As our world improved, we met with a lot of new stuff. Communication turned from letters to smartphones, administrations from monarchies to democracies, production rocketing up… Together with these, where we live and the way we live also changed. Only three centuries ago, most of the people were living in villages or towns. Now we have metropolitan cities that host millions of people in very small areas. Every day, millions of people wake up, go to work or school, travel, walk, eat, have fun and simply live whole their lives in these cities. Istanbul is one of these, and a particularly special one. Apart from being one of the most historic(as a result, also touristic) destinations in the world, it hosts 16 million residents, one of the highest in the world.
But although being a very historic and beautiful city, Istanbul has many problems that haven’t been solved for decades. Traffic is a common problem for metropolitans, but Istanbul’s is worldwide popular. It takes hours to go 5 or 10 kilometers by car or taxi. The cost of living (inflation) is another one. The price of basic goods Istanbul easily doubles and sometimes even triples compared to the countryside. And as known, way more than basic food is needed for a happy community. In Türkiye, where millions of people work for insufficient wages, 9. President Süleyman Demirel’s words should be remembered: Inflation is a main reason for anything going wrong with the nation. There are lots of other things too, but these two are the most important
If I were the mayor of Istanbul, I would focus on the traffic problem first. I would create a research team of experts from all around Türkiye and the globe and give them enough to work on a down-to-ground, appliable, inexpensive-as-possible solution. But it’s important that people on the research team are independent of any outside effects and people who’re trying to manipulate them. Then I’d announce this project to the public and try to create pressure on the central government to do their part and collaborate with me. If they do, I’ll also do my part and apply the solution. I’d use social media, TV, and municipality resources to create pressure on them.
And while I was putting the solution about traffic into effect, I’d also be focusing on inflation. I’d use municipality resources to buy basic goods from farmers or first-hand producers, add a little profit and sell them municipality’s markets. I’d also work with the central govt. if needed. So the intermediaries would be out of the way and prices would automatically lower. Plus, it would be a steady money source for the municipality and increase my reputation in both Istanbul and the country. You know what they say in Turkish politics, who “gets” Istanbul “gets” all Türkiye.