Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 402 - 285: The Sinister Human Heart_2

Before the Spring Festival, the synchronization of the power grid greatly alleviated the electricity pressure on Binjiang.

However, such a significant project has been controversial, since Binjiang already had the Tiansheng Port Power Plant. Due to its scale and equipment, it became insignificant with the activation of the Huaineng Power Plant."

Han Yu seemed not to fully understand and asked, "Is there opposition?"

"Not just some opposition, but a lot of opposition. People think the city should invest in expanding the Tiansheng Port Power Plant instead of seeking outside help. The restructuring of Binjiang Shipyard is the same situation; the city sold Binjiang Shipyard to Cosco, involving many people’s interests and has been highly controversial."

Zhu Chunmiao touched the corner of her mouth, turned around and looked towards the city direction: "Some complain that the development zone is too far from the city, inconvenient for workers’ commute, and dark at night; others say that the TV station is too close to the city center, broadcasting signals to people across the river in the North Three Counties with less benefit.

The construction of Dongxing Airport has faced a tide of opposition, with many claiming that the city doesn’t have money and shouldn’t build an airport. They argue that given Binjiang’s economic condition, even if it’s built, not many will use it, and it is bound to lose money. The past two years have proven that the airport has indeed been operating at a loss."

Investing in building an airport, complaints from officials and the public are normal.

Back then, when building the airport, they even requested donations from officials and the public; officials’ donations were deducted directly from their salaries, and cadres went from door to door to collect from the public.

At a loss for words, Han Yu didn’t know what to say, while Zhu Chunmiao continued: "Regarding the use of the Yangtze River coastline, the disputes are even greater. Many old cadres and comrades think that we should build a grand scenic strip along the Binjiang Yangtze River and develop the ’East Sea Bund’ by the river. As for the Cosco Shipyard constructing a deep-water wharf, there have even been people accusing the city government of launching projects without approval from the People’s Congress."

Han Yu couldn’t help but ask, "So, is this right or wrong?"

"Last year, the former Secretary Wu of the City Committee held an extended standing committee meeting for three days because of this issue, allowing debates between opposing sides, and finally declared decisively: Binjiang is poor, and the urgency is to make money, we can’t afford to just enjoy the scenery."

Zhu Chunmiao paused, then continued, "I personally think building the airport was necessary. Years ago, a Japanese investor planned to come to Binjiang. It took them only two hours to fly from Japan to East Sea, but eight hours from East Sea to Binjiang!

To become rich, start with roads; this saying makes sense. If transportation is poor, who would want to invest here?

We wanted to build railways, but the superiors didn’t approve; we wanted to construct highways, but had no money; the only option to solve transportation issues was to build an airport. Perhaps the airport will incur losses in the short term, but the social benefits it brings are enormous."

Han Yu, realizing something, asked subconsciously, "So it wasn’t built for us ordinary people, but for those investors?"

"You could understand it that way. To put it simply, good transportation could invite investors to build factories, which could create jobs for hundreds or thousands, allow the government to collect taxes, and workers to earn salaries. How great is that?"

Zhu Chunmiao smiled and said, "We in Binjiang are poor and our own strength is not enough, thus we need partnerships. Previously Binjiang Steel Plant was losing ten thousand yuan a day; after partnering with Baosteel and adopting their advanced management methods, it quickly turned losses into profits.

However, many don’t see this, and whenever the city wants to do something, they oppose it. For instance, the partnership project between Yizheng Chemical Fiber and Binjiang Synthetic Fiber Factory, and between Panda TV Factory and San Yuan Television that came at our doorstep, all fell through due to opposition."

Bringing in a major project can resolve employment for many and create substantial revenue and taxes for the city!

Unexpectedly, someone would oppose it, and the two local enterprises Sister Zhu just mentioned that couldn’t form partnerships are now not just underperforming; they are barely surviving.

Thinking of this, Han Yu said softly, "Some people just don’t have a liberated enough mindset."

"The mindset not being liberated enough is one aspect. For instance, a teacher from West Garden Middle School went abroad and didn’t return; people in the Plan Commission and Foreign Economic Committee accused the teacher of defection. City leaders, seeing far and standing high, claimed it was a retention, not defection, and arranged for his family to be taken care of.

They said, if he does well abroad, his family could join him, and he’s welcome to return and invest in the future, boosting local development; if he faces difficulties abroad, he can return at any time, with no discrimination." freēwēbηovel.c૦m

This kind of situation is too common in Binjiang.

Zhu Chunmiao took a deep breath and continued, "Also, until today, there’s an unwritten rule that receiving foreign guests must involve more than two people, fearing a single person might be bribed or even turned by foreigners. If one foreigner can handle a group of us, why can’t one Chinese person handle a group of foreigners?

Also, administrative officials are prohibited from taking positions in joint ventures, yet a large company from Thailand wanted a deputy county magistrate of Dongru as the general manager for the Binjiang Branch. Without that, they wouldn’t invest.

The city government had to request special approval from the province because of the solicited investment, but someone complained, taking it all the way to the Capital.

Due to this, the Binjiang Industrial and Commercial Bureau was stripped by the National Administration for Industry and Commerce of the right to approve foreign or joint ventures. It took over a year of gifts and persuasion to somewhat resolve it."

Han Yu couldn’t believe how hard it was to get things done in the city, nor could he fathom how difficult it was for the city leaders, and whispered, "What are those people even thinking?"

Zhu Chunmiao felt that Salted Fish needed to stop being too naïve and earnestly and seriously said, "Those who don’t work are not as good as those who watch, and those who watch are not as good as those who cause trouble. I don’t work, so I won’t let you work either. If someone else achieves something, he is unhappy, he is envious, so he looks for faults, makes snide remarks, and refuses to accept it."

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