Illegal homeless camps, piles of garbage and the stench of excrement – this is how a cosmopolitan city located at its heart between Karlsplatz and the main train station welcomes its tourists. However, the mayor of Munich, Dieter Reiter, decided to do something about it and ordered the illegal camps to be removed.
– I want Munich residents and our guests to feel safe throughout the city. It cannot continue like this – He said.
This is not the first step of its kind by the city authorities. In October, local services attempted to dismantle illegal homeless camps by removing their tents and shacks from the centre. However, they soon returned to their place.
Try again
Mayor Reiter ordered another evacuation – at a time when BILD magazine dealt with the issue of neglect around Karlsplatz (a large square in the center of Munich, in southern Germany, also known as Stachos Square – ed.) and the Central Station.
The Social Administration’s “Wild Camping” working group is currently working with street workers, police and KVR (District Management Office) staff to find permanent solutions to this problem.
However, it is not that simple, because most of this area does not belong to the city. Therefore, representatives of the social administration and district management are looking for a customized but also permanent solution with the owner of the shopping center.
According to the city, the situation may improve if the Kaufhof am Stachus exhibition complex comes into temporary use and the entrance area becomes unattractive as a sleeping place.. Many homeless people also sleep in the former Karstadt department store (formerly department store – ed.) on Schwetzensstrasse.
Since this is private property, the authorities must contact the owner to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
Old problem
A group of local government officials from the CSU/FW party (CSU – Christian Social Union; FW – Free Voters) welcomes the fact that the mayor finally intends to take some action. The city asked several questions regarding the neglect.
– Our actions are paying off: Mayor, said Councilor Manuel Pretzl, leader of the CSU/FW group in the city council. He finally wants to take action against the inhumane conditions at Stachus. He said beggars had been camping outside the former Kaufhof store for months.
— In August, because nothing had changed, in November, we called on the city to take more consistent action against illegal encampments and make other offers of assistance to the homeless. In Munich, no one should sleep on the street. “We hope that the mayor’s announcements will now be followed by action, and that Stachos will not only be cleared, but will also be constantly monitored,” he added.
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