Kontula residents invited to the Mayor’s Resident Evening on 24 April

Kontula residents are invited to come and discuss current matters at Helsingin Yhteislyseo Secondary School (Rintinpolku 2). You can take part in the Mayor’s Resident Evening online on the Helsinki-kanava channel(Link leads to external service) and send in questions via the message wall.

“This will be the final Mayor’s Resident Evening of my term of office. I have enjoyed these evenings greatly. I appreciate how Helsinki residents have come to contribute to taking care of shared matters. I am from Kontula, so I feel that the circle is now closing in a splendid way,” comments Mayor Juhana Vartiainen. 

Before the discussion segment begins, a pop-up market will be opened in the lobby of Helsingin Yhteislyseo Secondary School at 17.30. At the market, visitors have an opportunity to discuss topics related to Kontula with the City’s experts and other operators in the area until 18.30.

Residents’ thoughts will be collected before the Resident Evening through a KerroKantasi survey
 

You can use the KerroKantasi survey(Link leads to external service) to send the event organisers your thoughts and ideas regarding the development of Kontula before the event. The survey will close on 23 April at 23.59.

Borough Liaison Marjaana Jaranne from the Eastern Major District will be present at the Mayor’s Resident Evening. She helps residents take part in the development of their own residential area and find the right influencing channels. Jaranne also supports dialogue and cooperation between residents, communities and City employees.

“My job involves monitoring the Eastern Major District’s affairs, so having the Mayor’s Resident Evening in my area is a fantastic opportunity to hear about what is going on in the area. I hope that Kontula residents will also seize this opportunity by attending the event,” comments Jaranne. 

Long tradition of Mayor’s Resident Evenings
 

City Manager Teuvo Aura proposed in the mid-1970s that the City hold ‘Helsinki Hours’ events during which experts would answer questions from residents and journalists.

The Resident Evenings remain discussion events where residents can ask the Mayor and the City’s experts about the City’s operations directly.

“The Mayor’s Resident Evenings are a joy to hold; it is so great to generate good discussion and dialogue,” comments Interaction Specialist Jarkko Laaksonen, who is in charge of arrangements for the events. 

The City of Helsinki moved from having a City Manager to having a Mayor in June 2017, at which point it was decided that the events would be renamed as the Mayor’s Resident Evenings. The Resident Evenings were also established as two-part events, with a pop-up market to start off the evening and a discussion session to follow.

The Mayor’s Resident Evenings are held 3–4 times a year for the residents of a specific district or area. The topics discussed are brought up by the residents.
Partners in the event organisation include local residents’ associations and other non-profit operators.

Recordings of previous Mayor’s Resident Evenings can be viewed on the Helsinki-kanava channel(Link leads to external service) .