Your Home, Your Vote Sabine Leskopf skrifar 7. maí 2022 09:31 Reykjavik has been my home for almost 22 years now, I have lost track of how much German or Icelandic I am by now, but I am definitely a Reykvikian, if that is even a word. But for the most part I am a local, from my neighborhood, Laugardalur. This is my home, it’s where the bus stop I use is, the school and preschool my children went to, and it’s where the park is that I walk my dog in. And it’s the place where I first realized how much local politics matter. In 2006, the so-called Sundabraut motorway was proposed which would lead tens of thousands of cars, and particularly heavy traffic, right through my neighborhood. As someone who has been an activist for women of foreign origin since 2004 here in Iceland, I had long noticed many parties being interested in having a foreign name on their list, but usually tucked safely away in the lower ranks. But in 2014 I received an interesting offer, from a friend in Samfylkingin, the Social Democratic Party. I was asked to take a seat on the city council that offered real participation. At first, I didn’t dare participate in the primaries, but accepted a seat as deputy city councilor. Since then I have successfully gone through 2 primaries and received an incredible amount of support. Among the members of this party there was a unique will to have a voice that speaks with an accent. And representation does matter, our current list of candidates is as diverse as I have seen it. Candidates with diverse backgrounds occupy one in the top four candidates, three more in the top 20 and another 3 on the whole list. All of us have been actively involved in the grassroot activities of our party, contributing with our voices, experiences, and points of view to shaping of party politics in all spheres. The sheer number of immigrants who have the right to vote in municipal elections has attracted attention, which is something that we should appreciate. Rightfully so, however, there is concern that too many of them are not aware of this right. I can confirm that this is indeed the case. Both in this and previous campaigns, Samfylkingin has put out information in more than 10 languages, we are visiting workplaces, walking door to door, phoning people, and chatting with people in shopping malls. Still, I meet and talk to many who are not aware of their rights. This is unfortunate and something that should be remedied, because healthy and prosperous societies thrive on participation of all of its inhabitants. This will not be fixed by only reacting right before elections. From my activist work I know how challenging it can be to reach out to people that may be too busy going about their everyday lives to have the luxury of time for politics or activism. But I also know how rewarding it is when it is a success. We politicians need to build trust by our actions, as well as with having a clear vision on how we will deliver promises. Samfylkingin has led an immense increase on spending for the education of children with other mother tongues and just today, the city council passed a new equal pay policy addressing not only the gender wage gap but also the wage gap based on origin. But apart from issues concerning the immigrant status, Samfylkingin is also the party focusing on affordable housing offered by not-for-profit companies like Bjarg and a public transport system that will offer a real alternative to dependence on cars, just to name a choice of issues. This is your home, your vote! Find all the info you need in 10 languages on www.xsreykjavik.is. Höfundur er borgarfulltrúi og frambjóðandi Samfylkingarinnar í komandi borgarstjórnarkosningum. Viltu birta grein á Vísi? Sendu okkur póst. Senda grein Samfylkingin Innflytjendamál Reykjavík Sveitarstjórnarkosningar 2022 Borgarstjórn Sabine Leskopf Skoðun: Kosningar 2022 Mest lesið Sjálfstæðismenn boða víst skattalækkanir á þá efnamestu Haukur V. Alfreðsson Skoðun Viltu borga 200 þús á mánuði eða 600 þús á mánuði af íbúðinni? Hildur Þórðardóttir Skoðun Fellur helsti stuðningsmaður menningarmála af þingi? Magnús Logi Kristinsson Skoðun ESB kærir sig ekkert um Ísland í jólagjöf Ole Anton Bieltvedt Skoðun Almageddon? Eyþór Kristleifsson Skoðun Vímuefnið VONÍUM Haraldur Ingi Haraldsson Skoðun Betri Strætó 2025 og (svo) Borgarlína Dagur B. Eggertsson Skoðun Svartir föstudagar í boði íslenskra stjórnvalda Haukur Guðmundsson Skoðun Afvegaleidd umræða um áskoranir heilbrigðiskerfisins Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir Skoðun Það sem ekki má fjalla um fyrir kosningar til Alþingis Árni Jensson Skoðun Skoðun Skoðun Kjósum rétt(indi) fyrir fatlað fólk! Unnur Helga Óttarsdóttir,Anna Lára Steindal skrifar Skoðun Frelsi er allra, ekki fárra útvaldra Jón Óskar Sólnes skrifar Skoðun Menntun og tækifæri: Hvað veljum við fyrir Ísland? Kolbrún Halldórsdóttir: skrifar Skoðun Eyðimerkurganga kosningabaráttunnar? Viðar Hreinsson skrifar Skoðun Krónan eða evran? Kostir og gallar Hilmar Þór Hilmarsson skrifar Skoðun Kjóstu meiri árangur Bryndís Haraldsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Hvaða hlekkur ert þú í keðjunni? Ellý Tómasdóttir skrifar Skoðun Laxeldið verður ekki stöðvað Kristinn H. Gunnarsson skrifar Skoðun Þroskamerki þjóðar Tómas Torfason skrifar Skoðun Afvegaleidd umræða um áskoranir heilbrigðiskerfisins Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Var stytting náms til stúdentsprófs í þágu ungmenna? Sigurður E. Sigurjónsson skrifar Skoðun Það sem ekki má fjalla um fyrir kosningar til Alþingis Árni Jensson skrifar Skoðun Launafólk sýndi