Fatih Mehmet Maçoğlu: Kadıköy will be a model for the whole country

Fatih Mehmet Maçoğlu, who was nominated as the candidate for Mayor of Kadıköy by the Kadıköy People's Solidarity on the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) ticket, held his candidate introduction meeting today.

The event, held in the garden of the Kadıköy Nâzım Hikmet Cultural Center, turned into a rally with the participation of hundreds of people.

The event began with songs by musicians from Kadıköy. In the welcome speech delivered on behalf of the Kadıköy People's Solidarity, it was stated, "Public resources in municipalities have become a tool for funding rent-seeking." The solidarity group includes the Devrim Hareketi (Revolution Movement), Odak, Proleter Devrimci Duruş (Proletarian Revolutionary Stance), SMF, and the TKP.

"WE WILL LIFT KADIKÖY UP"

Following this, Municipal Council candidate and lawyer Hande Gündoğdu took the stage. Gündoğdu said, "We are a very strong team with the competence, equipment, and experience to implement the program we have announced together with the people of Kadıköy. We have such a composition. On behalf of all my fellow council candidate friends, I promise that we will lift Kadıköy up together, with equality as our banner, in line with the interests of the people of Kadıköy."

Stating that she is an executive of the Women and Children First Association and that as an association, they had called for "caregiver leave for parents with sick children" three years ago, Gündoğdu said, "The first response came from Mr. Maçoğlu and the Tunceli Municipality. Currently, the only institution in all of Turkey that grants caregiver leave is the Tunceli Municipality."

Theater artist Orhan Aydın read Nâzım Hikmet's poem "Invitation" from the podium. Aydın addressed the crowd, saying, "It is time to say stop. Drive out the 'Zübüks' (corrupt opportunists)," and invited Maçoğlu to the stage.

"WE WILL CLOSE KADIKÖY TO RENT-SEEKING AND OPEN IT TO THE PUBLIC"

Maçoğlu said, "For weeks, we have been on the streets with you. We will close Kadıköy to rent-seeking and open it to the public. Let everyone know this."

"In this process, we said transportation is a right, water is a right; we said our people should participate in production; we said municipalities can take steps with their own power without holding tenders. Kadıköy is ready for this too."

Stating that there are neighborhoods in Kadıköy without parks, Maçoğlu said, "We wake up every day with the fear of an earthquake, and there is no green space to gather. We will definitely complete our shortcomings."

Maçoğlu stated, "Kadıköy will be a model for the whole country, let no one have any doubt." He said that, just as in the Tunceli Municipality, they would post income and expenditure tables and uphold the culture of accountability to the public.

Touching on the topic of urban transformation, Maçoğlu said, "We will rebuild Kadıköy with housing cooperatives, on-site transformation, and a public-oriented approach, but we will not lose anything from our neighborly culture or our neighborhood culture."

"WE WILL NEVER ALLOW URBAN CRIMES OR CRIMES AGAINST THE PUBLIC"

Pointing out that Göztepe is the district with the most polluted air in Turkey, the TKP candidate said, "As health workers, we know well what an elderly person with COPD or asthma suffers there today. Huge skyscrapers and buildings that block wind circulation are threatening our lives. We will discuss all these topics in our council and make our urban plans accordingly."

Maçoğlu stated that they would not allow any plans that fall under the scope of crimes against the public, such as the Söğütlüçeşme Shopping Mall project.

Expressing that they will open nurseries for children, Maçoğlu said, "We will provide contemporary, scientific education, and we will prepare a future for our children where they will grow up with a culture of solidarity."

Using the slogan "A Kadıköy not for those who are aging, but for those who are growing old," Maçoğlu pointed out that 20 percent of the Kadıköy population is over 60, and stated that they would increase home care services and enable Kadıköy residents of this age to produce solutions to their own problems by including them in councils.

"We will take all measures for a barrier-free life, and we will organize a common life for our disabled citizens to participate in life. They will also have a say in the people's councils and will make their own decisions."

"KADIKÖY WILL BE AN IMPORTANT ART CENTER FOR ALL OF TURKEY"

Stating that they know well what art workers suffer, Maçoğlu said, "We will support the production processes of art workers. We will develop an understanding that weaves solidarity, not one that gives alms. Kadıköy will be an important art center for all of Turkey."

Stating that there is no politician who does not say they defend the right to life of animals, Maçoğlu said, "What is essential is those who do concrete work on the street, those who understand that they are not the masters of this world, but residents living together with animals." The TKP candidate said they would establish food production centers.

Maçoğlu stated that they would support the right to education by establishing dormitories and 24-hour open libraries for young people, and that they would consider the decisions made by young people as their duty.

Stating that many things would change even with very small touches regarding traffic, Maçoğlu said, "The issue is for politicians to leave the subject to experts who are masters of their craft." He stated that they would establish solidarity networks and cooperatives for small tradespeople. Maçoğlu said they would not use official vehicles and would not allow anyone to use the public budget for themselves.