Weekly Update 51

August 29, 2025

Hello, everyone.

In this newsletter, I will address three topics, including updates

1. Student transportation from elementary schools
2. What will be discussed at the upcoming council meeting on Tuesday, and why is the Zichron Yaakov Council operating like the Wild West
3. Continuation of installing missing sidewalks in the town

Topic 1: Update on the transportation issue I wrote about last week

Following parents’ outcry, the council increased the subsidy and the price went down. It’s higher than last year, but the gap has narrowed. Here is the notice parents received:

Below is an explanation for the reduction in transportation costs.

After re-examining transportation costs, the 2025 education budget was reviewed again. Since the education budget is structured on a calendar year basis (January to January), it was possible to add funds to the 2026 budget, thereby reducing transportation costs for this year.

I am pleased with the subsidy; it is possible that more could have been subsidized had the money not gone toward paying the salaries of two deputy mayors. Additionally, two issues arise from this notice:

1. Why wasn’t the transportation subsidy included in the 2025 budget? I was the only one who opposed the 2025 budget and argued (during the meeting and in a post I shared on the public forum) that it is an anti-social budget because it increases costs for parents and undermines community activities. The council head attacked me throughout the budget meeting, claiming I was spreading lies and demanding that I retract my statements. Of course, I did not retract them because I knew it was the truth. And now, a series of events over the past year show that I was indeed telling the truth.

• There has been a significant reduction in community activities organized by the community center. Throughout the summer, compared to other years, there has been a decline in activities. One example I also wrote a post about: the La Strada Festival was cut from two months to one month. It was held only in August. This harms the livelihoods of business owners on the pedestrian mall and the enjoyment of residents.
• They canceled the summer camp subsidies for parents, so every family paid more this summer. I wrote about this here in the past.
• They canceled the transportation subsidies for parents, and only after a public outcry did they partially restore them.
• There has been a sharp increase in after-school program fees.

1. A second problem with the announcement: The council head is committing in 2025 to what will be in the 2026 budget! The budget hasn’t been passed yet; we haven’t voted on it. And he’s already taking money from that budget. In a properly managed administration with functioning gatekeepers (a legal advisor and treasurer who would have prevented him from doing what he did), he should have told the parents: “I’m sorry I cut the 2025 budget, but I promise that if subsidies are approved in the 2026 budget, you will all receive a refund.” But right now, it’s not possible to offer a discount in advance based on a budget that hasn’t been passed.

I hope that Avi Hosman, the treasurer, will remember that the 2026 budget must also include transportation subsidies—a year ahead for the 2027 school year—so that they won’t have to commit funds from an unapproved budget again. I am certain I will vote in favor because this is both proper governance and helps families with children.

Second topic: What will be discussed at the upcoming council meeting on Tuesday, and why is the Zichron Yaakov Council operating like the Wild West?

These topics are in the post I uploaded today—on Open Forum (I recommend that anyone not in the group join) and on New Forum (same recommendation). A personal request—please visit, comment, like, and write a note. Democracy requires the active participation of residents. A council member alone will not bring about change—your clear support for the council member will bring about change.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17MmyHgoQa/

In this post, you will find

• the agenda and all the materials we received in preparation for this coming Tuesday’s meeting. Inside, you’ll find the two questions I submitted, to which the mayor must respond. I hope this time he won’t evade the issue with terse and vague answers, as he has done with my questions so far. Just a reminder: by law, he is required to answer!
• I also included a link in the post to a program on Radio 90, our local station. On this week’s show, I was interviewed about a topic I wrote about in last week’s newsletter: it has been a year and a half since a management committee was appointed by the council, as required by law. Both the interviewer and the reporter were astonished by the fact that this committee—which is mandatory and crucial for residents and transparency—has not been established for a year and a half. The interviewer asked me in amazement, “What is the Wild West?”

And I immediately confirmed: “The Zichron Yaakov Council is behaving like it’s the Wild West.”

For those without Facebook—here is a link to the article posted by Radio90, which includes a link to listen to this important interview.

https://90fm.co.il/dr-lymvr-zr-gvtmn-mvatst-zykrvn-yakb-zh-hmarb-hprva-shnh-vkhtsy-ayn-vadt-hnhlh-vayn-shkypvt/

Topic 3: Continued Sidewalk Installation in the Community

Repairing sidewalks and installing them on streets that previously lacked them is a very important infrastructure project that Ziv Deshe initiated during his term. Therefore, I was pleased to see that at the upcoming meeting we are set to vote in favor of continuing funding for this project.

This time, sidewalks will be completed on the following streets: We have not received a completion date.

• Marga’a-Etzion
• Af Al Pi
• Chazon Ish-Hadas
• Trumpledor

If there is indeed a budget for continuing the sidewalk installation—I will, of course, vote in favor.

I am in favor of improving infrastructure in the community. But this must always come with a real budget line item that actually has funds allocated to it. And we must not exceed the approved amount.