First Class U-Bahns

How fancy is your flat? There's a checklist you can use to fight against rental increases. If your building has a communal party room and video intercom, your rent might go up. But if you don't have a proper shower or bike racks, you can argue for a rent reduction. We pay tribute to David Bowie, the ultimate Berlin international temporary resident, who wrote three albums while living here from 1976 to 1978. In "Heroes" he sung the prophetic lyric "I remember standing by the wall... and we kissed as though nothing would fall." He also wrote a few klangers, like the incorrectly spelt "Neukoln". Bowie did Berlin before all of us, and better than any of us.us, and better than all of us. We dance in his shadow. Tempelhof referendum revisited: The city government is trying to re-write the citizen-initiated law preventing development on Tempelhofer Feld, in order to build refugee accommodation. Critics say the law is losely worded and would allow luxury flat development - the very thing the referendum was against. Council buys back houses: A Berlin city council has found a new tactic to stop house price increases. The Green controlled Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg council used its first-refusal right to prevent a speculative investor from buying an entire building in Wrangelstraße. Instead, the house will be bought by the city-owned housing company Gewobag, together with a non-profit foundation. This will allow the tenants to keep paying cheap rents. Thanks to our supporters Mobile Kino, Berlin's traveling cinema. They're presenting a Quentin Tarantino retrospective from January 15 to 30. Check out their website for more details: www.mobilekino.de Recorded live at Donau115 on Monday January 11. Presenters: Joel Dullroy, Jöran Mandik and Daniel Stern. Filmed by Victoria Linchong.

12 Tammi 201655min

Workers at the iconic Kino Babylon have been picketing in front of the cinema for months now, demanding more than the minimum wage. The cinema says it can't pay more, and has filed for bankruptcy. Film goers are being asked to take sides, but who's right in such a messy situation? The Radio Spaetkauf team have a vigorous debate about workers' rights and business realities. The city is filling up with asylum seekers. Many public buildings are being retrofitted to house refugees, including Tempelhof Airport, where up to 5000 people will eventually stay. Anyone can help by volunteering for a few hours. Sign up at www.volunteer-planner.org. Thanks to Donau115 for hosting our live recording. Radio Spaetkauf is Joel, Maisie, Jöran and Daniel Stern.

14 Joulu 20151h 6min

RS#08: Live at Donau115 by Radio Spaetkauf Berlin

8 Marras 201542min

You're invited to a special Radio Spaetkauf live show at 6pm Sunday November 8 at Donau115 in Neukölln. Come along and hear the local news directly from your hosts Joel, Joeran and Daniel, plus some special guests. See you there!

1 Marras 20152min

RS#07: Trouble at Teufelsberg by Radio Spaetkauf Berlin

3 Loka 201528min

Radio Spaetkauf is Berlin's news show. On this episode: Europe's refugee crisis is hitting Berlin. Over 550 asylum seekers are arriving each day to seek a safer life. The city's bureaucrats are struggling to keep up with the influx, but volunteers are helping hand out water bottles as refugees wait in the hot sun to file their applications for asylum. The actor Til Schweiger has stepped in to call for more shelters for refugees, which has earned him our respect. Got a problem getting into the Bürgeramt to register your address? A startup has created a website where you can book an appointment at short notice for between €25 and €45. However it appears to operate by booking all the available appointments, then selling them back to desperate citizens. The BER airport is in trouble again, this time because one of the main contractors has filed for insolvency. That means the much-delayed opening date of late 2017 may be pushed back even further. Wondering why there are so many wasps around this summer? Our animal kingdom expert Jöran has the answer. Got a comment or question for the show? Write in to hallo@radiospaetkauf.com.

25 Elo 201536min

Listen to the first ever live Radio Spaetkauf, recorded in front of an audience of film fans at the Mobile Kino Weekender and featuring an interview with Mobile Kino founders Fernando and Joshua. On this episode we follow up Jöran's Tempelhof bug investigation, look into the costs of having a visit from the Queen and discuss whether or not there is any point in opposing Merkel for re-election. We also check back in on the späti petition and the plight of marriage equality in Germany, where the CDU has taken an internal vote to see what their members think about gay marriage. This weekend while we were camping there was a new version of the famous "Love Parade" through Berlin and we take a look at the coverage of it along with other stories on this very special episode recorded live at the Mobile Kino Weekender, a cinematic camping trip in the woods of Brandenburg. Radio Spaetkauf is the Berlin podcast, bringing stories from the city. Hosts Joel, Jöran and Daniel read you the news in English to make you feel more at home.

27 Heinä 201529min

Have you been attacked by bugs at Tempelhof at lately? Swarms of June bugs are emerging at sunset to look for food, and are flying into people's heads. Radio Spaetkauf's insect expert Jöran explains what the bugs are up to. Should Berlin have a commuter ferry service along the river and canals? A pair of architects have come up with a bold proposal to extend the public transport system to the water. The ferries would run in a circuit along the Spree, Landwehrkanal and connecting waterways. Other cities have commuter ferries, why not Berlin? Although Berlin is home to a huge population of gay people, the city government is shamefully refusing to join in the global trend toward marriage equality for all. Berlin's representatives in the Bundesrat recently abstained from voting on a bill proposing marriage equality, under pressure from the city's CDU leader Frank Henkel. Berlin was once governed by a gay man, now it is under the control of a conservative Christian. Radio Spaetkauf is the Berlin podcast, bringing stories from the city. Hosts Joel, Jöran and Daniel read you the news in English to make you feel more at home.

20 Heinä 201551min