Tourists can stay blown away in Amsterdam; Halsema’s plan dies
Mayor Femke Halsema’s plan to be foreign tourists from coffee shops will definitely not win a majority in the city council. With this historic i-criterion, the number of coffee shops in the city would decrease. There seems to be broad support in the council for a ban on smoking on the street.
On Thursday evening, the General Affairs Committee will debate the proposal of the triangle: the mayor, the police and the Public Prosecution Service (OM). It had been hanging above the market for some time that the i-criterion would be defeated in the council. Despite a final offensive by the triangle, the factions, including the coalition (PvdA, GroenLinks and D66) are against.
At the start of the debate Claire Martens (VVD) did express support. “I walk through a weed smoke every day. Is this the city I want my daughter to grow up in?” said the party leader who gave birth thirteen weeks ago. “Many residents wonder when we will help them. The i-criterion is not a goal, but a means to achieve the goal of doing something about the nuisance.”
Street dealers
At the top of the plan, the main concern is the growth of street dealers in the inner city. “We oversee a massive shift to street trade. We think it is unwise to opt for millions of illegal drug transactions,” said Rob Hofland (D66).
PvdA member Fatiya Abdi outlined a dilemma for her group. “Politics is about feasibility. I think vulnerable young people are important. To end up.”
Abdi does suggest what to do about places in the city where there is an overconcentration of coffee shops. D66 van also saw in the product of selling products in the city become something with cannabis.
Hofland also suggested the idea of a supervisory framework, which will be included in a covenant with the coffee shops. “It will allow us to gain access to the books. Coffee shops that can get the future stock there. We can give benefits to coffee shops that can participate, such as having a larger stock.”
JA21’er Nanninga, who is in favor of the plan, still has some positive results for himself from the debate: “I am happy to see that the left-wing parties can stand up for entrepreneurs. I think the coffee shop owners are happy with that.” She said she did not believe in the fear of other parties that many more young people end up in crime.
Blowing ban
There seems to be a majority in the council for a smoking ban on the street. Coalition party PvdA is in favour, but also the largest opposition party is VVD.
Now that there is definitely no majority, the i-criterion will most likely fail. Halsema already added AT 5 O’CLOCK not to use its authority to proceed with the plan without the support of the council.
The mayor did pass the council during preventive searches. “That’s a planned event differently. This affected major economic and social consequences – and hoop at least temporarily.”
The debate is not ongoing at this point. This article will be updated throughout the evening. Mayor Femke Halsema will answer questions from committee members later this evening.