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>We are blessed with a lot of public spaces in Berlin. And cursed with a terrible housing market, especially for newcomers. >Public spaces are so incredibly

>We are blessed with a lot of public spaces in Berlin. And cursed with a terrible housing market, especially for newcomers. >Public spaces are so incredibly important, but I don't imagine the political class as people who go to parks a lot. So much this on both fronts. In many countries, like Austria and others I'm sure, the political class really has neglected public spaces that aren't for tourists, as they're not the users of it. Public parks have mostly been relegated as places for the "poor" and "working class" to hang out who can't afford a house in the green suburbs with a nice big garden surrounded by forests. Which is ironic since the rich kids are always driving their cars from their suburbs to the parks downtown to hang out as that's where the best parties are. :)

vanderZwan 4y ago
> And cursed with a terrible housing market, especially for newcomers. That isn't exactly unique to Berlin you know. And IIRC at least the local government tried to do something about it (but was struck down in higher courts).
- ChuckNorris89 4y ago
  >the local government tried to do something about it (but was struck down in higher courts). What the local government tried to do was freeze the rents which only made the situation worse, not better.
  - marcus_holmes 4y ago
    Yes but they get points for trying. At least they see what rampant price inflation has done to other cities and aren't cheering it on as a neo-con victory. Contrast (any city in) Australia which is stuck in a nightmare loop of homelessness and political pressure to keep the house prices high (from homeowners) and affordable (from everyone else). Or London, where house prices are now so high it is mostly owned by absent foreigners.
    - ChuckNorris89 4y ago
      >Yes but they get points for trying. Sorry, but trying an obviously populist measure that further sinks housing availability and makes thing worse for everyone does not get you any points anywhere.
      - marcus_holmes 4y ago
        In Australia this would not be a populist move. The difference in housing situation/markets is really interesting. The key point that Berlin seems to realise, but Australia definitely doesn't, is that the purpose of houses is for people to live in them, not make money investing in them.
nicbou 4y ago
> And cursed with a terrible housing market, especially for newcomers. I know! I help people settle in Berlin, and I don't know what to tell incoming students anymore. I'm not sure how they can find a place to live in a reasonable time frame. I hear that it's worse elsewhere, but it's no consolation.
- ChuckNorris89 4y ago
  >I hear that it's worse elsewhere Out of curiosity where is it worse? What if it's like the "grass is greener" effect but in reverse, where people use the "it's worse elsewhere" argument to comfort themselves for their bad living conditions or other discomforts in life. I mean, I'm sure there are cities where it's worse, but like you said, that doesn't improve the situation for those wishing to live in Berlin so it's kinda pointless to look at places that are worse instead of fighting to improve the location you live in.
  - nicbou 4y ago
    I heard that it's the same or worse in other capitals. The message is not "it's not so bad", it's "housing is spiraling out of control in all major cities, what's the endgame?"

vanderZwan 4y ago

> And cursed with a terrible housing market, especially for newcomers. That isn't exactly unique to Berlin you know. And IIRC at least the local government tried to do something about it (but was struck down in higher courts).

ChuckNorris89 4y ago
>the local government tried to do something about it (but was struck down in higher courts). What the local government tried to do was freeze the rents which only made the situation worse, not better.
- marcus_holmes 4y ago
  Yes but they get points for trying. At least they see what rampant price inflation has done to other cities and aren't cheering it on as a neo-con victory. Contrast (any city in) Australia which is stuck in a nightmare loop of homelessness and political pressure to keep the house prices high (from homeowners) and affordable (from everyone else). Or London, where house prices are now so high it is mostly owned by absent foreigners.
  - ChuckNorris89 4y ago
    >Yes but they get points for trying. Sorry, but trying an obviously populist measure that further sinks housing availability and makes thing worse for everyone does not get you any points anywhere.
    - marcus_holmes 4y ago
      In Australia this would not be a populist move. The difference in housing situation/markets is really interesting. The key point that Berlin seems to realise, but Australia definitely doesn't, is that the purpose of houses is for people to live in them, not make money investing in them.

nicbou 4y ago

> And cursed with a terrible housing market, especially for newcomers. I know! I help people settle in Berlin, and I don't know what to tell incoming students anymore. I'm not sure how they can find a place to live in a reasonable time frame. I hear that it's worse elsewhere, but it's no consolation.

ChuckNorris89 4y ago
>I hear that it's worse elsewhere Out of curiosity where is it worse? What if it's like the "grass is greener" effect but in reverse, where people use the "it's worse elsewhere" argument to comfort themselves for their bad living conditions or other discomforts in life. I mean, I'm sure there are cities where it's worse, but like you said, that doesn't improve the situation for those wishing to live in Berlin so it's kinda pointless to look at places that are worse instead of fighting to improve the location you live in.
- nicbou 4y ago
  I heard that it's the same or worse in other capitals. The message is not "it's not so bad", it's "housing is spiraling out of control in all major cities, what's the endgame?"