Radio Spaetkauf Berlin

Should a man who once trained with the Stasi be allowed to run Berlin's housing department? Professor Andrej Holm has been named city secretary for housing. He's been the most vocal critic of the city's policies for many years, and advocates high taxation on real estate speculation. His critics say he shouldn't have such an important job because in 1989 he joined a Stasi training academy. His supporters say a person's mistake as an 18 year old shouldn't affect them 26 years later. Should the city install more security cameras, after that terrible kicking attack in an U-bahn station? Berlin was shocked by a video showing a man kicking a woman in the back, sending her flying down the stairs of the Hermannstrasse U-Bahn station. The man was caught on a bus after being recognized by a passenger. The new R2G has promised to reduce the number of surveillance cameras in public places. And should the city take free money to rebuild an imperial monument? The federal government wants to give Berlin €18.5M to rebuild the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial. Why not build something new instead? Want to protect your data while using the BVG's free WiFi network (or any other)? Join our guest Adam Burns at a Cryptoparty: https://www.cryptoparty.in/berlin It's cold out. If you see someone on the street in danger of freezing, call the Kaltbus on 0178 523 58 38. Become a Radio Spaetkauf supporter! Donate just €1, €5 or €10 a month to help us bring you the news. Go to http://www.radiospaetkauf.com and click "Donate." This episode was recorded at Comedy Cafe Berlin on Sunday December 18. It was presented by Maisie Hitchcock, Joel Dullroy and Daniel Stern. Thanks to Katharina Bille for video work, and Joshua Alas from Mobile Kino for sound.

Berlin still has an estimated 3000 unexploded WWII bombs under the surface. One was discovered this week between Neukölln and Treptow, causing the evacuation of 2600 residents. The city also has a lot of people in jail for not paying their public transport fines. Almost 10 percent of the city's 4100 inmates are there for dodging train fares. Now the new justice senator, Dirk Behrend from the Greens, plans to roll back the policy of jailing so-called "Schwarzfahrer". He wants to let them do community service instead. Michael Müller has been sworn in as Berlin's mayor for a second term as head of the R2G coalition. But it hasn't been the best week for the returning mayor. His top aide, Björn Böhning from the SPD, is being investigated for alleged corruption. The controversy is about a report written by the consulting company McKinsey into the city's refugee situation in 2015. McKinsey originally said this would be done pro bono. But later Mr. Böhning authorized a payment of €237,000 to the consultants, one of whom was a former SPD party secretary. The mayor is supporting Mr. Böhning. The investigation continues. Residents of Neukölln and Wedding awoke this week to the first snow of the season. Meteorologists said the fine layer of white snow actually came from the city's fossil fuel-fired power plants. Steam from the plants crystalized in the cold foggy air and fell to earth. They're calling it "Industrieschnee." Our next live show is on Sunday December 18 at the Comedy Cafe Berlin. Come along! This episode of Radio Spaetkauf was presented by Jöran Mandik and Daniel Stern, and was brought to you by RadioEins, Berlin's public broadcaster.

Berlin's bird flu outbreak keeps getting worse. Now residents near the central waterways are being told to keep their pets inside - even cats. The petition to keep Tegel Airport airport has progressed to the next phase. The supporters could trigger a referendum if they collect enough signatures by March. Radio Spaetkauf's next live show is on Sunday December 18, 6pm, at the Comedy Cafe Berlin. This short update was presented by Maisie Hitchcock and Daniel Stern, and is brought to you by radioeins, Berlin's public broadcaster.

While the rest of the world votes for crazy leaders and dumb ideas, Berlin's new coalition has just announced an amazing social program that makes this city even better. On this special 5th anniversary recording of Radio Spaetkauf, we remind ourselves why we came to Berlin, and why we plan to stay. There's plenty to talk about in the new red-red-green (R2G) coalition agreement, including more social housing, less automobiles and better bicycle infrastructure, but sadly no maglev to the airport. How will Berlin pay for it all? Our special guest Konrad Werner defends the government's plan to take on more debt to upgrade schools and hire more public servants. Also, we welcome Craig Schuftan, who together with his band Ducks! and musician Ray Mann created Radio Spaetkauf's new jingle. Radio Spaetkauf is hosted by Joel Dullroy, Maisie Hitchcock, Jöran Mandik and Daniel Stern.

