I'm amazed that a city can function like this.. I am impressed that they can still find ways to surprise us...

Iryat Bet Shemesh posted the following on their Facebook page (translation after the post):



My translation:
Mayor Moshe Abutbol, who has to deal with running one of the most complex cities in the country, made up of opposing sectors of residents, surprised the city councilmen with an original proposal.

It was during the city council meeting, when the mayor wanted to raise for a vote a proposal for recycling debt..a proposal that would save the city coffers a lot of money.

The proposal was not on the agenda for the meeting, as per the rules of it needing to be announced 10 days prior, so it needed to be agreed upon by the members of the opposition in order to be raised. Otherwise it would have to wait until the next meeting.

The surprise of the city councilmen, the mayor announced that if the opposition members would vote in favor, he would personally donate, from is pocket, 400nis to the organization Yedidim.

The proposal was successful, and the opposition members surprised everyone by agreeing and voting in favor. For the first time since the coalition went into effect, the opposition voted in line with the coalition.

Today the mayor paid his debt and in voted the heads of the Yedidim organization to receive the donation.
...
Abutbol added with a smile: I hope the opposition voting in favor was not out of excitement to make me lose some money, but due to the respect across the board held for Yedidim who make a kiddush hashem with their work
-----

400 shekels? that's all they needed to help the mayor? they could have held out for any of the various interests and agendas they want advanced that aren't. This is how they play their politics? And form the mayors perspective - good idea. I am surprised it worked, but good on you.. I wonder though..  is this legal? is it considered a bribe? buying votes? why Yedidim and not one of the many other great organizations?