City managers need mindset change

City management officers, who are a law unto themselves, should change their mindset from one of managing to serving the people, says an article in Changjiang Daily. Excerpt:

It is reported that China will reform its much-criticized city management system. According to the draft plan, which is still soliciting public opinion, the city management officers may be put under direct leadership of the mayor.

The reform this time is thought of as a way to resolve the existing conflicts in urban public space, and to give the disadvantaged groups more rights.

Currently, city management officers have powers covering a wide range of city affairs from public security to maintenance of market order. At the same time, they have multiple superior leaders such as public security bureau and industrial and commercial bureau overseeing their work. In effect though, multiple responsibilities leave plenty of room for city management officers to go under no one superior's control.

It is hoped that the reform will not only regulate the powers of these officers, but also make these officers abandon violence and comply with the law so that people can have more freedom in the urban space.

It's good to see that the mayor of the city may take a direct hand in controlling these officers. But, the officers themselves should realize that they have to change their mindset from that of a manager to a servant of the people.

(China Daily 08/20/2009 page9)