Building a new sports arena next to the old cigarette factory in Songshan District is an even more ridiculous project. Once finished, there will be two sports arenas within 2km of each other -- the only difference being the new one would be able to host baseball games.
Very few city councilors are brave enough to oppose the project because of concerns over votes from baseball fans. Baseball games that can draw a crowd of more than 5,000 occur only about 10 times a year, so constructing a 40,000-seat arena is not really necessary.
In the end, the sports arena will be used for concerts held by foreign pop stars and for business events of large corporations. In fact, two-thirds of the floor space and investment capital will be taken over by the already ubiquitous shopping mall or other business facilities.
It would be far better to preserve this rare green space and turn it into a second forest park with a community baseball field. Such a plan would be more effective in raising the quality of life in the city and encourage the public to participate in sports activities.
Capitalism creates enormous business opportunities. However, a government that is lacking in creativity and power of execution becomes lost in the marketing of popular trends. The public needs a smart political party that can see through the trap of buying votes through ill-conceived policies -- a party that knows how to spend money where it matters so that society can enjoy the benefits.
Pan Han-shen is the secretary-general of the Taiwan Green Party and a part-time lecturer at Aletheia University.
TRANSLATED BY ANGELA HONG
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