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Noosha Aubel: 10 km/h for residents – Potsdam’s approach to potholes: indifference or incompetence?

Politics

Rudolf-Breitscheid-Straße in Potsdam Babelsberg, in the German federal state of Brandenburg, does not look like a road in a state capital. It looks like a record of neglect: torn-up tarmac, exposed paving stones, deep potholes, dangerous kerbs, patchwork repairs instead of proper refurbishment. Anyone travelling here by car, bicycle, moped or motorbike is not driving along a road – they are driving through a publicly funded failure. Whether this publicly funded failure stems from a lack of interest or incompetence at Potsdam Town Hall – where Noosha Aubel (50), as mayor of an independent city in salary grade B7, receives a monthly basic salary of 11,921.34 euros paid for by the taxpayers, according to the pay scale – is a matter for scrutiny.The city, and above all those in charge at Potsdam Town Hall, were aware of the situation, particularly Mayor Noosha Aubel. As early as 2024, Potsdam itself stated that the condition of the roads had deteriorated to such an extent that a 10 km/h speed limit was ‘unavoidable’; the cost of resurfacing the road was estimated at 3.3 million euros. According to the city, the funds for this were not available. However, the blame for this financial crisis – at the citizens’ expense – lies with those in charge at Potsdam City Hall, who are funded by the citizens on a daily basis.