(haipo) - The list of candidates for mayor of Haifa in the elections to be held next Tuesday, 27/02/24, is very long. For some of the contestants, this is their first time running in the elections, some have already done so several times, and two even won the race in the past and served as mayors in Haifa.
The date of the local elections was postponed, as I recall, twice, due to the special circumstances created in Israel with the outbreak of the "Iron Swords" war. The election day was originally set for the end of October last year, when the first time it was postponed to the end of January and the second time to 27/02/2024, when they will indeed take place. This is how the mayoral candidates found themselves running from one house circle to another for months (with the exception of a brief respite when the war broke out), talking and convincing, detailing and explaining to the Hifis the reasons that indicate that they are the most worthy to hold the position of mayor.
A tumultuous election campaign
This election system was revealed, as the deadline approached, as a satiation of passions. Repeatedly, allegations and accusations against one or another candidate, or alternatively cartoons or inappropriate pictures with the aim of creating a negative impression on one of the competitors, have surfaced on the various platforms.
In light of the situation that has arisen, many voices have been heard calling to deal with the actions of the candidates and not with personal and irrelevant criticism directed at the person himself, but it is difficult to say that the shameful publications have stopped because of this.
Even the growing solidarity in Israeli society following the war failed to influence non-statehood in the Haifa election system. It even got to the point where defamation lawsuits were filed between contestants, which will, presumably, be settled after the elections.
The third largest city
Haifa is the third largest city in the country and the largest in the north, hence, among other things, the importance of the position of the mayor who will be elected there. Likewise, Haifa has a unique complexity, the mayor is required to face many challenges that are less relevant to other cities, whether it is its geographical structure, being a mountainous city, or being a mixed city that boasts special relationships between members of different religions, etc., whose influence is also evident in the economy, demographics, in employment, environmental quality, education and more.
Of particular importance is proper relations, and beyond, with the government, which has a decisive influence on the promotion of every essential process and project in the city. Without the support from the various government agencies, nothing can be implemented optimally, so the mayor must be a person who has the skills to manage high-quality and complex relationships with government officials, for the benefit of the city and its residents.
The opposition council
Throughout the tenure of Dr. Einat Kalish Rotem, the current mayor, the claims arose again and again that the city is neglected and dirty, does not renew itself or is updated in the spirit of the times, and as if "frozen in place". On the other hand, the mayor claimed time and time again that the responsibility for the state of the city of opposition members who tried to stop every process it tried to promote. Here is also the place to mention the opposition council that was established in the middle of the mayor's term, in 2021.
Pigs of course
Another topic that cannot be ignored and was on the agenda throughout the entire tenure of Kalish, is of course the pigs, which she started dealing with on her first day as mayor, when she announced that the thinning of the pigs would stop immediately. There were residents who believed that the issue was not being handled properly and that the pigs were a threat and a hazard, and on the other hand there were residents who were satisfied that the harm to the animals that share the space with us had stopped. Therefore, it is also not surprising that each of the candidates has an orderly outline for how he intends to deal with this unique problem.
the burning issues
The five main issues, which came up in a new survey that was published in the last few days and was conducted by an Israeli movement through the Geocartography survey institute, points to 5 issues concerning which the Haifa people were interested in improvement:
- personal security
- Promoting urban renewal projects
- Cleaning and maintenance of the city
- Environment
- Sustainability and traffic loads
The 12 candidates
We asked each of the candidates to tell us a little about themselves and answer whether they intend to work in cooperation with other mayors after the elections.
Time until the plague of pigs in Haifa is eradicated
(90 days from Yona Yahav taking office)
Yaakov Borovsky, chairman of the Haifa and Kiryat Haim faction
Borovsky served actively for over 30 years in the Israel Police in senior command and management positions. Among other things, he served as the commander of the Zebulon stations, the Haifa Valleys region, the commander of the North District, the deputy head of the operations department, the head of the planning and budgeting department and an adviser to the state controller for the fight against governmental corruption. Today he is an attorney, partner and owner of a law firm.
