Rešidat officially launches campaign for municipal mayor: Modern and European Centar Municipality 2020

Symbolically pointing to the difficult status of the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Democratic Front candidate Samer Rešidat began his campaign for mayor of Sarajevo's Centar municipality today with a gathering held at this cultural institution, reports the Patria news agency.

-We are starting our campaign for mayor from this place under the motto Modern and European Centar Municipality 2020. Since 1997, my professional engagement has been in the private sector. Except for a seven-month break when I served as Minister of Culture and Sports of the Sarajevo Canton.

The reason for my political engagement is based on rich business experience and the knowledge to turn creative energy into practical expression, for the benefit of my local community, for the benefit of my city, my country. I want to turn everything I have learned and seen so far into value that will remain behind us, for your children, but also for mine, so that they can live a better life… in the city where they were born, said Rešidat.

He emphasized that he wants to prove that one can live a quality life in Sarajevo and that Centar should set an example for other municipalities.

-As Minister of Culture and Sports of the Sarajevo Canton, I found a way to reopen the Museum. The Museum is proof that problems can be solved if there is will and knowledge. You came today, and even though you are my guests, you paid the entrance fee. Just imagine if all candidates for mayors, instead of in some restaurants, hotels or other facilities, held meetings and promotions in this or some other cultural-historical building… what revenue would these institutions generate?!, emphasized Rešidat.

-It is the local community that should create a favorable environment for opening new jobs. You have already heard that 1000 times, but I will explain it concretely with one illustrative example. How?

The municipality owns a large number of business premises that stand empty. These spaces are most expensive when no one occupies them. I will address the Municipal Council with a request that all unused spaces be given to young people starting their first business for just 1 KM.

Another example is initial capital. I will insist on expanding the budget line that will allow us to support business startups in Centar Municipality on an annual basis. The people who will select the best projects will be the best experts from various fields, not party people, in order to prevent corrupt activities. These and all other examples, as well as the entire program, can be found on the website www.residatsamer.ba.

I am proud to announce that the application – platform “Fix My Municipality” will enable all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to communicate with municipal authorities in order to improve, enhance the quality of their work, and be at the service of citizens, and it can already be downloaded to your smartphone today.

Security. As a local community, we have no influence over the police, but we can help them. In most large cities, there are video cameras and video surveillance. The plan is to cover Centar, in three phases, with video cameras. First around schools and kindergartens, faculties, then central parts and roads, parking lots, cafes. Whatever the cost, it is still cheaper than the damage inflicted on the citizens of Centar through the consequences of poor security, theft, etc. Analyses show that parts of cities or cities with video surveillance have at least 30% fewer criminal acts than cities without.

This will also help the police during investigations, thefts, and will generally contribute to an increase in security.

Education. There is a court ruling that primary education must be transferred to the jurisdiction of the local community. If that were implemented, half the problems would be solved. Another thing is investment in sports and culture, as well as support for educational workshops.

Reading rooms. We don't have a single one in the city; shopping centers forbid young people from sitting and reading or studying in their facilities. I see a smile on most of your faces, not because of the reading room, but because of the media spin that followed me that I don't read books. Well, here is another proof that a person learns as long as they live.

In the program, I have not forgotten social policy nor pensioners, nor the improvement of infrastructure, roads, parks and children's playgrounds. In the coming days, I will actively present all program activities, emphasized Rešidat.