Bet Shemesh Weekly News Round-Up
By Rabbi Dov Lippman
B'YACHAD PARTY ENTERING THE COALITION?B'yachad city councilman, Jacky Edri (pictured), has met with Mayor Abutbol about the possibility of the B'yachad party rejoining the Mayor's coalition. Edri has stated that he believes he can accomplish more for his community from within the coalition. B'yachad chairman, councilman Shalom Lerner, has publicly stated that he would not join the coalition and that the Mayor cannot be trusted to follow through on any promises made in a coalition agreement. This dispute does raise the prospect of B'yachad splitting if Edri decides to enter the coalition on his own. The opposition members did meet this past week after a summer vacation and did showed solidarity, together with Edri, indicating that a move to the coalition might not be happening so quickly.
CITY MANAGER SEEMINGLY CLEARED IN HOLYLAND SCANDAL
City Manager, Motti Chuta (pictured), was not named among the people the police are recommending be indicted for their roles in the Holyland scandal. Chuta, who served as the chairman of theJerusalem
City Manager, Motti Chuta (pictured), was not named among the people the police are recommending be indicted for their roles in the Holyland scandal. Chuta, who served as the chairman of the
NEWS CONFERENCE TO OPEN THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR
Mayor Abutbol (pictured with city spokesman Motti Rosenzweig) held the annual news conference to mark the beginning of a new school year. At the news conference, the following points were highlighted:
1)Last year there was a 1.8% rise in local students passing the Bagrut.
2)There was a 39% reduction in youth violence in the city this past year.
3)Six institutions are moving into new buildings and schools that were in apartments are moving into their caravans.
4)No new caravans were added this year. (a statement which a simple tour around the city would seem to contradict.)5)The Education Ministry has okayed 104,000 NIS
6)60 new classes have been added in the city for this school year.
7)The city will work with the National Authority for Road Safety to increase education and awareness in this realm.
8)Deputy Mayor, Shmuel Greenberg (Degel HaTorah) reported that an additional 2,500 students joined the chareidi educational system in the city for this school year.
9)Dr. Yossi Cohen, the new head of the local parent committee mentioned his displeasure with the fact that two reports are issued on education - one for non chareidi and one for chareidi: "We are on city and one nation and there is no reason for this separation."
OPEN PHONE LINE WITH THE MAYOR
Mayor Abutbol will be available for calls from citizens from 11:00a.m. -1:00p.m. on Sunday August 29th. Callers should begin calling 990-9841 at 9:00a.m. to line up to speak to the Mayor who will be joined by the City Manager and department heads
OPEN PHONE LINE WITH RICHARD PERES AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HEADS
If you have issues, concerns or questions regarding education in Bet Shemesh, this is your chance to reach the decision makers. Richard Peres (pictured, Labor) who holds the education portfolio in the city council, Klemo Buznach who heads the local education department, and heads of the ganim, elementary schools, special education, and school transportation will be available for your phone calls this Sunday August 29 from 2:00p.m. - 4:00p.m. and on Monday August 30 from 6:00p.m.-8:00p.m. at 990-9761 and 9762. 
More than 400 closed circuit cameras will be filming throughout Bet Shemesh in the near future. The cameras will monitor activity in areas where there has been violence in the past including schools. The project is a part of the national "City Without Violence" initiative and the hope is that it will enable police to respond to problems in real time, to capture offenders after the fact, and to provide citizens with a greater sense of security.
LOCAL SPORTS
1)TOUR D'BET SHEMESH: The 6th annual bike race which draws cyclists from all over the country will take place next Friday, September 3 beginning at 7:30a.m. The awards ceremony will take place at 12:30p.m. Rechov Levi Eshkol will be closed from 7:00a.m.-12:00p.m. for this event which is arranged by Rochvei Shimshon together with Iriyat Bet Shemesh, Keren Shemesh, the National Authority for Road Safety, and Maccabi Health.
2)The local girls volleyball team was elevated to the country's highest league for the coming year after a 20-1 season in the second tier league.
3)The Bet Shemesh Tennis Club is preparing to open a new season with over 200 children enrolled. The program begins for children as young as 4 years old and provides children with the opportunity to play in tournaments throughout the country.
Re: the cameras in places prone to violence - are there plans to put any of these cameras in Bet, in areas where non-residents have been attacked by certain local elements?
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