A New Era for Democracy, the Environment, and Solidarity in Bornova

A New City Council Special Commission Established
A New Environmental Directorate on the Way
Silent Protest by Women
Güney Temiz’s Name to Live on in Bornova

During the May meeting of the Bornova Municipal Council, the establishment of the City Council Special Commission and the Environmental Protection and Control Directorate was unanimously approved. Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized the importance of these decisions for participatory democracy and environmental efforts. A silent protest by women in response to an insult directed at CHP member Yağmur Özkan left its mark on the session. Additionally, a proposal to name a park in EVKA-3 after the late Bornova politician and bureaucrat Güney Temiz was also passed unanimously.

The first session of Bornova Municipality’s Ordinary May Assembly was held under the chairmanship of Mayor Ömer Eşki.

City Council Special Commission Established Unanimously

The proposal to establish a “City Council Special Commission” was unanimously accepted to help the Bornova City Council carry out its activities more effectively and efficiently. The council aims to develop urban life and civic consciousness, protect the city’s rights and laws, promote sustainable development and environmental awareness, encourage social assistance and solidarity, and implement principles such as accountability, transparency, participation, governance, and local management. The commission members elected were Melek Kartal, Ahmet Tokem, Cem Arıkan, Osman Zeki Özkebabçı, and Adem Kasacı.

Mayor Eşki stated:
“This is a vision. Today, especially in Europe and Western democracies, which we take as models, city councils are indispensable for shaping society correctly and increasing public participation. Their importance is also growing in Turkey. In urbanized districts, their impact is more strongly felt, which is also a sign of urbanization. City councils are more democratic and enhance participation. This structure removes the mayor from the center of decisions and brings processes directly to the council. We believe that forming a specialized commission to guide the City Council is the right step and ask for full support from all council members.”

New Directorate for Environmental Protection and Control

Another unanimously approved proposal was the discussion of regulations for the newly established Environmental Protection and Control Directorate.

Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized that environmental issues are a major global threat, saying:
“With the new directorate, we will be able to carry out our work on environmental issues more effectively in line with our green transformation goal. Currently, environmental initiatives are managed through our Climate Change and Zero Waste Directorate. Our Foreign Relations Directorate also contributes with climate projects, and our R&D Department is involved as well. However, this new directorate will focus solely on environmental matters, including academic studies and tracking international best practices.”

A Silent but Powerful Reaction from Women

During the meeting, reactions were voiced against an incident in the İzmir Metropolitan Council, where AK Party member Erdal Seyitler made offensive remarks toward CHP Spokesperson Yağmur Özkan. CHP Bornova Women’s Branch and other local women held a silent protest in the council chamber, wearing t-shirts reading “The Power is in You.”

Following the protest, AK Party Group Spokesperson Akın Dalgıç said:
“As Bornova Council Members, we express our sadness over this incident. There is no place for insults under this roof. We stand with Ms. Yağmur Yurdakul Özkan and believe we all share a responsibility to act sensibly to prevent such incidents from recurring. As the People’s Alliance, we believe we can create a more constructive and respectful council environment together.”

Yağmur Yurdakul Özkan thanked the AK Party group for their sensitivity, saying:
“We’ve worked together under this roof for a year. I don’t doubt their sincerity. I believe they’ve taken the right stance on addressing this incident. I want to express that we expect further action. I thank everyone who supported and stood by me.”

Mayor Eşki underlined that the issue was beyond politics, stating:
“This is a matter of human rights, and human rights are above politics. Thank you for your well-meaning statements.”

Güney Temiz’s Name to Live On in Bornova

Güney Temiz, who began his career in journalism and later served as Press Advisor to the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Press Director and Deputy Mayor of Karşıyaka Municipality, and most recently as the Head of Press and Public Relations for Manisa Metropolitan Municipality, passed away at a young age due to a sudden heart attack.

As proposed by Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki—who was a political companion of Temiz since their youth in the CHP Youth Branch—the park located at the intersection of 119/3 and 121 Streets in EVKA-3, where Temiz resided for many years, will be named “Güney Temiz Park,” and a bust will be placed there in his memory. The proposal was unanimously approved by the council.