Ya'akov Borovsky, chairman of the Haifa and Kiryat Haim faction, tells Lehi Fe:
"I will work in full and close cooperation with all the heads of the authorities in the region in order to create a "force multiplier" in view of the fact that pollution does not distinguish between municipal boundaries. From my experience and knowledge as someone who lived in Kiryat Haim, as well as someone who was present as part of his role as police chief at the explosion incident at the tank farm in Kiryat Ata, I am convinced Only with close cooperation will it be possible to lead to committed solutions. From my personal acquaintance with all the heads of the authorities, I have no doubt that we will find a common language to promote the treatment of the polluting factories as well as other metropolitan issues, including: removal of the 1979 tanks from Kiryat Haim, the airport, transportation arteries, issue The toll for the Carmel tunnels, etc.
Avihu Han, chairman of the Greens faction - Blue and White
The chairman of the Greens - Blue and White faction in Haifa is a native of Haifa, all his children and grandchildren live in Haifa and they love it very much. He has been a member of the city council for over 10 years, a former deputy mayor and a candidate for mayor of Haifa.
Avihu Han, chairman of the Green faction, tells Lahi Fa to the News Corporation:
As the next mayor, I see Haifa as the metropolis of the entire north. As the head of the metropolis, I will act and work in cooperation and close joint relations with mayors and councils in the area.
Together we will advance the significant plan of evacuating the polluting factories from Haifa Bay. In addition, we will cooperate in joint aspects that include the integration of transportation and regional infrastructure aspects, aspects of shared industrial and commercial areas. I see the metropolis as responsible for the future and advancement of the young people of the north and will work in cooperation with the heads of other authorities to ensure a better future for young people and students.
Yona Yahav, chairman of our Haifa faction
Chairman of our Haifa faction, married + 3, attorney by profession, former MK. Public servant since the age of 24 as chairman of the student union. He was the deputy mayor of Haifa in the years 93-96, and the mayor of Haifa 2003-2018. Managed the city in three significant events during his time as mayor: the Second Lebanon War and the two major fires in 2010 and 2016.
Yona Yahav, the chairman of our Haifa faction, tells Lahi Fa the news corporation:
The removal of the polluting factories from Haifa is a national need. As I have promised many times, upon my return to my position as mayor I will make the removal of the polluting factories a municipal necessity and the first task in the order of importance that I will take care of.
As I fought for the removal of the ammonia tank for 14 years, so I will work against the polluting factories. I see the environmental factors and the green movements in the Haifa city area as value and ideological partners of the city. I will integrate them into a special municipal team led by me, which will be in charge of government relations with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of the Interior. I will work to create a broad coalition on the issue also with other mayors in the region for whom the health and quality of life of the residents is a value.
David Etzioni, chairman of our house faction
Age: 40, married + 2 daughters (6,1), attorney, served as Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Construction and Housing. Responsible for the government program for the Arab sector. Board member and chairman of the Land Development Department at KKL-Junk. Senior Advisor to the Minister of Finance. Responsible on behalf of the Israeli government for the reconstruction of the fire disaster in Carmel. Deputy Mayor of Haifa.
In addition, he is a scion of a rooted Haifa family of jurists and defenders of the rule of law, the grandson of Moshe Etzioni, who was a Supreme Court judge and a street in the city of Haifa is named after him.
David Etzioni, the chairman of our House faction, tells Lahi Fa to the News Corporation:
In all the last years, the municipality insisted on running away from any involvement in the disturbing issue - the polluting factories. To this day, they have not waged an intense struggle and no proper solution has been found to copy BaZen and the other large factories. Just to clear the ear, among all the mayors of the surrounding cities there is a complete consensus on the issue of eliminating the factories and it is still not happening. Therefore, the only way to eliminate the polluting factories is to establish an administration that includes It includes the mayors of Kiryat Ata, Kiryat Bialik, Kiryat Motzkin, Kiryat Yam, Nesher, Yokneam, Tivon and Acre. Only together, with a united force, will we be able to get the government to act seriously on the matter and move the polluting factories to another location.
