1. Open tenders delivered major savings
For years, Prague 8 awarded contracts for maintaining public greenery and cleaning public spaces without a proper competitive tender. We repeatedly pointed out that this approach was not only legally questionable, but also deprived the district of the opportunity to secure better prices for the same services.
Following sustained pressure from the opposition, the district finally put these contracts out to open tender. According to the calculations at the time, the result was a saving of almost CZK 120 million compared with the originally expected costs — without reducing the scope of services provided to residents.
2. Prague 8 is now free of gambling halls
When we entered local politics in 2014, there were more than 50 gambling venues in Prague 8. Today, there are none.
This was the result of both grassroots work — including collecting signatures for a local referendum on gambling — and changes pushed through at City Hall with the support of PRAHA SOBĚ. Amendments to Prague-wide gambling regulations helped remove gambling halls from the city.
3. Safer streets and pedestrian crossings
Street safety, especially around schools and kindergartens, has long been one of our priorities. We helped secure new pedestrian crossings in neighbourhoods across Prague 8, from Čimice to Karlín. Examples include Lindnerova / Podlipného, Na Sypkém / V Zahradách, locations in Ládví, U Školské zahrady, and Pernerova Street.
In S. K. Neumanna Street, changes were also introduced around a dangerous crossing, including measures to prevent cars from parking too close to it. Alongside individual projects, we continue to collect suggestions from residents and push for repairs to damaged pavements and roads.
4. Cultural and community events for local residents
Prague 8 is not only about transport and construction projects. A good neighbourhood also needs places and opportunities for people to meet.
In the summer of 2021, we helped bring life back to the historic Humanita cinema in Libeň by organising the Libeň Summer Film Festival. The open-air cinema attracted hundreds of visitors and drew attention to a historic venue many local residents did not even know existed.
In autumn 2025, we organised the Path of Lights in Čimický háj, where children could meet magical forest characters along the way. We also regularly organise smaller neighbourhood events in Ládví, Hercovka Park, Dlážděnka Park, and elsewhere across Prague 8.
5. We pushed for the “tunnel bus”
One recent transport project is a direct bus connection between Prague 8 and Prague 6 through the Blanka tunnel complex. Our councillor Vladislava Vojtíšková submitted a resolution to Prague 8 District Council calling for the creation of what became known as the “tunnel bus.”
We saw it as a pragmatic solution after the cable-car project was halted and while a tram connection between the two districts remains a longer-term prospect. A direct bus through the tunnel offers a relatively quick and practical way to improve links between the two parts of the city.
6. Hercovka Park has been revitalised
Hercovka Park has also undergone a significant transformation. Michal Trník, together with the Holešovičky pro lidi association and local residents, secured a grant from the Via Foundation. This helped restore the park’s deteriorating brick walls, plant new trees and strengthen its role as a place for community life.
The project also improved connections through the area. An informal pedestrian path now links S. K. Neumanna Street with Na Zedníkové through the park. Previously, the park lacked access from the east, while the route towards Na Zedníkové was blocked by an unauthorised fence.
7. Children’s groups have been a long-term issue
Our councillor Barbora Musilová has long highlighted the shortage of children’s groups and childcare capacity in Prague 8. She repeatedly raised the issue at council meetings, stressing that parents of young children need practical solutions rather than another round of promises.
At the same time, we questioned the way the district handled the preparation of grant applications. We did not challenge the need for the children’s groups themselves. Our questions concerned the process: why a particular external company had been selected, how its expertise had been assessed, how much the preparation would cost, and why the district was not handling the process more transparently.
The public debate that later developed around the issue reinforced our view that these were legitimate questions to ask.
8. And many other practical changes
Beyond these seven larger areas, we have also helped move forward a range of other projects and issues, including:
- preserving the Na Dlážděnce building for public use,
- preventing what we considered an unfavourable sale of Nová Palmovka,
- changing the rules for tenders involving the lease of non-residential premises and improving the management of district property,
- improving safety on Čimická Street,
- supporting the connection between Prague 8 and Prague 7 via the Štvanice footbridge,
- adding bicycle stands in places where they were missing,
- and consistently involving residents in decisions affecting neighbourhoods across Prague 8.
Local politics is about practical results
Municipal politics is not mainly about big statements. It is about persistent work on specific issues.
Whether the subject is how the district manages public money, safer streets, better public spaces or stronger neighbourhood communities, what ultimately matters is whether local politics produces changes that people can actually see and experience in their everyday lives.