The City of Jerusalem unveiled a restoration project as part
of Mayor Rabbi Uri Lupoliansky's policy of prioritizing
cleanliness, the urban environment and quality of life.
At a press conference Mayor Lupoliansky said quality of life
is a common issue for all of the city's residents. "One of
the first things I decided upon taking office was to act on
the issues that affect everyone," he said. "One of the
central things is a clean, well-kept city. When we feel we
can leave our clean, orderly homes and step out into a well-
kept street, we will also be more gracious toward others."
According to a special Dachaf survey the municipality
commissioned, 56 percent of residents feel cleaning the city
should be the top priority and 74 percent are not satisfied
with the city's state of cleanliness. Fifty-four percent of
respondents are dissatisfied with the city's appearance.
Eighty-four percent said they would be willing to help in
various activities designed to keep the area near their homes
clean.
At the press conference Mayor Lupoliansky said this is to be
a multi-year project that will be carried out in conjunction
with the Departments of Hygiene and Health, which have
prepared a detailed plan to clean up the city and alter its
appearance. "This is a banner project done through
cooperation between the municipality and the residents,
therefore all of the municipal departments--Education,
Culture, Welfare--are being recruited, in addition to extra-
municipal and community administrations."
Erev Pesach was chosen as the starting time for the project
since concentrated efforts are made to clean every corner of
the city during this period every year. "This will allow us
to charge forward towards a cleaner city," Said Rabbi
Lupoliansky. "I believe that in a cleaner, greener, more
beautiful city the residents will feel a greater obligation
[to maintain] cleanliness and improve the city's appearance,
therefore the residents' involvement in the project is
important."
According to City Hall Director-General Eitan Meir, "The
Mayor has made a unambiguous demand. This is an ongoing
service in order to achieve results . . . and as a
municipality we have an obligation toward residents. The
project includes all of the city's population groups from
every sector."
The total cost of the plan, including increased funding to
the various departments involved, comes to NIS 13 million
($2.9 million) for 2004. As part of the project a "cleanup
reconnaissance squad" will be set up to report problem spots,
new machine purchases, upgrading commercial areas, painting
walls of derelict buildings, and more. In addition 300,000
new flowers will be planted around the city. The municipality
says it has reached a decision to raise the fines for
cleanliness violations from NIS 400 ($90) to NIS 8,000
($1,775).
Students at schools and other educational institutions around
the city will also take part in the project, including 10
major chareidi schools where the Department for Chareidi
Education will provide study materials on the importance of
keeping the city clean, stressing the point that a cleaner
environment is a kiddush Hashem.
A special new garbage container developed by the City of
Jerusalem capable of withstanding small explosions was
unveiled at the news conference. Seven hundred 30- and 60-
liter garbage cans, weighing over 300 kg (660 lbs.) and at a
cost of NIS 3,000 ($670) each, will be placed around the
city.