This cooperation and many others between the cities around Haifa will lead to strengthening Haifa and establishing its position as the capital of the north, with a strong airport and a city that attracts businesses, investments, young people and extensive development.
Sarit Golan Shteinberg, the chairman of Haifa for us
Golan Steinberg, 49 years old, married + 3, has been on the city council for a decade and is running for mayor in the current elections. Golan Steinberg is a lawyer in the criminal field and serves as the chairman of the Association of Cities for the Protection of the Environment.
Sarit Golan Steinberg, chairman of Haifa for us, tells Lahi Pa the news corporation:
Already today, in my role as chairman of the Association of Cities for the Protection of the Environment, which handles the 12 municipalities in the area, I cooperate with the heads of the surrounding authorities. For example, at the very beginning of my position, I made sure to form the agreement of all 12 member authorities of the union to support my policy to close the petrochemical industry and to implement Government decision on this matter. We also cooperated in regards to formulating an environmental position together for the extension of the airport's runway. In my view, Haifa will become economically stronger when there is a significant metropolitan continuum with Haifa as the center: an employment, educational, transportation center and everything, in cooperation with the other authorities, as a unit that will know Bring together the big budgets for the benefit of the metropolis.
Yitzhak Blas, Haifa together win together
Yitzhak Blas announced his candidacy for mayor on an independent list. Blas was a member of the leadership of the Histadrut, chairman of the organization's division and former chairman of the trade union division in the Haifa region, a member of the Histadrut House of Selectmen from 2002 to the present, a senior member of the Electric Company until moving to the Histadrut in 2013.
"I am in favor of cooperation with the mayors of the surrounding cities, and cooperation with the authorities at the national level is just as important," says Blass. on the subject. There is no choice, we must thin them out, if we don't thin them out we will live with them. It is important to optimize the engineering administration and speed up the processes, to simplify processes in the engineering director and make it easier for those requesting the service. I will work to conduct a documentation survey for the entire city. Conduct a preservation survey and publish it on the Internet so that all residents receive information About the structure in advance. It is important to know that buildings built since 1980 are exempt from preservation. I will work to lower the yearbook for preservation to 1960, to remind that the state was founded in 1948. I will work to increase the municipality's investments in everything related to education, in youth and children with special needs."
Dr. Einat Kalish Rotem, the current mayor
Mayor of Haifa, architect and urban planner, married and mother of two sons. She is running for mayor for the second time at the head of the Haif faction in Haifa. Kalish Rotem entered the council for the first time in 2013 at the head of a faction with two council members. In 2018, she won the mayoral elections and added three more council members to the council.
Kirill Kratnik, chairman of the Ani Hai Pa faction
Kratnik, 33 years old, has been a member of the city council for the past two years, engaged to his partner, Alina. He did not join the coalition or the opposition. He has been in politics since 2017, when for two and a half years he was the deputy mayor's assistant. Did a bachelor's and master's degree at Haifa University in political science, public administration.
Kirill Kratnik, chairman of the Ani Hai Pa faction, tells Lahi Pa News Corporation:
When I become mayor, one of the first things I will deal with will be the issue of polluting factories.
This is a critical move that should have been made a long time ago, while in practice the same people are always elected to run our city with the same promises and as a result "there is nothing new under the sun".
Factually, many studies have been published that have proven that these polluting factories harm the quality of life of the residents of the area. We are faced with a shocking statistic that today every fifth resident of Kiryat is a cancer patient - this is no coincidence, it has already been concluded that this is a direct result of chemicals in the air.
