Global Q&A: ‘If you were mayor of your city, what one measure would you take to improve the welfare of your people?’

Lima, Perú: Lauretta Luci, 56, Poet: The first step I would take if mayor of my city would be to work in favor of culture and education, and work more with young people and children. People have to learn to reason, develop more critical thinking. Currently, I see none of that. We should all know our rights and fulfill our obligations. There should be a "culture of debate." Society has to improve—talk more, be less discriminative, and less competitive. People fight against each other, instead of finding harmony. That’s why it is important to work with young people.

To invest in education and health care, improve job opportunities and the justice system, are important measures for a mayor to take to improve the welfare of the community. This is what Epoch Times reporters from Peru to Colombia discovered when they asked locals,

“If you were mayor of your city, what one measure would you take to improve the welfare of your people?”

Lund, Sweden: Emma Johnsson, 27, Preschool Teacher: I would invest in the future of the school and health care. In my opinion, if you invest early in the school and give resources to the school, then the results will be positive, and society will have more well-adjusted young adults that look forward to contributing to society, and want to work. The same applies to health care—it should not be the money that decides, but if you are in need of a doctor you should get that help. Mental illness is increasing among young people. Information and knowledge in schools and in health care are important to help those young people before it is too late.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain: Cari Macias, 43, Administrator: I would propose that we take care of the needy. A society who does this is a healthy one; plus it should be a priority of those who govern. It would also be an example for future generations—to see what people in public offices should really concern themselves over.

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: Júlio Cesar de Jesus Santana, 41, Broadcaster: First measure: convene neighborhood merchants; they help in maintenance repairs in their locality using its capital and from there, in turn, this would reduce taxes. Second measure: integrate transport, i.e., citizens would pay only a one-way fare, and so they could take several buses to a specific locale. Third measure: It would increase the effectiveness of the municipal guard, who would be armed, such as in Rio de Janeiro, and would work together with the community, making it more participatory as a whole.

Acacias, Colombia: Maria Elena Torres, 44, Hotel Employee: I would relocate everyone that lives by the riverbank. I would improve employment opportunity—have more jobs and increase wages. I would also improve city roads.

Puerto Montt, Chile: Victoria Pérez, Home Duties: If I were mayor, the first thing I would do is create a cadastral map to identify the population's true current situation, and to the best of my ability redistribute salary incomes in order to end with social injustice. I would concern myself with the education and justice system, which is not always so just; and I would do whatever possible to improve the lives of the people in my district.

 

Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question, “In your country, are children being educated to adjust to life in an ever-changing world?”