Paradise Dwellers Stand Firm at the People's Table

During the 438th session of the City Council yesterday, a range of issues were placed on the table, from reviewing fares for app-based ride-hailing fleets to reports on neighborhood visits and the organization of the capital's gardens. However, the focus of the session was the “Municipal Livelihood Shield” and an all-out defense of the “Zero Inflation” plan.

Yesterday, during the 438th session of the Parliament of the capital city, a variety of topics were discussed, from the review of the price of internet passenger fleet services to neighborhood tourism reports and the organization of the capital's gardens, but the focus of the discussion was the "municipality livelihood shield" and the comprehensive defense of the "Zero Inflation" plan.

Ambassador Arjan-Prisa Noori: Yesterday, during the 438th session of the Parliament of the capital, various topics were discussed, from the review of the price of internet passenger fleet services to the neighborhood tourism reports and the organization of the capital's gardens, but at the center of the discussions of this meeting was the "municipality livelihood shield" and the all-round defense of the "Zero Inflation" plan; The plan, which was implemented with the aim of curbing inflation in 12 categories of basic goods, and despite the tangible satisfaction of the citizens, was the target of some budget rumors and media destruction in the past days. In yesterday's meeting, while explaining the positive aspects of the plan and responding to the views of the critics, the council members emphasized that the city administration will not allow political games to sideline people's livelihoods. But what happened in this meeting and what did the members say?

At the beginning of the meeting, Mehdi Chamran, the head of the Islamic Council of Tehran, while emphasizing on the field monitoring of the implementation of the Zero Inflation Plan, said: "Keeping the price stable is a good thing. The plan is being implemented and I have observed it closely. In any case, people are satisfied that the price of goods will remain constant and will not increase." Describing the principle of price stabilization of household goods as valuable, Chamran noted: "Every big project has expert and executive ups and downs, but the main priority is to maintain the peace of life of the citizens."

Ahmed Sadeghi, a member of the Program and Budget Commission, pointed out some media claims and fringes about the budget of this plan and said clearly: "The Zero Inflation Plan has nothing to do with the incomes of the urban development sector." The member of the Program and Budget Commission pointed out that the mayor of Tehran answered the concerns in the meeting and clarified: "I suggest that the mayor of Tehran attend the council to fully explain the dimensions of the issue so that any remaining ambiguity can be answered and everyone officially knows that the resources of this plan have nothing to do with the field of urban development revenues."

Further, Mehdi Pirhadi, the head of the Health, Environment and Urban Services Commission, in a frank speech, criticized the dual approaches in the implementation of this project and said: "Why are people's livelihoods being slaughtered for political actions? "This level of heavy and coordinated attack is questionable, and behind the scenes of such destruction are think tanks like CIA and Mossad." Stating that people appreciate this effective action in gatherings and references, he added: "We wonder why some former officials have aligned themselves with the enemy media inside. "Let the plan run to a certain point, then examine its strengths and weaknesses, rather than destroy service to the public before it's fully deployed."

Habib Kashani, the treasurer of Tehran Islamic Council, expressed a different opinion about the method of distributing items and demanded to change the method of supporting households. Referring to the heavy burden of Tehran municipality's obligations, he stated: "We want to help people with any political thinking and outlook, and we will kiss anyone who wants to do something for the people." But instead of giving 4 million tomans to babies and deciding on 12 items of goods, we can pay 10 million tomans per month in cash to families for 6 months on a trial basis. We have borrowed 10 Hammett from Shahr Bank and have decided for 2800 pieces of goods. The people's priority is not only these 12 items, and by paying this amount, we can let them decide their priorities themselves."

What did Chamran say to reporters?

Mehdi Chamran, the head of the Tehran city council, as usual in every meeting, appeared in front of the journalists and answered their questions.

The fate of three-cabin buses: These buses have entered the country, but have not yet reached Tehran.

Municipal programs in the field of housing: Tokens have been sold, which has been welcomed. Staining has been done, but the details have not been announced yet. It is a good thing to have a program to help citizens' housing. Of course, our priority in the budget is clear, which must be implemented, and in case of non-implementation, the reasons must be announced, but Tehran's special conditions lead the city administration to provide additional assistance; Like the conditions of the war, the help for reconstruction was not seen in the Council, but it was finally approved and implemented, and its report should be submitted to the Article 5 Commission. In cases beyond legal duties, we must help, and not only the municipality, but also government agencies and benefactors must cooperate.

TOD plan: It is a method of using it in the field of transportation. We have had objections to this issue, but it has not been presented to the council yet, and it should be reviewed after it is presented.

Closure of Yas Fatemi Park: There is a security reason and there is no other reason.

Renovation of the 12,000-seat Azadi Hall: This issue should be approved by the Article 5 Commission and the Council, and then action should be taken. The government has not yet given up on this issue and has only suggested that the municipality help. We check in the budget that the help is done, not to do 100% reconstruction. We have to see if the government agrees with this and then we have to see if the council approves it or not.

The budget of the eye-bright project: Currently, the budget available to the mayor is used for this project to be presented to the parliament for approval.

In another part of yesterday's meeting, Nasser Amani, a member of the Program and Budget Commission, read his neighborhood tour report about Khavarshahr neighborhood. Read the details of this report in the following days.