TKP announces its Kartal program: Communist municipalism will suit Kartal very well

The TKP Kartal District Organization announced its local election program at a press conference attended by its mayoral candidate Gökmen Dumlu, municipal council member candidates, and members of the Advisory Board.

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TKP announces its Kartal program: Communist municipalism will suit Kartal very well

With the 2024 Local Elections approaching, parties have accelerated their preparations. The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), which is entering the elections in Istanbul's Kartal district with ambitious goals, announced its mayoral candidate on December 30 and unveiled its Kartal program at a press conference held today.

The press conference was attended by TKP Kartal Mayoral Candidate Gökmen Dumlu, TKP Kartal Municipal Council Member candidates, and members of the Advisory Board.

"COMMUNIST MUNICIPALISM WILL SUIT KARTAL VERY WELL"

The first speaker at the meeting was Arzu Topuz, a lawyer for the Women and Children First Association, speaking on behalf of the Advisory Board.

Stating, "We set out in these elections saying we are getting rid of the opportunists," Topuz said, "We will manage our cities not with rent-seeking calculations, but with science, reason, and in a collective manner. We do not believe that a single person can solve the many problems in Kartal. For this reason, we have urban planners, architects, artists, and journalist friends on our Advisory Boards. All our friends on the Advisory Board will work for the benefit of society. Kartal will be managed with reason, science, and in a collective manner, friends. Communist municipalism will suit Kartal very well."

"COMMUNISTS WILL BE THE GUARDIANS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNCIL"

Speaking on behalf of the TKP Kartal Municipal Council Member candidates, Mesut Gülçiçek said, "The topic of Municipal Council Membership proceeds very differently in other parties. We see lists where millions of liras circulate, filled with real estate agents, bosses, and those who applaud all kinds of plunder and rent-seeking. When you look at our lists, you will see that, above all else, they have centered the struggle of their class, the poor, and the laborers. I want to underline that there is a qualitative difference here. That is why there was no competition in our lists. Just as there was no competition, there was no discussion like in other parties, such as 'I'm not on the list, let me switch to other parties.' It is no coincidence; it is very natural that real estate agents and rent-seekers do not want to be on these lists. Because they want to exploit municipal resources. What is important for us is this: when communists enter the council, they will be the guardians of the people. We have a very solid Advisory Board. Most importantly, with the guidance of neighborhood assemblies, we will not allow rent-seeking and plunder in Kartal. Communists will be right on the heels of the rent-seekers and plunderers. This is our main goal in municipal council membership. We tell our people: vote for TKP, let them be your guardians in the council," he said.

Following Gülçiçek, TKP Kartal Mayoral Candidate Gökmen Dumlu announced the TKP's Kartal program.

KARTAL PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

Starting his speech by saying, "We have started doing different things in Kartal," Dumlu said, "The first party to announce its candidacy in Kartal is the Communist Party of Turkey. There was never a process like in other parties where they crush each other, gossip, and talk about big money. While forming this team, we determined it according to science, reason, morality, conscience, and justice. We set out with a scientific mind that suits the people of Kartal and knows the needs of the people of Kartal. Since the day we set out, we have said, 'We will win Kartal'," he stated.

Dumlu listed the items in the TKP's Kartal program one by one:

"There is a project in Kartal that has not been mentioned before. We want to establish a Workers' Rights Center.

The Workers' Rights Center will be a first in Kartal. Besides this, they will find me as a mayor who acts like a labor union, standing on the side of the worker as a party in the Collective Bargaining process.

Earthquake and urban transformation

Earthquake and urban transformation are an important agenda. Detailed evaluations will be made in the central neighborhoods of Kartal and a risk area will be created. The municipality will mobilize all its resources in this regard. We will act with an understanding that prioritizes public education and organization. Our neighborhood assemblies and headmen (muhtars) will be the most important parts of this process. One of the most important problems of Kartal is the earthquake. First of all, our people will benefit from the Kartal Municipality free of charge regarding the inspection of structures in Kartal. If we have an earthquake risk, we have to fight it. We will prevent what is called urban transformation from becoming rent-based transformation. We will oppose the sweeping away of our neighborhoods and the destruction of our neighborhood culture.

A Kartal that breathes

Neighborhood assemblies will have a say in landscaping and protection. The Kartal coastline and square will be made into a symbol worthy of itself, and visual enrichment and planting works suitable for climate conditions will be initiated. A joint struggle will be waged to ensure that Aydos, one of the most important forest areas in Istanbul, remains a forest, its natural structure is protected, and it is opened to the public for free. Aydos Forest will be removed from being a gateway for rent. We will open Aydos forests to the public. New parks suitable for every age group will be built in Kartal.