An alternative government program is on the agenda today, which should move the factories to another area, and then a 10-year land cleanup will be carried out.
As mayor, I undertake to promote this program according to the schedules and budgets defined in advance. I will make sure to refresh and develop relations with the government. At the same time, I will take care of monitoring the pollution through the Association of Cities for the Environment and applying sanctions according to those who exceed the index. I pledge to join forces with all the mayors and fight for the residents of Haifa, in order to solve this issue once and for all.
Yossi Shalom, Yesh Atid and Haifa youth
Yossi Shalom is a lieutenant colonel, grew up in Kiryat Haim, has a decade of experience as a member of the Haifa City Council. He has a master's degree in administration and public policy and a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Haifa. In the past, he served as chairman of the student union and vice chairman of the national student association, and as a member of the city council he led a large number of projects and programs for various groups in the community, among them: Borla 17, Farah Bahadar, the student village, scholarships for students, Horeb 14, activities in the centers, was Chairman of the audit committee, member of the board of directors at Ethos, member of the economic society, chairman of the Hadar community, held the youth and young people portfolio and the pride portfolio, and more. Yossi Shalom himself is also a member of the gay community and has been working to promote the rights of the LGBT community in Haifa and Israel for many years.
"As the great metropolis of the north, it is our duty to act together with other authorities to promote common interests for the region," says Shalom, "we see Haifa Bay as the future of the entire region and will work together with all the relevant parties, including heads of other authorities, to develop it in the best possible way. Of course we will also move forward Cooperation on other issues with heads of authorities, and government ministries, in order to promote the welfare of the residents of the city of Haifa."
Zvika Barbi, chairman of the faction I care about the residents of Haifa
The chairman of the "I care about the residents of Haifa" faction, Zvika Barbi, announced his candidacy for mayor. Barbi holds the welfare and employment portfolio. For years, he worked for the residents of Neve Sha'anan and provided them with discounted private lessons, discounts on entrance to the Holmes Family pool in the neighborhood, extended hours The health fund's activity on weekends, etc. Although he initially focused on Neve Shanan, in recent times he has been helping residents from many neighborhoods in the city.
I don't understand Haifaim re-electing a former mayor who were already waiting for him to leave because they were not satisfied with him in the term before the current fall, so now they are re-electing him? are you crazy How short can your memory be and choose someone 80 years old? We need a young spirit, someone with a vision for the future, not with a past idea..terrible.
I would love to see young people, but at the moment it seems that the city council out of 30 will have 20 retirees
The average age will be 70... and there may be an 81-year-old mayor... you understand that this is a disaster...
Haifa is driving away the young, soon 25 percent will be retired, in fact negative growth is guaranteed (especially in the old Carmel)
What you're doing by voting for your "lobby" is actually driving your children and grandchildren away from here.
Two thirds of the leaders of the lists in Haifa are pensioners. It's time to talk about this problem openly and not sweep it under the table.
They're all the same shit
The potholes in the road will remain
The factories will remain
Illegal construction in the sector will remain
The same lady in a different coat
Haifa needs a change. Etzioni or another young man. The city with a lot of potential. Enough of the corruption, you can't believe the amount of interests.
Enough with old people, give a chance to young people with ambitions, Haifa needs a change. People who want to bring young people back to Haifa need a young leader
An ugly election campaign full of personal insults. Blessed that we got rid of active conversations and messages that were blocked immediately.
How beautiful everyone knows how to be a parrot... where are other things besides the factories... what about Kiryat Haim, how about promoting sports in Kiryat Haim, doing something with the beautiful stretch of beach that is in Kiryat Haim, doing something with the collapsed buildings of Degania from the time of the establishment of the State... feasts for young and old to renew the The experimenter wanted to make it like the Miller house that is invested in Haifa. Actions for Kiryat Haim youth. Submit more transportation from Kiryat Haim to the rest of the Kiryats and Haifa and not Matron twice when it doesn't arrive and when it arrives, two arrive together...
