Dr. Florian Janik
Erlangen's Mayor
in an
Interview 2024

To watch the video, please click on the blue word Interview.

Dr. Florian Janik, Erlangen’s Mayor, in an Interview 2024

“Good morning. I’m glad our interview worked out today; I’ve really been looking forward to it.”

“And I’ve brought along many interesting questions.”

“I’m curious.”

“Tell me, what actually motivated you to become Lord Mayor?”

“That was already ten years ago. So it’s not that easy to put myself back in that mindset. At the time,
I hoped that, as Lord Mayor, I could work together with people who are passionate about this city to shape
something, and on the other hand, to do things differently and make a change. That’s what motivated me,
and I said, ‘Yes, I’d really like to do it.’ What’s also exciting is that you don’t know beforehand if it will really
work out as you hope. And so, it’s a job that brings a lot of joy almost every day. But sometimes,
there are tough days too, which is true for any job.”

“Yes, I think so.” “What did you do before becoming Lord Mayor?”

“I worked at the Federal Employment Agency. There, I was a project leader at the scientific research institute
for one or two large data collection projects. I conducted company surveys and, in the second step,
interviewed individuals, focusing mainly on their educational backgrounds. For the agency, the intriguing
question was: ‘What should be done to prevent unemployment, or if it does occur, what are successful strategies
for getting back into employment?’ That was my main area of focus in my last role.”

“That’s really fascinating!”



”Yes, it was actually a lot of fun. I really enjoyed my work before, especially because, in the end, I had the chance
to build a project from scratch. There is still this national education panel today, and I was involved from almost
its inception. That was great; it was a lot of fun.”

“Great! And how did the transition to becoming Lord Mayor come about?”

At that time, the Lord Mayor had already been on the city council for half of his life. He was first elected at 22
and was now 44, so he had 22 years of experience and affiliation with the city council. At that point, he was the faction leader,
and eventually, the party began to ask, “Who could take on this role?” He could envision trying it but approached it with a realistic
expectation. “Erlangen wasn’t in bad shape ten years ago; it wasn’t that everything was in terrible condition.”
“So I didn’t go in with the expectation that it had to work out, but perhaps that was a good approach to the whole thing.”
“With such a realistic expectation, I was very pleased that it worked out.”

“Yes, definitely relaxed, and that’s a good thing because if it hadn’t worked out—which I honestly couldn’t have imagined—
it would have been less emotionally distressing.”
“Yes, although I think you would still be disappointed, and that’s perfectly normal. Today, I can look back on it calmly.
I remember the election night well; I wasn’t relaxed then, but that’s how it goes.”

“That’s natural and very understandable!”

“What short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals do you have at the moment?”

“Politically or personally?”

“First, politically.”

“Right now, in the short term, we have a challenging issue: ‘We have a somewhat difficult budget situation.
Overall, the economic situation is not great across the country.’ We’ve been lucky in Erlangen so far. In recent years,
things have always been improving. Now, however, we might face some challenges in the short term.”

“How do we get our budget under control?”

“There are always challenging topics, but that’s part of it. Looking at the medium term,
what is currently a real stroke of luck for Erlangen—and this can be said—is that we are accustomed
to significant investments, which is quite normal here. It’s not just about maintaining that but also about
successfully completing these projects over the next few years, and into the next decade. This includes everything
coming into the city from Siemens, the university, and the state, and ensuring
that it’s implemented effectively. My biggest task, I see, is to manage this well so that we have a stable economic foundation.

In the long term, looking beyond ten years, we are dealing with more fundamental aspects of the city.”

“And if we can maintain this in the long term, I believe we will have something truly valuable. Because it will create
a pleasant atmosphere, not just for doing politics here, but also for living and working here. When people sense the city’s
vibe and say, ‘When I come here to study or work, I immediately feel at home,’ if we can achieve that in the long run,
I think it would be really good and right for the city.”

