Liveable Rotterdam, the new populist party in Rotterdam, lately came up with a plan to forbid migrants to settle in some of the poorer districts in the city. Since it is not allowed to judge on skin colour, origin or religion, some are against the plan saying it is discriminating.
Still also traditional parties like the Dutch labour party and the Christian democrats are in favour of what they call spreading out ‘underprivileged’ people. The idea behind the disputable plan is to fight the ongoing segregation in some of the poor and backward districts in the bigger Dutch cities. In Rotterdam the council does not want to wait for new national legislation. They are already busy formulating measures.
The Rotterdam alderman for infrastructure and housing Marco Pastors from the party Liveable Rotterdam, explains why to him the policy is necessary, a Rotterdam social worker sums up the problems people in poor neighbourhood have and what the effects will be of the new policy, an Afghan refugee doctor living in Rotterdam with his wife and four kids gives his view on the policy to ban poor people from certain neighbourhoods.
For this background reportage for the program Eòrpa from the Scottish BBC Featurez gave advice, did the research, set-up and planning of the filming, booked a rental van, did the driving, accompanied the filming, did the interviews and translations.