Solingen’s Mayor Takes the City’s Future to the Streets in Open Dialogue

What does Solingen’s future look like? On July 15, Mayor Kurzbach invites residents to shape it—live, unfiltered, and face-to-face. Your voice could redefine the city.

, and Administrator

2025 December 29 . 12:04 PM

1 min read

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Solingen’s Mayor Takes the City’s Future to the Streets in Open Dialogue

Solingen’s officials are taking discussions to the streets this summer. On July 15, Mayor Tim Kurzbach will meet residents at Ohligs Market Square for an open dialogue. The event, the main event of the summer, focuses on how the city is handling structural change and digital progress.

The session will cover urban development, IT startups, and smart city projects. Organisers aim to gather public input on shaping Solingen’s future.

The initiative began in June under Jan Welzel, head of legal and regulatory affairs. Since then, city representatives have been visiting market squares to engage with locals. These meetings provide a chance for residents to ask questions and share ideas directly with officials.

On July 15, the dialogue will take place at 11:00 AM near the citizen participation info van. Mayor Kurzbach will lead the discussion, assisted by moderator Evelyn Wurm from the Office for Citizen Engagement. Ohligs was chosen as a key location to showcase Solingen’s approach to modern challenges.

Topics will include how the city is adapting to economic shifts and new technologies. Previous sessions have highlighted projects like digital infrastructure upgrades and support for local startups. The format allows for informal but structured conversations between officials and the public.

The July 15 event continues Solingen’s effort to involve residents in decision-making. Feedback from these meetings will help guide policies on urban growth and innovation. Further sessions are expected across the city in the coming weeks.