Amsterdam Mayor: No Unemployment Benefits for Women who Wear Burka

Job Cohen (Labor), the mayor of Amsterdam, has said that if women cannot find employment because they wear the burka, they should not be entitled to unemployment benefits. He added that he considers it terrible to see a woman in a burka, but he is against forbidding it in general. However, according to Cohen, the situation is different according to Cohen in the work place where it is necessary to have contact with others in order to function.
www.trouw.nl/incoming/article2874306.ece/Cohen__Geen_uitkering_voor_boerkadrager_.html

Rotterdam Mayor: High Immigrant Criminality Affects Image of all Newcomers

Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb has said that the over representation of non-Western immigrant youngsters among criminals undermines the position of thousands of other immigrant youngsters who are striving for success in their future lives. He added that as long as there are people, wherever in the world, who misbehave and commit crimes in the name of Islam, the Muslims in Rotterdam will also suffer the consequences. He therefore called on Rotterdam Muslims to play an active role in the fight against radicalization.
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article2872148.ece/_Misdaad_allochtonen_schaadt_meerderheid_.html

Meteorological Institute Misreported Temperature for Years.

The Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute KNMI has during many years reported incorrect temperatures from its main weather station in De Bilt. The measurements were until recently half a degree to high. This became evident when, without publicizing it, the station was somewhat relocated and temperatures published became more in line with those of a private station. “Scientists have known for a long time that the KNMI’s location was not representative.” said Prof. Bert Holtslag who teaches meteorology at Wageningen University. The KNMI refuses to comment.
www.parool.nl/parool/nl/224/BINNENLAND/article/detail/262727/2009/09/24/KNMI-meldt-jarenlang-verkeerde-temperatuur.dhtml

Parliamentarian Attacks Barman

Hero Brinkman, a MP of the right wing PVV party, has attacked the barman of the parliamentary press center Nieuwspoort in The Hague, after he was refused additional drinks. Brinkman, a former policeman apologized afterwards and admitted that he has a drink problem. He is the spokesman of his party on home affairs, which includes law and order.
www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2009/09/pvv_mp_acknowledges_drink_prob.php

Expert: Amsterdam Incompetent Building Metro

The Amsterdam North-South metro line is one of the most complex building projects ever in the Netherlands. The Amsterdam Municipality had no competent organization to deal with the project. It did not even carry out a risk analysis. This was said to the inquiry commission into the metro problems by Peter Kieft, former engineering director of the national waterworks body (Rijkswaterstaat). Despite the demands for risk analysis before and during construction, it was only done in 2008 after major construction problems and budget overruns. Some municipal services even obstructed the construction.

http://www.parool.nl/parool/nl/1084/DOSSIER-NOORD-ZUIDLIJN/article/detail/262474/2009/09/22/NZ-lijn-Gebrek-aan-deskundigheid-bij-gemeente.dhtml

Wilders: Introduce Tax on the Muslim Headscarf

During the annual general political debate in the Dutch Parliament Geert Wilders leader of the PVV (Freedom Party) has proposed that any Muslim woman who wants to wear a Muslim headscarf has to apply for a license. They will also have to pay 1000 Euro per year. Wilders proposes that the money will go to womens emancipation projects. He added that he would prefer to ban the Muslim headscarf but this is legally not possible. The other parties reacted with disbelief to the proposal. www.rnw.nl/english/article/wilders-wants-headscarf-tax

Amsterdam Liberals: Stop Post-Ramadan Cinema Terror

The VVD (Liberal Party) municipal council faction asked Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen (Labour Party) to clarify municipal policy about the riots which broke out on Sunday night in the Pathe Munt Cinema. The cinema had to stop screenings after scores of Muslims rioted. The police had put in extra security anticipating Post-Ramadan acts of hooliganism as in previous years. Traditionally on those days many Muslim youth go to the movies. The Liberal Party stated that it is unacceptable that such riots break out in the framework of a religious holiday. Also in Rotterdam in the Pathecinema there were similar riots on Sunday. www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/4891729/__Opheldering_over__bioscoopterreur___.html