Short election program for the local elections on 14.09.2025

ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE, NATURE: OUR RESPONSIBILITY

Consistent implementation of the KrefeldKlima 2035 climate protection concept with the
goal of being climate neutral by 2035
Resolution on municipal heat planning, including a renovation offensive
· Adoption of the biodiversity concept
Support programs for energy efficiency improvements
Promotion of wind energy projects in Krefeld
Expansion of electricity and heat generation on rooftops and parking lots
Expansion of open-space photovoltaics, particulary on brownfield sites
Implementation of the open space and green space plan
Protection and expansion of existing nature reserves and forest areas
Promotion of regional food producers, especially
organic farms
Application as an eco-model region
Further development of weekly markets
Establishment of a nutrition council, among other things to combat nutritional deficiencies
Implementation of the clean air plan and the noise action plan
Ambitious implementation of the waste management concept with the aim of achieving
the highest possible recycling rate

A CITY FOR EVERYONE – SOCIAL, SOLIDARITY-BASED, FAIR

Promotion of social housing
Expansion of the opening hours of the drug help center
Sustainable financing of homeless Krefeld and the women’s shelter
Compliance with minimum standards for the scene meeting place, e.g., with toilets and support from street workers
Deploymentof school health professionals
Health prevention projects and measures with a focus
on mental health
Feminist/queer healthcare
Access to safe abortions
Establishment of a clearing house for people without health insurance
Promotion of multi-generational projects
Ensuring local saupplies
Improving the image of nursing professions
Support for single parents
Sustainable design of neighborhood work
Establishment of health guides

INTEGRATION – SHAPING THE FUTURE TOGETHER

Securing the work of the anti-discrimination office
Faster procedures at the naturalization office —– immigration ???
Immediate integration of foreign-language children in schools
Providing job-related language courses for migrants while ensuring childcare
Decentralized accommodation for refugees in mixed residential areas
Right of residence for persons with long-term permit
Avoiding disruptions in school education
Active partner in the “Safe Harbors” city alliance
Acceptance of refugees rescued from the Mediterranean
Admission of refugees rescued from the Mediterranean
Better funding for longer-term integration measures
No cooperation with the AfD

EQUAL RIGHTS – FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST FOR SOME

Joing the Charter for Equality between Women and Men
Reconciliation of volunteer work and family life
Destigmatization and protection of sex workers
Training for companies on issues of equality and inclusion
Promotion of career paths for women
Promotion of LGTBQAI+ freedom zones
Raising awareness of sexualized violence
Expansion and promotion of safer spaces
Long-term financial support for women’s counseling centers
Establishment of counseling services for men

INCLUSION INSTEAD OF BARRIERS

Urban planning that always takes accessibility into account, e.g.
sidewalks, traffic light phases, blind-guiding lanes
Inclusion in projects and construction plans
Expansion of inclusive course offered by adult education centers
Promotion of inclusive workplaces and meeting spaces
“Toilets for all,” including diaper changing facilities for adults
Improvement of accessibility in Krefeld museums
Stress-free visits to doctors for all people
More barrier-free housing and supported housing projects
Promotion of inclusion in sports
Reduction of bureaucracy and simplification of application procedures for people with disabilities
Simplification of language in forms
More schools offering inclusive learning
Rapid expansion of open all-day schooling, also with regard to inclusion
More opportunities for students with disabilities to attend mainstream schools
Expansion of systematic school support
Inclusive playgrounds that are also accessible to blind or autistic children

PUTTING YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE FOCUS

Strengthening local structures through neighborhood centers
Consideration of the needs of children and young people in urban planning
Clean playgrounds
Accelerated expansion of childcare for children under three
Increase the number of specialists in youth work centers
Support for children and young people growing up outside their families of origin
Maintaining existing youth facilities
Creating a self-managed, cost-free building as a meeting place for young people
Promoting democracy education in schools
Promoting political participation among young people through involvement in all committees
Establishing a children’s advisory council or children’s parliament
Building a network against child poverty
Establishment of a program to encourage people to work as educators
Introduction of a YouCard based on the model of the city of Hamm
Expansion of free Wi-Fi networks in downtown Krefeld,
public transportation, and important locations

EDUCATION FOR THE FUTURE INTO THE FUTURE THOUGH EDUCATION

Expansion of daycare places
Systematic advice on free daycare and daycare places
Accelerated expansion of after-school care places
Further expansion of school social work
Sustainable expansion of systemic school support
Systematic recording of school absenteeism in Krefeld
Further expansion of inclusion in Krefeld schools
Consideration of the school social index (“treating unequal things unequally”)
Continuation of the “No degree without a connection” program
More learning time for children in challenging neighborhoods
Safe pedestrian and bicycle paths in the area around schools and daycare centers
Promotion of cooperation with extracurricular learning locations
Free transportation for schools to extracurricular learning locations
within Krefeld
Balanced meals at school kiosks and cafeterias
Energy-efficient renovation and equipment of schools
Agile digital equipment in schools
Strengthening vocational training
Projects to promote diversity and respect
Better language support in secondary school for lateral entrants

CULTURE, THE INTELLECTUAL NUTRIENT OF OUR CITY

Appointment of a cultural manager as a central point of contact for the cultural scene
Stronger promotion of Krefeld’s club scene
Property tax exemption for non-profit cultural institutions
Professionalization of the cultural scene through seminars and coaching
Establishment of a “youth culture school” to give children and young people access to culture
Appropriate accommodation and greater public visibility for the Entomological Association of Krefeld
Make public spaces more accessible for cultural events
Central information platform for creative artists
Platform for “material exchange” (e.g., stage elements and technology)