In my opinion, there are those who have done their part in life. Please give the young people a chance to change and take the city as their life project over time. In the end, to do things you need time and health and not a single term in light of the state of the city. And the most prominent example is the inability to solve problems of leaving the city in favor of cities in the center or preventing white entrepreneurs in Haifa and the simple thing to solve the problems of pigs wandering outside the city. And give an example, I had a small garden in the yard with pots and flowers, there are no more, the pigs broke the pots and turned the yard every week and I gave up.
I didn't understand, 12 candidates and you mentioned only 10?
Did you intentionally miss Ibrahim Ghatas who is the only Arab candidate?
Only Sarit Golan will really make changes for the better.
roads
Parking spaces
Stopping TAMA Hamzirit
Lower property tax
20 years without change
Klish destroyed every good part and many departments in the municipality do not provide service to the citizen, the engineering department needs to be rebuilt from scratch, everything is rotten, only Yona Yahav can move it and not the bargaining of candidates with contractors
Green's reaction in the heart is very correct. If they really cared about the situation in the city and not just inflated ego balloons one by one,
would unite for a joint run. The fact that no list has merged with another shows that it is not the city's good but the interests
The personal ones rule, the sectoral combines, the real estates, etc.
Whatever the result, it can already be said that the result will be disappointing. Why? Because whoever you don't ask will tell you "there is no one to vote for and with no choice I will vote for...". The level of optimism about what will happen in Haifa on 28.2.24/XNUMX/XNUMX is close to zero. Last time there was real optimism with the removal of the failure by Einat. And how we fell with "she is nice, she has good intentions, she is free of corruption". That's why you shouldn't pay attention to businessmen who are nice and seem to you to be clean and with good intentions. Only for proven management skills.
Yaakov Borovsky is the most deserving candidate today to serve as mayor.
A person with extensive and impressive experience in management, leadership, security, planning.
Jacob has many good political connections, does not belong to any party. will bring a new management method in the city.
Good luck Jacob.
I worked in the Haifa municipality for 48 years, I have a lot of experience, thank you very much
Only Yona Yahav. He is the next mayor in less than a week.
There is no one like Yaakov Burevski, an honest man, wise, fair and very, very acceptable
Two did not come to the debate last night when Yona with a flimsy excuse did not come to the previous debate in "Chaderim" either. He uses the cliché method of trying to disappear under the radar so that he will not be caught by his clumsiness and stuttering and exhaustion. And the third is a boy who did nothing and just last night repeatedly replied that he made a mistake when he dropped his candidacy in the previous elections.. So...who are we left with?? Yes..with three honest people who spend years investing their time in the council... Avihu Sarit and Yossi... only happy!!
Another biased and sponsored article focusing on the promotion of four candidates that someone decided were the frontrunners!
And for each of the quartet of lawyers, the detail of their platform is also recorded.
You noticed that none of them refer to the well-being of the residents or the precarious state of the city. They focus on the issue that makes the headlines. The factories in the Gulf are already not that polluting... but it's easy to focus on them.
In Tel Aviv the air is much more polluted than in Haifa!
Woe to this city if one of them is chosen and may I perish!
One is a zombie, the other has fallen, the third is another inexperienced kid and the fourth is busy...
Only Zvika Barbie is the right one, nothing will help you, and if he is not elected mayor, the loss is all of us!
No word from any of them about the demography problem in Haifa? What about Zionism? Do they not see the migration from the countryside and the cities of the Galilee to Haifa? When will a brave mayor or mayor arise who will at least talk about it?
It's easiest to go for the populist ticket of air pollution and pigs. Really big deal
So why did you only put 4 men without women as a picture in the title?!
If Chaima was really important to them then there would be 2-3 contestants but if the ego leads there are many contestants which will lead to a second round and multiple small factions in the city council which will lead to political extortion and paralysis.