Lu Shiow-yen's image 'everywhere'! Councilor Lin De-yu questions use of mayor's photos in festival promotion

Taichung City Councilor Lin De-yu has sharply criticized the prominent display of Mayor Lu Shiow-yen's image on promotional materials for the city's Hot Pot Festival, accusing the administration of using public funds for the mayor's self-promotion shortly before her term ends.

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Mayor's photos are everywhere!

Lin stated that the street banners advertising the fourth annual festival are dominated by the mayor's photograph. He contends that this practice, which he has opposed for eight years, persists despite his objections. "Mayor's photos are everywhere!" Lin exclaimed, questioning whether the festival's success hinges on the mayor's image being included in the visual design.

He further questioned the necessity of using the mayor's likeness to promote local businesses, such as barbecue and hot pot restaurants, that participate in the festival. Lin views this as a recurring pattern of the city government using public funds to promote the mayor personally.

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Is it that the city government's events cannot succeed without Mayor Lu's photo? Is the success model of the city government's events based on whether the mayor's photo is included in the overall visual image design?

Responding to the criticism, Zhang Fengyuan, director of the Economic Development Bureau, defended the practice. He pointed out that hiring celebrities for promotions, such as singer Jam Hsiao or actress Lin Mei-hsiu for the Taichung Shopping Festival, cost millions. Zhang argued that using the mayor's image for promotion is essentially free, and cited examples like Tainan City, which also features its mayor in promotional materials. He stated that hiring the mayor costs nothing, unlike paid celebrity endorsements.

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Hiring the mayor for promotion costs nothing.