The Mitte district accuses the administration of sabotage – and is now planning bollards on its own

In a statement on Monday, district councilor Christopher Schriner (Greens) accused Bonde’s administration of sabotage and breaking agreements: After the Senate authority stopped the community project that had already begun and later tied the financing to new conditions, the district reworked it. They are now focusing on three neighborhood blocks instead of the previous twelve, preferring milder alternatives instead of bollards and agreeing that the effects of local traffic calming on the main road network should be examined. These conditions were included in a list of demands that the senator sent to the district in September.

Schriner is now announcing that the transport administration is still not prepared to take on the financing for the project that was originally promised. The district suffered damage of around 300,000 euros as a result, and further services totaling 110,000 euros have been ordered since December 2024.

In addition, the country suffered four-digit damage due to bills paid late. In order to prevent the damage from increasing due to the termination of the contracted company, the district will complete the project alone. They are trying to clarify the money issue with the Senate Department of Finance.

The district no longer sees a serious partner in transport administration, as Schriner makes clear: If the authority terminates a binding funding commitment despite improvements, continuing the project together would only tie up unnecessary resources. “We have always been ready to adapt the project in the interests of the Senate administration – if even that is not enough, we do not need a joint project.”

As reported, Bonde initiated the funding freeze in December 2024 after an email from a local CDU MP. However, they did not inform the district, which had meanwhile commissioned an external office with citizen participation and planning, until five months later – knowing full well that the office would sue for its costs.

In September, Bonde’s list of demands to the district followed, to which she wrote: If the district explains that and how it will meet the requirements, it will “renew the outstanding financing commitment for 2025”.

A statement from the transport administration on the allegations was still pending at the time of going to press.