Support Shen Boyang: From youth residence to metropolitan area, progress has been made, and we look forward to changing the way Taipei is governed.

◎ Xiao Xihui

The Taipei mayoral election is gradually heating up. I support Shen Boyang.

I support him not just because of his political party, but because he proposes youth homes, marriage and childcare homes, old homes for longevity and age-friendliness, which are a positive response to the life issues in Taipei that I care about most. I hope that Taipei will change its governance style: starting from the real problems faced by citizens, clarifying the problems, proposing methods, and leaving promises to be tested.

Shen Boyang's ideas of youth homes, marriage and childcare homes, and old homes to extend life and be friendly to the elderly are a positive response to life problems in Taipei. (File photo)

I care about three things in particular: residential justice, urban renewal, and the integrity of politicians.

Please read on...

House prices and rents in Taipei are high, making it difficult for young people to start a family; on the other hand, many elderly people still live in old apartments without elevators. Urban progress should not only focus on major construction, but also on whether the elderly can safely leave their homes.

This is a personal pain for many citizens. Some cases may take more than ten years or even longer from household integration, application, review to commencement of construction.

For people living in old houses, the real question is:

How long do I have to wait for my house?

This is a personal pain for many citizens. Some cases may take more than ten years or even longer from household integration, application, review to commencement of construction. The picture shows the second and third phases of Shuiyuan’s whole-house public office renovation plan. (Provided by Beishi Judu Center)

Of course, none of this can be accomplished with just one order from the mayor. Residential integration, property rights and legal procedures all have their limitations. But the mayor must be held accountable for administrative efficiency within the city’s control: Can the process be streamlined? Can cross-bureau coordination be achieved? Can the progress of the case be made public?

Citizens cannot leave after voting. There are three things we can do:

First, chase time. It is required to disclose the progress of case processing, where it is stuck, how long it has been stuck, and who is responsible.

Second, look at the results. It not only depends on how many renovation projects have been approved, but also how many old house life extensions, elevators, earthquake resistance, pipelines and barrier-free improvements have been completed.

Third, check the commitment. Leave the candidate’s big political message in mind: How much budget? Who is responsible? When will it be completed? Check items one by one after one, two, and four years.

I support Shen Boyang, but support does not mean handing over a blank check.

If it can be done, propose methods and deadlines; if it is restricted by law, finance, or the wishes of the residents, state the reasons clearly.

A truly mature democracy is not just about electing people you support, but also continuing to supervise after the election.

Track time, see results, and check commitments.

Keep your words true to your words; don’t make random promises if you can’t do them.

(The author is a freelance writer)