Taipei City Government

In the company of Civil Affairs Commissioner Lan Shih-Tsung, Mayor Ko Wen-je visited borough heads in Chungshan District to appreciate their hard work and to extend holiday wishes to residents on the day of Dragon Boat Festival.
 
Ko’s first stop involved a meeting with Bitou Borough Head Lin Ming-qing at Bitou Community Center. Lin expressed support for the city’s attempts to improve livability, citing that after pedestrian walkway markings were added to the borough’s alleys, the roads has become more orderly and parking violations declined in numbers, allowing pedestrians – especially elders – to walk without fear of passing vehicles.
 
The mayor commented that a primary reason for visiting boroughs and business districts is based on the perception of the government’s role as a service provider, rather than a supervisor, for the residents. He said that a switch in stance will allows things to progress more efficiently.
 
Ko stressed that it is not possible for the government to know the market better than industry players. By reaching out to borough heads and businesses for frontline information, the public sector can make more informed decisions, he added.
 
Stressing his belief in communitarianism, Ko pointed out that the city’s senior resident meal-sharing program is intended at engaging the elderly and providing them a chance to become connected. The Farmcity program also serves similar functions, the mayor added.
 
In conclusion, Ko lauded the role of the city’s borough heads for providing down-to-earth, first-hand information in the city’s policy-making process.