Welcome to our new series of short news updates produced for RadioEins, Berlin's public broadcaster! On this show we talk about how Berlin's new "red-red-green" coalition between the SPD, Die Grünen and Die Linke plan to change the city. Their coalition talks include closing Unter den Linden to most vehicle traffic, and building several new tram lines across the city. The incoming coalition also plans to end the crackdown on marijuana in Görlitzer Park, and perhaps even introduce legal medical weed apothekes. Come along to the next live recording of the hour-long Radio Spaetkauf monthly show on Sunday November 20, 6pm, at the Comedy Cafe Berlin on Weserstraße, Neukölln. More at www.radiospaetkauf.com This episode is presented by Joel Dullroy and Daniel Stern. Radio Spaetkauf is brought to you by RadioEins, part of the RBB network: www.radioeins.de

Berlin still has no official governing coalition, as the SPD, Die Linke and Die Grünen drag on their negotiations. Public transport ticket prices for 2017 have been announced, and they're going up again, despite the BVG pulling in a record profit. Come along to Radio Spaetkauf's next live show on November 20 at Comedy Cafe Berlin. And stay tuned for a very special new project. Radio Spaetkauf is teaming up with RadioEins, Berlin's public broadcaster, to produce a bi-monthly short news update!

The Berlin election results are in. And it looks like the SPD's Michael Müller will remain mayor, if he can build a coalition with two other parties - most likely Die Grüne and Die Linke. This election was a protest against the major parties. Every party lost votes, except for AFD (+14.2%), FDP (+4.9%) and Die Linke (+3.9%). Michael Müller's SPD won the most votes, with 21.6% and 38 seats. But that's down 6.7% from five years ago. It's the SPD's worst performance in Berlin since World War 2. Frank Henkel's CDU also lost big, dropping to 17.6%, a loss of 5.7%. Also a historically terrible performance. Radio Spaetkauf co-host Jöran Mandik ran for election in the district of Neukölln 1 as a journalistic exercise. And he got... 66 votes! At least he beat the candidate from the neo-nazi NPD party, who got 52 votes.

We're decoding the Berlin election with a full run down on what each party is promising, with some graphic design critique thrown in. Who's going to run Berlin after the September 18 vote? Probably not the CDU, who have lost voters to the far-right AFD. The SPD doesn't want to govern with them, and neither do the Greens. It makes an SPD-Greens-Linke coalition a pretty likely scenario. Our own candidate Jöran Mandik talks about his campaign (or lack of it). Turns out if he could get 2500 votes, he'd earn over €6000 in public campaign contributions. We have a special guest, blogger John Riceburg, who has his own controversial opinion on the election. He doesn't like any of the parties, who aren't promising any great changes at all. Special thanks to our hosts Comedy Cafe Berlin!

At our annual outdoor recording in the woods, we interview three Syrian refugees - Ghaith, Omar and Munzer - who have created an app to help deal with German paperwork. It's called Bureaucrazy. Some rich person out there should really give some money to this: http://www.facebook.com/Bureaucrazy.de/ After a glorious weekend of watching movies, watching bands and swimming in the lake at Klingemühle, Mobile Kino organizers Joshua and Fernando announce that they need a new name for their festival. The word Weekender is trademarked, can you believe.

On this quick update, we talk about the secretive British investment company behind all the problems between punks and police on Rigaer Straße. Daniel thinks the whole scenario could be turned into a musical, possibly called "Henkel's Leftist Orgy of Violence" after Berlin's interior minister, who has been embarrased by a court ruling this week that found the police-assisted eviction at Rigaer Straße 94 to be unlawful. We also get an update from co-host Jöran Mandik about his attempt to run as a candidate for the upcoming Berlin city elections. Come along to the Mobile Kino Weekender on July 29-31. It's a cinematic camping trip out in the woods by a lake. Radio Spaetkauf will be recording a live episode there. Can you sponsor a Syrian refugee to come to the festival? E-mail us if you're willing to contribute €40: [email protected].

Berlin typographer Anton Koovit spent over a year creating his font called U8, based on the letters on U-Bahn station signs. Recently the BVG began using Koovit's font to print new signs. But they didn't bother to pay for a license. We talk to Anton about his font, and what he plans to do about the BVG's piracy. Bicycle riders working for the food delivery company Deliveroo recently launched a protest action at having their weekend bonuses cut without warning. They turned the logos on the delivery bags upside down to get the startup's managers to address their concerns. We interview one bicycle courier about the action, which he says was taken to prevent conditions getting any worse. Berlin's population boom means we might have to give up a bit of green space. Now the city's open air swimming pools are being targeted as potential development zones. The Berliner Bäderbetrieb, which runs the pools, has been asked if it will give up some land to allow a city-owned housing company to develop flats. Churches are also being asked to hand over old cemeteries for refugee shelters. And co-host Jöran Mandik continues his campaign to get elected to the Berlin Abgeordnetenhaus. He has registered as an independent candidate, and now requires 45 supporting signatures to get on the ballot. Will you sign up? Drop us an e-mail at [email protected].

