These are tough times for local politicians. The corona pandemic may feel over, but its financial effects are still not fully foreseeable. However, it is already certain that the economic consequences will also hit the very rich district of Munich hard, and not only in particularly cash-strapped municipalities such as Unterhaching and Oberschleißheim it is necessary to consider what can still be afforded in the future. In Ottobrunn, the uncertainty in view of the threatening financial consequences has now led to the building committee of the municipal council stopping the construction of a second artificial turf pitch – this decision seems reasonable at first go, but it is wrong.
Because after three years of the pandemic, it is becoming increasingly obvious what else this virus has done: it has caused the cement that holds this society to crumble. It has – not only, but above all – left invisible scars on children and young people, inhibited their development, and ruptured social ties that were once a matter of course. Sport, and especially popular sport, has always been one of the most important factors when it comes to keeping societies together, connecting people and creating friendships. This must also be included in (municipal) political decisions, because politics is made for the people. However, looking at the budget situation all too often obscures the essentials.
There are communities like Ismaning, which – also thanks to bubbling trade tax revenues – have invested massively in their infrastructure in recent years in order to promote both competitive and popular sports. Ismaning now has more sports halls than churches. Every hall, every soccer field, every indoor swimming pool and every soccer field is an investment in the future. The Greens, the SPD and the Ottobrunn Citizens’ Association should also go this route and raise the money for another artificial turf pitch.