitative capacity, for the benefit of all. Please reach out to us!
With this open letter, we combine an urgent appeal: Reach an agreement — NOW!

For a city capable of action.
For a strong social and cultural infrastructure.
With fresh momentum.
For Wuppertal.

The Enablers