Taipei Candidate Slams City Hall for 'Setting Goals Too Low,' Inflating Records

Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Po-yang on Tuesday criticized the city government's performance, accusing officials of setting the bar too low and prematurely adding achievements to their record before the election. Referencing Michelangelo's quote, "The greatest danger is not that our ambition soars too high and we fail to reach it, but that we set our sights too low and achieve it," Shen asserted this sentiment reflects Taipei's current administration.

Shen argued that improving a city requires a progression of "truth, goodness, and beauty." He contended that the Taipei city government fails even at the first step: "truth," which involves genuinely listening to citizens' needs. He claimed this failure highlights his own superior capability to lead the city forward.

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The greatest danger is not that our ambition soars too high and we fail to reach it, but that we set our sights too low and achieve it. This sentence is very suitable for the current Taipei City Government.

During his campaign, Shen has raised various citizen concerns, including issues with rats, the North Taipei Science Park substation, and transportation gaps on hiking trails. He noted that his proposals, like solutions for rat control and addressing the substation's construction, have been adopted or addressed by the government, humorously remarking that his "achievements are piling up" even before he's elected.

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We haven't even been elected yet, and the achievements are piling up continuously.

He cited specific examples: the need for better connections on hiking trails, issues faced by vendors in the Dalong Market, the heavy workload of teachers, and the need for public servant stress reduction. In each case, Shen felt the city government's response was dismissive, claiming they were already doing enough or that existing mechanisms were sufficient. He contrasted this with his view that the government's attitude suggests they believe they have already perfected the city, an assessment he believes does not align with citizens' experiences.

Shen stressed that true progress requires acknowledging and addressing citizen needs first. He believes his approach, which prioritizes listening and understanding diverse needs, is essential for achieving balanced development, connecting with the international community, and ultimately creating a more livable and beautiful city.

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The most terrifying thing is not being able to do the first step of 'truth,' which is listening to citizens' needs.