Traffic

Traffic density is a problem for Istanbulites. It is our city's problem and unfortunately, it has become a problem in Kartal as well. The municipality needs to solve the parking problem. Lighting and signage need to be done. We will solve this problem in this way.

Regulation market areas and cooperatives

Access to clean and healthy food is a vital need. The economic conditions we are experiencing have hindered this. There are hundreds of city and village associations in our Kartal district. We will ensure coordination with these associations and provide clean vegetables and fruits to Kartal from the provinces they come from, through food, agriculture, and produce. We will also reopen regulation sales market places through the cooperatives we will establish. We aim to ensure that the people of Kartal obtain food more cheaply from these market places, and we must definitely fulfill this.

Kartal Card

The Kartal Card project is ready. This is a card that will make the retirees, workers, women, and youth of Kartal smile. Our retirees, workers, women, and youth are in a difficult situation. At the same time, the situation of our tradesmen in Kartal is also pitiful. This card will be used in the municipality's social facilities, and retirees, workers, and students will be able to benefit from the facilities free of charge with this card.

For women's equality

We will establish a 'Women's solidarity unit' that directs women to the resources they need, against the system that suppresses and hinders them in many areas.

Kartal for the youth

We will bring solutions to the problems of the youth living in our district with our communist municipalism program. Cultural and artistic opportunities will be developed as we have addressed in this framework, and it will be ensured that young people benefit from these opportunities. Social areas and definitely libraries will be created within the municipality's facilities, and students in the district will be able to use these areas 24/7.

Arrangements will be made for young people to benefit from the Kartal Card at the highest level. Free university and high school preparatory courses will be opened.

Another problem in Kartal is the addiction problem. We will establish an addiction treatment center in Topselvi, Yalı, and Yunus neighborhoods. We will carry out work to prevent young people from falling into this trap. We will provide psychological support very intensively.

With the excitement of children

One of the most important programs that communist municipalism wants to implement is daycare centers. We will make all the daycare centers we open in Kartal free of charge. In these daycare centers, work will be done for the social-emotional and cognitive development as well as language development of children. A 'I Have a Dream' workshop will be programmed, and creative educational activities will be organized for children's dreaming, planning, self-expression, and self-confidence development.

In addition, 'Parent School' studies will be carried out for mothers and fathers simultaneously.

Barrier-free Kartal

It is a necessity for municipalities to center the living conditions of disabled individuals while implementing the social and physical planning of the city.

Multi-faceted studies will be carried out for the socialization, acquisition of life skills, and personal development of disabled individuals.

Workshops, group psychological counseling studies, and talks will be organized in our cultural centers to improve the living standards of the disabled and create social awareness.

Kartal will be the district of those who do not retire from life

In our country, retirees and the population over 65 have become the poorest and most ignored segment of society. We will create spaces where our retirees and elderly citizens, who are left out of social life due to the high cost of living and lack of opportunities, can come together.

Along with this, 'Life Houses' that we will establish in all 20 of our neighborhoods will host leisure time evaluation, socio-cultural activities, and healthy living activities for retirees. At the same time, a 'Retiree Commission' will be established within the municipality. Our neighborhood assembly, together with the headmen, will ensure the monthly follow-up of our elderly.

Kartal of art

Kartal is one of the most densely populated districts of Istanbul. Our municipality will act together with artists from Kartal to reach the highest level of urban identity.

Participation of the public in these events will be facilitated by organizing neighborhood festivals, festivals, theaters, exhibitions, and concerts under the name of 'Kartal Culture Days'.

The Culture and Arts Unit will begin work for the 'Kartal Labor Museum' to be established to protect and strengthen this.

We will make Kartal a festival area, not with huge amounts of money. We will make 'Kartal Art Streets' on some streets that we will specifically designate. We will create areas where it will be intertwined with art. We will write big stories with very small-scale money. I promise you; Kartal will become a brand.

Healthy living for street animals

One of the areas of responsibility of local governments is to protect the right to life of street animals within their borders.

An 'Animal Rights Commission' will definitely be established within our municipality and will ensure coordination with neighborhood assemblies.

Efforts will be made to prevent abandonment on the street and encourage adoption.

We are not among those who lie to the people of Kartal every five years. We are a program, we are a team, and we will fulfill this program that we will announce within 1 year. If we cannot fulfill this within 1 year, they can go to the Ministry of Interior. If we cannot keep our promise, let them remove us from office. We set out in Kartal with excitement and enthusiasm. We are rising every day. Let Kartal be ready for a big surprise. We are winning Kartal, we will win.”

The meeting ended with the announcement of the Advisory Board and Municipal Council Member Candidates:

Advisory Board