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Taichung Business Group Slams Mayor for Neglecting City Amid Health Scandal

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Taichung Business Association criticized Mayor Lu Shiow-yen for neglecting city affairs while focusing on political activities elsewhere.
  • Association Chairman Hsieh Feng-hsiang expressed concern that the mayor has not contacted them regarding the recent "carcinogenic oil" incident.
  • Critics question the mayor's commitment to public health and rights, especially after eight years in office, and accuse her of prioritizing political maneuvering over addressing local issues.

The Taichung Business Association has sharply criticized Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, accusing her of neglecting municipal duties and prioritizing political networking over the health and rights of Taichung citizens. The association's chairman, Hsieh Feng-hsiang, penned an open letter expressing dismay that the mayor has not reached out to them concerning the ongoing "carcinogenic oil" scandal involving Zhonglian Oil.

Have time to connect in Taipei and Keelung, but no heart to care about the health and rights of Taichung citizens!

— Hsieh Feng-hsiangThe Chairman of the Taichung Business Association criticizes Mayor Lu Shiow-yen for her perceived neglect of local issues amidst a public health concern.

Hsieh stated that while Mayor Lu has been active in political events in Taipei and Keelung, including visiting a hunger strike, she has failed to address the immediate concerns of Taichung residents. He highlighted that the business association, representing 138 member guilds, has not received any communication from the mayor's office regarding the benzene pyrene contamination incident. This lack of engagement has caused significant anxiety among citizens.

Taiwan Youth Generation Association chairman Chang Yu-meng echoed these criticisms, questioning Mayor Lu's eight-year tenure and her response to the crisis. He pointed out that Lu's administration has not conducted regular inspections related to such contaminants, and her current actions seem to be reactive and politically motivated. Chang suggested that Lu's attempts to rally support from other KMT mayors, like Chiang Wan-an, are transparently political maneuvers that fail to address the core issue.

Where is the mother mayor who has been in power for 8 years without inspections, and only runs to Ketagalan Boulevard to scream when something happens?

— Chang Yu-mengTaiwan Youth Generation Association chairman Chang Yu-meng questions Mayor Lu Shiow-yen's track record and response to the contamination incident.

Chang further emphasized that Hsieh Feng-hsiang, who was personally awarded his chairmanship certificate by Mayor Lu in 2021 and previously praised her administration's economic development, is not politically aligned with opposition parties. This context lends significant weight to Hsieh's public criticism, indicating a genuine concern stemming from the mayor's perceived inaction. The association's letter, titled "Sincerely Request Mayor Lu Shiow-yen to Care About the Health and Rights of Taichung Citizens," directly challenges Lu's commitment as a "mother mayor."

Is Taichung that far from the Presidential Office or the Executive Yuan?

— Hsieh Feng-hsiangHsieh Feng-hsiang sarcastically questions the mayor's excuse of needing central government cooperation to address local problems.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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