I’ve not been here too long and I love this city so I appreciate the article but, coming from Amsterdam, I do understand where the sentiment comes from. No, it’s not xenophobia, it’s fear of losing a great thing. Amsterdam used to be quite like Berlin is now but 15 years of gentrification and people moving in who didn’t get what what the city was all about changed the city to be rather soulless compared to how it used to be. This is one of the reasons why I moved to Berlin, because the soul that I missed in my old home town is still present here. I think the people that resist change so much are just afraid that Berlin will turn into another bland, soulless city. I’m not saying that’s happening but I can understand the fear.