Radio Spaetkauf live recording outdoors, in front of the big screen at Mobile Kino! Come watch the full RS team reading the news (starting at 20.00), followed by a movie (starting at 21.45). Topics this show include... - Berlin bicycle food delivery riders go on protest - Did the BVG pirate a Berlin graphic designer's font? - What the cops think of our "six theories of abandoned locks" The film is Love Story, directed by former Berlin resident Florian Habitch. You'll need to buy a ticket for the movie to get in (€6), but it's worth it! Here's a link to the Mobile Kino event page for the film: https://www.facebook.com/events/134202920320755/

What would we do if we ran the city? Radio Spaetkauf is exploring Berlin's political system by trying to get our own host Jöran Mandik elected to the state Abgeordnetenhaus. We get tips from former Pirate Party leader Martin Delius about how local politics really works. And we're calling for ideas from listeners about what policies Jöran should add to his manifesto. Sunday trading for spaetkaufs? Online Bürgeramt registration? On this episode we're joined by a new co-host, stand-up comedian and computer programmer Caroline Clifford. Recorded on Monday May 23 2016 at the very empty Comedy Cafe Berlin.

Which landmark abandoned locations are going to be renovated - and do we want them to be? Several huge Berlin ruins are about to be developed, while Spreepark Planterwald is set to re-open this summer. Will anyone want to go to a formerly abandoned fully operating theme park? We try and solve a few mysteries. Why are some Berlin streets numbered strangely, and why are there so many lonely bike locks hanging from posts around the city? Our sports reporter Daniel Stern went out to cover a match of the Berlin Bats, the local floorball team. What's floorball? Listen to find out. We've got a guest, local journalist Konrad Werner, who joins us to talk politics and the upcoming city election. Check out his own podcast, News des Nachrichtens: https://soundcloud.com/newsdesnachrichtens/

A quick update on football and festivals. And come along to our live show on April 24 at 6pm! Comedy Cafe Berlin: https://www.facebook.com/events/626246324195152/

This weekend is Easter, which means it is illegal to watch over 700 films banned by the German ratings authority. It includes obvious anti-religious films such as the Life of Brian, but also strange entries such as Mary Poppins. Dan Stern reads through the list to pick out some gems. The refugee influx has created opportunities for some businesses to make a lot of money. The consulting firm McKinsey found itself in hot water this month for obtaining a big contract from the city of Berlin by employing a former SPD party official. McKinsey quit after the scandal emerged, but mayor Michael Müller has been damaged by the incident. Special guest Elizabeth Rushe joins us to talk about her interview with a young Syrian athlete and refugee in Berlin who, despite her harrowing ordeal, is still training to swim at the Olympics. Read her full story here: http://bit.ly/1Uvebec Special guest Craig Schuftan talks about the Culture Club Kino, a new event series in Berlin mashing together a lecture, video and audio to explain the fascinating connections in pop culture. Culture Club Kino takes place on Thurs March 24, 8pm, in the Oval Room at Babylon. Tickets here: http://bit.ly/1LzAE7a Thanks to Comedy Cafe Berlin for hosting our recording, and Mobile Kino for the video projection! This episode is supported by Clare, which offers third party liability insurance in English. This insurance protects you in case you damage someone else's property, and it doesn't cost much at all. Better still, all of Clare's information is in English, so you'll understand what's going on. Visit http://www.clare.de to find out more, and tell them Radio Spaetkauf sent you!

Tensions have flared between the police and punks in Friedrichshain, with massive raids on squats and retaliatory car burnings. Our guest John Riceberg explains what's going on. A huge music festival will take place at Treptower Park, having moved there after Tempelhof was turned into a refugee shelter. Now there's a petition against the festival on account of the grass. Can't the kids enjoy music anywhere? Should Radio Spaetkauf talk about terror warnings in Berlin? The team has an editorial meeting about whether to discuss the recent alleged threats to Berlin landmarks. Do the warnings help anyone, or just make us all impotently fearful? Radio Spaetkauf is presented by Joel Dullroy, Daniel Stern and Jöran Mandik, with support from Victoria Linchong and Jocelyn Barre.

