Sofia Suomalainen 101

My campaign themes

1. Living in Harmony with Nature

A city rich in nature is also a healthy and thriving city. Let’s take action to achieve Espoo’s carbon neutrality goal and protect and restore Espoo’s valuable local nature.

Let’s implement the 3-30-300 principle in urban planning, meaning at least 3 visible trees, 30% forest canopy cover, and 300 meters to the nearest nature area, and invest in biodiversity and the quality of green areas by increasing the number of micro forests, meadows, and wetlands. Let’s re-wild Espoo!

2. A Safe Path to Adulthood

Every child and young person deserves a safe path to adulthood. Espoo is growing and diversifying rapidly. Budget cuts in education and regional segregation are creating problems in certain areas.

Espoo must invest in youth work in schools and in ensuring equal and safe education. Support should be especially provided to vulnerable children and youth, such as children from low-income families, children with special needs, and LGBTQ+ youth. Every child and young person deserves a safe and supportive childhood.

Thanks to the Greens, the investment program for Espoo was increased by 250 million euros for daycare and school projects during last autumn’s budget negotiations. This ensures the construction of the necessary daycare centres and schools in the growing Espoo. Now, it is crucial to make sure that the added daycare centres and schools remain in the investment plan and that projects are not delayed due to savings. Balancing the municipal budget
should not come at the expense of future generations.

3. Expanding Circular Economy

Espoo is not a suburb of Helsinki but a vibrant cultural city and an active economic area, home to both small businesses and large corporations. The city must support circular economy entrepreneurship and seize the unique opportunity to become a leader in Finland’s circular economy by combining the expertise of higher education institutions and businesses.

To support small circular economy entrepreneurs, we should find ways to help establish businesses in busy shopping centres – repair and recycling services need to be brought closer to people. Matinkylä’s Kieppi Second Hand Market is a good example of this.

4. Cultural Value

Culture, art, and events make a city! We will improve the accessibility of culture and promote diversity in the field. We must ensure the survival of cultural actors despite government cuts, and we must not forget new, small cultural organizations and individual artists – they keep the field alive.

In addition to financial support, Espoo can support cultural and event sector actors by lowering area and venue rents, facilitating permit processes and cooperation with authorities, and offering actors free event electricity, communication, and marketing assistance. In the multicultural and diverse Espoo, there is room and unmet demand for new shared events
and rich cultural activities.

5. Good Everyday Life for All, Regardless of Income or Background

Wealth is increasingly concentrated in fewer hands in Finland, and regions are becoming more segregated. In a growing and diversifying Espoo, we must ensure that affordable owner-occupied and rental housing is available for all life situations. Accessibility to services should be improved, and public transport fares should remain reasonable.

In the international and diverse Espoo, we must also invest in integration services and multilingualism in the city’s services. Special emphasis classes in schools should be placed all over Espoo, and language skills in Finnish or Swedish should not prevent access to these classes. Equality is a prerequisite for equal opportunities and fair growth in Espoo.