#93: Stolen bikes found, protestors in court, no alcohol in Monbijoupark
and it's CSD y'all!
Hey 20 Percent!
Just a quick note to say tomorrow is the Christopher Street Day parade, yet another fantastic open-air party (and protest against hate and discrimination). Get out a water bottle, slather on some sunscreen and make sure your phone is charged up — and have fun. I might see you there. The route can be found here (starts at noon).
And a shout out to all of those who are pitching in on our Patreon, we really appreciate it!
Have a good weekend,
Andrew
The Berlin corona stats for Friday, July 19
Received booster: 62.8% (62.8% Tuesday)
New cases in one day: 2,850 (4,530 Tuesday)
Total deaths: 4,686 (+7 over Tuesday)
🔴 7-day Covid-19 incidence (cases per 100,000): 445.4 (493.8 Tuesday)
🔴7-day hospitalization incidence (also per 100,000): 13.8 (14.5 Tuesday)
🟡 Covid-19 ICU patient occupancy: 6.3% (5.9% Tuesday)
Source: Berlin’s corona page
Prosecuting protestors
Berlin prosecutors are asking for jail terms for at least 17 protestors who intentionally blocked traffic to raise awareness of the climate crisis, according to Tagesspiegel. Prosecutors are preparing at least 175 other cases connected to the Letzte Generation (last generation) protestors, who have blocked morning traffic since January and sometimes glue their hands to the asphalt to slow their removal. Most of the protestors will reportedly face fines for coercion and resisting law officers. Some protestors have also spent a night in jail after a judge said they would likely block traffic again if they were set free.
Stolen bike miracles (sometimes) happen
In Berlin your bike doesn’t get stolen, you just lose your turn. Though some will apparently get a second turn after the fuzz Wednesday said it discovered 28 stolen bikes in a courtyard and nearby apartment. Someone tipped them off and the bikes will soon be visible in the Fahrraddatenbank (impounded-bike database), which is probably a good site to bookmark considering how often bikes go missing in this city. Bikes that aren’t claimed are eventually auctioned online here.
Temporary alcohol ban in Mitte parks
The borough of Mitte has outlawed alcohol in Monbijou and James Simon parks between the hours of 10pm and 6am in hopes of curbing “excessive partying”. Spontaneous parties of several hundred revelers have vexed police and annoyed neighbors since they began during the lockdown, and have even led to one fight-related death. The cops (as usual) told Tagesspiegel they don’t have the manpower to enforce the ban and code enforcement officers (Ordnungsamt) reportedly aren’t on duty when the ban is in effect. So it’s symbolic at best (like so many laws in Berlin).
The sharing economy for the super-rich
Apparently even rich people want to take part in the sharing economy: Berlin property start-up Myne pulled in €23.5 million in a seed round, according to Business Insider. The company bundles up to eight super-rich people who each contribute at least €50,000 toward the purchase of a shared vacation abode — we could describe the places on offer but just use your imagination because that’s what’s on offer. I thought being rich meant never having to share again. Ever.
Factoid
Last year, 25,438 bikes were reported stolen in Berlin, according to Taz, or about 70 per day. The bad news: just 4.6 percent of those cases were solved. The good news: the number of bikes stolen each year has declined despite the growing population — 34,418 bikes were entwendet (stolen) in 2016.