You're invited to be part of the audience as we record our next show live on Sunday February 21, 5pm, at Donau115 in Neukölln.

How fancy is your flat? There's a checklist you can use to fight against rental increases. If your building has a communal party room and video intercom, your rent might go up. But if you don't have a proper shower or bike racks, you can argue for a rent reduction. We pay tribute to David Bowie, the ultimate Berlin international temporary resident, who wrote three albums while living here from 1976 to 1978. In "Heroes" he sung the prophetic lyric "I remember standing by the wall... and we kissed as though nothing would fall." He also wrote a few klangers, like the incorrectly spelt "Neukoln". Bowie did Berlin before all of us, and better than any of us.us, and better than all of us. We dance in his shadow. Tempelhof referendum revisited: The city government is trying to re-write the citizen-initiated law preventing development on Tempelhofer Feld, in order to build refugee accommodation. Critics say the law is losely worded and would allow luxury flat development - the very thing the referendum was against. Council buys back houses: A Berlin city council has found a new tactic to stop house price increases. The Green controlled Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg council used its first-refusal right to prevent a speculative investor from buying an entire building in Wrangelstraße. Instead, the house will be bought by the city-owned housing company Gewobag, together with a non-profit foundation. This will allow the tenants to keep paying cheap rents. Thanks to our supporters Mobile Kino, Berlin's traveling cinema. They're presenting a Quentin Tarantino retrospective from January 15 to 30. Check out their website for more details: www.mobilekino.de Recorded live at Donau115 on Monday January 11. Presenters: Joel Dullroy, Jöran Mandik and Daniel Stern. Filmed by Victoria Linchong.

Workers at the iconic Kino Babylon have been picketing in front of the cinema for months now, demanding more than the minimum wage. The cinema says it can't pay more, and has filed for bankruptcy. Film goers are being asked to take sides, but who's right in such a messy situation? The Radio Spaetkauf team have a vigorous debate about workers' rights and business realities. The city is filling up with asylum seekers. Many public buildings are being retrofitted to house refugees, including Tempelhof Airport, where up to 5000 people will eventually stay. Anyone can help by volunteering for a few hours. Sign up at www.volunteer-planner.org. Thanks to Donau115 for hosting our live recording. Radio Spaetkauf is Joel, Maisie, Jöran and Daniel Stern.

RS#08: Live at Donau115 by Radio Spaetkauf Berlin

You're invited to a special Radio Spaetkauf live show at 6pm Sunday November 8 at Donau115 in Neukölln. Come along and hear the local news directly from your hosts Joel, Joeran and Daniel, plus some special guests. See you there!

RS#07: Trouble at Teufelsberg by Radio Spaetkauf Berlin

Radio Spaetkauf is Berlin's news show. On this episode: Europe's refugee crisis is hitting Berlin. Over 550 asylum seekers are arriving each day to seek a safer life. The city's bureaucrats are struggling to keep up with the influx, but volunteers are helping hand out water bottles as refugees wait in the hot sun to file their applications for asylum. The actor Til Schweiger has stepped in to call for more shelters for refugees, which has earned him our respect. Got a problem getting into the Bürgeramt to register your address? A startup has created a website where you can book an appointment at short notice for between €25 and €45. However it appears to operate by booking all the available appointments, then selling them back to desperate citizens. The BER airport is in trouble again, this time because one of the main contractors has filed for insolvency. That means the much-delayed opening date of late 2017 may be pushed back even further. Wondering why there are so many wasps around this summer? Our animal kingdom expert Jöran has the answer. Got a comment or question for the show? Write in to [email protected].

Listen to the first ever live Radio Spaetkauf, recorded in front of an audience of film fans at the Mobile Kino Weekender and featuring an interview with Mobile Kino founders Fernando and Joshua. On this episode we follow up Jöran's Tempelhof bug investigation, look into the costs of having a visit from the Queen and discuss whether or not there is any point in opposing Merkel for re-election. We also check back in on the späti petition and the plight of marriage equality in Germany, where the CDU has taken an internal vote to see what their members think about gay marriage. This weekend while we were camping there was a new version of the famous "Love Parade" through Berlin and we take a look at the coverage of it along with other stories on this very special episode recorded live at the Mobile Kino Weekender, a cinematic camping trip in the woods of Brandenburg. Radio Spaetkauf is the Berlin podcast, bringing stories from the city. Hosts Joel, Jöran and Daniel read you the news in English to make you feel more at home.

