Kaohsiung Election Heats Up as "Cool City" Proposal Sparks Political Clash

A political spat has erupted in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, over a mayoral candidate's proposal for a "cool city." Chen Chih-en, a candidate for Kaohsiung mayor representing the KMT, unveiled a "cool city trilogy" plan aimed at mitigating the city's summer heat. However, his proposal quickly drew sharp criticism from Yin Li, a DPP candidate for city council. Yin Li accused Chen of political opportunism, alleging that the "cool city" concept was only presented as the election campaign intensified, without prior substantive action or research. Yin Li presented three points to support his critique, arguing that councilor Chang Po-yang had already advocated for concrete measures like "continuous shaded transfer systems" and integrating them into urban planning to improve public transport comfort. Chang's broader vision included "making Kaohsiung a cool and livable city" through strategies like water-green cooling and ventilation. Yin Li contrasted this with Chen's "cool city trilogy," which he characterized as a superficial slogan-based approach. He further questioned Chen's legislative record, stating that as a legislator, Chen had not significantly addressed "city cooling" or "urban heat island governance" in parliamentary inquiries. Yin Li criticized Chen's approach as "policy learning on the fly" during election season, suggesting a lack of respect for those who have been consistently working on these issues. The exchange underscores a debate in Kaohsiung about effective urban planning for climate resilience and the timing of policy proposals during election cycles.

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The proposal for a cool city trilogy by Chen Chih-en is something that came about only after the election got hot.