Come to Cologne, where people are proud of the corruption and nepotism, affectionately called “Klüngel”, that directly turns their tax money into profit for some clever Jeck. For example via an opera house that was supposed to cost 250 million and is currently projected to cost about 1,5 billion.
Those cost increases are not unique to Cologne though. It starts with a cost estimate that’s way below that is highly unlikely to work out, but one that is politically feasible. Then costs increase and often enough, public sector decision makers are inept at damage control when unexpected things happen (which they do) and plans need to be reworked accordingly. Things then get out of hand and construction companies know that shit needs to get done at some point and there’s more money to be made once the child has fallen into the well.
You’re not gonna be able to start a 600 million euro project if you’re honest about it. You say it’ll be 250 million, get it greenlit, and go from there. It’s stupid, but that’s how it works everywhere. I’m not saying that there is no corruption involved, but I don’t think it’s the worst problem.
I know. What’s unique to Cologne is that fact that the people deciding the budget and the bosses of the construction companies share a table at some carnival events, drink some Kölsch and make some deals. And the people of Cologne enjoy this as part of their tradition. And once all the tax money is gone and the rest of the city collapsed (as long as it’s not the Dom) they’ll simply say “Et hätt noch immer jot jejange” and carry on as usual.
Witziger_Waschbaer@feddit.org 3 weeks ago
Come to Cologne, where people are proud of the corruption and nepotism, affectionately called “Klüngel”, that directly turns their tax money into profit for some clever Jeck. For example via an opera house that was supposed to cost 250 million and is currently projected to cost about 1,5 billion.
Schmuppes@lemmy.today 3 weeks ago
Those cost increases are not unique to Cologne though. It starts with a cost estimate that’s way below that is highly unlikely to work out, but one that is politically feasible. Then costs increase and often enough, public sector decision makers are inept at damage control when unexpected things happen (which they do) and plans need to be reworked accordingly. Things then get out of hand and construction companies know that shit needs to get done at some point and there’s more money to be made once the child has fallen into the well.
You’re not gonna be able to start a 600 million euro project if you’re honest about it. You say it’ll be 250 million, get it greenlit, and go from there. It’s stupid, but that’s how it works everywhere. I’m not saying that there is no corruption involved, but I don’t think it’s the worst problem.
Witziger_Waschbaer@feddit.org 3 weeks ago
I know. What’s unique to Cologne is that fact that the people deciding the budget and the bosses of the construction companies share a table at some carnival events, drink some Kölsch and make some deals. And the people of Cologne enjoy this as part of their tradition. And once all the tax money is gone and the rest of the city collapsed (as long as it’s not the Dom) they’ll simply say “Et hätt noch immer jot jejange” and carry on as usual.
Schmuppes@lemmy.today 3 weeks ago
Köln is indeed special.