Interrogative statement directed toward Joseph Neumann, a candidate in Oberbürgermeisterwahl: What direction is Solingen taking?
Josef Neumann's Vision for a Renewed Solingen City Centre
Josef Neumann, the SPD candidate for Mayor of Solingen, is advocating for a revitalised and secure city centre. Despite the challenges faced by the city centre, Neumann sees new, positive developments on the horizon.
The loss of key anchors such as Kaufhof and P&C has left a lasting impact on the city centre. However, Neumann is optimistic about the establishment of cafes, restaurants, and the Helping Umbrellas initiative. He believes that these developments can help breathe new life into the area.
Neumann emphasises the importance of communicating the strengths of the city centre more clearly. He highlights its role as a central mobility hub and its potential for future development in health, culture, gastronomy, and housing. The city centre plays a significant role as a health hub, with a wide range of specialists and diagnostic services available.
Neumann points to the example of Ohligs, where a new quarter has developed over a period of 15 years, as evidence of the potential for creating new perspectives in the city centre. He suggests a combination of measures to improve security, including cleanliness combined with social work, mobile presence at critical locations, prevention through education and clear consequences, and the use of video technology.
Security in the city centre, according to Neumann, extends beyond crime. It also encompasses social aspects such as cleanliness and accessibility. Lighting, accessibility, and visibility are key factors in ensuring security in the city centre. Property owners have a responsibility in maintaining the city centre's cleanliness and order.
Neumann links the social aspect of the city centre to questions of security, work, poverty, and loneliness. He believes that a "renaissance of the pedestrian zone" can occur in Solingen if citizens are involved, funding is used wisely, and owners take responsibility.
For Neumann, the current problems of the city centre are due to urban planning decisions and changes in shopping behaviour. He wants to focus on preserving the city's brand core and securing existing jobs to strengthen social cohesion, rather than prioritising the development of new commercial areas. He emphasises the importance of maintaining established economic strengths for Solingen's future city centre development.
Today, the city library, the Volkshochschule, the cinema, and a central gastronomic business (Alex) remain as key establishments in the Solingen city centre. Neumann advocates for sustainably supporting existing social projects in the city centre and creating new opportunities for social facilities and job creation.
Neumann's constituency office is located on Linkgasse in the Solingen city centre. He stresses that security in the city centre is multidimensional, with concerns about subjective sense of security, especially among older people, young people, and women in the evening. He suggests moving forward in small steps and making positive developments visible to motivate others.
On September 14, Neumann will be running for Mayor of Solingen, with a vision for a renewed and secure city centre at the heart of his campaign.
