Taichung Mayor Accused of Electioneering Over Unsubstantiated Sports Center Plan

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen has announced plans to build a national children's sports center in Dajia, a region lacking large indoor sports facilities. The proposed center, named "Dakas Park," would be built on the site of the former Dajia Police Precinct. The mayor stated the plan is nearing completion.

However, the announcement has drawn sharp criticism from city councilors. Councilor Shih Chih-chang questioned the heads of the relevant departments – Sports, Construction, and Police – during a council meeting. None could provide concrete details about the project's progress, with the police chief stating he had not received any information about it. Shih accused the mayor of making unsubstantiated claims.

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I don't have this information.

Shih further criticized Mayor Lu, pointing out that her administration has not addressed the need for sports facilities in the Dajia, Anpu, and Waipu areas for the past eight years. He alleges that with less than five months left in her term, she is now making election promises to deceive local residents. "This is just another empty promise to fool the people of the coastal area," Shih stated, accusing the mayor of kicking the can down the road to the next administration.

The Taichung City Government responded by stating that after an overall assessment of land conditions, location, and usability, the Dakas Park site has been prioritized for the national and children's sports center. During the council session, when asked about the project, Lu mentioned that the plan was almost finalized and would be concluded soon. However, Sports Bureau Director You Chih-hsiang's vague response about a timeline being submitted by staff, and Construction Bureau Director Chen Ta-tien's mention of preliminary planning and review for the site, further fueled the skepticism.

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This is just another empty promise to fool the people of the coastal area.