New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) is focusing on next month’s elections instead of caring for New Taipei City residents who have been severely affected by Typhoon Nesat, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Michelle Lin (林楚茵) said yesterday.
“New Taipei City should not just be a stepping stone for Hou’s political ambitions,” Lin told a news conference.
Disasters are critical moments that put a political figure and their capabilities to the test, she said.
Photo: CNA
Hou rallied support for candidates in Hsinchu City during the flooding in his city, which shows that his claims of being a mayor who “gets things done” and “brings about prosperity” for residents are empty words, Lin said.
The flooding also showed that the New Taipei City Government had achieved little in terms of boosting the city’s disaster resilience, Lin said.
It is impossible to prevent natural disasters, but governments can avoid human-made ones, Lin said, adding that Hou should shoulder all responsibility for damage caused during his absence, especially as the storm was forecast at least a week in advance.
Lin said that Hou’s experience as deputy New Taipei City mayor should have taught him that negligence exacerbates the effects of a disaster.
Hou’s actions suggest that he seeks to run for president, Lin said.
DPP Legislator Lai Pin-yu (賴品妤) said city mayors should stay in their cities when disaster strikes instead of attending election campaign events elsewhere.
The New Taipei City Government claims that it has “detected multiple areas of possible flooding” as early as in April, but it has failed to improve those areas, Lai said.
Lai also criticized Hou for not living up to his promises of “getting things done,” saying Hou was only concerned with paving his way to the presidency.
Lai said there was traffic congestion in New Taipei City’s Sijhih District (汐止) the day after the flooding.
The government did not attempt to improve the situation, but instead blamed traffic police, Lai said.
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