Fading yet showy Berlin

Much has changed in Berlin since I was there last. Poor neighborhoods in the eastern part are no longer poor. Prenzlauer Berg for instance. Earlier people spoke of it as one used to speak of Greenpoint Williamsburg in Brooklyn or Wicker Park in Chicago. Now, it like the two other neighborhoods are completely gentrified.

Berlin is poor and the street life is predominantly Turkish. High culture is German or international. Huge museums all over the place. The east in the center has been all spruced up. The new American embassy is being built right next to Brandenburg Tor or Gate in a show of imperial power.

Berlin became the first city in Germany last week to allow stores to be open 24 hours. Is this progress? Probably not. Who will work those hours so that people can buy Corn Flakes at 2:30 in the morning? Will the new employees be one Euro an hour workers from the army of the unemployed? Will real paying jobs be created? Will family run stores be able to compete against chain stores? This law has the potential to really change some aspects of everyday life.