Have you been attacked by bugs at Tempelhof at lately? Swarms of June bugs are emerging at sunset to look for food, and are flying into people's heads. Radio Spaetkauf's insect expert Jöran explains what the bugs are up to. Should Berlin have a commuter ferry service along the river and canals? A pair of architects have come up with a bold proposal to extend the public transport system to the water. The ferries would run in a circuit along the Spree, Landwehrkanal and connecting waterways. Other cities have commuter ferries, why not Berlin? Although Berlin is home to a huge population of gay people, the city government is shamefully refusing to join in the global trend toward marriage equality for all. Berlin's representatives in the Bundesrat recently abstained from voting on a bill proposing marriage equality, under pressure from the city's CDU leader Frank Henkel. Berlin was once governed by a gay man, now it is under the control of a conservative Christian. Radio Spaetkauf is the Berlin podcast, bringing stories from the city. Hosts Joel, Jöran and Daniel read you the news in English to make you feel more at home.

The U-Bahn Flat Rate Proposal by Radio Spaetkauf Berlin

The new rental price index comes out soon, which will give Berlin landlords an excuse to try to increase rents. At the same time, a new initiative is trying to force a referendum on rental issues by collecting signatures. Foreign residents aren't permitted to sign the petition, but Daniel and Joel argue that we should sign anyway to indicate our frustration at being denied political participation. The Radio Spaetkauf team reflect on the most recent May Day protests and celebrations. The former revolutionary holiday has become a huge street festival, with crowds so large that U-Bahn stations are closed to prevent overcrowding in central Kreuzberg. Has the city's strategy of turning May 1 into a party worked? After last episode's warnings about new drug prohibitions in Görlitzer Park, it seems drugs are popping up everywhere in local news. Cannabis was found to be growing wild on the Kottbusser Tor roundabout, cocaine was found in banana boxes at Aldi supermarkets, and the dealers in Görli are carrying on unperturbed. Listeners worried about Maisie and Andrew's absence can rest assured - they're traveling and will be back on future episodes, along with new co-hosts Jüri and Daniel.

Radio Spaetkauf is back after a long break, and there's a lot of news to catch up on. New co-hosts Daniel and Jöran join Joel in our new studio at Donau115, a bar and creative space in Neukölln. On this episode, we discuss the drug crackdown in Görlitzer Park, which is now the most regulated space in all of Germany. Since March 31, it has become completely illegal to possess any amount of marijuana in the formerly anarchic park. This makes Görli the only place in Germany where you cannot carry a small amount of weed for personal use - even conservative Bayern allows up to 5 grams. We talk about the politics behind the crackdown, which has as much to do with gentrification, asylum regulation and power struggle in the Rotes Rathaus as it does about drug policy. Berlin has been spared from the expense and waste of the Olympic Games. The city has lost the bid to bid to host the Olympics, as Hamburg has instead been selected as Germany's nomination for the 2024 and 2028 games. The reason Hamburg won was because of Berliners' apathetic response to the city government's attempts to whip up excitement through a transparently fake pro-Olympic graffiti tagging campaign. Almost 400 of Berlin's 500 poker machine casinos could close in 2016. The casinos are expected to fail new regulations aimed at reducing gambling in the city. In public transport news, the city will get a temporary renumbered U-Bahn line. The U12 will combine sections of the U1 and U2 as trackwork and station renovations at Gleisdreieck cause months-long disruptions. Got a story idea? Want to participate in Radio Spaetkauf? Get in touch! Write to us at [email protected].

On our final episode for 2014: Berlin's most famous mural has disappeared under a coat of black paint. The Blu mural at Schlesisches Tor was erased by the original artists themselves. Maisie gives her tips on how not to be saddened by the city's constant evolution. Former mayor Klaus Wowereit is likely to be given a free U-Bahn pass as part of his post-job perk package. We discuss how both the top and bottom of Berlin society ride the trains without paying. The new and exclusive Mall of Berlin has been renamed the Mall of Shame by former workers, who are campaigning to get paid fair wages. The shopping center was constructed by Romanian workers who claim they were mistreated and left underpaid by the development company, which has now filed for bankruptcy. The Club Commission thinks the whole building should be taken over and turned into a culture center instead. Berlin columnist John Riceburg shares his story about witnessing his neighbor's eviction, and his thoughts on what should be done to prevent people being thrown out of their homes. Read more of his work at http://johnriceburg.wordpress.com. Thanks for listening during 2014! Special thanks to Rico Valtin of the podcast Außer Der Reihe http://www.valtin.org/ausser-der-reihe for sharing his microphones with us all year.

