GroenLinkseuveniles speak out against coalition's 'flirtation' with Rotterdam law

After an exciting, silent period of negotiations, The Hague's coalition agreement was presented this afternoon. In it, the parties VVD, D66, Group de Mos and GroenLinks unveiled their plans for the coming council period. Although it certainly contains some good points, DWARS Leiden-Haaglanden also sees some major negatives. The biggest stumbling block in this is the coalition's 'flirtation' with the so-called Rotterdam Act, which is why the organisation is calling for the coalition to abandon it.

"We are mostly positive about this agreement," said Isabel Bos, president of the local youth wing of GroenLinks. The commitment to sustainability is much appreciated by them, and the arrival of former MP Van Tongeren as alderman for Sustainability and Energy Transition is received positively. Although there are still critical notes on, for example, the switch to residual heat from the Port of Rotterdam, DWARS applauds the coalition's attempt to make great strides towards a climate-neutral city. Fine things are also proposed on the social front: for instance, DWARS is pleased that active efforts are being made to make The Hague a nicer city for LGBTQIA+ persons, for instance, and that grote steps are being taken in combating discrimination and (street) harassment of vulnerable groups.

Yet DWARS is also critical of several aspects of the agreement. The GroenLinkse youngsters find it "regrettable" that the new college is backtracking on the previous one's promise to take in more refugees. "The Hague, precisely as a city of Peace and Justice, has a great responsibility vear victims of conflict and hatred. It is disappointing that this responsibility is not being realised by this coalition."

The main criticism for GroenLinks's youth is the betting on a possibility of a so-called 'Rotterdam law'. Such a law would allow people with too low incomes to be barred from neighbourhoods. According to the coalition, this should lead to fewer problems, and more social equality in the neighbourhood. Yet research, the latest of which was presented in January 2018, has shown that a Rotterdam law has mostly negative effects. For instance, it actually increases social inequality, and leads to more crime in problem neighbourhoods. Bos: "I am dumbfounded that the coalition sees a Rotterdam law as a realistic solution, when that idea has already been debunked. It is not social, not productive and therefore not desirable. We call on the coalition in the strongest terms to abandon it."

Despite the criticism and appeal, DWARS Leiden-Haaglanden wishes the coalition parties and the new aldermen every success in governing the city and implementingrun of the coalition agreement over the next four years.