Thursday, July 30, 2020

'Night-Mayor'?

I had to look up the phrase when it came up in the news this morning....Nachtbürgermeister.  It's a German word that I hadn't heard much about.

So it translates over to be the 'night-time-mayor'.

True meaning?  This is a guy that would be walking around the city after 5 PM (particularly on weekends) and be the supreme guy in charge of the police, firemen, and city support (garbage for example).

The topic comes up in Stuttgart....because of recent riots.  SWR (public TV from SW Germany) covers this in detail.

At some point in 2019, Stuttgart's city council created the position....but they never did fill it (it begs questions but you might as well skip that issue).

A  job that people would want?  If you sit and think about it.....you are being tasked to work a good 12-hour long shift....Friday and Saturday evenings....walking into the middle of chaos...directing orders to the police and fire safety...defusing tensions with residents....trying to get 'kids' calmed down to prevent a riot, and continually being stabbed in the back by the city council over decisions made.

I would question the situation, and a lot of people....upon reviewing the job description....would just say 'no thanks'.

You'd basically need some former Army commander with absolute priority over public safety. 

The odds of Stuttgart getting someone to fill the job?  I'd give it a 100-percent guaranteed situation, but I doubt that the guy or gal stays more than twelve months. 

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