(The 2021 version remains valid to this day)
We are different from parties that always have ready-made solutions according to their party guidelines. As Independents we stand for an unbiased political culture for the common good, in the interest of the citizens. We don’t know everything better. But on the path to a political decision, principles are needed to achieve a justifiable local political outcome:
MORE HONESTY, MORE OPENNESS, MORE PARTICIPATION AND MORE COURAGE TO MAKE DECISIONS.
The Independents in the Osnabrück City Council exercise their mandates according to their own free convictions, guided solely by consideration for the public good. This conviction determines our main goal and our principles:
OUR MAIN GOAL: TO PRESERVE THE COMMON GOOD AND STRENGTHEN PARTICIPATION
The well-being of the city is paramount – as many citizens as possible should feel comfortable here. Therefore, we, the Independents, see it as the responsibility of politicians to create the organizational framework for the broadest possible participation, within the framework of rules that are binding for everyone.
We deliberately speak of principles, because it is not enough to simply create a list of program points – we want it to be known which principles guide us.
- STRIVING FOR IMPARTIALITY
We, the independents, want to speak openly about all aspects of a political issue and break taboos. We are open to new ideas.
- CLARIFYING THE FACTS
First, examine the problems comprehensively. Don’t impose supposedly good political solutions against the legitimate concerns of citizens. The questions of those affected are important. These must be answered truthfully, without political maneuvering.
- MAKE DECISIONS
Because political decisions have consequences for the community, the reasons and interests of all those who vote must be made transparent and public. For us independents, personal conscience prevails; we are not subject to any federal or state political line of the parties, nor to party discipline.
- TAP THE FULL POTENTIAL OF INDEPENDENCE
We independents also listen to opposing viewpoints. An argument is not inherently wrong simply because it comes from another, the „wrong“ party. Our independence allows us to make decisions more freely and without direct influence from third parties.
- APPLY FAIRNESS
Local political decisions sometimes have disadvantages for individuals, groups, and initiatives. This includes citizens who accept restrictions imposed by majority decisions.
Their concerns must continue to be valued. Consideration of their concerns must go beyond mere formal participation.
It must be ensured that everyone has the same rights in political work.
Our positions for Osnabrück
Citizen participation
Local political decisions must not be determined solely by party opinions. Decisions must not be made against the will of the people. Responsible exercise of a majority in the city council requires stronger communication with citizens and their participation in important decision-making processes. Therefore, we want more citizen participation, for example through citizens‘ councils.
Living in Osnabrück
Housing is a fundamental right for us. It must not be determined by speculative interests, but rather should be based on the income situation of the city’s residents. We want to ensure that citizens with low and lower-middle incomes are not pushed out of the housing market. We see the municipal housing company WIO as an important instrument in this regard, provided it operates as an independent, municipal, and social housing company. We want transparent oversight by the city council and the influence of tenants, as was sought in the previous citizens‘ initiative. The company must not be subject to the profit interests of its parent company, Stadtwerke Osnabrück AG (Osnabrück Municipal Utilities).
The city must stop selling land to investors. City development plans must not be subordinated to the interests of investors. It must begin to develop its own expertise in shaping residential areas so that the needs of residents, such as accessibility, family-friendliness, and the needs of single and family households, are given priority.
A city must be livable. Therefore, new housing construction must not conflict with the urban climate and local recreation areas.
Getting around the city
The current traffic concept in Osnabrück, due to its lack of transparency and consistency, causes uncertainty among road users. Modern traffic concepts should be geared towards urban climate goals and a shift in mobility patterns, focusing on public transport.
We demand a unified, city-wide transportation concept that treats all road users equally and focuses on safety, environmental protection, and sustainability. This concept should prioritize the expansion of cycle paths, including more cycle routes and bicycle parking facilities, as well as public transport, which has been largely neglected. We want a sustainable concept that takes climate protection and the needs of Osnabrück’s residents into account in a forward-looking manner. Where possible, avoiding unnecessary travel leads to less noise and cleaner air. Traffic education promoting mutual consideration and cooperative coexistence will strengthen such a concept.
With a view to the growing and future generations, it is all the more important to fulfill our social responsibility regarding climate protection and sustainable mobility. Future-proof services must be expanded, especially at the local level, and new, innovative models must be developed and implemented. The establishment of free or at least low-cost public transport for everyone should be used to motivate more people to switch to climate-friendly mobility.
We see it as our task to make the routes to kindergartens, schools, playgrounds and sports fields safe for children and young people.
An accessible and comprehensive public transport system is a crucial prerequisite for enabling children and young people, older people and people with disabilities to participate in social life.
Urban Climate
The goal of our urban development is the sustainable protection of the climate and nature. We therefore also bear responsibility for future generations. We want to improve the urban climate and preserve green spaces. For this reason, we reject any intervention in natural areas that negatively impacts the climate. We want not only to preserve green spaces and natural areas but also to expand them, especially in the city center. Therefore, we will review all critical construction projects to ensure the careful management of urban green spaces.
We take climate change seriously. Urban planning, whether for housing construction or infrastructure such as daycare centers, schools, roads, etc., must comprehensively examine interventions in nature and their consequences for the future, especially taking into account the conclusions of commissioned and completed expert reports.
The administration should be obligated to implement so-called compensatory measures if significant adverse effects on nature and the landscape occur. We want to ensure that the compensatory areas to be created are located, as far as possible, where the adverse effects occur; at the very least, the measures should be implemented within the city limits and not relocated to the surrounding area.
We want natural areas to be not only protected long-term and sustainably through compensation measures, but also for these areas to be enhanced in quality. We demand the preservation of trees and the creation of insect-friendly habitats.
In doing so, we want to engage in dialogue with, for example, farmers, so that protected areas for insects and small animals can be created on the edges of their fields in the form of flowering roadside verges, and thus the quality of local recreation can also be increased.