The parliamentary group of free voters and FÜR Karlsruhe submit an application for a survey of retail and gastronomy. The companies should be able to inform politicians about their situation. The focus is on the effects of fighting the pandemic on the financial situation of shops and restaurants.
The medium-term development of the crisis and the corona measures required in the future are uncertain. The planning uncertainty is particularly damaging to local shops, which are directly affected by the corona-related closures and significantly shape the image and attractiveness of Karlsruhe city center.
Petra Lorenz therefore calls for a discussion about fast and targeted support for retail and gastronomy in Karlsruhe: “The city administration has a responsibility to be prepared and to help. We want to find efficient solutions to avert a wave of insolvencies.” If the survey is implemented immediately, the necessary and possible steps can be developed and implemented in the spring. This could possibly put more pressure on the state and federal government to speed up help.
Those affected should be able to speak and describe their concerns and perspectives: “We want to help exactly where help is needed, where the situation needs to be defused. And you know your own situation best,” says City Councilor Friedemann Kalmbach. “Especially in view of the tsunami that is rolling towards the inner cities through closures and business closures, talks must be held immediately with the tradespeople and property owners affected in order to cushion the effects of the forced closures. It would also be necessary to check whether the measures envisaged in the CIMA report are still appropriate or whether they need to be changed,” concludes Jürgen Wenzel, chairman of the parliamentary group.
