Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç Soyer, to the International Cittaslow Association delegation within the scope of the "Cittaslow Metropol" project Karşıyaka He talked about the “Calm Neighborhood” works they carried out in Demirköprü District on site. In the press statement made after the tour, Pierre Beaudran, Vice President of the International Cittaslow Association, stated that after the pilot city of Izmir, Paris could receive the title of "Cittaslow Metropol". Tunç SoyerHe offered to work with . President Soyer said, “I wish Izmir will lead many metropolises of the world such as Paris and Busan.”
Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç SoyerWork continues in İzmir, which was declared a pilot city for the title of the world's first Cittaslow Metropol with the initiative of . Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç Soyer, which was selected as a pilot region for the “Calm Neighborhood” project within the scope of the “Calm Metropol” main project, to the President of the International Cittaslow Association Mauro Migliorini, Secretary General Pier Giorgio Oliveti and committee members, who were in Izmir for both the Terra Madre Anatolian Fair and the Cittaslow Presidential Council meeting. Karşıyaka He explained the works in Demirköprü Neighborhood on the spot. Karşıyaka A press conference was held after the technical tour with the participation of Mayor Cemil Tugay.
“The network of cities where the pursuit of goodness embodies”
President at press conference Tunç Soyer, defined the Cittaslow movement with the words “The network of cities in which the pursuit of goodness embodies”. Chairman Soyer said, “The Cittaslow movement has two main goals. One is nature and harmony with each other. The other is to protect our history and our future. For this reason, it is perhaps one of the most important platforms where this search for the good and the beautiful is embodied. This is a slow revolution. A revolution that walks with intimidation and has no other concern than the welfare of the people. When I was the mayor of Seferihisar, I started to follow this dream. After bringing Seferihisar together with the Cittaslow network, I thought, 'I wonder how can I apply this in big cities'. And we started working.” said.
“We are starting the participatory budget application”
Stating that the project has started in two neighborhoods for now, and that they are planning to expand it to 15, the Mayor Tunç Soyer“It's not just about gaining more green space. This is a model that enables neighborhood residents to embrace each other, have a say in the administration of the neighborhood, and participate in the administration of the neighborhood. We are now starting the participatory budget implementation. This neighborhood will have a budget. Where to spend that budget, how to spend it, will decide together. Cittaslow actually means advanced democracy. It means creating the ground for more widespread happiness. It means that children, mothers and fathers lead a more peaceful life with each other. I am very proud to have embarked on this journey. Actually, this is just the beginning. I wish that Izmir will lead Paris, Busan in Korea, and many metropolises of the world. We will share this pride together.
“I wish you continued success”
Cittaslow International Union Deputy Chairman Jacek Kostka stated that he found İzmir very beautiful and said, “Working on the Cittaslow project is wonderful. It is extremely important to find the needs of all citizens, from the lowest income group to the highest income group, to research them and to do what is necessary. Here we see this being done. The city is made up of people. The people also form the basis of the Cittaslow movement. I wish you continued success.”
Cooperation offer to President Soyer
Pierre Beaudran, Vice President of Cittaslow International Union, started his speech by expressing that he liked İzmir very much. Pierre Beaudran said, “It is very difficult to realize the Cittaslow project in a metropolis. I would like to thank our mayor for showing this will. I thank him for sharing his solutions with us. It also sets an example for us as it has been able to carry out this project well. I wish these Cittaslow Metropol projects to spread to other countries. I have a personal request from him. Let's work together to make Paris a second Cittaslow Metropolis”.
“A good start for Demirköprü”
Pier Giorgio Oliveti, Secretary General of the Cittaslow International Union, said, “It is a very important day not only for you, but also for us. This is not the day the project ends. It's actually a start. A good start for Demirköprü. We are proud of it. This project is a very important project not only for you, but also for the Cittaslow network, for our planet, for all of us. Cittaslow means a slow change, a slow revolution. Although it does not attract attention at first glance, it appears as a solution proposal against the crises we experience every day in our daily lives. We are in a quiet place now. It has a philosophy, but a large part of it is action. It is about putting this philosophy into practice. We look forward to the continuation. I would like to welcome the Cittaslow family.”
To build livable environments where the target individual is at the forefront
Cittaslow International Union President Mauro Migliorini stated that there were people who spoke Turkish, English, Italian and Korean during the works in İzmir, and this reflects the richness of Cittaslow. Mauro Migliorini said: “This point should especially be considered as the carrier column of the Cittaslow movement. We started this movement two years ago. Our aim is to transfer our experiences as administrators and mayors of small cities to metropolises. What we are trying to do is to bridge the gap between our administrative duties and the expectations of the citizens. Communicate directly with them because the citizen, the individual is the pillar of the Cittaslow movement. Our main goal is to build livable environments where the individual is at the forefront.”
“We are happy and hopeful for the future”
Karşıyaka Mayor Cemil Tugay also stated that Cittaslow is a people-oriented movement that aims to make people live in a healthier environment and said, “It was a movement that was tried to be realized in small cities. But two years ago, our esteemed Metropolitan Mayor Tunç SoyerIt was said that similar work could be done with big cities under the intellectual leadership of . Work started. We are glad that one of the pilot examples of this study took place in Demirköprü. People from Demirköprü know the old state of this place. You see the change happening. This area is more of a public area. It used to have heavy traffic, but now it has turned into a center to meet people's social needs. We know that we will live healthier in the cities we live in. We are happy and hopeful for the future. I congratulate our president for initiating this work and leading the way internationally. We have a metropolitan mayor who suits İzmir very well.”
“We saw people lead a quiet life here”
Dehyun Sohn, Vice President of Cittaslow International Union, also shared his impressions after his visits within the scope of the project. “Cittaslow is a concept that normally applies to small cities, but here we see the application of the metropolis. This is a very important point. It is an extremely difficult task, but it is a process that can lead to a great transformation.” Stating that they were surprised by the presence of bicycle and walking paths by the sea, Sohn said, “We saw that it is possible to lead a quiet life in the city center. We want to put this into practice in Busan, Korea, by taking İzmir as an example.”
Mayor Soyer talked about the work in Konak Pazaryeri, the other pilot neighborhood of the “Calm Neighborhood” project yesterday.
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