Controversial savings approved by Antwerp city council (Antwerp)
According to Groen municipal councilor Ilse Van Dienderen, the major connection of the city council with this file has been shattered. “There is no connection whatsoever with residents and organizations in the city. It’s not the heaviest shoulders that carry the savings. On the contrary, the money is sought by social, cultural and youth organizations. This saving is anti-social and aimed at everything that makes our city warm.”
PVDA party leader Peter Mertens refers to the protest. “It has been a long time since so many groups of people protested in front of the town hall,” says Mertens. All those people who make the big connection on the site are left out in the cold. Participation is being curtailed, the city is becoming more expensive, and services are being cut. The Antwerp resident pays. But the prestige projects, they continue.”
“You don’t save on stones”
Sam Voeten, municipal councilor for CD&V, picks up on this. “What are you not saving on? Very simple: stones,” he says. “You do save on the dreams of young artists and professional youth work, without dialogue. Young people are affected. They would only be the very last in the savings crosshairs. But it seems to be the opposite here.”
For Vlaams Belang, the money could be obtained from the elderly. “Even in this time of crisis, the subsidy money tap to the diversity and subsidy industry is wide open,” says party leader Sam Van Rooy. “What we find disappointing is not the cutbacks on project subsidies and a number of youth workers, but that the city council is making life even more expensive for ordinary Antwerp residents. Even those who do not groan enough under the sky-high energy bills and fixed.”
Coalition partners Vooruit, Open Vld and N-VA rallied behind the choices of the mayor and aldermen. Although Vooruit municipal councilor Tatjana Scheck still called for a dialogue with the arts sector and alderman Ait Daoud. “In recent weeks, all artists and cultural institutions have been insulted. There is a need for dialogue to restore trust.”
“Cultural Desert”
Alderman for Culture, Nabilla Ait Daoud reiterated what she said in her committee last week. “Antwerp will not become a cultural desert, contrary to the image that was published. Cultural experience and creation remain important for the city. The doors of my closet are always open.”
Ait Daoud received support from her fellow party member Koen Laenens. “It is striking that most commotion exists about resources that have not yet been distributed. I can only note that some groups display claiming behaviour. They want to hang on to the subsidy drip.”
Alderman of Youth Jinnih Beels (Vooruit) reacted fiercely to the criticism. “Just like everyone else, youth work also feels the consequences of the war situation,” says Beels. “Even if you get them more money, they will be able to do less more. This has been clear for months and we have asked that an exercise be made around this in the interest of our young people. If I enter into a dialogue, then it is not good according to the contradiction, and if I do, it is not good either. You, the opposite, should be ashamed of the polarization that separates you among the young. Alternative facts are spread. Information that is manifestly true. I think you are responsible for the unrest that reigns among the young people. No kind of young person benefits from this.”