“And I want this city to retain its special charm because I was born and raised here. I like the small big city
vibe and that our city motto—’Open by Tradition’—is something we truly live by.”

“Yes, you can really feel very comfortable in Erlangen. I was born and raised here as well, so I completely agree with you.”

“What moves you the most personally in your profession?”

“Well, what is always the most difficult is making decisions that directly affect people’s lives. These are actually
things that keep me up at night. A big political dispute or something like that is part of the job, and you can deal
with it. But when, for example, a situation arises where someone in the city of Erlangen has caused harm through
their misconduct, and an extraordinary termination is imminent, and you know the people involved, you know that
if the decision goes a certain way, it will be really tough for them. These are issues that truly weigh on me and disturb
my sleep even after 10 years. When it comes to specific individuals and their fates, whether they are employees
or citizens, and you sometimes reach the limits where you feel you should help but don’t have the tools to do so,
those are the things that really hurt. And they make it hard for me to sleep well at night. It’s not pleasant.”

“What are the highlights of the job?”

“One great thing about this job is that you really learn something new every day. Even after 10 years,
no two days are the same. You continuously gain new insights and get to work with people.
Most people are eager to contribute something wonderful to the city, and they have ideas, which is enjoyable.

Then, there are those truly special moments. The Bergkirchweih is an annual highlight—it’s magnificent.
When you’ve been going there your entire life, standing at the top to open and close the Bergkirchweih
is quite thrilling. It’s a real gift to be able to hold such an office, as it brings many special moments.”

“That’s right: Yes, the Berg is always packed, as they say.”

“Nobody wants to miss it; it’s always a blast, and the local population and all the guests who come
from everywhere look forward to the Bergkirchweih all year.”

“That’s a good transition…”

“How was the Bergkirchweih?”

“Yes, that’s true, you’re right. The Bergkirchweih is truly exceptional and beautiful, the whole world knows that.
People come from all over, and that fascinates me anew every year.”

“Absolutely, and I think it’s outstanding; it’s something truly special.””Yes, we can consider ourselves fortunate
that the city of Erlangen has such a great festival; it really makes us unique. There is no festival of this size
that I’ve seen elsewhere or with a similar atmosphere. A bit comparable is just around the corner in Forchheim—the Annafest.”

“The atmosphere is similar, but there’s simply nothing that matches the Bergkirchweih.”

“That’s correct.”

“What are your long-term, medium-term, and short-term goals in your personal life?”

“One goal is always to maintain balance and not lose it. In this job, you can work incredibly, really incredibly
hard. You have to regularly remind yourself to take a break and make time for yourself, your family, children,
and friends, to avoid losing touch with them. That’s actually a constant goal.

In the very short term, I’m looking forward to the summer vacation. I’m excited to take a few weeks off,
clear my mind, and relax. It’s really important to clear your head, which I can do best when I’m not in the city.
When you’re here, everything is always around you, so you need to get away.

This year, I’m looking forward to some time by the sea and a bit in the mountains.”

“That’s perfect. That sounds really great.”

“What are your hobbies?”

“That’s good.”

“Yes, that’s really great. It’s important to maintain that balance, because otherwise, you’re not a whole person.
It’s all the facets of life that you need to nurture.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“Are you interested in art?”

“Yes, art and culture are very important to me. I’ve really found a strong connection to this area in my role as Lord Mayor.
You see a lot of exhibitions and events. I’ve developed a good understanding of it and now know what I enjoy, what I like,
and where I prefer to go, as well as what’s not really my thing.

Speaking of summer vacation: This year, we also plan to spend a few days in Venice for the Biennale. I’m familiar with modern
art and have developed a real passion for it. In Erlangen, I enjoy art, including sculpture and theater, and of course,
the Comic Salon. What I haven’t developed a taste for is classical music; I’ve tried, but I’m just not a fan.
Sometimes I attend events, but it’s not really my thing.”

“What kind of music do you like to listen to?”

