News Digest: Municipal workers dump garbage in protest:
#0202_A_View_from_West_Jerusalem
“Dozens of workers from the Jerusalem Municipality are trashing the entrance to the Ministry of Finance. The workers are demanding a better budget for the Jerusalem Municipality [from the state treasury] and 400 workers are threatening to resign. […] The protesters have come to give a clear message to the Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon that it is unacceptable that Jerusalem’s budget is 30% lower than the Tel-Aviv’s budget […]” [1]
– Mynet Jerusalem
[Select Comments:]
-“The finance minister can’t act as if the state budget is his private money. Jerusalem needs a proper budget so that the city's growth will continue. It is unacceptable that every year we have to fight for the city's budget. Kahlon must understand that Jerusalem comes before political calculations.”
– “[Mayor] Barkat, you are the real trash! Destroying Jerusalem as you pave your way into the Likkud party.” [2]
**
"Not 'at all costs'.
Yes, Jerusalem needs more government funds; Yes, the Israeli government uses and abuses Jerusalem's name and reputation [in the international arena] at the UN, but then doesn't treat Jerusalem like the respectable capital city they make it out to be, as it should be treated… Yes, the government is all talk, but very little action.
But, [those funds should be not obtained] at all costs.
If you love Jerusalem, you shouldn't be making it filthy in order to win an argument with the Minister of Finance, as justified as the argument may be. There are lines that shouldn't be crossed. There are things you shouldn't do to those that you love."
– Tehilla Friedman, West-Jerusalemite activist
**
"Again, Nir Barkat is dragging Jerusalem residents and the municipality workers into his own personal political battle. It is unacceptable that a mayor would exploit his power and order trash to be dumped in public places! In recent years, government funding for the city has increased year after year; we certainly want to see the funding continue to increase, but not in this way. Today, it is clearer than ever that Nir is a burden on the city and its residents – Nir is the city's problem, not the solution."
– Ofer Berkovitch, Hitorerut Council Member
**
#0202_A_View_From_East_Jerusalem
“Watch as municipality workers dump garbage in front of the Ministry of Finance and block the road in protest of low budgets [for the Jerusalem municipality].”
– Beit Hanina page
[Selected Comments:]
– “Did you not stop and think about who will pick up this dumped garbage! It sure won’t be the Minister of Finance.”
– “Why would they do such a thing?
– “This is the right thing to do [dumping the garbage].”
– “That’s disgusting.”
—-
0202 Editor’s Notes:
[1] Over the past year, there have been ongoing reports regarding political tension between Mayor Nir Barkat and Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon. Tensions arise mainly as part of Nir Barkat’s ongoing campaign to enlarge the city’s financial budget. Barkat has recently blamed the government for depriving Jerusalem’s residents of an appropriate municipal financial budget necessary to cater to their health, cultural and educational needs. Moreover, Barkat claims that the budget per resident is 30% lower than per residents in the other large cities (Tel-Aviv, Haifa) in Israel.
[2] The protests have drawn both criticism and support for Barkat. Some see Barkat to be ‘too preoccupied’ with the upcoming general elections and hence not prioritizing Jerusalem and the Municipal budget.
#Budget #Jerusalem_Municipality #Protest
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