Brigitte Sträter: About four years ago you were elected Lord Mayor of the North Rhine-Westphalian state capital Düsseldorf with great majority. What are the special attractions of this office and the city?
Dirk Elbers: I am Lord Mayor of this city with all my heart, soul and conviction. Before being elected, I was also First Mayor and Chairman of the Faction. It is a matter of the heart for me to stand up for the interests and fortunes of my hometown. The office of Lord Mayor is extremely versatile. Every day I have to do with totally different themes and issues and make decisions that require a great deal of tact.
This very special “Düsseldorf-feeling”
For me it is a privilege that I can call Düsseldorf my home. The high quality of life, economic strength, social and cultural services and the cosmopolitan, international community, this very special “Düsseldorf-feeling” is second to none in the world.
What does Jewish life look like today in Düsseldorf?
With more than 7,500 Jews, Jewish life in Düsseldorf is very present and alive. The Jewish community has social facilities and is involved in social life in many ways. We maintain with it and its representatives a very trusting and lively exchange.
Throughout the year, I often visit the community center and synagogue, for example, for the annual presentation of the Josef Neuberger Medal or for the outstanding music concerts there.
Mayor Dirk Elbers pays a visit to the foundry where the casting of Mendelssohn’s statue is prepared
The restoration of Mendelssohn’s statue
Of course the collective memory of the Holocaust plays an important role. For me personally that is one very important aspect of living together. To maintain Germany’s special responsibility for Jewish life from generation to generation is a major concern. The other side is the joint view of the future. We want Düsseldorf to keep on being a place in which Jewish life can develop. I believe that this cosmopolitan city is a good place for it.
In 2009, it was decided to restore the bronze statue of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy which was taken down by the Nazis in 1936 because of the composer’s Jewish origins, and melted down in 1940.
With the restoration of the monument Mendelssohn’s great achievement for Düsseldorf as city of music is finally being brought back into public consciousness. The current restauration closes a painful gap in the cultural memory of our city.
A city partnership with Haifa
How does Düsseldorf manage its city partnership with Haifa?
The relationship with Haifa is one of the oldest of the state capital Düsseldorf’s city partnerships. Although it was formally founded in 1988, a deep friendship had already developed in the 1970’s. Düsseldorf is now actively involved with friends and patrons of the Haifa Foundation and I am in regular contact with Mayor Yahav.
And the exchange of citizens is very active, whether with students, in science or in art, where since 1987, there has been a regular exchange program between the Düsseldorf art scene and the artists’ village of Ein Hod in Haifa. On my last visit to Haifa in 2011, I was able to discover the beauty of our twin town. For 2013 I’m planning another visit to Haifa, which this time will focus on economic exchange.
Düsseldorf is home to a Jewish community of more than 7,500
What value do you expect from the redevelopment of the Kö-Bogen building project by the New York architect Daniel Libeskind?
The project Kö-Bogen in its entirety, together with the construction of the new subway line, is a unique opportunity for Düsseldorf to remake the heart of its city. Between the green parks of the Hof Garden and the busy shopping streets, new spaces for lingering are being created, spaces which emphasize the special atmosphere of the bustling capital. Düsseldorf will become even more livable and lovable.
As Mayor, which are the biggest challenges you face in the coming years?
Currently, it is certainly the global economic crisis which overshadows all local challenges. Also, keeping Düsseldorf debt-free is not automatic, we must again and again defend our financial stability. In the next few years we will have to learn to tighten our belts and set our priorities even more accurately.