Candidate for the Espoo City Council in spring 2025.
Hello! I’m Karri Karsi, a 54-year-old father with shared custody and a marketing director from the Rastaspuisto area of Greater Leppävaara. I want to prevent the exclusion of young people, advance the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises, and help develop Espoo into the best city in Finland.
I currently serve as a deputy councilor on the Espoo City Council, as a board member of the Omnia Joint Education Authority, and as a deputy member of the Environment and Building Committee. In addition, I do volunteer work on the boards of the Leppävaara Society, the Karakallio School parents’ association, and for the FC Kasiysi soccer club as a junior coach and board member. From 2022 to 2024, I was chair of the Leppävaara branch of the National Coalition Party.
Below are some examples of relatively simple ways to advance my goals:
Hope for the Future for Children and Youth
What do young people need? At least caring adults, meaningful activities, and confidence in the future. As the father of two school-aged boys and a lifelong resident of Espoo, I know both the good and bad sides of suburban life.
3×3 Examples of Practical Ways to Improve Youth Well-Being
More Caring Adults
- Increase (and make permanent) the number of community instructors in comprehensive schools
- The city’s own service advisors (“municipal mentors”) for families with children
- More resources for outreach youth work
More Meaningful Activities
- More sports and cultural hobbies immediately after school
- At least one hobby for every child
- Active use of school facilities in the evenings and on weekends
Belief in the Future
- Early introduction to different professions and entrepreneurship
- Flexible and encouraging educational paths for vocational skills
- Targeted support for families at key points in childhood and adolescence
Success for Small Businesses
I want to ensure the continuation of local services, the vitality of brick-and-mortar shops, and the opportunity for small businesses to provide services for the city. I myself spent twenty years as a small entrepreneur in the past.
3×3 Examples of Practical Ways to Support SMEs
Business-Friendly Practices in Espoo
- Faster and more flexible zoning
- Simplified permit processes
- Zoning that supports local services and storefront businesses, not just shopping centers
Fair and Open Competition
- The city should only produce the services that are absolutely necessary
- Genuine inclusion of even the smallest businesses in tendering processes
- Reasonable turnover and reference requirements in public procurement
Raising Appreciation for Entrepreneurship
- Introducing entrepreneurship education already in early childhood
- Setting up business clubs and mentors in all comprehensive schools
- Developing teachers’ know-how in entrepreneurship and working life
A City That Feels Human-Sized
Espoo can be the most pleasant growing city in Finland if we decide so. Achieving this requires investments in beautiful architecture, preserving nearby nature, ensuring safety, improving traffic flow, and providing efficient services. Pleasantness means more life and fewer empty concrete squares.
3×3 Examples of Practical Ways to Build a More Enjoyable City
Functional Services: Making Everyday Life Easier
- Easy access to local services
- Affordable commercial spaces for small entrepreneurs
- Short-term rental options for sales spaces
Smoothness: Avoiding Unnecessary Hassle in Getting Around
- Bus stops placed conveniently close together and synchronized timetables
- Direct routes for pedestrians and cyclists
- Easy—and preferably free—park-and-ride facilities
Safety: Light, Spaciousness, and a Visible Presence
- Well-lit and open public areas with wide walkways
- As many activities (as much “life”) as possible at all hours
- Positive visibility of local police, private security, and city guides