The meeting, attended by Sabriye Kocabalkan, Ayşegül Zeka, Ertan Atay, and Bora Özgen from the TDYD Board of Directors, also included Adalar Mayor Ali Ercan Akpolat, Adalar municipal council members, Istanbul City Council President Tülin Hadi, Project Coordinator Necla Ağmal, Taraklı Sakin Şehir Association President Şahin Akı, academics from various universities, CHP district chairpersons and members, and experts.
Mayor Akpolat stated, "Adalar already hosts a community that embraces a peaceful, happy, and unhurried way of life. In the words of Ali Ercan Akpolat, Mayor of the Islands: “If I were to take the Islands back 30 years, I would actually be taking them 50 years forward.” This statement is not merely nostalgic longing; it is also an expression of a powerful vision for the future. As a mayor who was born and raised on the Islands, it is the determination of a leader who wants to repay his debt to this land.
The Slow City Application Criteria are listed as follows:
Environmental policies, Infrastructure policies, Urban living policies, Policies on agriculture, tourism, tradespeople, and artisans, Hospitality, awareness, and education plans, Social cohesion projects.
The full membership process usually takes 3 years. As of today, 268 cities from 30 countries are members of this union. In Turkey, 27 settlements hold this title.
The Realities and Dreams of the Islands
The Islands, Istanbul's smallest district, are modest in size but immense in spirit. Büyükada is 5.4 km², Heybeliada is 2.5 km², Burgazada is 1.3 km², Kınalıada is 1.5 km²... With 80,000 people returning to their homes in the summer, 120,000 visitors coming for day trips on weekends, and a population reaching 200,000 during holidays, the Islands have a busy life cycle. Spread out over the year, the islands serve approximately 45-50 thousand people. And despite all this intensity, most of the islanders are happy. This project promises them a future where they will be even more peaceful and happy.
