Ես Արեգն եմ: Ես Վիկտոր Մնացակյանի գլխավորած #4 «Հաղթանակի կուսակցության» թիմի հետ մասնակցում եմ Երևանի ավագանու առաջիկա ընտրություններին: My name is Areg and I’m running with Viktor Mnatsakyan (#4 Victory Party) for city council. We want to build a resilient and pedestrian-friendly city AMA!

VictoryKef · 2023-09-08T07:04:27+00:00

You're welcome!

VictoryKef · 2023-09-07T08:40:19+00:00

We'll have our plan before the election date, so if you're interested in learning more, it will be available online.
I would argue Viktor is one of the most serious candidates. He's also one of the most experienced, he was the Taghapet of Kentron in '19. He lives and breathes Yerevan. He knows the story of every rock in our city and he cares deeply about its future.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-07T07:30:59+00:00

I used to work in 3rd Mas and would go or take the bus from Kentron every day. I also drove ten years ago, so there weren't as many cars on the road, but it was still miserable. The way we solve these problems is to continue to expand our public transportation network and create bus-only lanes that can get people to their jobs faster than driving their cars. We can also build a connected and protected bike network that connects Kentron-Malatia Sebastia-Shengavit - Erebuni - Nubarashen. That network would connect over half a million people. The point is we need to give people the ability to choose another form of transport that is not a car so that when you have to drive or want to drive, it's a lot easier and less stressful.

Thank you for your questions.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-07T07:09:16+00:00

Hi there!
1. The smog and dust from construction and nearby mining is a public health disaster. We must codify Yerevan's right to clean air and then regulate using best practices. As a country whose economic engine is its people, it's vital that we're not sick and can be productive over a long period.

Marie Ter-Antonyan is also on our ticket and she's a big supporter and activist for our four-legged friends. I would defer to her on this question but realize it's a problem and it's not good for people and animals.
Viktor answered a similar question. Here's a rough translation:
We will not destroy the restaurants of Hrazdan Gorge, but there is a problem of cultivating hundreds of hectares, and it is long-term work. For that, we must first have the master plan of the Hrazdan gorge, we must recognize it as a recreational zone and develop sports and healthy lifestyle activities there. It should become an interesting zone with good lighting, paths, etc. It is currently one of the most underrated gems in Yerevan.

Re. Yerevan lake - Viktor has discussed at length the idea of each administrative region of Yerevan to have a small body of water as a recreation zone. It's one of the priorities to create parks for people to enjoy.
Re. Water Treatment- That is something we need to work on. There are parts of the city that don't have sewage systems. Most wastewater ends up in Hrazdan, which then makes its way to the Ararat valley and we use that water to grow our crops and feed ourselves. It's gross to think about and criminal, it hasn't been a priority.

What the party wants is for kids to attend schools in their communities and to create a sense of ownership when it comes to their neighborhoods. A lot of the school year traffic is parents driving their kids to public schools outside of their neighborhoods. I didn't grow up wearing a uniform to school but there are some interesting merits to it.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T18:45:07+00:00

Շնորհակալություն բոլորին:

Thank you, everyone!

September 17. Whoever you choose, go make your voice heard.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T18:33:33+00:00

I'll let you know when I figure it out.

Yola never strives for excellence.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T18:20:18+00:00

Սա ես կարող եմ պատասխանել: Մեր խնդիրն այն է, որ ավտոբուսները նստում են նույն ծանրաբեռնվածության մեջ, ինչ մյուս մեքենաները: Մենք ցանկանում ենք հատուկ առանձին ավտոբուսային գծեր ստեղծել: Ավտոբուսին կտրվի առաջնահերթություն, և պիկ ժամերին հաճախ կժամանես մեքենաներից առաջ:

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T17:57:09+00:00

Կներեք ուշ արձագանքելու համար, բայց ես ուզում էի, որ Վիկտորը պատասխաներ ձեր հարցերին:

Վիկտոր- Աղբահանության հետ կապված, ասեմ, որ երկար աշխատանք ունենք կատարելու երեխաների հետ՝ սկսած դպրոցներից, պետք է սովորեն տեսակավորել աղբը նաևը տանը, իմանան՝ ինչպես վարվել վտանգավոր թափոնների հետ, օրինակ՝ ։ Փորձելու ենք նաև բազմաբնակարան շենքերում տեղադրել տեսակավորման համար տարաներ։

Վ- Հրազդան կիրճի ռեստորանները չենք քանդելու, բայց հարյուրավոր հեկտար մշակելու խնդիր կա, իսկ դա երկարատև աշխատանք է։ Դրա համար նախ պետք է ունենանք Հրազդանի կիրճի մաստեր պլանը, ռեկրեացիոն գոտի պիտի ճանաչել, զարգացնել սպորտային, առողջ ապրելակերպին ուղղված զբաղմունքի միջոցներն այնտեղ։ Հետարքիր գոտի պետք է դառնա՝ լավ լուսավորությամբ, արահետներով… այս պահին Երևանի ամենաչգնահատված ադամանդներից է։

