Lee Shih-chuan Counters Criticism on Urban Renewal, Cites Efficiency Concerns

New Taipei City mayoral candidate Lee Shih-chuan has proposed establishing an urban renewal promotion committee, to be convened by the mayor, to accelerate development. He directly challenged criticism from his opponent, Su Chiao-hui, who questioned Taipei's inaction on urban renewal, suggesting that if it were feasible, Taipei would already be implementing it.

Lee retorted that Su appears to misunderstand city governance and urban renewal procedures. He pointed out that he himself established New Taipei City's urban renewal department when he served as deputy county magistrate in 2010. Lee emphasized that both Taipei and New Taipei currently have a single point of contact for urban renewal matters through their respective urban renewal departments.

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the biggest problem with urban renewal is speed, not hierarchy. If divided into two bureaus, it would require more time for coordination.

The core issue, according to Lee, is the speed of the process, not the level of the administrative body. He argued that dividing urban renewal responsibilities between multiple bureaus would necessitate more time for inter-departmental coordination, potentially slowing down progress. He suggested that consolidating urban planning and zoning incentives within a single, integrated department could expedite execution.

Lee reiterated his commitment to establishing a mayoral-convened urban renewal promotion committee if elected, aiming to streamline and hasten the pace of urban renewal projects. He believes this approach, focused on efficiency and coordinated action, is crucial for effective urban development.

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it seems Su Chiao-hui may not understand city governance or the urban renewal process.