President Boltaç evaluated ‘100 Days in Service’

Tarsus Mayor Ali Boltaç said, ‘We have taken important steps to meet the needs of our people and improve their quality of life.’ Tarsus Mayor Ali Boltaç spoke about the services and projects carried out at the ‘100 Days in Service’ evaluation meeting of Tarsus Municipality. Boltaç also answered journalists’ questions and made statements. Speaking about Tarsus and its future, Boltaç said, ‘Today, we are here to share the details of the work we have done in the last 100 days of this ancient city with the motto ‘There is a Future in Tarsus.’ Tarsus has always been a shining star throughout history with its culture, nature, and productivity. Like everyone living in these ancient lands, we are aware of the potential that Tarsus has and we are working with all our might to make the best use of this potential. Since we took office on April 1st, we have been working with great determination and perseverance to ensure the development that Tarsus deserves. With a transparent, participatory, and citizen-focused management approach, we continue our work with great excitement and meticulousness in every corner of Tarsus.
‘We are working in coordination with the Metropolitan Municipality’ Emphasizing that they act with a municipal understanding that is worthy of Tarsus’s history, culture, and people, Boltaç said, ‘We have taken important steps to meet the needs of our people and improve their quality of life. The greatest power behind all these efforts is the trust and support of the people of Tarsus. We will never betray this trust. The projects we have implemented in Tarsus shed light not only on the future of our local people but also on the future of all of Mersin. In this respect, we work in coordination and harmony with Mersin Metropolitan Municipality.’
‘Our issue is the future of Tarsus’ Boltaç stated that their issue is the future of Tarsus and said, ‘Whoever obstructs our path and ignores the future of Tarsus will find us against them. We take our job seriously. Our issue is Tarsus. No one can hinder the development and progress of Tarsus. We have not allowed and will not allow any initiative that is not in the best interest of this city.’ Boltaç noted that transparency and accountability are among their principles and they never compromise on these principles. Saying, ‘We have worked with all our might to provide the best service to our people,’ Boltaç added, ‘We will stand firm against anyone who wants to harm this city, anyone who tries to hinder its development. We will not hesitate to fight in every way necessary to protect the rights and laws of the people of Tarsus.’
‘We plan to establish a bread sales point in every neighborhood’ Boltaç, stating that they have continued their work without interruption since taking office, mentioned a workshop they held and emphasized that they will make decisions collectively and manage the city collectively in all their work. Boltaç, who also mentioned projects to be implemented in Tarsus, underlined that they closed the People’s Markets that were operating at a loss when they took office. He stated that they plan to establish a bread sales point in every neighborhood, and added, ‘At these bread sales points, we are considering assigning the sales and responsibility to a needy woman citizen in that neighborhood. This needy citizen will make a living from here and thus have a business of her own. We plan to implement this project starting from our disadvantaged neighborhoods as soon as possible.’
‘Tarsus will be the center of gastronomy’ Boltaç, expressing that they have carried out extensive work to introduce Tarsus’s traditional flavors, said, ‘Our gastronomy center that we are working on at Siptilli Bazaar plays an important role in introducing Tarsus’s traditional flavors to the whole of Turkey and giving the city a new symbol. For us, this is not enough. We will close it to traffic and turn it into a Gastronomy Street. This place will become the focal point of the city’s attraction. It will introduce Tarsus’s food culture to the world. It will be an area where Tarsus gastronomy will become more prominent in Turkey and the world. Tarsus will be the center of gastronomy.’
‘We will re-implement the People’s Meat Market project’ Providing clarification on the closure of the People’s Meat Market, Boltaç said, ‘The reason for closing the People’s Meat Market is that it was opened without compliance with the license. In our management approach, there is equality and fairness for everyone. We are in a position to issue permits as a municipality. Therefore, if a place is not in compliance with the license, we will close it, even if it is ours. We will apply what the rule, the law requires. We will select a better and legally suitable place to meet the needs and address the grievances of the people, and we will re-implement the People’s Meat Market project.’
‘The closure of the Theater Directorate is not on the agenda’ Answering journalists’ questions, Boltaç stated that he would hold a meeting with the residents of Ismetpasa Neighborhood regarding the victims of urban transformation and resolve the issue. Boltaç clarified that the closure of the Theater Directorate is not on the agenda, saying, ‘Closure can only happen with a council decision. As a mayor, I am never against art and artists; on the contrary, I am a supporter of providing even more support. An attempt was made to create a perception during this period. We took some measures regarding some problematic situations within that directorate. Our colleagues there were office staff. And we temporarily assigned them to other units. Then they returned to their posts. We asked them to work at our ‘Village Life Festival.’ However, they said they couldn’t and resigned of their own accord.’ Boltaç added that they will continue theater services by establishing a theater team of 20 people.