Jerusalem Accuses Haredi-Controlled Housing Ministry Of Skewing New Affordable Housing In Favor Of Haredim

Jerusalem’s city government is alleging that an affordable housing project in the Ramot neighborhood violates government policy, because Israel’s haredi-controlled Housing and Construction Ministry has, along with Israel's Lands Administration, cooked the project’s books in favor of haredim.

A street in the Ramot neighborhood of Jerusalem

Jerusalem Accuses Haredi-Controlled Housing Ministry Of Skewing New Affordable Housing In Favor Of Haredim
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com

Jerusalem’s city government is reportedly alleging that an affordable housing project in the Ramot neighborhood violates government policy, because Israel’s haredi-controlled Housing and Construction Ministry has, along with Israel's Lands Administration, cooked the project’s books in favor of haredim.

The project was supposed to include 128 rental units and 166 apartments to be built in Ramot’s largely secular Country complex.

But the project’s criteria allegedly overlook the needs of middle class and working families and contradict the Trajtenberg Committee’s recommendations for affordable housing. Those recommndations were approved by the government.

The City of Jerusalem is also alleging that the Housing and Construction Ministry violated a commitment to coordinate the project’s tender with it.

The Housing Ministry and the Israel Lands Administration rejected the city’s allegations.

"The tenders in Ramot and Pisgat Ze'ev are intended for all Jerusalem's population groups, particularly young couples eligible for Mehir Lemishtaken [affordable housing]. All tenders were published following extensive meetings with Jerusalem city hall elected officials and professionals. The meetings were summarized in writing. The attempt to present a 1,200-home tender as political opportunism makes the accuser look bad," a Housing and Construction Ministry spokesperson told Ha’aretz.

The city demanded that the land tender be scrapped.

The Country complex is planned for 734 total housing units, along with a country club, sports facilities, and a pool. The city wants it to be an attractive site for young couples, because it is close to Hebrew University, the Har Hotzvim industrial complex, and a newer industrial complex located near the city’s northern entrance.

The city also wants to designate some of the homes for career soldiers in accordance with what is supposed to be government policy.

More than half of Ramot’s current population is haredi.

Comments

[Barry]

Jerusalem Accuses Haredi-Controlled Housing Ministry Of Skewing New Affordable Housing In Favor Of Haredim

It's a shame that they have to ration affordable housing. It would be best if they can build or make sure that there is an adequate supply for all that need.

[kitniyot]

I've been meaning to ask this for a while- why are are the photos that accompany stories usually so washed out and grainy?

[Alter Kocker]

This is what you get when there is a segment of your population that is: a)feeling entitled, b)find that truth is reserved for those of their own kind.

Essentially, although they are ultra-religious, they believe they are justified in lying to the state and obtaining by any means low cost anything, especially at the expense of the secular majority. This needs to be slowed down. I suggest that each family must have both adults working for a living. The applicants must submit to an interview, and must show employment records and letters from their employers.

[Feminista]

@alter kocker - and filed tax returns.

[devorah]

Tax returns? Who declares all cash?

[Jerry]

"The tenders in Ramot and Pisgat Ze'ev are intended for all Jerusalem's population groups.

Dors that include Arabs or are they just referring to jewish population groups? My guess is the later.

[curiousity]

The same issue exists in Borough Park. (The Culver El affordable housing)

[devorah]

And in Ramapo.

[dh]

"...why are are the photos that accompany stories usually so washed out and grainy?

Posted by: kitniyot | November 12, 2012 at 10:19 AM

I heard that Shmarya lives in a windowless dark dank basement with a super scary mote around it. He reads by the light of his cat's glaring eyes.

[S M L]

"...why are are the photos that accompany stories usually so washed out and grainy?..."

No need to drag Shmarya's living conditions into this - it just looks like a case of too much sharpening in Photoshop of a low-resolution original.