CHP Üsküdar District Chair İbrahim Çağlar Atalar speaks to 12punto: 'Irregularities at Üsküdar Municipality have reached a new level'

Aslı AĞIRDİL- 12punto.com.tr

Ahead of the local elections to be held in March 2024, many irregular transactions were identified at the AKP-run Üsküdar Municipality in reports released to the public by the Court of Accounts.

CHP Üsküdar District Chair İbrahim Çağlar spoke to 12punto about the irregularities and urban transformation issues.

"ÜSKÜDAR RESIDENTS FACE PROBLEMS ON A LOCAL SCALE"

Stating that the people of Üsküdar have many problems, Atalar mentioned the infrastructure investments of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) and said:

"In previous years, Üsküdar was a place with inadequate infrastructure where the sea and land would meet during even the slightest rainfall. Under the leadership of our Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, infrastructure problems were solved through İSKİ investments.

Today, there is no smell coming from the streams in Üsküdar, nor are there floods during light rain. When you go to the City Restaurant (Kent Lokantası) opened by the IMM in Üsküdar, you can observe how vital access to healthy and affordable food has become due to the intense interest there."

URBAN TRANSFORMATION AND EARTHQUAKE

Evaluating urban transformation and earthquake risk in Üsküdar, Atalar stated:

"The current administration is pursuing rent-based transformation, disregarding the rights of citizens, especially in the border neighborhoods of the district where middle and lower-income groups live. We ask once again here: even though the housing units in Kirazlıtepe are largely finished, why is the work being slowed down and why are the homes not being delivered to the rightful owners?

Today, including the central neighborhoods, it is essential to develop neighborhood-based urban transformation policies in Üsküdar; Üsküdar is at great risk in the face of the reality of the approaching Istanbul earthquake. Regarding earthquake-based urban transformation policies, Üsküdar Municipality does not engage in the necessary cooperation with the IMM, and the work is being blocked by the IMM assembly majority."

"WE ARE TRYING TO ENGAGE IN POLITICS WITH THE PEOPLE, NOT DESPITE THEM"

Expressing that they are aware of the clumsily executed demolitions and urban transformation works that have not been generalized, Atalar said, "We are the party that tries to solve the grievances of the citizens and brings them to the public eye. It cannot be said that the Republican People's Party is not on the side of the victim. If the Kuzguncuk Garden stands today, or if the Validebağ Grove is still there, this organization has contributed to it alongside the struggle of NGOs and activists. If the AKP's rent-oriented transformation policy has not turned into a plunder today, it is because of our efforts. They want to turn the 29 Mayıs Site into a rent area by declaring it a reserve area through fraudulent transactions. The residents of the site are resisting, and we are there with our organization."

LOCAL ELECTIONS

Touching upon the local election efforts in Üsküdar, Atalar said, "Üsküdar is a district with different tendencies within itself; we have identified the voter structure and preferences on a regional basis. Of course, even regional work is not enough for election success. We aim to increase our votes, especially in neighborhoods where we are weak, by making street-based assessments and through one-on-one contact." Atalar added, "We are working on projects by identifying regional needs. One-on-one contact, needs, and responding to those needs are our main motivation in this process."

"WE ARE FILING LAWSUITS"

Stating that they hold meetings every month after the Üsküdar Municipality assembly meetings by inviting the local press and assembly members to the district headquarters to evaluate the assembly decisions and announce them to the people of Üsküdar through the press, Atalar said, "We also convey current problems and irregularities here. We do not just bring irregularities to the public agenda; we also file lawsuits when necessary. The assembly decision that gave unlimited authority to the municipal committee in matters such as real estate sales/leasing/swaps, etc., in a way that would eliminate the possibility of audit, is one of the examples of these lawsuits that we had cancelled through legal channels. There are many lawsuits we are involved in this way."

Stating that there are allegations of "transported voters" in Üsküdar as the local elections approach, Atalar continued:

"Various allegations, such as pressuring municipal employees during the election period to transport voters to their addresses, are also reaching us. Our research on such issues continues, and I would like to announce in advance that we will make the necessary interventions on our part when the day of objection comes."

"IRREGULARITIES AT ÜSKÜDAR MUNICIPALITY HAVE REACHED A NEW LEVEL"

Addressing the allegations of irregularity, Atalar said, "There have been many reports in the national press regarding the Üsküdar Municipality Soup Kitchen Manager; it is known to everyone. The irregularities at Üsküdar Municipality have reached such a level that they are even establishing international collaborations on this matter; the collaboration with the New York Municipality, the details of which are unknown, is also an event that has become public knowledge."

DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS

Atalar denied the allegations that they could not reach voters in neighborhoods where the AKP receives a high number of votes, saying:

"We have representatives in all neighborhoods. Last term, we went door-to-door with block-based studies and left no door unknocked. I don't know who this information came from or how, but it seems to contain some prejudice. We have had shortcomings and mistakes, and we know them; we are working to resolve them. We will come together with our fellow citizens in Üsküdar during the elections and we will win the elections in Üsküdar."

News Source: Aslı Ağırdil