SPORT – OUR COMMUNITY ON THE MOVE

Investment in bicycle infrastructure to promote the most popular sport in Krefeld
Expansion of nature-oriented running trails close to residential areas
Safe and exercise-promoting routes to school
Opening of sports facilities for non-organized sports
Good accessibility of sports facilities by bicycle and secure parking facilities
Consideration of environmental and climate protection aspects in the renovation of sports facilities and targeted advice for clubs
Renovation and expansion of swimming infrastructure and reliable swimming lessons
Ticket solutions for all children to join sports clubs using public transport
Consistent consideration of accessibility in the construction and renovation of sports facilities
Better communication of existing advisory services for volunteer-run clubs
Climate-adapted design of sports facilities
Promotion of nature-oriented and free sports areas
Support and advice for clubs on waste prevention

RETHINKING MOBILITY, DESIGNING THE CITY FOR EVERYONE

Consistent implementation of the mobility, bicycle traffic, electric mobility
and parking space concept
A city center without through traffic (with exceptions) and gradual reduction of motor vehicle traffic within the rings
Reorganization of traffic space in favor of flowing traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians
Expansion of 30 km/h speed limits
Safe bicycle parking facilities
Removal of traffic lights that are not needed and longer traffic light phases for pedestrians
Systematic recording and prioritization of damage to bike paths and sidewalks
Establishment of a bike-sharing system, expansion of car sharing, and expanded use of SWK cruisers
Safe bike routes at construction sites
Sidewalks that are wide enough for people with walkers, wheelchairs, or strollers
Expansion of public transport services in line with demand and greater emphasis on public transport over motor vehicle traffic
Preservation of the Rhine bridge in cooperation with the state of North Rhine-Westphalia
Expansion and maintenance of Park&Ride parking spaces

PLANNING WITH RESPONSIBILITY

Fair use of land
Reduction of net new land sealing
Continuation of land use monitoring
Sustainable neighborhoods with balanced land use
Expansion of advisory services for ecological renovations
Promotion of a “young people buy old” program
Support for residential housing
Enabling cultural and residential uses by reducing the size of the inner city
Increasing the proportion of subsidized housing
Development of a lighting concept
Creation of fenced-in dog parks in the city center
Creation of compensation areas for a construction project in the vicinity
Mandatory greening of buildings
No street without greenery
Unsealing measures are naturally included in the planning
Gardens as an important component of urban nature
Development of a master plan for the harbor
Development of the stainless steel works (location?) into an innovative industrial site
Harmonization of monument preservation, ecological renovation, and energy optimization

FINANCES: SCANT RESOURCES – SMART DECISIONS

Socially acceptable austerity measures
Acceleration of strategic investments in urban infrastructure such as bike paths, traffic technology, and real estate
Use of innovative financing models such as green bonds
or crowdfunding
Transparent budget management with clear priorities and consideration of sustainability goals
Strengthening inter-municipal cooperation
Review of all budget expenditures by department to question long-standing expenditures (zero-based budgeting principle)

FUTURE-PROOF THROUGH ECONOMY

Krefeld as a multifunctional location that combines commerce, living, culture, and leisure
Continuation of the inner city strengthening package
Strengthening start-up support, promoting the start-up center, and setting up start-up mentors
Consulting and support services for public non-profit start-ups
Development of cluster-specific initiatives
Extension of childcare hours to improve work-life balance
Increased purchase of unused land for revitalization
Active support for Krefeld as an industrial location
Streamlining of bureaucratic processes
Expansion of broadband, fiber optic, and mobile communications infrastructure
Intensive integration with the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences
Continuation of the Smart City strategy
Substantial reduction of waiting times for language and integration courses
Shortening waiting times for professional recognition
Consistent support opportunities for the reintegration of the long-term unemployed
Pursuing the goal of a craft-friendly municipality

ADMINISTRATION IN TRANSITION – FOR A FUNCTIONING CITY AND LIVABLE SPACES

Strengthening the digital skills of municipal employees and utilizing further opportunities for digitization
Introducing regular service quality reports as a basis for further optimization
Consistent testing of municipal services for accessibility
Creating a “Krefeld app” as a digital citizen service
Consistent customer focus in all municipal services
Increasing the attractiveness of the city of Krefeld as an employer: more team orientation, participatory leadership, open and transparent communication
Protecting critical infrastructure in the context of the changing security situation
Strengthening and raising the profile of the partnership between the police, municipal public order services, and SWK
Improving safety in public transport, e.g., by expanding SWCar or on-demand stops
Expanding safer spaces
Redesign of potential areas that cause fear
Improvement of the quality of life by removing rubbish in neighborhoods
Strengthening of local neighborhood management

IMPROVED INVOLVEMENT OF CITIZENS IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Attractive design of participation procedures for greater citizen involvement
and broader participation
Expansion of neighborhood work to promote neighborliness
Upgrading and expanding existing opportunities for youth participation, such as youth advisory councils, political youth groups, or youth associations
Establishment of citizens‘ councils
Promotion and expansion of the expert committee on inclusion and the inclusion plan
Review of the legal forms of municipal subsidiaries with a view to the requirements for transparency and political participation