Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş reveals his 'craziest' project of his term

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş recounted the projects he implemented during his 5-year term at the "5-Year Projects Promotion and Information Meeting."

The meeting at the Atatürk Sports and Exhibition Hall was attended by Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel, party members, and citizens.

In his speech, Yavaş stated that they had achieved a major change in mentality regarding Ankara's management approach, saying, "We established a transparent, participatory, and accountable management style. We built bridges, opened roads, and brought in new facilities, but our greatest project has been the environment of abundance, health, and peace we created in the capital. Our craziest project has been the sense of justice, brotherhood, and trust we brought to the city."

"WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY"

Pointing out that they have broadcast more than 4 thousand tenders live on the internet over the last five years, Yavaş said, "We publish all financial reports and Court of Accounts reports on our website. We have nothing to fear.

We hang banners on the projects we complete showing their costs and share them with the public, and we are accountable at every opportunity.

The public's money is being used efficiently. Jobs are given to those who deserve them, not to cronies," he stated.

"ECONOMIC HARDSHIP HAS AN IMPACT"

Reminding that the ABB budget was 2 billion 20 million dollars in 2013, Yavaş stated that their current budget is 1 billion 147 million dollars, adding, "Economic hardship has an impact. We are not ripping off the people of Ankara. We provide water and bus tickets to the public at the most affordable prices.

Therefore, our revenues are decreasing. During the pandemic, we did not collect rent from tradespeople, and we did not issue fines.

Those who are in the spotlight today issued fines to nearly 8 thousand tradespeople during the pandemic. To tradespeople who didn't earn a single penny. Our income has halved in 10 years," he said.

"WATER WAS BEING DELIVERED BY TANKERS FOR 10 YEARS"

Stating that they have solved a large part of the problem of open sewage flowing in the villages of Ankara, Yavaş noted the following:

"In 5 years, we solved the problem of open sewage in 171 villages. Our work continues in 61 villages. Think about how anxious you get when your water is cut off at home for a few hours, wondering when it will come back.

Life practically stops. Now imagine this continuing for 25 or 30 years. Most of our villages and neighborhoods have no water. It comes by transport. When we took office in Ankara, the business of water tankers transporting water to hundreds of villages ended. We have very few villages left without water. In the capital of the Republic, water was being delivered to some neighborhoods by tankers for 10 years."

"WE HOSTED THEM FREE OF CHARGE"

Explaining that they tried to solve the housing problem of students coming to Ankara from out of town by renting hotels and hostels, ABB Mayor Yavaş said:

"We told the families sending them to the capital, 'Your children are not just yours; they are children of this homeland. We will act as their mothers and fathers. We will not deprive them of their education.' To date, we have hosted 13 thousand of our students free of charge. We continue to host nearly a thousand students as of now. We also continue to host around 1,200 earthquake survivors."

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel said in his speech, "We cannot be proud enough of Mansur Yavaş, who serves Ankara with great effort, who pours his sweat onto the streets of Ankara, who said 'I am here' during the pandemic and did not leave people alone, who provided financial aid to the poor, who ensured meat reached their tables, who kept the pots boiling, and who also heated their homes."

News Source: İHA