ábyrgð – Hvað með bankana og fjármagnseigendur? Finnbjörn A. Hermannsson skrifar Skoðun Sjálfstæðar konur? Sonja Ýr Þorbergsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Fullveldinu er fórnað með aðild að Evrópusambandinu Anton Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Endurhugsum dæmið, endurnýtum textíl Guðbjörg Rut Pálmadóttir skrifar Skoðun Betri Strætó 2025 og (svo) Borgarlína Dagur B. Eggertsson skrifar Skoðun Um kosningar, gulrætur og verðbólgu Jean-Rémi Chareyre skrifar Skoðun Gæti aukin einkavæðing og skólaval í grunnskólakerfinu bætt námsárangur og aukið jafnrétti? Jón Páll Haraldsson,Linda Heiðarsdóttir,Ómar Örn Magnússon skrifar Skoðun Fellur helsti stuðningsmaður menningarmála af þingi? Magnús Logi Kristinsson skrifar Skoðun Sjálfstæðismenn boða víst skattalækkanir á þá efnamestu Haukur V. Alfreðsson skrifar Skoðun Vímuefnið VONÍUM Haraldur Ingi Haraldsson skrifar Skoðun Viltu borga 200 þús á mánuði eða 600 þús á mánuði af íbúðinni? Hildur Þórðardóttir skrifar Skoðun Þegar náttúruvinir hitta frambjóðendur. Hjálpartæki kjósandans Stefán Jón Hafstein skrifar Skoðun Svartir föstudagar í boði íslenskra stjórnvalda Haukur Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Eitt heimili, ein fjölskylda og ein heilsa Pétur Heimisson skrifar Skoðun BRCA Elín Íris Fanndal Jónasdóttir skrifar Skoðun ESB kærir sig ekkert um Ísland í jólagjöf Ole Anton Bieltvedt skrifar Skoðun Að kjósa með nútíma hugsunarhætti Ragnhildur Katla Jónsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Í upphafi skal endinn skoða.. Sigurður F. Sigurðarson skrifar Sjá meira
Reykjavik has been my home for almost 22 years now, I have lost track of how much German or Icelandic I am by now, but I am definitely a Reykvikian, if that is even a word. But for the most part I am a local, from my neighborhood, Laugardalur. This is my home, it’s where the bus stop I use is, the school and preschool my children went to, and it’s where the park is that I walk my dog in. And it’s the place where I first realized how much local politics matter. In 2006, the so-called Sundabraut motorway was proposed which would lead tens of thousands of cars, and particularly heavy traffic, right through my neighborhood. As someone who has been an activist for women of foreign origin since 2004 here in Iceland, I had long noticed many parties being interested in having a foreign name on their list, but usually tucked safely away in the lower ranks. But in 2014 I received an interesting offer, from a friend in Samfylkingin, the Social Democratic Party. I was asked to take a seat on the city council that offered real participation. At first, I didn’t dare participate in the primaries, but accepted a seat as deputy city councilor. Since then I have successfully gone through 2 primaries and received an incredible amount of support. Among the members of this party there was a unique will to have a voice that speaks with an accent. And representation does matter, our current list of candidates is as diverse as I have seen it. Candidates with diverse backgrounds occupy one in the top four candidates, three more in the top 20 and another 3 on the whole list. All of us have been actively involved in the grassroot activities of our party, contributing with our voices, experiences, and points of view to shaping of party politics in all spheres. The sheer number of immigrants who have the right to vote in municipal elections has attracted attention, which is something that we should appreciate. Rightfully so, however, there is concern that too many of them are not aware of this right. I can confirm that this is indeed the case. Both in this and previous campaigns, Samfylkingin has put out information in more than 10 languages, we are visiting workplaces, walking door to door, phoning people, and chatting with people in shopping malls. Still, I meet and talk to many who are not aware of their rights. This is unfortunate and something that should be remedied, because healthy and prosperous societies thrive on participation of all of its inhabitants. This will not be fixed by only reacting right before elections. From my activist work I know how challenging it can be to reach out to people that may be too busy going about their everyday lives to have the luxury of time for politics or activism. But I also know how rewarding it is when it is a success. We politicians need to build trust by our actions, as well as with having a clear vision on how we will deliver promises. Samfylkingin has led an immense increase on spending for the education of children with other mother tongues and just today, the city council passed a new equal pay policy addressing not only the gender wage gap but also the wage gap based on origin. But apart from issues concerning the immigrant status, Samfylkingin is also the party focusing on affordable housing offered by not-for-profit companies like Bjarg and a public transport system that will offer a real alternative to dependence on cars, just to name a choice of issues. This is your home, your vote! Find all the info you need in 10 languages on www.xsreykjavik.is. Höfundur er borgarfulltrúi og frambjóðandi Samfylkingarinnar í komandi borgarstjórnarkosningum.
Skoðun Afvegaleidd umræða um áskoranir heilbrigðiskerfisins Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Launafólk sýndi ábyrgð – Hvað með bankana og fjármagnseigendur? Finnbjörn A. Hermannsson skrifar
Skoðun Gæti aukin einkavæðing og skólaval í grunnskólakerfinu bætt námsárangur og aukið jafnrétti? Jón Páll Haraldsson,Linda Heiðarsdóttir,Ómar Örn Magnússon skrifar