Nov 2, 2008
CHEN - the party you should have heard of, but probably didn't
CHEN is a party that has done some great work in the Bet Shemesh City Council. Their problem is really in marketing, because based on their performance, based on their success, and based on their integrity, they should be a much larger party. (And perhaps some better marketing of themselves would also help...)
CHEN only had one seat in the outgoing City Council. Their one mandate has been threatened with Rav Alon leaving CHEN and merging with TOV. That left a nice hole that CHEN has to figure how they will fill, if they plan to make it past the minimum threshold in the upcoming elections.
It is possible. Zvi and David are optimistic about their chances. I don't like relying on polls (polls are giving CHEN low numbers), because everybody uses the numbers differently and polls have always been unreliable, but CHEN's numbers have been going up recently, and according to the basic count Zvi detailed for me, it looks like they will surpass the minimum threshold. I hope they do, because it would be a great loss if we did not have them fighting for the city in City Hall.
Some people are worried about the overlap between CHEN and TOV. While it would have been nice to see a merger between the two parties, ensuring the joint success, it did not happen, for whatever reasons. An interesting piece of irony I noted is a point that was mentioned in a recent interview in a local newspaper Tmura with Zvi Wolicki. The article mentioned that Zvi was always a supporter of the (now defunct) Poalei Agudat Yisrael, and would be again if they made a comeback. TOV is a reincarnation, of sorts, of the Poalei Agudat Yisrael party.
I say the more the merrier. If they can both get in, we gain that much more by having more people fighting for us.
Look at the flyers below put out by CHEN, and you can see they are non-partisan. They work to improve the quality of life of Bet Shemesh residents, no matter who or what group you are affiliated with. I personally know of numerous cases in which CHEN simply helped people solve problems, even though they knew that the petitioner had not voted for them and would not vote for them in the future. They just want to improve our quality of life.
And with Ephrayim Naiman joining the CHEN list, it made an already great team even better. there is nobody in RBS, and I mean literally nobody - not a single individual, who I would prefer to have as a representative over Ephrayim.
(this should also remove any preconceptions generated by previous posts that I work for TOV or that I fully endorse TOV. I support TOV. I like TOV. But I also like other parties. not every party is for every person. In addition, there are still other parties I like and support. I might write about some of them, I might not. Maybe more on this idea in a later post.)
If you have any questions about CHEN - who they are, what they do, what they want to do, what they have done, whatever, ask them in the comments. Either I will try to get answers, or hopefully I will try to get a chen person to answer directly...
CHEN only had one seat in the outgoing City Council. Their one mandate has been threatened with Rav Alon leaving CHEN and merging with TOV. That left a nice hole that CHEN has to figure how they will fill, if they plan to make it past the minimum threshold in the upcoming elections.
It is possible. Zvi and David are optimistic about their chances. I don't like relying on polls (polls are giving CHEN low numbers), because everybody uses the numbers differently and polls have always been unreliable, but CHEN's numbers have been going up recently, and according to the basic count Zvi detailed for me, it looks like they will surpass the minimum threshold. I hope they do, because it would be a great loss if we did not have them fighting for the city in City Hall.
Some people are worried about the overlap between CHEN and TOV. While it would have been nice to see a merger between the two parties, ensuring the joint success, it did not happen, for whatever reasons. An interesting piece of irony I noted is a point that was mentioned in a recent interview in a local newspaper Tmura with Zvi Wolicki. The article mentioned that Zvi was always a supporter of the (now defunct) Poalei Agudat Yisrael, and would be again if they made a comeback. TOV is a reincarnation, of sorts, of the Poalei Agudat Yisrael party.
I say the more the merrier. If they can both get in, we gain that much more by having more people fighting for us.
Look at the flyers below put out by CHEN, and you can see they are non-partisan. They work to improve the quality of life of Bet Shemesh residents, no matter who or what group you are affiliated with. I personally know of numerous cases in which CHEN simply helped people solve problems, even though they knew that the petitioner had not voted for them and would not vote for them in the future. They just want to improve our quality of life.
And with Ephrayim Naiman joining the CHEN list, it made an already great team even better. there is nobody in RBS, and I mean literally nobody - not a single individual, who I would prefer to have as a representative over Ephrayim.
(this should also remove any preconceptions generated by previous posts that I work for TOV or that I fully endorse TOV. I support TOV. I like TOV. But I also like other parties. not every party is for every person. In addition, there are still other parties I like and support. I might write about some of them, I might not. Maybe more on this idea in a later post.)
If you have any questions about CHEN - who they are, what they do, what they want to do, what they have done, whatever, ask them in the comments. Either I will try to get answers, or hopefully I will try to get a chen person to answer directly...
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i still don't understand why Chen doesn't merge with B'Yachad - their platforms are so very similar.
ReplyDeleteBoth have great teams and good policies.
Hard to know which to vote for.
that question was asked in the interview. I am still going over it and plan to post a review of points from the interview later.....
ReplyDeleteI was planning on voting for Tov. I went last night to hear Zvi W. and I after hearing about what they've accomplished and what they can do, I wish he would run for Mayor. Very professional and seems to be a mentch.
ReplyDeleteAla
I spoke to Zvi last night and he explained that he isn't interested in joining with B'Yachad/Mafdal because he sees himself as serving all the residents of BS not just Dati/Anglo.
ReplyDeleteThe big question here is why has no one I have spoken to every heard of them. Its 10 days before the election. How can they really expect to get re-elected if no one seems to know who they are?