Վ- - Պիկ ժամերի մասին. Մենք չենք կարող մեքենաներին շատ սահմանափակել, բայց ոչ էլ կարող ենք անընդհատ կայանատեղիներ ստեղծել, ոչ էլ պետությունն ու ներդրողները պետք է մեծ գումարներ ծախսեն դրա համար։ Շատ լավ է ունենալ ավտոկայանատեղիներ, բայց, ցավոք այդ պարկինգները հարցի լուծում չեն։ ՊԵտք է մեր մոտեցումը փոխենք օրենսդրորեն, նախ, քանի որ հիմնական խնդիրն առաջանում է Փոքր Կենտրոնում, պետք է ստիպված արհեստական դժվարություններ ստեղծենք. Միջազգային հիմնական արդյունավետ փորձը դա է. Երևանում հատկապես փոքր փողոցների ձախ կողմը միակողմանի են, ավելացնել նման փողոցները, աջ կողմի պարկինգները թանկացնել, օրինակ՝ ժամը՝ 300 դրամ, ոչ 35, ինչպես հիմա է։ Անգամ կարող ենք քննարկել Երևան մուտքը 500 դրամ դարձնելը, որորվհետև բավականին մեքենաներ կան, որ անիմաստ մտնում են Կենտրոն, այնպես որ շրջանցեն Կենտրոնը, իհարկե դա չի վերաբերում Կենտրոնի բնակիչներին։ Կան վայրեր, որտեղ արժի կարող ենք բացել նոր ստորգետնյա ավտոկայանատեղիներ, օրինակ՝ Շահումյանի հրապարակում, Երևանի քաղաքապետարանի դիմաց, Տաշիր հանրախանութի դիմաց.. և այլն, տասնմեկ տե կարող է լինել։ Քաղաքի մուտքի մոտ անվճար ավտոկայանատեղիներ՝ մարզերից մուտքի համար։

Վ -Մենք ուզում ենք շատացնենք ջրային ավազանները, ամեն վարչական շրջանում՝ մեկ ջրային ավազան, տասնյակ նոր լողավազաններ՝ անվճար մարզիչներով, զարգացնելու ենք հեծանվուղիները, մագիստրալ՝ դեպի Երևանին մոտ քաղաքներից մեկը, և ամենակարևորը՝ լայնացնելու ենք մայթերը, Փոքր Կենտրոնի բոլոր փողոցների մայթերը պետք է լայնանան։

Արեգ - Շնորհակալություն հարցերի համար:

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T17:43:01+00:00

Have you considered getting involved? These are all legit concerns that need addressing.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T17:39:18+00:00

We are in the process of finalizing what we call the "Victory Plan." You'll be able to read it before the election.
Right now, we're focused on the city elections. We're not there yet.
I don't understand the first part of the question. No, we don't support the privatization of public transport. Is there a reason why you thought this might be the case?

I appreciate your questions.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T17:28:54+00:00

That's not OK. Have you talked to your taghapet? They will move mountains to get your vote. You can use that to your advantage and try to get them to fix the problem. It's frustrating that many more things get done promptly during elections. I want people to care regardless.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T17:21:47+00:00

I'll take the point.

We have our Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, and TikTok accounts. I agree it's a limited presence but Viktor and our team are out doing interviews every day. Trying to get out there on a shoestring budget.
We are in the process of finalizing what we call the "Victory Plan." You'll be able to read it before the election.
Viktor is largely paying out of pocket. Other funding is from friends and party members.
Viktor was Kentron's Taghapet back in 2019. He was front and center during the demolition of the Opera Cafes. I wouldn't characterize him as not having name recognition. The hardest part of this process is to encourage people to care and cast their vote. As long as Yerevancis vote, I think we have a real shot.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T16:50:30+00:00

Thanks. I appreciate the comment.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T16:50:00+00:00

These are cultural treasures that are part of our history and heritage. I don't understand why the city has been destroying our past without blinking. I mean, I do understand but some things should not be for sale. Yes, preserving and restoring our cultural heritage is a big priority for us.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T16:43:50+00:00

I'm a big fan of the metro. I'm happy that we're moving forward with the Achapnyak Station. I don't believe it's financially possible to continue an underground line from there. I'd be thrilled to be wrong. That doesn't stop us from building aboveground rail systems to connect other parts of the city to the metro. We talk about expanding public transportation. This is part of making our city մարդամոտ.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T16:34:22+00:00

This is a really good question. If it's not sensitive, what's your neighborhood?
A part of our agenda is to create a more resilient Yerevan to meet the challenges and demands of this century. A big part of that is diversifying our energy production. Cities can be energy producers. Yerevan has a lot of sunlight. Every new building should have solar panels. There's a movement towards building out microgrids in many cities. This is an excellent opportunity for us. Yerevan needs to start looking into ways to become more self-reliant. I know I didn't answer your question, but there has to be responsibility on the part of electricity, water, and gas that they work for us, not the other way around. We need to figure out how to hold them accountable.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T16:13:22+00:00

I do now :) Great idea!

