Nightjar stops clinic construction: Palmer's fight against bureaucracy!

Nightjar stops clinic construction: Palmer's fight against bureaucracy!

There are currently both progress and challenges in Tübingen. In his latest book “We're doing it now!”, which he wrote together with the doctor Lisa Federle, Mayor Boris Palmer described the enormous bureaucratic hurdles that have a strong influence on the city's developments. A central symbol of these obstacles is the nightjar, a rare bird that recently settled on the grounds of the Tübingen University Hospital, stalling the clinic's planned 250 million euro expansion. That's what she reports South German newspaper.

The nightjar is an endangered species from the nightjar family. Its occurrence at the university hospital not only delays the planned construction, but also stands in the tension between nature conservation and the urgent need to secure health care for millions of people. Palmer criticizes the bureaucracy and questions why this bird, which has been known for years, has not already been captured so as not to further hinder construction. The Association for Environmental and Nature Conservation (BUND) counters that the city and the clinic could have prepared better. According to BUND, responsibility for this situation lies not only with the nature conservation authorities, but also with those responsible in the city.

The path to construction: A bureaucratic network

The nightjar is not only rare in the Tübingen region, but could also soon be remembered as a new “Juchten beetle” that stopped the controversial Stuttgart 21 project years ago. At that time, Palmer had defended the Yuchen beetle, while he is now acting as a counterforce against the nightjar, with the aim of streamlining bureaucratic processes. In his book, Palmer also discusses his intervention with the Federal Minister of Construction to move forward with the construction project, as the nightjar's presence has a negative impact on over two million people.

In order not to further endanger the nightjar, extensive compensatory measures are required, including the clearing of ten hectares of forest. At the same time, Palmer must explain to citizens how he balances the need for deforestation to protect species with the needs of a growing population. Palmer expressed concern about how to communicate the need for deforestation to protect species when it all revolves around providing medical care for three million people. However, the nature conservation authority has made it clear that this is only partial clearing and that some trees should be retained.

Palmer's challenges and successes

The last few years have shaped Boris Palmer as mayor of Tübingen. He has been at the helm of the city since 2007 and has a public presence that often causes controversy. In his book he addresses both successes and scandals that played a role, among other things, in the areas of migration and health strategy, especially during the corona pandemic. Palmer and Federle developed their own testing strategy, which has received a lot of attention in recent months. According to the SWR Current The book is described as clear and lively, without readers feeling offended.

In the end it becomes clear: Tübingen has a lot to offer, be it in terms of renewable energies, sustainable solutions or social issues. But the bureaucratic hurdles and the protection of nature are challenges that everyone involved must accept so that both the city and its citizens can prosper.