A City for Everyone
Rotterdam is a city of opportunities. Unfortunately, not all Rotterdammers have the same opportunities for employment, housing or for a city in which they can easily move around. This may be due to their ethnicity, their age, their income or because they use a wheelchair.
Many examples show that not everyone has equal opportunities in Rotterdam. For example, the racist Rotterdam Act (which prohibits poor people from moving into certain designated neighbourhoods), the compulsory demolition of social housing in the Tweebosbuurt, Bloemhof and Hillesluis neighbourhoods. But also the increasing violence against LGBTQIA+ people, the growing number of homeless people, and the way refugees are welcomed in Rotterdam.
More than half of Rotterdam's population consists of people of colour and Black people. We are a city of newcomers and people who have found their way here for a multitude of reasons. Everyone deserves to find a safe home in Rotterdam; a home where everyone is equal.
And this is exactly what Rotterdam still needs to fight for. Racism and discrimination are deeply rooted in our society and institutions. Many residents experience this on a daily basis. This needs to change! These are our plans:
- A city councilor against racism and discrimination.
- A total ban on the Dutch blackface tradition of Black Pete on the streets and in all public buildings.
- More funding to support Rotterdam-based organisations that provide knowledge about colonialism and slavery.
- A monument to the Moluccan population of Rotterdam in the Lloydkwartier neighbourhood.
- Make the existing Discrimination Hotline better known, and make it easier to file a report. All reports must be taken seriously.
- A Rainbow House where LGBTQIA+ people can turn to for information, support and help.
- A safe place for the most vulnerable undocumented LGBTQIA+ people.
- Welcome refugees to Rotterdam. We are committed to both emergency shelter and long-term living.
- The racist Rotterdam Act will no longer be enforced. Housing is a right! No more banning of people with low incomes from living in affordable districts.
- Lower the income limit for social housing.
- Extend the self-occupancy obligation to all districts of Rotterdam, to keep investors and landlords out.
- Build homes! At least half of them should be social housing.
- Close Rotterdam Airport. Instead of pollution, we want a city park and social housing in the north of the city.
- Roma, Sinti and caravan dwellers deserve protection. They belong to Rotterdam. The municipality will make every effort to protect this culture.
- Make all public buildings accessible to the elderly and people that use wheelchairs.
- Helping victims of the Dutch childcare benefits scandal (where low-income people were wrongly accused of fraud, and driven into debt by the Dutch authorities, and in some cases even had their children put into foster care). The municipality will absorb those debts as well as help and guide the victims.
- Absorbing and waiving of more private household debt by the municipality. This is the only way that people in financial distress get a fair second chance.
- Young people in debt or young people from closed care must be able to go back to school. We make sure that they get a good education.
- More money to make sports available for everyone. Sports should be safe, also for women, LGBTQIA+ people and disabled people.
- Permission for sex workers with their own businesses to become truly self-employed. A licence is no longer necessary, and working from home needs to become possible.