Street umbrellas in Kaohsiung and New Taipei become a topic; Kaohsiung mayor says 'some cities are richer'

(Central News Agency Reporter Lin Chia-lien Kaohsiung July 2nd) The scorching heat is unbearable. Kaohsiung, New Taipei, and Taipei have recently set up pedestrian sunshades. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai said that the interests of citizens are the most important consideration. Considering the budget and maintenance costs, they did not choose electric devices. "Each city's finances are different, and some cities are richer."

Taiwan's summers are hot, and pedestrians and motorcyclists find it difficult to endure the seconds while waiting for traffic lights. New Taipei City, Kaohsiung City, and Taipei City have recently chosen to pilot large sunshades on some road sections. Kaohsiung City uses manual devices that require manual opening to use, costing about NT$275,000. New Taipei City and Taipei City chose electric devices that can automatically open and close, and the cost is also higher.

Chen Chi-mai received a delegation led by Keelung City Council Speaker Tung Tzu-wei for a visit today. The two met the media for interviews at Zhan San Ku in the morning. Chen Chi-mai said that Kaohsiung has strong sunlight, and it is very inconvenient and difficult for people to be exposed to the sun at intersections or pedestrian spaces without shade. The city government's promotion of intersection sunshades is mainly to improve the environment at some intersections with longer waiting times and reduce the discomfort caused by the scorching sun to pedestrians.

"The financial conditions of each county and city are different. Some people are richer, and we cannot comment on how they spend their money," Chen Chi-mai said. If electric equipment is used, it will increase maintenance costs. The city government will consider the reasonableness of the budget and the convenience of subsequent maintenance, avoid using equipment with excessively high maintenance costs, and pilot it at important intersections first, and then review and adjust based on actual results.

When Tung Tzu-wei led a delegation to Kaohsiung for exchanges today, Chen Chi-mai said that Keelung and Kaohsiung are both port cities, and they can exchange ideas on industrial development, urban appearance, and transportation construction. Tung Tzu-wei also has a deep understanding of Keelung and many blueprints. Exchanges between cities are very beneficial.

Tung Tzu-wei said that Keelung was once the seventh-largest cargo port in the world, but with the changes of the times and industrial structure, it faces challenges such as industrial outflow, increasing aging, loss of young and middle-aged population, and low birth rate. Several development indicators of the city have continued to decline. He hopes to find a suitable development model from Kaohsiung's governance experience to improve the quality of life for citizens.

Regarding the Keelung election situation, Tung Tzu-wei said that the current atmosphere in the constituency is "as hot as Kaohsiung's weather." More and more citizens are beginning to pay attention to quality of life issues, and dissatisfaction with the current situation is gradually increasing. According to observations, more and more Kuomintang supporters are becoming wait-and-see, which also makes him more confident about the year-end election and hopes to promote change and progress in Keelung. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150702

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