The Left in Weimar wants to abolish penalties for fare evasion - social solutions first!

The Left in Weimar wants to abolish penalties for fare evasion - social solutions first!

In Weimar, the Left parliamentary group is causing a stir with its latest proposal: passengers who travel on city buses without a valid ticket should no longer be prosecuted. Instead, these people should be made aware of social ticket offers and advice centers. The Left argues that criminal prosecution is disproportionate in many cases and only further worsens the living conditions of those affected. The increased transport fee of 60 euros will continue to be charged, as radiolotte.de reports. This is not the first time that the party has submitted such a motion: two years ago, a similar initiative in the Bundestag for all public transport failed.

But what about the social tickets? These discounted tickets provide much-needed support for socially disadvantaged people. The costs vary depending on the city, but on average are between 25 and 35 euros. Interestingly, in many cities up to three children can travel for free, which can be a great relief, especially for families. In Weimar, the council members could not only reduce the financial burden on those in need with their proposal, but also promote their integration into social life, as arbeitslosenselbsthilfe.org explains.

Cultural highlights in Weimar

While the political debate about the social ticket is ongoing, cultural events in Weimar are also very well received. The Justus Beer Prize was awarded on June 23rd at the Goethe National Museum. The prize, endowed with 5,000 euros, was presented to the curators Anke Blümm, Patrick Rössler and Elizabeth Otto for their outstanding work on the exhibition “Bauhaus and National Socialism”. The exhibition will be shown in three parts in various museums in Weimar and runs until September 15, 2024. It addresses the complex and often dark history of the Bauhaus during National Socialist rule, which provides a deep insight into the period between 1919 and 1945, as helga-pape-stiftung.de describes in detail.

The exhibition includes around 450 art and design objects and sheds light on the fates of numerous Bauhaus members, many of whom had to fight for their lives during this time. With such a program, Weimar is once again highlighted as a city of culture and remembrance, which further consolidates the city's valuable role in social memory.

Exhibitions and information evenings

The focus is not only on political and historical issues, but the support of young families is also taken seriously. On the same day as the award ceremony, an information evening for potential foster parents took place on Erfurter Straße on June 24th. Here, specialists from the foster child service provide information about the possibilities of offering children from difficult backgrounds a home. Single people and same-sex couples are also warmly invited to find out more about this important task.

Another cultural highlight is the exhibition with the works of the Weimar painter Hans Winkler, which can be seen in the city library under the title “The Upright Walk”. This exhibition, which includes paintings, poems and diary entries, offers a multifaceted insight into Winkler's creative phases and shows how art was able to flourish despite the challenges of GDR history.

Weimar remains a place of lively debate and cultural development, where politics and art are closely interwoven to address and move people.