| Name: | Laura Finne-Elonen |
| Year of birth: | 1943 |
| Municipality: |
Helsinki |
| Email: | laura.finne@fimnet.fi |
| Phone: | 0400818701 |
Member in:
Laura
Finne-Elonen
Helsinki
"Join me in developing Helsinki into a functional, safe, and pleasant city across linguistic and cultural boundaries!"
I was born and raised in Helsinki. I am a doctor by profession, specializing in general medicine, and I have worked at the Sipoo health center in patient reception, child health clinics, and school health care. While living in Sipoo, I was elected for three terms to the municipal council and was the chairman of the culture and education committee. In Helsinki politics, I have been continuously involved in the RKP council group since 2005, either as a deputy councilor or councilor, and as a member of various committees such as the building committee and the commercial services committee. Currently, I am a deputy member of the city council and vice-chairman of the board of the 450-year artist house foundation. Many trusted positions in the leadership of international (ICW – International Council of Women, ECICW- European platform of the ICW, EWL- European Women’s Lobby at the EU) and domestic civic organizations (Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, National Council or Women of Finland, NYTKIS- Women’s Organizations in Cooperation) have provided experience in managing societal and shared matters. The planning and coordination of many societal and cultural projects require creativity, perseverance, and a sense of responsibility.
My interests include languages and culture. I’m active in non-governmental organizations and their international cooperation, in coordination of cultural events, as well as housing associations and renovation projects. In my free time, I enjoy literature, spending time at our cottage, and being with family.
When developing Helsinki, safety is the most important aspectand goal for the inhabitants in all stages of life. I want to promote a safe childhood, quality education for children and young people, as well as social and health care services to function well. I want to support older people’s opportunities for a good life and home care and ensure they receive adequate care in the right care facilities. City development should enhance residents’ safety and well-being and should be based on Finnish values and expertise. The city’s built property must be managed carefully.
Important political topics
Housing and Construction
The center of Helsinki should be developed into a pleasant and attractive area. This requires, among other things, expanding housing opportunities so that even in the evenings, there are plenty of residents in the city center, including families with children who can contribute to activity and vibrancy on the streets. In this way, the center would no longer be a quiet area resembling primarily a business and administrative district. Therefore, vacant commercial premises in the inner city should be able to be converted into residential spaces.
The building height in the inner city must continue to be preserved. Helsinki's maritime silhouette should be protected and must not be spoiled by tall buildings. Open spaces in the inner city should be maintained; for example, no massive buildings should be constructed on Eliel Square, and the area around the railway station should be left open.
Traffic issues in the center can be solved sensibly, among other measures, by opening the central tunnel for traffic. All modes of transportation should be developed in a fair manner to meet the needs of different user groups. Stops should not be located too far apart, and accessibility considerations should be taken into account, particularly for families with children and individuals with reduced mobility.
To reduce environmental impact and congestion, a port tunnel should be constructed from Jätkäsaari to Västerleden for heavy and congested traffic.
New residential areas and local services should be developed with respect to residents' opinions and needs. The environment and residents' recreational areas near their homes should be preserved.
All construction should contribute to the well-being and safety of residents and be based on Finnish values and expertise. The city's rental properties and other assets should be managed carefully.
Children, Youth, and Families
The need for support for families has increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the growing use of social media, and cuts to social welfare. Families with children who require support can, for example, receive help through counseling or daycare services. Multi-professional rehabilitation for children enables early identification and assessment of potential learning difficulties, and timely planning of support measures to ease the transition to school.
Student health services should be strengthened so that multi-professional experts can easily collaborate with school health care providers. Many have developed mental health issues due to isolation and prolonged periods of restrictions. The lack of mental health services for young people will have long-term consequences. Currently, young individuals are transferred to adult psychiatry when they turn 18, which is problematic. All support measures and support staff disappear abruptly at a sensitive stage, when they are needed the most to complete schooling, plan further studies, or begin working life. One idea is to allow young people to continue using the same services until around the age of 20, which would improve their chances of coping and help prevent exclusion and unemployment.
During the pandemic, care queues grew longer, and the detection and treatment of severe illnesses were delayed. Non-urgent care was also negatively affected, and the situation has not yet stabilized. Healthcare must be developed so that everyone receives the necessary care in time. Continuity of care with long-term contacts is crucial to achieving successful outcomes. The model with a personal doctor is a step in the right direction. Collaboration between doctors and nurses is also important to ensure that patients' needs are managed by individuals who are familiar with their circumstances. Consequently, this also leads to resource savings. For staff well-being and continuity, it is essential that relationships with patients are as stable as possible and that employees have flexibility in their duties.
Social services need adequate resources to provide child protection, family support, and quality care for the elderly.
Candidate's answers in election machine
1 / 11
Early childhood education should be free for everyone.
2 / 11
Schools should prioritize traditional textbooks over digital learning materials.
3 / 11
One of the municipality’s most important tasks is to invest in sports facilities and opportunities for exercise and recreation.
4 / 11
It is important to provide all residents with equal opportunities for cultural activities.
5 / 11
The municipality should introduce or improve opportunities for residents to influence how municipal funds are used through participatory budgeting.
6 / 11
The municipality should invest in public transportation.
7 / 11
It should be possible to be a resident in more than one municipality, for example, through digital municipal citizenship.
8 / 11
The municipality should better facilitate the expansion of renewable energy, such as solar and wind power.
9 / 11
The municipality should mix more housing types in planning than is currently the case.
10 / 11
The municipality should introduce anonymous recruitment.
11 / 11