New Taipei City Election: Su Chiao-hui Unveils Social Housing and Childcare Platform
With the New Taipei City mayoral race entering its final 100-day sprint, Democratic Progressive Party candidate Su Chiao-hui is campaigning on housing, childcare and labour issues in a bid for the votes of young families.
- With less than 100 days to go before the year-end ballot, Su has been making intensive grassroots visits, waging an organisational campaign and a ground campaign at the same time.
- On childcare, her central proposal is to encourage companies to "team up to set up childcare facilities," with the city government offering incentive payments of up to NT$1 million.
- Her social housing policy carries on incumbent Mayor Hou Yu-ih's target of more than 50,000 units, adding supply through urban renewal, floor-area incentives and joint development around MRT stations.
- Her labour platform includes increasing the number of labour inspectors, reviewing the penalty standards for minimum wage violations, and promoting re-employment for middle-aged and older workers.
- "Mother Otter Tells Stories," a parent-child event she has run for six years, has become an important channel for reaching young parents and swing voters.
Outlook: Housing and childcare have become the main axis of the New Taipei election, and both the Blue and Green camps are expected to compete by raising the stakes on these two issues.