VOTES

You may have seen posters around Zurich with «Endlich» this and «Endlich» that written on them. Endlich is the German word for finally and «endlich» we are going to get a decision in the upcoming referendum. But what are the votes about?

On the 27th of September, as well as the national initiatives, Zurich voters will approve 6 local initiatives. Here they are listed in terms of relevance. (or from least to most boring…)

The initiative that is likely to effect most of you Ronsters is the popular initiative on safe cycle routes in Zurich. The city wants to provide 50km of fast cycle routes and generally provide better signalling with less interaction with pedestrians and other traffic. Who could possible object? Well the FDP and SVP don’t think this a good idea as they feel it will be implemented at the expense of other road users and won’t really improve safety.

facebook/StadionJA

Let’s build a football stadium. Activists may have tried to bribe you with chocolate to approve the «ensemble» project which will give Zurich a proper 18000 capacity football stadium at Hardturm. But that’s not all. It will also provide homes and commercial spaces. But not everyone is happy. The «IG Freiräume Zürich West» don’t think it’s a very good solution for social and environment reasons. 

The third initiative deals with the use of Zurich power supplier, EWZ’s site at Herden. They want to consolidate existing sites, create jobs and increase use of solar power on the site. They also want the new development to accommodate a new cafeteria facing the Pfingstweidpark.

We’re all getting old. Even me! But what about helping the aged? The PSZH provides services to the elderly to assist with pension and financial administration as well as free advice and social counselling. Unfortunately with demand rising and federal budgets being reduced the city needs to make up the shortfall so the good folks of Zurich need to approve it.

The final two votes are technical to say the least and as you are probably not looking for a cure for insomnia i won’t bore you with the details. They concern the ability of the city council to buy properties costing over 2 million without municipal council approval and the provision of drinking water to the Glatt Valley. I told you they were boring!