RS Lockdown: Excuse for Everything

S-Bahn or U-Bahn? Take the U-Bahn if you like free Wi-Fi and fare evading. Figures from the Berlin Senat show the S-Bahn prosecuted over 35,000 repeat ticket cheaters in 2016, three times as many as the BVG. The S-Bahn checked 8.5 million passenger tickets, while the BVG only checked 5 million. Don't try it if you want a career in education. A young Berlin man has been denied a career as a teacher because his potential employer ran a police background check and found he had been caught riding public transport with a fake ticket. A labour court upheld the school's decision. After the spectacular gold coin robbery at the Bode Museum, here's another break-in. On Easter Sunday police responded to an alarm at the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf Bürgeramt and caught two men in the building, while a third man escaped. Police said the burglars were trying to steal paper forms. Barack Obama will be visiting Berlin and will give a public address at the Brandenburger Tor on May 25. He'll be on stage with Angela Merkel at an event to mark the 500th anniversary since Martin Luther started the protestant reformation. Our next live show is at 17.30 on Sunday April 23 at the Comedy Cafe Berlin in Neukölln. This episode was presented by Joel Dullroy and Daniel Stern, and brought to you by RadioEins.

20 Huhti 20174min

Berliners will get to vote on whether to keep Tegel open after the campaign to save the airport collected enough signatures to trigger a referendum. But even if Berlin votes yes in September, it doesn't mean that Tegel will actually stay open due to complicated legal reasons. The past March was one of the warmest in recorded history, at an average temperature of 8 degrees. The winter was also unusually warm. Bee-keepers in Berlin and Brandenburg are reporting that 40% of their hives have died as a result, due to the growth of the varroa destructor parasite. Want to take a ride on Berlin's first cable car? Head along to the International Garten Ausstellung, opening in Marzahn on April 13. The 1.5km cable car will transport guests into the garden show, and is free to ride with a ticket to the IGA. It also gives a great view of the socialist Plattenbauten of East Berlin. More here: https://iga-berlin-2017.de If you haven't yet, have a listen to our last hour-long live show. We had a great interview with a restaurant owner who was attacked by anti-gentrification activists in Kreuzberg. Find it on our website: http://www.radiospaetkauf.com This episode of Radio Spaetkauf was presented by Joel Dullroy and Maisie Hitchcock, and brought to you by RadioEins, Berlin's public broadcaster.

7 Huhti 20173min

Restauranteur Clare D'Orsay is a victim of anti-gentrification violence. She has been unfairly targeted by protesters angry about the potential eviction of Cafe Filou in Kreuzberg. Her restaurant Vertikal is next door. On this show Clare talks about the attacks against her business at the hands of misguided protesters. Clare says she's been spat at, pushed to the ground and had her windows smashed by an organized group for being a foreigner opening a nice looking restaurant. Investors Charles Skinner also joined the show to announce he's reached an agreement with Cafe Filou and will allow them to stay. Mr. Skinner said he decided to renew the contract after appeals from Green party politician Hans-Christian Ströble and Ms. D'Orsay. "In the end we saw reason," Mr. Skinner said. Maisie is one of 480 British citizens trying to apply for a German passport to ensure she can stay after Brexit. Unsurprisingly she's run into bureaucratic hurdles. Mark Whiley from Forward Britain joined the show to talk about what despairing Brits can do to create political pressure back home to try to mitigate the effect of Brexit. Visit http://www.forwardbritain.de This show was recorded live at Comedy Cafe Berlin on Sunday March 19 2017, and was hosted by Maisie Hitchcock, Jöran Mandik, Joel Dullroy and Daniel Stern. Subscribe to Radio Spaetkauf on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/radio-spaetkauf-berlin-podcast/id571999392 Support Radio Spaetkauf by donating a euro a month: https://radiospaetkauf.steadyhq.com/en

19 Maalis 201757min

Hang on to your wallet on the U6 and U8. Crime stats show they're the hottest U-Bahn lines for pickpockets. While wallet theft is up, crime rates in Berlin have remained stable - not bad, since the city is growing. Bicycle activists have long complained that Berlin's €10 parking fines are too cheap. Now a study has found it costs the city €10.38 to process a parking ticket. Should the city charge more, or give up issuing fines? Strikes are continuing at Berlin airports, where workers are demanding an immediate €1 pay rise per hour, while ground service companies are offering €0.27 a year over three years. Ryanair has escalated the situation by flying in a plane load of Irish strike breakers. Hear more about drama at the BER airport at our next live show at 5.30pm, Sunday March 19 at the Comedy Cafe Berlin in Neukölln. This episode was hosted by Jöran Mandik and Daniel Stern, and presented by RadioEins.