ReplyDeleteI heard that you will need over 1300 votes to get in this time.
It seems like a vote for them is going to get thrown away.
Dear RW and Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteFirst let me dispell a misconception. Less than one month before the election parties can no longer merge. The cutoff date is one month before the elections.
Secondly, Chen does have a unique platform in that we believe that changes can be made that will benefit all residents and our track record demonstrates this.
Thirdly, Chen enjoys support all across Beit Shemesh and was one of only two parties to receive votes in every Kalpi (voting box). We are confident that we will pass the threshold and will probably surprise with much more.
anonymous - I also personally do not know anyone in bet shemesh who is voting labor. that does not mean the labor party does not exist nor that they will not pass the minimum. They do exist and they will. And I think so will chen. perhaps you, and I, need to broaden our horizons and meet more people living in our city.
ReplyDeleteMr Zvi,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all thanks for posting your comment. It is good to see that a candidate is in touch with the people and reads Rafi's blog.
I think you are misinformed about Chen being only one of two parties to receive votes in every Kalpi. Look at the results yourself.
http://www.moin.gov.il//Apps/PubWebSite/mainmenu.nsf/4DF815EA4AC4E503C2256BA6002EE732/BC71BAE2308888C4C225737100465425/$FILE/News.xls
There were at least four other parties that managed that too.
Last time rav Alon was on your ticket which is also a reason for Chen getting a wide range of voters. On that point now that Rav Alon is on the Tov ticket how do you foresee getting the extra votes that he brought in last time? I'll be honest. I am considering voting for Chen but I haven't forgiven myself for voting for the techiya party in '92 (which failed to get elected) and allowing the left to come to power
Dear Chaim,
ReplyDeleteI stand corrected. Of twelve parties Chen was one of four to receive votes from every kalpi still an achievement for a small party.
The votes lost by Rav Alon's leaving (estimated at 200 max) will be made up by new neighbourhoods in Scheinfeld and the addition of Ephraim Naiman to our list.
Additionally when Rav Alon joined us last time we actually lost some votes as some of our supporters were looking for a more Anglo slate. These voters are returning to us now.
Tomorrow the Likud will publish a new survey that has us at close to 4% demonstrating that the momentum we have felt building is a reality.
4%? what percentage is needed to make the minimum threshold?
ReplyDeletea little more than 4.
ReplyDeleteThese numbers are not scary to me based on the direction chen is going and what happened to us last election.
I dont like the punishing corporations part.. are you guys modeling after ralph nader ? does nesher provide jobs for bs and rbs residents ? just my 2 cents..
ReplyDeletep.s. I live in chevron ;)
I had an interesting thought about TOV.
ReplyDeleteI am certain that if TOV actually garners the amount of seats that they hope to all of these "negged" Rabbonim will all of a sudden have a change of heart.
Rav Kornfeld might be against TOV now but if they get 2-3 seats on the moetza he'll be singing a totally different song.
Zvi,
ReplyDeleteIn the last election, Rav Alon brought about 500 votes to Chen. Those votes are vital to the party.
Please back down so that Mafdal can get 4 seats and we can form a coalition without gimel and shas!
Why You Should Vote "Beyachad"
ReplyDeleteMany of the readers of this blog will be planning to vote for Shalom Lerner for mayor.
In every sense, Shalom's the man who speaks your language.
However, in order to bring this city out of the 1950's, Shalom's going to need solid support from the City Council.
Voting Shalom AND Beyachad means getting Shalom in as our Mayor AND enabling him to get on with pulling Bet Shemesh into shape, without being dependent on numerous small special-interest parties, who can push their agendas by blocking Progress. (Just see how Prime Ministers struggle with coalition building at national level!).
Along with being Loyal, and Supportive to Shalom, Beyachad is also proven & experienced. Jackie Edri and Shalom have served us all successfully for many years. Others (like me!) on the Beyachad list have served our community successfully outside of the City Council - and are now well equipped & can be trusted to do a great job on the Council.
Vote Shalom AND Vote Beyachad - because Beyachad they'll advance Bet Shemesh 50 years!
I actually decided to vote for Chen after researching all the parties. This evening I found their flyer in my mailbox...
ReplyDeleteRafi and/or chen rep,
ReplyDeleteWhat source is there that residents of RBS do pay a higher arnona than elsewhere in the city?
Why is that the case anyway?
Is Chen the only party working to lower Arnona costs in RBS?
Dear Undecided,
ReplyDeletethe higher arnona in RBS is not disputed. All you need to do to verify is compare a bill from old BS to the new.
This began way back before RBs was when the powers that be decided that RBS should be defined as an upscale neighbourhood.
The only other councilperson who voted with me to close the gap in rates was Jackie Edri of Mafdal. (an RBS resident)
Zvi - I know the correct answer to this question, continuing the topic of arnona, will be to ask each individual councilperson, but perhaps you can enlighten us at to the possible explanation why any person, looking for any support in RBS, would vote against lowering the arnona rates and creating more equality in taxes? Especially others that either live in RBS (and there are some others), or others who claim to be looking out for our interests. Why vote against it?
ReplyDeleteRafi,
ReplyDeletethis is a hard one to answer without mudslinging. My recommendation would be to read the minutes of the various council meetings. I do recall a conversation with one colleague that insisted that the differential was warrented as the standard of living in RBS is higher.
No amount of pursuation helped.
where does one get minutes of council meetings?
ReplyDelete