The city governments of Taipei and New Taipei City, led by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), have not done their duties to residents, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members said yesterday, as they commented on the first 100 days in office of Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) and the first 100 days of New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi’s (侯友宜) second term.
The two have broken their promises made during their election campaigns, and their approval ratings are low, DPP members said.
Most Taipei residents feel neglected, DPP spokesman Chang Chih-hao (張志豪) told a news conference at the party’s headquarters in Taipei, adding that Chiang lacks the competency to govern.
Photo: CNA
“Chiang and Hou head the governments of greater Taipei, with a 6.5 million population. Chiang is already slacking off, while Hou has largely abandoned his mayoral duties,” Chang said.
Chiang and Hou rank lowest among the mayors of the six special municipalities, Chang said, citing a poll conducted by Ming Chuan University.
The survey showed that Taipei and New Taipei City residents are seeing no improvement and are dissatisfied with the performance of their respective mayors, Chang added.
Chiang’s first 100 days in office were fraught with “disputes and failures,” Taipei City Councilor Chien Shu-pei (簡舒培) said.
To improve his ratings, Chiang has announced 17 “big-money programs” that require additional funding and approval from the Taipei City Council, Chien said.
Chiang asked the council to approve NT$3.31 billion (US$108.7 million) in additional funding, including NT$1.86 billion for the new programs, Chien said, adding that the balance of the city’s spending is at stake.
“They are throwing money around so that the city government looks like it is doing something, but it is not fiscally viable,” Chien said. “This year, the city government receives additional funding from the central government’s tax surplus after last year’s robust economic growth, but what about next year? Will the city government have to borrow money to continue the programs?”
During his campaign, Chiang presented 59 “new visions and programs” for Taipei residents, but work on most of them has not even started, Chien said, adding that some, such as a planned “e-sports stadium” and 500 additional beds for long-term elderly care at city hospitals, have not even been mentioned in meetings between Chiang administration officials and the council.
“We hear nothing ... on these programs. It seems Chiang has misled voters with empty promises,” Chien said.
DPP New Taipei City Councilor Tai Wei-shan (戴瑋姍) said she and fellow councilors have asked the New Taipei City Government to deal with pollution, garbage disposal problems, traffic congestion, public safety and crime, but Hou only told them that he “will do the right thing,” without elaborating.
“Hou ... should concentrate on administering the city, implement new programs and improving the infrastructure,” Tai said.
However, Hou has not yet delivered his city governance report to the city council, Tai said, adding that he is rumored be seeking the KMT’s nomination for next year’s presidential election, which would require him to “jump ship” in New Taipei City.
“The people have lost confidence in him,” she said.
POLAM KOPITIAM CASE: Of the two people still in hospital, one has undergone a liver transplant and is improving, while the other is being evaluated for a liver transplant A fourth person has died from bongkrek acid poisoning linked to the Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) restaurant in Taipei’s Far Eastern Sogo Xinyi A13 Department Store, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said yesterday, as two other people remain seriously ill in hospital. The first death was reported on March 24. The man had been 39 years old and had eaten at the restaurant on March 22. As more cases of suspected food poisoning involving people who had eaten at the restaurant were reported by hospitals on March 26, the ministry and the Taipei Department of Health launched an investigation. The Food and
The long-awaited Taichung aquarium is expected to open next year after more than a decade of development. The building in Cingshui District (清水) is to feature a large ocean aquarium on the first floor, coral display area on the second floor, a jellyfish tank and Dajia River (大甲溪) basin display on the third, a river estuary display and restaurant on the fourth, and a cafe and garden on the fifth. As it is near Wuci Fishing Port (梧棲漁港), many are expecting the opening of the aquarium to bring more tourism to the harbor. Speaking at the city council on Monday, Taichung City Councilor
A fourth person has died in a food poisoning outbreak linked to the Xinyi (信義) branch of Malaysian restaurant chain Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) in Taipei, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang (王必勝) said on Monday. It was the second fatality in three days, after another was announced on Saturday. The 40-year-old woman experienced multiple organ failure in the early hours on Monday, and the family decided not to undergo emergency resuscitation, Wang said. She initially showed signs of improvement after seeking medical treatment for nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but her condition worsened due to an infection, he said. Two others who
Taiwanese should be mindful when visiting China, as Beijing in July is likely to tighten the implementation of policies on national security following the introduction of two regulations, a researcher said on Saturday. China on Friday unveiled the regulations governing the law enforcement and judicial activities of national security agencies. They would help crack down on “illegal” and “criminal” activities that Beijing considers to be endangering national security, according to reports by China’s state media. The definition of what constitutes a national security threat in China is vague, Taiwan Thinktank researcher Wu Se-chih (吳瑟致) said. The two procedural regulations are to provide Chinese