(haipo) Many residents of Haifa are familiar with the scenario: contacting the municipal hotline due to an environmental hazard, dumping of waste or danger to the public, and shortly after receiving an official notification that “the issue has been addressed.” However, on the ground, reality tells a completely different story. The hazard remained as it was, nothing changed, and only the request was closed.
The latest case illustrates this well. Environmental activist Eric Drobort contacted the Haifa Municipality hotline last Tuesday (1/20/26) and reported the dumping of construction waste near two springs that connect to the Saadia Stream. Shortly thereafter, he received a message from the hotline stating that the complaint had been handled. However, an inspection conducted on the ground revealed that the waste had not been removed at all and the hazard remained.
Only after Haifa's editorial team contacted the municipality did they quickly admit that this was a "mistake" and sent Drobort a corrected message. However, in the eyes of many, this was not a one-time mistake, but a recurring pattern of actions.
In a conversation with Haifa, Drobort said harsh things: "This hotspot is a testament to the municipality's poverty. It is an area adjacent to springs and a particularly sensitive ecological area, which for years has been used as a destination for dumping construction waste. Almost every month another pile is added there and the municipality does nothing. It doesn't place rocks, doesn't install cameras, doesn't enforce anything. On the other hand, in other areas of the Saadia Stream, where there is almost no waste and tourists come to it, the municipality does block access to the public."
According to him, an absurd and outrageous situation has been created: “The municipality is blocking the public from hiking, but allowing others to destroy the stream, all while it prides itself on recognizing the stream, preserving it, and restoring it. In practice, the reality on the ground is completely the opposite, it looks like a recipe for environmental disaster.”
The case raises serious questions about the functioning of the municipal hotline and the control mechanisms in the Haifa Municipality. How are inquiries closed without real processing? Who oversees the reports? And is the message “processing completed” sometimes nothing more than a bureaucratic checkmark?
Haifa Municipality gave a response to Haifa:
"An inspection conducted revealed that inspectors from the municipal enforcement department arrived at the scene in order to locate the person dumping the waste, but they were unable to locate him. As a result, the matter was transferred to the municipal sanitation department and the waste will be removed as soon as possible."
Did the article interest you?
The Haifa municipality is mainly concerned with "urban renewal" to raise property taxes. Blocking roads in front of huge trucks during rush hour, cutting down trees, and blocking parking lots are part of this. Hazards, waste, and handling dog feces are not part of its business.
Wait until the days of the Messiah and then you will receive a response from the municipality, which has long chosen not to be involved.
I also called just today to report a vehicle parked on the sidewalk by the kindergartens and commercial center in Ramat Alon and received an hour later that the intersection had been cleared and closed. No bears or lice. The vehicle is still parked on the sidewalk and blocking passage – probably for the disabled, the elderly, children and mothers with strollers. Shame on the municipality…
Like the appearance of wild boars in Eliezer K Eliyahu Bat Galim and no one is doing anything about it. There is no treatment. There is a projector, but they roam the area.
This is how premium is calculated
The municipal hotline was one of the best things in Haifa, especially during Yona Yahav's previous tenure.
If there is a change, it is worth taking care of it so that it does not become a routine.
It's time for De'arit Haifa to put a man in charge of field workers. Because I also had a case where I reported a rat in the yard and other neighbors on my street were full. They told me they were. I didn't find any sign that they were. They say they put water in the sewers. They used to put water on the door or fence that they inspected. Today it seems to me that everyone is working on us. We must not remain silent, we are paying money. The city must respond to the public at every turn. Therefore, an inspector must inspect their work in the field. We will not remain silent!
Not a mistake and not a promise! Routine response to public inquiries.
I understand from this that someone received or will receive payment for a request, which was closed with the confirmation "issue handled," whether this someone is from within the municipality or a contractor...
Hahaha