A few months after we started, the municipality announced its intention to distribute forty taxis to applicants. The mayor and the governor had already arranged for Iran National (now Iran Khodro) to provide the taxis on installment, requiring each applicant to pay six thousand tomans to the municipality. We objected to this procedure, insisting that the Chamber of commerce should handle this. A dispute arose between us and the mayor, leading to a confrontation at the city council where my father was a member. Given my prior assistance to many council members and their support for me, the council decided that the Chamber of commerce should distribute the taxis, collect the six thousand tomans, retain a portion for expenses, and allocate the remainder to street paving. The mayor was upset, questioning the Chamber of commerce’ authority and threatening to have all the city’s garbage dumped in front of our office. I responded firmly, warning of severe consequences if he proceeded. Ultimately, the city council mandated that we handle the taxi distribution, which we did, allocating part of the collected funds for one of the main streets’ asphalt.
About a year after the Chamber of commerce opened, another issue with the municipality arose regarding the disposal of garbage in Hasanabad Street, leading to contamination risks. During a major event attended by all officials, I confronted the then mayor, Mr. Delir, demanding a change in waste disposal practices. He reacted dismissively, suggesting I seek his replacement if dissatisfied. I took the matter to the city council, leading to Delir’s impeachment for not attending the hearing, and he was subsequently transferred to Tehran and then appointed as the governor of Saveh.
When he invited us to celebrate his new position, he remarked, “An enemy can bring good if God wills,” to which I responded indifferently, emphasizing our focus on community welfare rather than personal achievements. This story illustrates the complexities of local governance and the importance of standing firm on public health and safety principles.