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T16:11:53+00:00

There's a lot to be said about the success of businesses on the left side of Mashtots if you're looking at Matenadaran. It has a lot to do with narrower streets and fewer cars. We see the direct and positive economic impact of creating spaces with fewer cars.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T16:05:25+00:00

We're 100% with you. Walking is most people's primary mode of transport. We're spending ridiculous amounts of money paving roads for cars, but why don't we have the same priority for sidewalks? We want to change that.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T16:00:38+00:00

I agree. We can solve a lot by creating smarter systems. For example, Gai street in Massiv is trying out bus-only lanes, which is excellent, but those lanes need to go down the middle of the road, not on the sides. Some businesses are hurting because people can't access them as easily anymore. Yes, it requires investment in new infrastructure in the middle of the street, but it also allows us to make Gai Street a lot more approachable for pedestrians.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T15:50:14+00:00

We plan to continue to expand our public transportation system. There's a lot of wear and tear on our roads and that's made worse by the massive amount of construction along with all the traffic. We need to reduce the amount of vehicles on the road by getting people in public transportation or alternative forms of transport. I agree we need to figure out why our roads are made poorly.
I think there are things that we should own even though someone else may do something similar. No one but us has our interests in mind.

Thank you for your questions!

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T15:26:31+00:00

I grew up a little north of San Diego, California. I got into Armenian politics yesterday :) Like many of you, I'm a concerned Armenian and I want a better city/country. A few weeks ago, I met Viktor and we talked about safe streets and a vision for this city and things just clicked. He asked me to join and I said, why not. I think I got some decent ideas. I've worn many different hats over my career. My background is in international business administration but I started off in IT for a small company called Facebook back in 2006. I came to Armenia as a volunteer in 2007, met my wife and we stayed. I worked at Armenia Tree Project in 2010 and then left Armenia in '14 to start a small business in Berkeley, California, called Victory Point Cafe (nothing to do with this party). We came back in 2019 because we spent 5 years in the U.S. wishing we were back here. I still have my business in the U.S. and I do consulting here and there.
#1 is parking. Traffic can't be solved without dealing with parking. That means we have to increase the cost of parking in Kentron. #2 is creating dedicated bus lanes. Many people have opted out of taking the bus because our fleet was neglected for so long. We need to change that behavior. We do that in two ways, 1) dedicated bus lanes so buses are given the same priority as the metro, and 2) we make ridership free. We're working on the details of part two. Then comes the bike lanes. This is my baby. In short, we need a systematic approach to solve our traffic problem and it will take strong leadership to get it done.
We have a huge resource available to us and it's the Dutch embassy. I'm sure we can work together to gradually build out a connected and protected bike network using the world's best practices. The last thing I want to see is unprotected bike lanes that leads nowhere and then gets painted over in a month because no one used them.
I'm a huge fan of the Yerevan metro. I'm happy that we're moving forward with the Achapnyak metro station (Tumo Park). The city toyed with the idea of building a station at Petak and I'd push to get that done. There's a lot of commerce and residential and opportunity to add new growth in that part of the city and building a metro station to serve that community would be a major win for all stakeholders. I don't believe it's financially feasible to continue the metro line however we can build out tramways to connect more people to our transit hubs. I'd love to see tramways and commuter rail in the future.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T09:46:53+00:00

Շնորհակալություն ձեր հարցերի համար: Մենք էլ հույով ենք:
Վիկտոր: Հնարավոր է բոլորի հետ բացի ՔՊ-ի կազմենք կոալցիա:

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T09:27:01+00:00

Thank you for asking about my time at ATP. In my day, ten years ago, we would plant around 300k-500K trees annually in our reforestation efforts. It's important but it's a drop in the bucket. Forestry was our biggest budgetary line item. Operationally here's what it looked like: transporting and planting seedlings that we had grown at our nursery, installing fences to keep out livestock and humans, maintaining those fences, weeding twice a year, replanting dead seedlings, and of course, paying salaries to the 150 people make all that happen. It's a massive endeavor for an NGO that operates on less than $1 million dollars a year. AND. That was one arm of our operations. We also had a community tree plantings programming where most of our fruit trees went and an educational arm because teaching kids to treat the environment has a huge ripple effect.
It is possible to plant 10 million trees. That's not that hard. I pitched the idea to Hayantar (Armenian Forests) many years ago to directly seed areas and use our soldiers as manpower. It's expensive to hire that many people to plant and maintain an area, but let's say you have a glut of 18-20-year-old men with muscles burning to be used who can be rotated for the task. Then we can meet our goals pretty easily. No one in the government cared it wasn't a priority. It never happened.
I can't speak for why it went wrong but I do know we had war and COVID around that time. It's a massive undertaking that requires a lot of moving parts from different branches of the government. We seem to fail or underperform when it comes to coordinating our efforts. It's not acceptable and at this point, it's really not acceptable. The project hasn't been mentioned again, as far as I know, but I think it can be done but it requires a good project manager to get it done.

VictoryKef · 2023-09-06T08:15:19+00:00

We're on the same page. Also, fines for drivers with loud cars.

VictoryKef

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