66-minute presentation, minutes of standing ovation
The hall was packed, Bornova stood united

Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki presented the work carried out since taking office at the 2nd Year Activity Meeting. Delivering a 66-minute presentation on stage, Mayor Eşki emphasized urban, green, and digital transformation goals under the motto “North Star” and announced that Bornova had been elected to the board of the European Energy Cities Network. The event, held in a fully packed 800-seat hall, drew great interest for its projects and services, while the animation of Abide-i Hürriyet Park received a standing ovation. At the end of the program, Eşki and his team were applauded for minutes by attendees.

The Bornova Municipality 2nd Year Activity Meeting was held at the Bornova Culture and Arts Center Necdet Aydın Stage with high participation. The 800-seat hall was completely filled, with many attendees standing throughout the program.

The meeting was attended by CHP İzmir Provincial Chairman Çağatay Güç, Bayraklı Mayor İrfan Önal, Tüm Yerel-Sen Chairman Mücahit Dede, CHP Bornova District Chairman Ertürk Çapın, CHP Kemalpaşa District Chairman Ahmet Yılmaz, İYİ Party Bornova District Chairman Oğuzhan Yar, Saadet Party Bornova District Chairman Oktay Karaçelik, CHP Women’s Branch Central Executive Board Member Rahşan Nazlıoğlu, Bornova City Council President Attorney Doğan Baran Mengüç, council members, bureaucrats, neighborhood heads, NGO and sports club representatives, members of the press, and hundreds of Bornova residents.

“We are guided by the North Star”
In his 66-minute presentation, Mayor Eşki detailed the municipality’s two-year achievements. He emphasized that Bornova is being shaped for the future through urban transformation, green transformation, and digitalization. Highlighting that these processes will be decisive for all municipalities in the next 5–10 years, Eşki stated their goal of making Bornova a pioneer in these areas.

He noted that the “North Star” motto serves as their guiding principle, aiming to brand Bornova with this vision and underlined the intensive efforts made over the past two years.

A major achievement in Europe
One of the most applauded announcements during the presentation was Bornova Municipality’s election to the board of the European Energy Cities Network (Energy Cities). Eşki recalled the international contributions of former mayor Prof. Dr. Kamil Okyay Sındır and stated that he aimed to continue this success. After two years of intensive work and international engagement, Bornova is now among the governing members of the network consisting of 10 cities and 11 institutions, marking its growing influence in Europe.

Abide-i Hürriyet Square animation impressed the audience
One of the most striking moments of the meeting was the animation showcasing the construction process of Abide-i Hürriyet Square. The visual presentation received great admiration and a prolonged standing ovation.

Praise for young mayors from Çağatay Güç
At the end of the meeting, CHP İzmir Provincial Chairman Çağatay Güç praised young mayors like Ömer Eşki and İrfan Önal, highlighting their dynamism and achievements despite financial and political pressures, and expressed strong confidence in their future success.

Services reaching every corner of Bornova
Over the two-year period, extensive work was carried out across Bornova, from infrastructure to social projects:
106,000 tons of asphalt laid, 174 streets fully renovated, 45.8 kilometers of road completed, three new intersections built, 1,000 new waste containers installed, expansion of social support networks through city restaurants and markets, and projects such as youth centers, toy libraries, and health support cards reaching all segments of society. Urban gardens encouraged women’s production, while AI-supported “digital twin” applications marked a step toward smart municipal governance.

Other projects and investments
Additional initiatives included Kent Butcher, expansion of BELGEM courses, child activity centers, support for sports clubs, renovation of Doğanlar Stadium and Yusuf Tırpancı Field, Kıbrıs Park, Mescid-i Aksa Mosque, truck parking areas, restoration of Arap Creek Bridge, Levent Café, mobile waste collection systems, compost production, electric minibuses, solar energy systems, the Bornova Heritage project, theater investments, festivals, security systems, disaster management teams, smart irrigation systems, and traffic simulation projects.

Figures for 2024–2026
Within home healthcare services, 7,889 home visits were conducted, 2,501 citizens received psychological support, and 2,083 patients benefited from transport services. Of 184,472 requests received by the communication center, 162,780 were resolved. The Altındağ Atatürk NGO Campus hosted 743 events, while 147,500 citizens participated in 236 activities. Through the Golden Bracelet Employment Center, 564 people were employed. Support included fuel and stoves for 624 households, stationery aid for 1,300 students, and disability equipment for 130 families.

Final: The whole team on stage, strong applause
At the end of the program, Mayor Ömer Eşki invited council members, deputy mayors, party officials, and the management team to the stage, thanking all employees and emphasizing unity and teamwork.

Following the 66-minute presentation, hundreds in the audience stood up and applauded Eşki for several minutes. The impressive event strongly showcased Bornova’s new vision.