The world is made up of many different people. Some are tall, some are short. Some have brown hair and some have black.  Some are old, some are young.  Some are fast, some are slow.  Some are more traditional, some are more modern.  Some are more secular, some are less so.  It takes all sorts to make a world go around, and it is only by joining and helping together that we can achieve the utmost best for the well-being and welfare of all.

I have put my name down as a candidate for the Tehran City Council election on 15^th December (24^th Azar).  Many people have asked me why.  The reason is simple.   People from my kind of background have mostly withdrawn from public participation, and yet this city of over nine million needs all the help that it can get.  The City council elections are supposed to be completely non-political.  But many parties have put forward their candidates in order to put their own policies forward or gain points rather than back what is best for Tehran and the citizens who live there.

I am standing, as an independent candidate, to support the concerns of those who may be considered the westernized, educated, technocratic citizens of this big city.  Tehran is a great place to live, despite all its shortcomings like traffic and pollution.  I would rather be here than anywhere else in the world, and I do have a choice.  I love the Alborz Mountains and on rare occasions, when you can see them on a clear day, tears come to my eyes at their majestic beauty and grace.  Above all I want to be here because it brings me a sense of association and I can relate to what happens here and of course I have many friends and acquaintances from all walks of life.

I have worked in business, management, marketing, advertising, computing, international business relations, human resources, and as a management consultant for 25 years in Iran and for the past five years I have devoted most of my time to the welfare of others by working for and with many NGOs (non governmental organizations) and charities in Iran, which many of you will be familiar with through my writings for Payvand.

On the Payvand website, out of respect and love, I write under my late mother’s name Sayyah. My own name is Pari Syma Mayel-Afshar and I would urge that if you believe as I do, please vote for me and also please inspire your friends and families in Tehran to vote for me at the election on Friday 15^th December (24^th Azar) so that someone with a totally independent view who cares passionately about Tehran can be elected to the City Council.   With the help of others we can make a better city for all of us to enjoy. 

Thank you for your support!

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I believe that improvement will not happen without change and citizens’ rights are vital and necessary in a big city and I support the following:

• Improve quality of city life for all by reducing pollution of all kinds including vehicle emissions, noise and congestion and increasing the number of green areas.   
• Combat traffic pollution, first by replacing the older buses with new ones which are cleaner, more efficient and environmentally friendlier, as well as increasing their number. 
• Make metro expansion a top priority.
• Make public transport free for all students and teachers
• Introduce higher taxes for bigger cars; some people may have to make some sacrifices, financial or otherwise for the benefit of the city. 
• Establish a closer working relationship between the city authorities and the Non Governmental Organizations that do so much good work, using and optimizing the knowledge and expertise of these NGOs to improve the welfare of the public at large.  The city authorities should become more aware, in tune and involved with these organizations and a coordination center must be set up.
• Increase and improve public access to all public places, and the use of municipality cultural centers by groups especially NGOs for their own programs and events in order to do their good deeds better. 
• Increase cultural activities, such as free concerts, and set up sports competitions especially for the young e.g. Tehran marathon
• Implement higher female participation and involvement at top managerial positions in organization running the city, if necessary through affirmative action.
• Devise and implement creative means which are environmentally friendly, safe and achievable ways to increase municipality's income in order to spend more on new projects, parks, playgrounds, sports centers etc.
• Encourage higher public participation in public affairs and the issues that concern them through media (radio and TV) as well as educational seminars around the city.
• Encourage transparency in municipal budgeting and accountancy
• Make all public places (internal and external) friendlier to handicapped citizens and the elderly.  Increase the number of escalators on the pedestrian road bridges.
• Improve safety and security with better street lighting, especially in residential areas and on access paths.
• Campaign  to make adults and children aware of the hidden violence in our city and thus reduce it at first and slowly implement policies to eliminate them
• Increase the number of public toilets throughout the city and keep them clean, hygienic and open at all hours.
• Follow policies which help to reduce the city’s population
• City contractors, especially road builders, must have a duration/time clause and this must be rigorously enforced, to reduce the inconvenience that citizens suffer.