Çeşme Mayor Lâl Denizli responds to criticism over land sales: There is not a single penny I cannot account for

During the Çeşme Municipality October Ordinary Council Meeting, the municipality's land sales and the use of revenue generated from these sales were brought to the agenda. Çeşme Mayor Lâl Denizli emphasized that the municipality's income and expenditures are open to audit while responding to the criticisms.

Denizli stated that the expenditures made by the municipality are included in the activity reports and shared with the public, saying, "During my term, there is not a single penny in the Çeşme Municipality that I cannot account for."

Reminding that the council member who voiced the criticisms is also a member of the Audit Commission, Denizli said that municipal expenditures are examined by the commission. Denizli stated, "You ask where this money was spent. You examined all expenditures in the Audit Commission and gave a unanimous vote. The sales made, the resources used, and how much was spent on which service are clear item by item."

SALES REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES

Figures regarding the sale of real estate within Çeşme's borders by central institutions were also shared at the meeting. Denizli announced that a total of 108 thousand 687 square meters of real estate had been sold for 15.7 billion TL over the last three years, and that approximately 694 million 800 thousand TL had been transferred to the Çeşme Municipality from the Treasury, Iller Bank, and other central sources during the same period.

Stating that 140 million TL of this amount was obtained as a result of a lawsuit filed by the municipality that lasted approximately two and a half years, Denizli argued that if the 27 percent share that should be transferred to local governments from Treasury sales were provided, approximately 4 billion TL in resources would have been transferred to the Çeşme Municipality.

Touching upon the municipality's investment items, Denizli reported that 280 million TL was spent on road renewal, maintenance, and repair works during her term, and approximately 90 million TL was spent on the maintenance and renovation of public buildings. ÇAKOM, the Ilıca Atatürk Culture and Sports Center, the Ilıca Racket Sports Facility, the Çiftlik Neighborhood coastal arrangement, the Balıkçılar and Terziler Street works, and the first stage of the Hanem Çeşme Social Housing Project were also counted among the works carried out during this period.

According to the information provided by Denizli, 17 new parks were built in the district, 36 parks were renovated, and 25 sports fields were arranged. While maintenance and repair work was carried out in 218 parks across the district, the number of trees and plants planted in the last two years exceeded 100 thousand. It was stated that approximately 200 wooden benches and picnic tables were provided to schools, and approximately 10 thousand food parcels were delivered to those in need as part of social support.

Responding to criticisms regarding land sales, Denizli said that every real estate put up for tender does not mean it was sold. Stating that some real estate has not found buyers for a long time, and in some tenders, the winners later decided not to purchase, Denizli said, "Going to tender does not mean selling. We have not been able to sell most of the land we put up for sale for a long time. The amount of services we have realized is approximately twice the amount of the sales we have made."

The 2027 targets were also announced at the meeting. Completing 120 residences with their infrastructure in the second stage of the Hanem Çeşme Social Housing Project, continuing the arrangements on the Çiftlikköy Coast, renovating the Çakabey Culture Center, carrying out work in the Çeşme and Alaçatı amphitheaters, arranging the roads around the Alaçatı Square, and laying 150 thousand square meters of paving stones and 10 kilometers of asphalt across the district were among the planned investments.

Stating that they are open to cooperation with the central government, Denizli said, "I am the first to support any service that will benefit Çeşme by even one lira. I do not look at where it comes from." Stating that the activity reports can be examined on the municipality's website, Denizli said, "It is written there where every single penny was spent."

News Source: 12punto