Weekly Update 45

July 18, 2025

Hello, everyone.

Three topics in this newsletter.

• The lack of transparency regarding the council administration’s financial affairs is also evident in the matter of the Mifal HaPais funds. We are constantly asked to approve the use of funds from this source for important purposes—but we lack the necessary information because council members are not regularly informed, nor do they respond when asked. Critical information is being withheld—what is the financial balance in the funds relative to the annual forecast; what options for action arise from these balances.
• Why is there no activity on the pedestrian mall during the two summer months? Why have they cut this wonderful activity in half since the start of the current term? Local business owners, residents, and tourists are suffering.

These are things I already brought up in a Facebook post this week. So anyone who’s been following is welcome to skip ahead and is also welcome to comment on the post. You, the public—make your voices heard.

• Announcement of a community meeting in the Neve Yaakov neighborhood. So if you live in the neighborhood or live nearby—we recommend you attend.

First topic: What are the priorities for spending funds from the Mifal HaPais Fund?

At the last council meeting, as well as in previous ones, we voted in favor of a series of projects to be funded by the Mifal HaPais Fund. Yes, I too was surprised to discover that there is such a fund that distributes a portion of Mifal HaPais’s profits each year to local authorities. The fund allocates a different amount to each municipality based on the size of the authority and a range of other criteria.

The local authority receives funds from Mifal HaPais and is authorized to use them, as decided by the plenary session, for a range of expenses approved by the fund. These are primarily expenses related to education, welfare, construction, and recreation. Here are examples from our votes in recent meetings:

• A sum of 350,000 NIS for the planning of the soccer field slated to be built in the future near Mol Zichron. As reported by the council head, the construction costs for the field, currently estimated at 7 million NIS, will also be covered by the Mifal HaPais Fund. (Initially, we, the council members, were asked to approve 700,000 NIS, but Mifal HaPais approved only 350,000 NIS)
• A sum of 390,000 NIS for the purchase of air conditioners for schools. We received a list of specific locations where a malfunctioning air conditioner needs to be replaced or a new one installed.
• A sum of 394,400 NIS for upgrading and adapting school sports fields. Here, too, we received a list of what needs to be repaired and where.
• A sum of 400,000 NIS for equipping kindergartens—playground equipment, synthetic turf (why? It’s toxic!), supplies, and air conditioners. For some reason, we have not yet received a detailed list, even though it was promised to us.

I emphasize—the plenary session, but only based on the mayor’s proposals, decides whether to approve the expenditure from the fund. And here there may be a problem I warned about during the meeting regarding the planned soccer field—if 7 million NIS goes toward building the field, there will be less money left for schools, kindergartens, or other public buildings. Therefore, it is essential that council members know exactly how much money is in the Mifal HaPais Fund so that we can set priorities. We need to decide what is better—a sports field or renovating schools. Perhaps we can do both. But for that, we need to know how much money is in the Mifal HaPais Fund.

However, this amount has not been disclosed to us. Despite repeated requests from council members for an Excel report on the financial status of the funds (not just the Mifal HaPais Fund)—we do not receive this on a regular basis.

So in practice, we approve budgets without knowing how much will remain in the fund after approval, and whether we have left enough for projects that may be more urgent or important.

Treasurer Avi Hosman has ostensibly “solved” the problem of lack of reporting by writing “Funding sources—subject to Mifal HaPis funding” on every budget request we are required to approve, as in the list above. In other words, we approve it, but if there is no money in the fund, the project will not be carried out. So what’s the point of voting? Why can’t we know in advance whether there is money or not? After all, the amount is fixed and annual. [Except for specific calls for proposals where funding can be awarded if applications are submitted. But that’s not what I’m addressing here]

I’m afraid that we, the members of the plenary, are becoming a rubber stamp because we don’t have comprehensive and accurate information. We volunteer and invest hours in voting, but we don’t have full information about funding sources and how they might be allocated. We can’t really set priorities; instead, we’re required to “trust” the treasurer—that there’s probably money and it will get done. This seems like a flawed way to run a community to me.

Second issue: The July lull on the pedestrian mall. All that’s left is to wait for August.

The pedestrian mall is the historic beating heart of the town and also serves as a hub for entertainment, tourism, and dining. In recent years, the summer vacation days in July and August have turned the pedestrian mall into a central focal point and experience for the town’s residents, tourists visiting the town, and people from the surrounding area.

Stalls, local artists, a vibrant atmosphere, great music, and local performers and bands—a celebration with a charming community vibe.

These two months have also been a driving force for the local circular economy, as hundreds of people have enjoyed the variety and abundance the pedestrian mall has to offer, serving as a lifeline for the businesses there.

And this year, unfortunately, just like in the summer of 2025

just like in the summer of 2024, the month of July remains deserted—with no activity whatsoever.

This is nothing short of a lack of foresight and poor management.

We’ve known for nearly two months that there is no director of the Culture Department, and we knew that the director of the Gideonim Association was expected to leave at the end of June. What were they waiting for?

In such a situation, you bring in an outside producer—and there are talented local producers—or you coordinate with the business owners and prepare for July as well.

And now, especially since there is a full-time deputy mayor earning hundreds of thousands of shekels who is in charge of the community center, nothing has been done to organize for July. In the past, preparations for the Lestrada Festival would begin at the community center as early as January, so the war is no excuse!

I hope that next year they’ll get organized and find a budget.

I’m also attaching a link to a post published on this topic. It’s important to comment

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HjTRfkGU9/

Third topic: Public consultation on traffic and transportation arrangements for residents of the Yaakov neighborhood and those living nearby. They came to this meeting, listened, and asked questions.

I don’t know what plan will be presented at this meeting. I hope I’m wrong and that it will indeed be a traffic improvement plan for the benefit of the neighborhood’s residents. I hope so.

But there is also a possibility that the meeting is a preparation for the Dorot plan, which has never been abandoned by the mayor and his deputy, Tzila Reshef. The Dorot project is set to be built in this neighborhood and will severely impact the residents. It is possible that this issue will be raised in the plan, either directly or indirectly. Indirectly—so it appears that public consultation has taken place regarding the impact the dense Dorot project will have on neighborhood traffic.

I hope the building illustrations adorning the public invitation aren’t a hint of things to come? It’s important that you come and ask.