Immigration Impasse Ironed Out; Swiss-Post Sweets Phased Out; Housing Shortage Worsens; Augmented-Reality Advent App Released

News For 1 December 2015

  Our lead story tonight is focused on a Swiss National issue that has important consequences for expats and immigrants in Basel.  Last year Swiss voters approved a referendum measure imposing immigration quotas which contravene Switzerland's commitments to the EU governing freedom of movement of people and other bilateral agreements.  Politicians in Bern, the Swiss capital, have been scrambling since to come up with legislation that is palatable to both Swiss voters and the EU's governing body.  The impasse may have finally been breached Sunday, when a proposal was presented to Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, whom the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper reports to have accepted it in principle.  In essence, the two parties appear to have agreed that a committee of Swiss and EU representatives will be established to monitor immigration issues and in the case of serious economic or social problems be empowered to adopt measures.  While short on specifics, the model would allow Switzerland the possibility of self-determination over border control while also appearing to comply with EU commitments.  The EU is also keen to resolve this issue via compromise, as close behind on similar immigration issues is the UK which has also been pushing to roll back its commitments to free movement.   ************************************** If you're new to Basel you probably delighted by the large variety of convenience items for sale at your local post office.  Unfortunately for kids, and probably to the delight of adults, one category of items will no longer be on offer - candy and sweets.  After receiving several complaints, the Swiss federal parliament took up the issue and a national council commission was tasked with evaluating the products sold at Swiss Post branches.  The sale of non-postal products generates approximately 500 million Swiss Francs annually for Swiss Post.  Last Thursday, and before the commission had a chance to present its report, Swiss Post announced it will no longer carry snacks or sweets for sale in its retail shoppes.  Books, stationary and greeting cards will stay, but electrical goods, toys, household items and car accessories will also be phased out starting in the first quarter of 2016.   ***********************************

The affordable housing shortage continues in the city of Basel.  The latest surveys indicate an overall vacancy rate of a mere 0.3% in the urban housing market according to Anne Plattner, Managing Director of IG Housing and Head of the Social Housing Office.  Most impacted by the lack of availability are young people, families with children and the elderly.  Compounding the difficulties is that the Basel Stadt housing authorities are out of ideas to provide relief through additional residential zoning and construction.  Last fall, the adoption of the Housing Promotion Act was supposed to provide social assistance through rent subsidies or assignment of City owned flats to those demonstrating economic need.  However, the program has failed to put any meaningful dent in the demand.  Regula Küng, Head of Unit Housing Development for the city said over 1000 affordable residential units are already in either the planning or construction stage that should come on-line, and hopefully provide relief over the next few years.

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A new app from the Basel based company TAGXY, provides an augmented reality advent tour of Basel just in time for the Holidays -and you stand to win some holiday shopping loot.  Its quite simple, you see, the app allows users and vendors to tag images made with the camera on their smartphones with enhanced information.  Later users, then can simply point the app enabled phone at a landmark or store-front and have information instantly pop-up.  In conjunction with Pro-Innerstadt Basel, the developers have put the technology to the task of enhancing one's Advent experience during the holidays in Basel.  With your app enabled iPhone or Android device, head into the city and look for landmarks that TAGXY will encourage you to find via their FB page or through the app.  When you find the object, point your phone at it, and a Trivia Question will appear, and users providing the correct answers will be eligible for a weekly raffle giving away 500 Swiss Francs.  The scavenger hunt is a pilot project for TAGXY and Pro-Innerstandt which will run through the end of the holiday season.