Committee Spokesperson in the Advisory Council Neustadt:Social AffairsEducationYouthCultureHealthSecurityInternal Affairs
1958
Origins
Working-class child, grew up in Haltern am See in a family without academic tradition. Education was not a given for me, but a hard-won path. These origins shape my understanding of social justice, my political commitment, and my dedication to people who don't start with privilege.
1965-1984
Education
Abitur in Haltern am See. Law studies at the University of Bonn, First State Examination in Law. Legal clerkship in North Rhine-Westphalia, Second State Examination in Law.
1984-1987
Science
Research associate at the Institute of Criminology, University of Bonn.
1987-1999
Bundestag & SPD Group
Head of the parliamentary office of Renate Schmidt, Member and Vice President of the German Bundestag. Subsequently policy advisor in the SPD parliamentary group in Bonn with various responsibilities. Part-time lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration NRW in Cologne.
1999-2009
Federal Insurance Office
Head of department at the Federal Insurance Office in Bonn. Deputy chair of the Examination Commission at the Federal University of Applied Administrative Sciences, Social Insurance Division, Berlin.
since 2009
Consultant & Lecturer
Consultant and lecturer in the healthcare sector. Advising hospitals, health insurers, and healthcare stakeholders. Lecturing at universities and member of the IHK Oldenburg examination commission.
today
Volunteering & Neustadt
Deputy chair of the SPD local branch Neustadt, Bremen. Honorary judge at the Social Court of Bremen. Member of the Workers' Welfare Association (AWO) and the Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold.
What I stand for.
A plan for the Neustadt. Open. Social. Achievable.
I stand for politics that listen, explain, and make concrete improvements possible. Good local services, strong sports and youth programs, affordable new energy, and transparent decisions all belong together for me. The Neustadt doesn't need abstract promises, but approachable politics with expertise, experience, and a clear social compass.
Good Local Services
Health begins in the neighborhood: with accessible services, strong outpatient care, women's health, social counseling, and reliable hospital funding.
Sports and Youth Need Space
I advocate for strong clubs, renovated sports facilities, youth spaces, and open programs without pressure to consume. The Neustadt Model shows what practical support can look like.
New Energy Must Stay Affordable
Climate protection on the left bank of the Weser needs solutions that work and stay affordable: geothermal energy, anergy networks, local district heating, good planning, and transparent costs.
Politics Must Be Understandable
Office hours, round tables, and clear decisions belong together for me. Politics improves when people are involved early and can follow the process.
Affordable Housing, Education & Youth
Housing must remain affordable, for families, students, and seniors. At the same time, our children and young people need the best educational opportunities and safe spaces.
Clothing containers and illegal dumping: keeping Neustadt cleaner
At the 1 October environment and planning committee meeting, Bremen's municipal cleaning service discussed clothing collection containers and illegal dumping. Residents raised concerns about a container near the Leibnizplatz school and theatre. An SPD member suggested concentrating containers in commercial areas, while the service stressed the need for walking-distance access. Alternative sites and enforcement were also discussed.
Lahnstraße: SPD seeks a compromise on parking
At the 17 September mobility committee meeting, the proposed Lahnstraße cycle street prompted debate. The SPD opposed the authority's preferred option 1.1 because it would remove too many parking spaces. The committee nonetheless voted 4–2 for that option. Other topics included safer crossings, traffic safety and accessibility, with €30,000 recommended for improvements at the Gottfried-Menken-Straße stop.
Strengthening schools, youth services and emergency response
At its 3 September meeting, the committee discussed the Delmestraße school campus, youth services and emergency response. It unanimously called for federal infrastructure funding to support the campus. Committee spokesperson Udo Schmitz (SPD) pressed for clarity on funding for the JOKES circus school and urged Bremen to implement the previously approved mobile first-responder alert system. The committee also approved grants for local educational, community and youth projects.
Advisory Council: Häschenstraße, Piepe and Open-Air Parties
The meeting focused on the planned temporary accommodation on Häschenstraße, the situation at Piepe and open-air parties at Werdersee. Neighbours raised many questions and concerns about the accommodation, which could house up to 190 people; the social affairs department promised more information and participation. The council allocated up to €20,700 to redesign the Piepe seating area and called for close involvement by police, public order officers and street workers. Future open-air parties at Werdersee must end by 2 a.m. at the latest, with bass volume reduced from midnight.
Children and Youth Services: Lücke Project and Buntentor Youth Centre
At the request of the SPD council group, the Neustadt Advisory Council voted by written procedure to continue the Lücke project and preserve the Buntentor youth centre. It called for interim funding, clear responsibilities between the education and social affairs departments, and early involvement of the council, the provider, and affected children, young people and parents in further planning.
Advisory Council: Langemarckstraße, Piepe and Resident Parking
The Neustadt Advisory Council unanimously decided not to rename Langemarckstraße, opting instead for critical contextualization with explanatory signs, QR information and a broad remembrance process. For the Piepe area, a cross-departmental round table was established, alongside street work, improved cleaning and, in the long term, a decentralized drug support facility. For western Neustadt, the council backed three resident parking zones, expected to start in November 2026.
Advisory Council: Neighborhood Parking and the Neustadt-West Pilot
The focus was the "parking in neighborhoods" concept with the Neustadt-West pilot, responding to a Federal Administrative Court ruling on sidewalk parking. The new parking rules are to take effect from mid-July 2026, with resident parking starting in November 2026 – a resident parking permit is set to cost 75 euros per year. Discussions covered accessibility, parking pressure, neighborhood garages, park-and-ride and improvements to public transport.
Police reported on the five firearm incidents in March that led to increased presence in the district. These were explicitly targeted incidents, not random acts, investigations are ongoing at full speed. Overall, crime in the district is declining.
Klinikum Links der Weser: MVZ to stay, relocation in 2029
A Medical Care Center (MVZ) is still planned for the site. The hospital's move to Klinikum Bremen-Mitte is scheduled for late 2029. A public petition is being prepared to prevent the relocation.
Delmestraße School Campus
Transformation of the school campus (daycare, primary and secondary school) is progressing, but parents and the advisory council voiced strong criticism of insufficient space and slow timelines. The council is drafting a resolution urging the Senate to prioritise the Delmestraße campus for the LuKIF 2 funding programme.
Traffic: Deichschart & Gneisenaustraße
The advisory council unanimously (with one abstention) asked the responsible senators to revise traffic planning around Deichschart and the Werdersee bridge, with a focus on pedestrians, cycling, accessibility and flood protection. Up to €31,255 from the district traffic budget were allocated to remove barriers in Gneisenaustraße.
District Funding Decisions
The council approved funding for DRK Bremen (Freizi Neustadt holiday programmes 2026, up to €4,214), Offene Ateliers Bremen Neustadt e.V. (up to €1,185), planting at Gottfried-Menken-Platz (up to €500) and the SummerSounds Festival 2026 (up to €2,973). An application from the Kleingärtnerverein Neustadt Süd for a clubhouse extension was rejected due to lack of public access.
Langemarckstraße & Bürgermeister-Smidt-Brücke
Public participation on renaming Langemarckstraße is underway, a second event takes place on 23 April. The reopening of the Bürgermeister-Smidt-Brücke for public transit from 13 April was welcomed as a significant improvement for the district.
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