RS#16: Tear down this mall by Radio Spaetkauf Berlin

Berlin has a new mayor - Michael Müller, the man who headed the failed attempt to build on Tempelhof field. Will the city like being run by the man whose development plan they rejected? The 25th anniversary of the fall of the wall was celebrated with white balloons being released - and many of the stands being stolen. But the city says it won't hunt down those who nicked a stand. We talk to visting journalist Nalina Eggert about the anniversary. The company behind the famous nightclub Kater Holzig has filed for bankruptcy, in what appears to be a tricky maneouver to avoid paying its bills. The party continues in a different location under a new name and new legal entity, which plans to build apartments and restaurants on the site of the original club Bar 25. This show presented by Joel and Andrew, with help from Nalina Eggert. Music from The History of Colour TV and Erfolg.

Coming up: Rent controls are coming, but they might have some unwanted side effects. We'll tell you why it's better to get a job in West Berlin than in the old East. And there's some bad news for anyone wanting to open a bar in Kreuzberg - you probably won't be allowed to.

On Radio Spätkauf #13: The Klaus Wowereit legacy. How has he changed Berlin during his period as mayor? We will be analysing the soon to be former Major of Berlin before he official steps down in December. Would you believe it…. more of the Berlin Wall is undertreat and GEMA has again been disputing Berlin's music establishments. Berlin seems to be taking part in "build the fastest castle" as it's Stadtschloss seems to be making rapid progress. We also have an update on Berlin's refugees and their recent turn of events. Of course there is the standard #RSShortNews #RSTransport and music this episode from Sealake, Antoni Maiovvi and Jaakko Eino Kalevi.

RS#Extra 2014: Yellow Press by Radio Spaetkauf Berlin

RS#12 2014: Hello Lenin by Radio Spaetkauf Berlin

Who wants free money? A Berlin entrepreneur is giving away 1000 EUR a month to a worthy candidate to test the idea of the grundeinkommen, or basic citizens' income. We talk about whether the idea could work for everyone. Enjoying the lakes? Take care - six people have died while swimming around Berlin this month so far. The lakes are getting warmer, too, which isn't always a good thing. What to do about a lack of affordable housing? The SPD development minister thinks it can be solved by paying landlords to encourage them to take more social tenants. More money for the rich, to help the poor? Lost some snakes? The police at Ostkreuz are searching for the owners of two snakes, found in a bag at the S-Bahn station. Music from Sydney Valette, Lawrence Arabia and Tusk.

Radio Spaetkauf is Berlin's news show in English. Presenters Maisie, Andrew and Joel discuss local politics, urban development, public transport, bicycles, architecture and culture. On this episode, we dissect the refugee protest actions that have gripped Berlin over the past few weeks. Refugees are standing up for their right to move freely around the country, and are staging a series of sit ins, blockades and demonstrations, supported by a large number of local residents. Police have responded by flooding Kreuzberg with over a thousand officers, at a cost of over five million euros. Local politicians are divided on the issue, with even the refugee-friendly Green party flip-flopping about whether to send police in to evict refugees from their protest quarters. Should Berlin bid to host the 2024 Olympics? The Berlin Senate are racing to prepare a bid for the city, without stopping to first ask the citizens if they like the idea. Olympic Games are known to cause huge increases in rental prices, result in massive amounts of public spending, and often fail to return any of the promised benefits. The last time Berlin threatened to bid for the Olympics was in the early 90s, sparking a huge anti-Olympics campaign. This time around there has been little reaction. Is it time for a new anti-Olympics movement in Berlin? In traffic news, a cyclist was beaten unconscious by an enraged driver after bumping the side of his car in Mitte. And a cyclist is being sought by police for knocking down and killing a 70 year old man on a footpath in south Berlin. We play music from The History of Colour TV, Fenster, Bird Berlin and Carpet Patrol. Find out more at www.radiospaetkauf.com

On this episode: After Berliners overwhelming rejected the city senate's plan for luxury flats on Tempelhofer Feld, politicians have already begun talking up another controversial top-down master plan - to bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games. When were Berliners ever asked if they liked the idea? The BER airport starting date has been set back until the end of 2016. The disastrous project is now tainted by allegations of corruption, with one official accused of abusing the tendering process. Now the Pirate Party in the Senate is demanding a referendum on whether the airport should ever be finished with state funds at all. A prisoner who escaped from the sturdy Moabit prison has been recaptured, thanks to a Berlin hotel receptionist who recognised his poorly bearded face from a police fax announcement. Would-be escapees are recommended not to check into hotels near the prison they have escaped from.

