"2020 - another year, another Christmas. Stay healthy and let's stick together!" These lines have recently been seen and read frequently around the city as a poster campaign by the city council and its partners.

Well, and actually I think these words say almost everything.

Writing a greeting at the end of the year is always a particular challenge. The questions arise as to whether all the key messages have been included, whether the list of key events of the past year is complete and whether it has been possible to look ahead a little?

And this year, the question also arises as to whether we still want to read about corona at all?

But can the coronavirus, which has turned all our lives upside down, go unmentioned?

I mean "no"! This virus has thrown everything into such disarray that nothing is as it used to be, so much grief, worry, uncertainty and restrictions and we are all longing for normality!

For me, at least one thing is certain: this year has shown us even more than usual what really matters and has led us to reflect on true values: Faith, love, health, humility, public spirit, a little more "we" instead of "me" - this list is not exhaustive and it won't look the same for everyone, but we should all rally around these values, because the fact is, you can't fight a pandemic alone, you have to fight it together!

This requires cohesion, responsibility and confidence!

The people who have tackled the pandemic over the past few months and kept our urban society going have been remarkable. I am thinking, for example, of all the doctors and staff in hospitals, surgeries, care services and retirement and nursing homes, the many employees in supermarkets and stores who have ensured that we have supplies every day and all those active in our city's clubs and associations who have done a great job despite the pandemic to ensure that social distancing does not become a requirement for loneliness.

Not forgetting the employees in the health department, who are doing an outstanding job with great dedication and with the support of the German Armed Forces, the financial administration and employees from other areas of the city administration. And the professional fire department and the aid organization, who set up our vaccination center in less than two weeks and are now waiting for the go-ahead, also deserve recognition. The municipal public order service also has a tough job; in addition to its many tasks, it has also been monitoring the constantly changing coronavirus rules since March.

I would like to thank them all very much!

My thanks also go to all of you who have adhered to the rules and continue to do so - forgoing excursions, trips or family celebrations to protect yourselves and others from the virus! I am happy and proud that our urban society is standing closer together than ever at this time.

We are all longing for good news this year. I can provide you with this in the form of a short review of the past year, as there were and are many positive things to report from this year. I would also like to give you an outlook on what we in the town hall are planning together with politicians, companies and the scientific community in order to position Salzgitter well for the future as Lower Saxony's third-largest industrial location and a child and family-friendly city of learning.

Globalization, the energy transition and digitalization are three key developments that also have an impact on our city. All stakeholders are called upon to play an active role in shaping the associated transformation processes. And that is exactly what we are doing!

Globalization has resulted in growing international competitive pressure for our companies. The Executive Board of MAN Truck & Bus uses this as a bogus justification to push through massive job cuts at the Salzgitter plant. All the parliamentary groups of the City of Salzgitter and I, as Mayor, have resolutely opposed this ill-considered, uncoordinated and completely excessive decision. We will do everything in our power to express our conviction: Hands off our MAN plant! Job security through realignment is the order of the day!

The energy transition and globalization can bring opportunities and innovation. This is demonstrated in particular by Salzgitter AG with the SALCOS project, i.e. low-CO2 steel production, Alstom with the world's first hydrogen train, the Coradia iLint, and Volkswagen with its electromobility offensive and the establishment of battery cell production as a joint project with Northvolt at the VW plant in Salzgitter-Beddingen.

We can use this know-how in our city to establish Salzgitter as a center for renewable energies and hydrogen technology.

The cooperation agreement was signed in September, marking the start of the Hydrogen Campus. At the hydrogen campus, knowledge exchange and consulting will be established, research capacities pooled and model plants set up. 7 million euros from the 50 million euros in structural aid promised by the state of Lower Saxony, for which I fought long and hard with the support of our members of the state parliament, will serve as financial start-up capital. At its meeting on December 16, the city council approved three pilot projects that bring the abstract term "hydrogen competence center" to life and finally make it visible.

We have also pushed ahead with the digitalization of schools and purchased, configured and delivered iPads and laptops. We have achieved a great deal in the digitalization of schools this year. It's high time, even if we as a local authority have only made an advance contribution, because the educational mandate and everything that goes with it still lies with the federal states! This is where our Education Minister Grant-Hendrik Tonne has a role to play.

We have also taken a big step forward this year in the area of child daycare. Since 2015, we have either expanded or opened a total of 13 daycare centers, creating 575 kindergarten places and 75 crèche places. This year alone, there were 150 nursery places and 30 crèche places. A further nine new construction and expansion projects are currently either being implemented, have already been approved by the council or are in the planning stage.

And the voucher campaign to strengthen the local economy was also a great example of the cohesion of our urban society. 57,000 people redeemed the voucher, at least doubling its value and sending out a great signal of solidarity!

We have also been able to achieve a lot this year during the pandemic!

In January, we will adopt the double budget for 2021 and 2022, a budget that leaves us little room for maneuver due to pandemic-related declines in trade tax revenue. That's why the following year is even more important than ever: spending and investment with a sense of proportion and foresight! For example, I would like to mention the refurbishment and new construction program for the fire stations of our volunteer fire departments of EUR 1.2 million per year and the new construction of Fire Station II of our professional fire department, the refurbishment and renovation of the thermal brine pool and the auditorium of the grammar school in Salzgitter-Bad, the new construction of three day care centers and two elementary school from the state's EUR 50 million structural aid fund as well as various road construction measures.

And another event is casting its shadow ahead: In September, you will all be called upon to elect the city council and the Lord Mayor. For the first time in years, both elections will be held on the same day and for the same term of office. All those who receive your vote are elected for five years and will have to steer the fortunes of our city and take responsibility for all decisions on your behalf.

I am happy to continue to take on this responsibility and will run for the office of Lord Mayor again.

Although we are certainly not all facing a normal festive season, I wish you a peaceful and blessed Christmas. Please enjoy the holidays in as small a group as possible to protect yourselves and your circle of family and friends.

I wish you all the best for the new year, which will certainly be challenging for all of us, and above all health and confidence!

Yours

Frank Klingebiel