Murat Kurum, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor candidate of the People's Alliance, made important statements on the problems of Istanbul and solution suggestions in a live broadcast on TRT Haber.
Kurum stated that the citizens are waiting for the March 31 elections with a feeling of "weariness, fatigue", emphasizing that the people of Istanbul expect sensitivity and solution-oriented approach from their mayor towards their problems. He noted that during his visits to various districts of Istanbul, he observed that the five years of resentment had turned into hope.
Highlighting that transportation is one of the most complained-about issues, Kurum said, "We hear this the most. We also hear about the earthquake concerns in Istanbul, the citizens who are waiting for their houses to be renovated as soon as possible due to the possible earthquake as expressed by our scientists. We also hear about the issues of stray animals, taxi problems, unfairness in social assistance, lack of green areas, library shortages for youth, deficiencies in sports facilities, and the need for new cultural centers in the field of culture and art."
"APRIL WILL COME AND FACES WILL SMILE"
Referring to the past services of the AKP, Kurum stated that their traces can be seen in many provinces of Turkey.
Providing details about the urban transformation projects they initiated in the 39 districts of Istanbul, Kurum said, "In this sense, we have been working on these projects for months, prepared our projects and promises, and when we share them with our people, we see that excitement. When March 31 comes, Istanbul will meet with a mayoral candidate who only cares about the future of Istanbul. We say 'April will come, the troubles will end, April will come and faces will smile', and we say 'May God never let the smiles on the faces of our people fade'."
"33,725 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LAID OFF AT IMM"
Drawing attention to the increasing debt of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Kurum linked this situation to the management approach of the municipality and the deficiencies in the services provided. Kurum mentioned that half of the staff at IMM have been laid off and stated, "Imagine half of them. In 2019, we handed over with 78,934 personnel and wherever I go in Istanbul today, I encounter them, 'I am also a victim of IMM.’ 46,967 people have been hired in 5 years, 33,725 people have been laid off. Some retired, some were fired. That is, half of the municipal staff have changed."
"WE WILL NOT UNFAIRLY LAY OFF ANY EMPLOYEE"
Emphasizing that the team has experience from the past, Kurum said, "You cannot do this with just new staff. In the work you do in your company, you need knowledge, experience, expertise. Right? A new colleague will come, but he will adapt to that experience, system. They have destroyed the existing system, literally destroyed it, and laid off so many people unfairly, but despite that, what do we say, do you know? Like them, we can never do, we will not unfairly lay off any employee here, and we will also rehire those who have been left without bread, those who have been laid off without reason. This is the picture and this picture actually explains everything. So why can't IMM do business, why are its subsidiaries losing money? If you don't deal with the work, don't care, change the staff, this is what happens. They always say the same thing. We are blocked, we couldn’t do it, they hindered us. We have been hearing these excuses and this excuse politics for 5 years, people of Istanbul hear them, and when there is nothing to say here, how do I go national, how do I create internal party conflicts on the other side, we see examples of governance by perception that we call perception politics. They say we made 39 kilometers (rail transportation/metro) in 2019, delivered it. They have completed 8 kilometers, opened them. Then they say 'we opened'" he said.
"YOU HAVE AN UNSUCCESSFUL MUNICIPALITY IN FRONT OF YOU"
Indicating that ISKI (Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration) cannot even pay the electricity bills, Kurum detailed the deficiencies and problems of the current municipal administration.
Kurum said the following about the issue: "You will not even bring a drop of water source here, the great ISKI, in 5 years, not even 1 cubic meter, 1 liter of water source has come to Istanbul. Today a citizen says, do you know? 'They will leave us thirsty.' We are talking about governance that cannot bring this. If you ask, 'we were hindered.' So why did your debt increase from 2.33 billion euros to 4.19 billion euros? Answer, what did you do? You canceled the subways. You said transformation, you didn't do it, you said green areas, you didn't do it. What have you achieved, what have you achieved? Yes, you have succeeded in ruining Istanbul, yes, you have succeeded in bringing Istanbul to this state. You have no other success. There is an unsuccessful municipality in front of you, an unsuccessful municipal mayor. I say it very clearly, we have increased our budget 12 times from the central budget since 2019 and deposited the money in the treasury, on time, every day. We send it from the Provincial Bank, I send it, we have never delayed it even for a day."