Radio Spaetkauf is Berlin's English-langauge news show. On this episode: Should you buy a stolen bike? Maisie enters the murky world of second-hand bicycles. Have you ever seen a swarm of cyclists riding on around Berlin on a Friday night? You've probably just witnessed a Critical Mass procession. Our new correspondent David Ravensbergen joined a recent Critical Mass to find out what relevance the cyclist demonstration has in Berlin. With the EU election and Tempelhof referendum weeks away, we analyze the election posters. The Green party is targetting English speakers with translated placards; they've also got a fantastic one criticizing mayor Klaus Wowereit with the slogan - "Would you trust this man with an airport?". The CDU is being disingenuous by displaying images of Angela Merkel, even though she is not a candidate in the current election. And we ask why the city libraries are campaigning on behalf of the city government in the referendum, using their meager budgets on political advertising instead of books. Music from Komischer Läufer, the so-called "music of the East German Olympic Program 1972-83": http://kosmischerlaufer.bandcamp.com/ Photo courtesy of http://www.critical-mass-berlin.de/

This is Berlin's news podcast. Tonight: Oranienplatz has been cleared out. The refugee camp has been replaced by a police camp. Politicians are claiming victory, and crass young conservatives are photographing themselves in front of the demolished camp. Now that the protesting refugees are hidden away in a hostel, will the city forget about their plight? Police have been busy lately. They also helped evict a man from his Neukölln apartment, after he failed to pay his rent on time, due to an error by the Jobcenter. Over 120 protesters failed to prevent his eviction. He is now homeless. It has also been revealed that Berlin police are sending hundreds of thousands of ghost SMS messages to track suspects in a NSA-style operation. Human statues have been ordered to shuffle away from Pariser Platz. The Mitte city council decided that costumed characters posing with tourists in front of the Brandenburger Tor are a nuisance, and must clear off. Another example of the fun police in action? Don't forget to register to vote in the European elections by May 5! You can get the form here:http://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Kurzmeldungen/EN/2014/02/european-elections-2014.html And don't forget to support Joel's European Freelancers Movement campaign by adding your name here: www.freelancers-europe.org Music tonight from Dylan III: https://soundcloud.com/dylaniii

Radio Spaetkauf is Berlin's news update in English. Tonight: The old Spreepark has been bought by the city for €2M, ending years of uncertainty about its ownership. It is now likely to be resold and reopened as a theme park. What did the Planetarium sound like before it closed last weekend? Joel went along and recorded the retro soundtrack of the now-under-renovation DDR treasure. Why are protesters standing with dead animals in front of Brandenburger Tor? Andrew met the initiators of Animal Equality Berlin to find out. It is cycling season again, and police are reporting an increase in bicycle theft. Those thieves will soon be hearing a new sound when the police catch them: the city's cop cars will be equipped with a new siren imported from the USA. Some Berliners aren't happy about the police siren noises being Americanized. www.radiospaetkauf.com

Radio Spätkauf is Berlin's English-language news programme. This week: Did you sign the Tempelhof petition? If you're not German, you weren't entitled to, as only citizens are allowed to have a say at regional and national elections and referendums. We talk to Walhrecht Für Alle about who can and can't vote. This month is your last chance to visit the Zeiss Planetarium in Prenzlauer Berg before it closes its doors for a year. The 30-year old Cosmorama projector needs to be replaced. A series of free events on the last weekend of March will let you experience this DDR gem. Music this week comes from Robyn Hitchcock, a renowned British singer-songwriter who is playing at Monarch bar in Berlin on March 27. Full disclosure - Robyn is Maisie's dad, and Joel is the support act. Links: http://wahlrechtfüralle.de/ https://www.facebook.com/events/448810325218909/

On this episode of Radio Spätkauf: as Berlin's building boom continues, will a new mega-hotel in Neukölln eclipse the skyscraper planned for Alexanderplatz? Does Marzahn really need a ski lift? And was a branch of Netto sacrificed for a higher purpose? Also on the show: Berlin's fare dodgers walk in the steps of Nazi resisters , Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg cleans up it's advertising act and the city gets a new, pop-savvy culture secretary. Plus music from Fenster.

