Berlin's Downtown Airport Gathers Support

Defenders of Berlin Tempelhof Airport in downtown Berlin have reported progress in their fight to keep the airfield open, as they have gathered the 170,000 votes required to force a public referendum. For the referendum to be valid, however, 25 percent of the city's 2.425 million voters must participate. Even then, the result would not be binding: a court has already confirmed that the Berlin Senate is authorized to make the closing decision, and it will probably stick with plans to shut down the airport in October.