“Personally, I don’t stick to just one style. I mainly need music that puts me in a good mood, creates a positive
atmosphere, and has a good bass. Something with a bit of a beat, a little loud!”

“Do you play any instruments yourself?”

“No, I played the piano as a child, but I didn’t continue. I can’t play anything anymore. I can still manage
the ‘Flea Waltz,’ but that’s about it. I really stopped playing, and that was over 30 years ago.”

“Oh wow, that’s really a long time ago.”

“What event has touched you the most deeply in your life?””Well, actually, the birth of my children.
That was just incredible. Holding a child for the first time and all—it touched me profoundly.”

“Yes, I believe that’s something everyone can understand well.”

“Are you a football fan?”

“Yes, absolutely. Although the European Championship this year somehow leaves me cold. I did watch one game,
but I just wasn’t in the mood for football. I watched the second game, and now I’m starting to get into it.
Maybe I had too much going on before to really get into the mood. But now, I’m slowly catching the Euro vibe.

Let’s see how it goes from here.”

“Have you ever been to a stadium?”

“Yes, quite often. I’m a Bayern fan, and I try to go to the Allianz Arena at least once a year. I’ve also been to football
matches here quite a bit. But I especially enjoy going to the Fürth games. I think the stadium is really cool
, and I like the team as well.”

“And would you also travel somewhere to be live at the European Championship?”

“Yes, if the opportunity arose, I would definitely do it. But this time, I haven’t actively sought out tickets.
For example, I did watch a live game during the Conv-Weltcup when it was in Germany. So, yes, I would definitely do it.”

GREAT!

“Isn’t there any special occasion to go with all your friends to a football stadium?”

“Would that be possible?”

“I mean, that would be something really special. The city of Erlangen has 3,500
employees. That would be a bit much.”

“It would be a bit much. But actually, when I go to the stadium, I prefer not to be in any official capacity.
I want to fully immerse myself in the experience. I get really emotional when watching football.”

“Yes 🙂 And it might be better if not all my colleagues see me like that.”

Okay.

“I can be quite loud and shout during football games.”

“I think it’s great that you’re so open.”

“Yes, of course, I think it’s part of it.”

“It’s part of it.”

“I’ve been to the stadium as well; when the spark ignites, it’s captivating, it’s… sensational.”

“Exactly, that’s how it is.”

“What does your day at work look like as the Lord Mayor?”

“I get up early, around 6 a.m. Then it’s about getting the kids ready, school, and everything else that need
s to be done. I usually arrive here around 8 a.m. I try to keep the first half hour to an hour, between 8 and 9 a.m.,
free of appointments, so I can have a quiet coffee and be available for my team. This is the time to address
any issues and for anyone to drop by if needed. I also use the first hour to read, sign documents, and take care
of whatever is necessary. This first hour doesn’t always work out, but it often does.

After that, starting around 9 a.m., my schedule kicks off with internal meetings, receiving visitors, city council sessions,
and appointments in the evening. On a ‘normal’ day, I come home between 8 and 11 p.m. That’s typically how it ends.
There are also days, like today, when if nothing unforeseen happens, I might be home around 5 p.m., but that’s not the norm.
Working 70-80 hours a week is fairly common, as there are often appointments on weekends as well.”

“Yes, I understand, you’re quite busy.”

“Yes, just on the go. But the same applies there,  you have to get used to stopping. I can always work,
there’s always something to do, and at some point, you just have to say: ‘This isn’t necessary right now
, it can wait until tomorrow.’ And then stop, because otherwise, you can eventually wear yourself out.
There’s always something to do.”

“Yes, I think that it’s actually never fully addressed.”

“No, you’re never done. If you want to implement something, if you have an idea and say,
‘Wow, that would be great for Erlangen,’ no matter what it’s about.” no matter what it’s about.”

“What is the process?” or “How does the process work?”

“How should one imagine the process at the town hall?