On this episode, we interview a Japanese man who was attacked in Kurfurstendamm. Instead of seeking to punish his assailant, he attempted to offer him a job. In other news, the city government is cracking down on the infamous beer bikes by banning them from all major city streets, except for those leading east to Friedrichshain. Where should Berlin build new bike lanes? You can nominate a deserving street at www.fahrradnetz-berlin.de Plus: a group launches a new program for people riding trains without tickets. It's called Ticketteilen. They are encouraging people to wear a button to indicate if they hold a umweltkarte, which is a kind of yearly travel card that lets you take another person after 8pm or on weekends. Hear this episode with music at radiospaetkauf.com

A special update from Radio Spaetkauf: Opposing the obligatory TV and Radio fee. Have you recently received a letter demanding 18€ per month for your television and radio license, even if you don't use either service? It seems this has happened to many of us in Berlin over the last few weeks. This contribution towards broadcasting has become mandatory since January 2013 but one group thinks it's unfair. Hear all about the group "Remote Control" and their campaign "Der Rundfunkbeitrag-Zahlungsstreik" (payment strike). Listen to the update to hear how to oppose the fee and not get yourself caught up in back-payments.

Radio Spaetkauf is Berlin's English-language news and interview podcast. Tonight we bring you an update on the Tempelhof petition intiative: the movement against development on the former airport has gained enough signatures to trigger a referendum, but politicians are stalling by scrutinizing every signature. Clown and sex worker advocate Harvey Rabbit tells us about her upcoming show, Variete Ridiculous, which as well as being a night of great cabaret entertainment, is also a space for the demystification of sex workers. Variete Ridiculous is on Friday January 31 at Keller Neukölln. Joel presents a taste of the kinds of music you can hear at the cabaret night by playing one of his songs live in the studio, an act of shameless self promotion only allowable because Maisie's away tonight.

On the first episode of Radio Spaetkauf for 2014, the Ordnungsamt has introduced a new fine for throwing sneakers over dangling wires or posts. It'll cost you €30 if you're caught. So don't do it, or don't get caught. Other new price hikes for the year include public swimming pools: it now costs €5.50 to take a dip in peak times, which has had its hours inverted. We re-visit the Amt für Werbefreiheit und Gutes Leben, who want all outdoor advertising banned from the city. They've gathered a lot of support, but they had a mixed reaction from their elected politicians. Another citizen's initiative not getting any political support is 100% Tempelhofer Feld, which looks likely to fail in its attempt to prevent development on the old airport site. The initiative has fallen short of the number of required signatures on its petition. The BVG has revealed it employs 120 ticket checkers on the U-Bahn. We're searching for a maths genius to use this number to figure out the likelihood of getting caught without a ticket at any given time.

On this week's Radio Spätkauf: Berlin city's scientists have warned Christmas market shoppers to beware of bad glühwein. After testing market stalls, they found 8.6 per cent of mulled wine is not what it purports to be. Jöran Mandik has dispatched his final audio architectural tour (sadly, he's moving to Australia in the new year). He takes us on a walk around the concrete monolith that is the International Congress Centrum, which will close its doors in mid-2014 for renovations, and may never reopen. We play some clips from the archives. Drinkers in a Neukölln pub attempt to define the difference between a döner and a schwarma. Our song of the week is another from Sean Nicholas Savage, a Berlin resident who channels 80s pop icons.

Berlin's fast-rising rents may be slowed by two political developments. The federal coalition between the CDU and SPD has promised to put in new controls on rental prices. Even new rental contracts, which have previously been uncapped, will now be limited to a 10 per cent increase. And on a local level, the Berlin senate has introduced tough new restrictions on the commercial use of apartments for holiday flats. By banning ferienwohnung, the city hopes to release more apartments for residential use. In another positive move for poorly-paid Berliners, the new federal coalition has also agreed to implement a minimum wage of 8.50 EUR an hour. But the wage won't come into effect until 2015, and even when it does it will not be a huge improvement. The Radio Spaetkauf team has another solution - why not start a campaign for a London-style living wage that reflects the real cost of working in the city? Maisie interviews Bo Van, an architect who has created the Unreal Estate House, a temporary mobile construction that he invites anyone to stay in for free, to challenge the idea of property ownership and encourage civic participation. Tonight's song comes from Bra Bra Bra, an all-female band from Berlin.