16 Maalis 20173min

Ever wanted to make a citizen's arrest? Don't try it in Berlin. A local politician attempted to rally an U-Bahn carriage to help detain an alleged pickpocket, but was ignored by his fellow U8 passengers. New fatter U-Bahn carriages are now being rolled out on some lines. The new model type is nicknamed the "Icke." That name has nothing to do with David Icke, the conspiracy theorist whose speaking event was recently cancelled by Berlin's Maritim Hotel, which has declared itself politically neutral. Ever wanted to try out stand-up comedy? Dan is hosting a new open mike called Slingshot! held each Wednesday at Kupfer Bar in Mitte. He'll even give you a few tips. This episode was presented by Maisie Hitchcock and Daniel Stern, and brought to you by RadioEins.

3 Maalis 20173min

How to make Berlin's buses run faster? The city has set up a taskforce to come up with ideas. One of them is to allow passengers to board on the rear doors to save time. The BVG doesn't like the plan. Our own Dan Stern has a few suggestions for the taskforce, one involving the to-be-constructed Wippe see-saw monument. Two major transport tunnel projects are delayed due to groundwater flooding - no surprise, since Berlin is built on a swamp. The S21 connection between Gesundbrunnen and Hauptbahnhof, and the U5 extension under Museuminsel are both experiencing water problems. Again, Dan has a suggestion - an underground ferry system. Berlin's latest anti-gentrification protest is against the eviction of Cafe Filou, a French bakery in Kreuzberg being kicked out by British investors who don't like the croissants. Could more of these kinds of investors be on their way to Berlin with the planned relocation of Lloyd's bank to the German capital? Radio Spaetkauf is a listener-supported podcast. If you like the show, why not donate a small monthly amount to keep the news coming? Go to: www.radiospaetkauf.com/donate This live show was presented by Maisie Hitchcock, Jöran Mandik, Joel Dullroy and Daniel Stern. Recorded live at Comedy Cafe Berlin on Sunday Feb 19, 2017.

20 Helmi 201749min

Berlin workers go on strike! Airport staff shut down Tegel and Schönefeld terminals on Feb 8 demanding a pay rise from €11 to €12 hour. Kindergarten staff went on strike on Feb 15, causing every second kita to close. They're seeking equal pay with Brandenburg kita workers, who get up to €400 more per month. Berlin is to get a new monument that is more like an amusement ride. The so-called Wippe, or see-saw, will be a moving platform that is supposed to reflect the motion of democracy. Federal politicians finally agreed to fund the Wippe after years of back and forth. No fixed opening date has been announced. The famous Berghain nightclub will open a new dance floor on March. Called Säule, it will feature dark experimental electronic music, and provide the club with space to squeeze in more guests. Come to our next live show! It's on Sunday Feb 19, 17.30, at the Comedy Cafe Berlin in Neukölln. Entry is free. This episode was presented by Jöran Mandik and Joel Dullroy, and brought to you by RadioEins.

15 Helmi 20173min

German federal police carried out an undercover sting targeting ticket inspectors on the Berlin S-Bahn. Five inspectors were busted fining tourists and pocketing the cash. If you're caught, ask for inspectors' ID and always get a receipt! Six months in prison for smoking on your balcony? A Hellersdorf woman has been ordered by a court to not smoke outside between 8pm and 6am, or face a fine or jail time. Her 20 cigarettes a night were bothering her neighbour. Fritz is the new Knut. Tierpark's 3-month polar bear cub has been named Fritz, short for Friedrich, which intones peace. He's half Russian. Event tip: Australian musician Darren Cross writes songs inspired by Berlin. He's playing a silent concert at Ofen Bar on Feb 7, where you wear headphones to hear the music. More here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1079325368844281/ This episode was presented by Maisie Hitchcock and Daniel Stern, and brought to you by RadioEins.

3 Helmi 20174min