☀️ Guten Morgen, Berlin!
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Chance of Rain: 80%
Sunrise: 7:20 AM | Sunset: 5:20 PM
Here’s your quick update on Monday, February 16 - from urgent alerts to stories in the subreddit. Today we went through 208 sources so you don't have to.
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🔫 Gun Violence Spikes
A 37-year-old man was critically injured on Thursday evening after an unknown assailant fired multiple shots into his vehicle from the sidewalk in Berlin-Tegel. Hours later, police discovered bullet holes in the windows of an apartment building in Kreuzberg, though no injuries occurred in this second overnight incident. (Tagesspiegel)
These attacks mark the latest in a series of violent events across the capital, following gunfire directed at a Köpenick apartment door on Wednesday and a Wedding hookah bar on Sunday. Authorities recently established the "Ferrum" special police unit to specifically target rising gang-related gun violence and organized crime. (rbb24)
Berlin Justice Senator Felor Badenberg has warned of a new threat level driven by rival groups openly using grenades and firearms in public spaces. In response, the specialized task force has seized 12 live weapons and 192 cartridges while executing nine arrest warrants over the past three months. (WELT)
🤝 German States Agree to 5.8% Public Sector Raise
Unions and German state employers reached an agreement granting roughly 2.5 million public sector workers a 5.8% wage increase. The deal, which averts indefinite strikes, applies to 900,000 employees and will extend to 1.3 million civil servants. Valid for 27 months until January 2028, the contract guarantees a minimum monthly pay rise of €100, while trainees will receive an additional €150. (rbb24)
The pay raise occurs in three stages: 2.8% in April 2026, 2.0% in March 2027, and 1.0% in January 2028. While unions originally demanded 7% over 12 months, this deal notably aligns East German working conditions with the West, including dismissal protections. State officials estimate the total cost for employees and civil servants will reach approximately €12.34 billion, presenting a significant burden for regional budgets. (Tagesspiegel)
This agreement secures planning certainty for critical services like police and schools, though officials describe it as testing financial limits. Berlin Finance Senator Stefan Evers termed the deal a "painful but justifiable compromise" necessary to remain a competitive employer. While the pact costs Brandenburg over €300 million through next year, police unions criticized the long duration, arguing it leaves workers trailing federal standards. (Berliner Morgenpost)
🗳️ Greens Launch Campaign to Unseat Mayor Wegner
The Berlin Greens officially launched their election campaign at a party conference in Neukölln, presenting a united front against Mayor Kai Wegner. Top candidate Werner Graf attacked the current CDU-led coalition for its alleged lack of planning, declaring it is time for Wegner to "move out" of the Red City Hall by the September 20 vote. (Berliner Morgenpost)
The party is currently polling between 14% and 16%, trailing behind the CDU and Die Linke. To regain ground, their platform includes a ban on private jets at BER airport and a commitment to implement the 2021 referendum to expropriate large housing corporations. Additionally, they propose a €9 nationwide transit ticket for low-income residents. (Ntv)
This election could reshape the capital's housing market, as the Greens introduced an "Affordable Rent Law" to penalize landlords who violate price caps. Graf warned that failing to solve the rental crisis will damage democracy itself. Delegates also voted to abolish the state’s Neutrality Law, which prohibited public sector employees in some areas from wearing visible religious symbols or clothing while on duty. (Tagesspiegel)
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⚡ Quick Hits
🇩🇪 Straße des 17. Juni to be closed for years | Construction of a new S-Bahn tunnel will close the road west of the Brandenburg Gate. Work starts around 2030 and may last ten years. Drivers would divert to Tiergartenstraße.
🇩🇪 Merz Urges Renewed US Partnership | Opening the Munich Security Conference, Merz urged a transatlantic reset, warning that the global order has collapsed and even the U.S. cannot manage modern rivalries in isolation.
🇩🇪 Frosty weekend in Berlin and Brandenburg | Temperatures drop to minus seven degrees overnight into Sunday. Fresh snow and possible freezing rain return on Monday morning. Flights at BER are running normally.
🇩🇪 Employment in Berlin and Brandenburg in 2025 | The workforce shrank by 4,100 people in Brandenburg and 2,400 in Berlin. Manufacturing and trade sectors suffered the most. Public service and health sectors saw a slight increase.
🇩🇪 What Berliners need to know about pharaoh ants | These ants carry dangerous germs and hide in electronics. Berlin authorities report very few cases currently. Do not use standard bug sprays. You must notify your landlord or hire a professional exterminator immediately.
🇩🇪 New rules for withdrawing cash at the supermarket | New plans allow you to withdraw cash at shops without making a purchase. The limit is between €100 and €150. The start date is pending final EU approval.
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💬 What Berliners Are Talking About
🗣️ Lost everything; Berlin | Reddit rallies around a survivor rebuilding life after trauma, addiction, and isolation.
🗣️ Anyone here gone through divorce in Berlin? | People share how Berlin divorces feel slow, bureaucratic, and hugely shaped by lawyers.
🗣️ Friends!? | Berlin newcomer seeks genuine, activity-based friendships, sparks lively meetup interest and group ideas.
📊 Chart of the Day
We sometimes hear about "small private landlords" being the backbone of the market. The data suggests that individuals with just 1 unit only own a small minority of rentals (~6%).
🐷 Word of the Day: Wasserschwein | Literal: Water-pig | Meaning: A capybara. | Example: Das Wasserschwein ist das größte Nagetier der Welt. (The water-pig is the largest rodent in the world.)
👋 That's a wrap! Thank you for reading.
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