So, people have ideas, they want to make changes. And they also ask if it could be done? More in that direction.
And then the process is actually always very similar.

In the first step, I try to form my own opinion about it and consider what needs to be taken into account.
In the second step, it’s about bringing the matter to the city administration.

We have people from many different areas. In fact, it often happens that such ideas come from the city itself,
and I mean both the city administration and, of course, the citizens of this city. We have people from many different
fields who often ask, ‘What do we think about this?’ What problems might arise, but more importantly,
what are the opportunities?

To implement it, the next step is to involve the city council. It’s not as simple as just tossing it into a meeting and
saying, ‘There, now take a look,’ but usually, it first requires an informal preliminary discussion to say,
‘What do you think about this?’

The goal should be to turn an idea into the best possible project. And when it actually goes to the city council,
my expectation is that there has already been a lot of discussion beforehand, and it’s not just a show, but rather saying,
‘Hey, many people have already worked on this, and now we can implement it.’

However, one always needs openness along the way, not just because one really likes something and wants to push
it through, but always to consider what other perspectives might be and what other ideas could be added.

And then it has the chance to become something really good.”

And how long does it usually take for a decision to be made and implemented?

That depends: sometimes it can be done within 3-4 weeks, and sometimes it can take two years,
depending on the issue and its scale. Some things are within my authority to decide. In those cases,
it only takes a few hours because I can handle it myself. I talk to 1-2 people whose opinions matter to me,
then I make the decision, and that’s it.

“It works. You have to maintain some spontaneity.”

What would you like from the city of Erlangen? Is there something you would wish for from the people who live here?

Maintaining openness. We’re talking a lot right now about where our democracy is headed! And here in Erlangen,
it’s less intense than elsewhere, but you can see that there is a really hardened discourse.
You notice that it’s no longer about getting the best out of something, but rather about the conflict itself,
and I think that’s not only a difficult attitude but also that it’s important to stay open to new ideas. If someone has a topic,
there might be something to it. But it could also be nothing, and please don’t dismiss things from the outset.
Always approach things and people with openness. And that’s what I wish for from the community.
I also see it in many places that this is the case.

I’ll give an example:

There was recently a citizens’ referendum about the tram. The newspaper said, “Oh, it’s so entrenched,”
and I’ve seen it online too. Some people write stupid comments, and we know from ourselves that an angry
email is quickly written. But personally, I didn’t experience it that way at all. There were people, and it was respectful,
and even when it got heated—which sometimes has to happen, as it’s part of a discussion—even in politics,
when it reached a point where someone said, “I don’t feel comfortable with this anymore,” everyone quickly calmed down.
Keeping that personal connection, despite all the digitalization, is really important because when you look each other
in the eye, you treat each other with more respect. It’s much better than quickly writing a nasty comment on Instagram,
where it’s easier to lose your tone.

“People can also hide a bit behind it, because they’re not really present. Something is written, and then it starts to spread.
Social media is both a curse and a blessing.”

“It’s part of it, absolutely. But it doesn’t always contribute to making discussions better.”

“That’s true.”

“I was very pleased that you took the time.”

“With pleasure!”

“…for the interview. Ladies and gentlemen, Dr. Florian Janik, our mayor of Erlangen.”

“Thank you as well!”

“You’re welcome, it was my pleasure!”

“And I wish you a wonderful vacation and a good rest, and I hope we see each other again soon.”

“Yes, thank you!
There are still a few weeks to go; my vacation doesn’t start until the beginning of the school holidays.
I just have to hang in there a bit longer, as many others do as well.
It’s the case that the vacation period really only begins with the start of the school holidays.”

“Now we can start counting down; there are about 5 or 6 weeks left, approximately.”

“The kids would know right away.”

“The kids would know right away, absolutely. The kids have all of that on their radar. I understand,
that’s how it should be: vacation and holidays, you know that as a child.”

“Alright, then thank you, goodbye!”

“Warm regards, Susanne Panhans”