“I had to fight a lot”
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fromThomas Remlein
conclude
The new social department head Elke Voitl (Greens) on her own emancipation and her plans for a just city
On September 8th, Elke Voitl (Greens) was elected as the successor to Daniela Birkenfeld (CDU) as head of social affairs. She took up office a day later. The 52-year-old studied social worker comes from administration, has not held any political office to date – and now has to manage the largest single budget. Voitl spoke to FNP editor Thomas Remlein about the challenges of her office, her goals and of course about money.
Was war your first act?
On the first day I had the announcement on the table that the RMV would increase the prices so that the Frankfurt Pass holders would have to pay more because there was a city council resolution that the price increases would be passed on. In an urgent procedure, I put a resolution on the way that this increase would not be passed on.
Don’t Frankfurt Pass holders travel at a discount anyway?
THEY drive at a discount, but if there is an increase, the increase will be added to the price.
Where do you see the greatest challenge in the social department?
What is on the agenda is a Corona action package. The situation for disadvantaged population groups, seniors and especially for children and young people, was most difficult during the Corona period. In their emotional and social development, children and adolescents are dependent on having social contacts, and that they do so directly. We took them from them and we put them in social isolation, which severely affected relationship learning. We have to develop offers, and we are part of that. In terms of content, it’s not about catching up on learning material for school. We want to give space for emotional and social learning in order to find togetherness again.
How do you intend to do that?
We’re already at it. On the inside, we got an order from the administrative staff, that is, it is a task for the city as a whole. The kick-off event with many office managers was already over.
What priorities can the Greens set in social policy?
One focus will be poverty, especially child poverty. A big issue is social justice. My approach is not to manage the poor and needy, I want to shape social life in the city.
You will again have the largest budget in the new budget. Are you the most powerful woman in Romans?
I would like to say something about the largest budget. You are right, it is 1.2 billion euros.
You are a billionaire.
(laughs) It would be nice! The vast majority of these are transfer payments: social assistance, housing benefit, accommodation costs. That is not money that can be designed with.
Because they are compulsory tasks: Hartz IV, basic security, housing benefit.
I have 85 million euros left for actually shaping social life. It’s not that big a bite anymore.
Where do you see new financial burdens on the city?
In the social area?
It is often said that federal and state tasks hand over tasks to the municipalities, which then do not go further.
That depends on how federal policy develops. We are also curious to see how the social area will be redesigned. Which decisions are made in Berlin – Frankfurt naturally depends on it.
Frankfurt has declared itself a safe haven. That means taking in more people than the Königstein key allows. Also regulates the initial distribution of asylum seekers. According to my research, 3847 people were still living in transition facilities in June. If the city of Frankfurt is now dying as a safe haven takes in more refugees, where not all of them are housed yet – where should they all go?
I stand by the decision to make Frankfurt a safe haven. I think there is no other way for humanitarian reasons. We will take in more people. I am very aware that this is a great challenge.
But why Frankfurt in particular? Where is the housing shortage great anyway? And how many still live in temporary dormitories?
Because I assume, if we work well together across departments, that this is a task that we can accomplish.
What then has to change with regard to refugee care?
I can tell you what I need: land and buildings.
That’s the problem. And that’s not just for asylum seekers.
My gaze is not only directed at asylum seekers, but also at people without a home. I’m talking about homeless people in the city.
Yes, there is not enough social housing.
We as a whole have to find coalition solutions.
Which departments do you work with?
There is a very intensive cooperation with the health department and the regulatory department because we deal with the topic of the station district together. But I also have contact with the “New Building” department and the planning department.
It was a long discussion about the division of departments. You took office on the basis of the Greens women’s statute. Do you feel like a quota woman now? Or does it annoy you when you are seen as a quota woman?
No, that doesn’t annoy me. I wouldn’t be here without a quote. And I also stand behind the quota. The quota has forced people to widen their eyes. Also in the direction of where competencies are.
According to the “Heidenheimer Zeitung” you are considered a feminist.
Yes.
What is this expressed in?
In the consistently women’s political and feminist stance.
And in the quota too?
Yes. The advocacy of the quota is one aspect of it. I was in women’s politics for a long time. We want a life of equal opportunities and equality, togetherness, that’s what it’s all about.
We’ve already talked about your having the biggest budget and possibly the most powerful woman in the magistrate. Fear that power changed you
On a personal level?
Generally.
I think that in any position that a man can influence, it is important to always be in good self-reflection. I think it would be presumptuous to say that it doesn’t matter to you. You need to deal with yourself well. This is a must for me. I have a clear awareness of when I am only meant in my position and when I am meant as a person. That is necessary and right.
Long-time politicians in particular would like to become a kind of self-affair. You don’t see this danger for yourself?
I grew up too down-to-earth there too. My path is truly not a matter of course.
Well, you went to college.
I grew up in a village and have a secondary school diploma. Then high school, which was not a matter of course for a girl in the country. And neither is the course. I come from a working class family. My parents have no academic background. The family biography did not specify that my sister and I were studying. In this respect, I also had to fight a lot so that I can do what makes sense to me. I feel very fortunate to be able to work in the social area, which is my heart’s theme.