Six mayors from the district of Dachau and district administrator Stefan Löwl (CSU) are deeply disappointed by the results of the refugee summit last Thursday with Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD), as they communicated in a joint letter. “We mayors still have the impression that the current challenges and our problems are still not being noticed by the federal government,” said Mayor Stefan Kolbe (CSU), summing up the mood in the district.
The establishment of four working groups shows the complete helplessness and perplexity of the federal government, the letter says. District Administrator Stefan Löwl complains that his objections have not yet been heard by the Federal Government’s expert commission on the ability to integrate. “The once again announced provision of further accommodation options in federal properties does not help us in the district at all, since we have no barracks or other properties,” it says. Politicians also feel left alone when it comes to local integration tasks, childcare, the lack of housing and the lack of integration offers.
“A round of free beer in the form of formulated expectations.”
Petershausen’s Mayor Marcel Fath (Free Voters) adds: “I feel like I’m in a Bavarian pub, where someone keeps getting up and ordering a round of free beer in the form of formulated expectations, promises or even legal requirements. The landlord should then fulfill everything, completely independent of whether he still has beer at all and the free beer giver does not want to pay the costs for it either.” An example of this is the legal entitlement to a kindergarten place and, from 2026, to care for primary school children. “The federal and state governments give me – not nearly adequate – subsidies, but I have to pay for the additional workers in service and kitchen administration myself, as well as the heating and electricity costs,” says Marcel Fath. All seven Dachau local politicians criticize that it cannot be the case that one level makes decisions that another level should then “competently” fulfill.
“We expect concrete relief.”
The demand is: If the municipalities have a responsibility, for example for childcare or integration, then they must also be able to set the framework for this. “Our hearts are big, but capacity is limited,” Mayor Franz Obesser (CSU) quoted former Federal President Joachim Gauck as saying. “We demand concrete help in coping with our tasks and not just long lists of everything that has already been done.”
The Dachau local politicians will now again seek intensive contact with all local representatives represented in the federal or state government with concrete proposals. “We expect concrete relief, direct help and clear financial support for the integrative tasks in the communities,” explains mayor Stefan Kolbe on behalf of all mayors. The letter was also signed by Harald Dirlenbach (SPD) from Vierkirchen, Peter Felbermeier (CSU) from Haimhausen and Richard Reischl (CSU) from Hebertshausen.