The Little Prince began almost four years ago (in the spring of 2017) with a goal: engage all of Jerusalem residents in one goal – making Jerusalem a clean city. Part of that goal – engaging the Jerusalem Municipality as a full partner in the process.
Not just any Zoom meeting
Yes, indeed that has happened. This picture is ‘just’ a screen shot of a Zoom meeting waiting to begin. But it means the world – a recurring meeting, together with the Director of the Operations Division of the Jerusalem Municipality, demonstrating the true partnership that has developed, together with residents from all parts of the city. Here’s what our Tal Kligman, Director of the Little Prince initiative, had to say:
There is nothing like seeing the name of “The Little Prince” on the Zoom of the Jerusalem Municipality’s Director of Operations, to open the morning! This means that the partnership of the senior staff from the Operations Division (department managers, district managers and Itzik Nidam at the head) and the members of the Little Prince are significant and contribute to advancing processes.
This means that both sides understand the necessity of our partnership, and it means we are already deep into a work routine.
In general, residents can’t meet in the morning. But, see – yes we can! And senior municipal officials dedicate the morning hours to important issues and lo and behold! Residents are important.
This again shows the investment of of the Operations Division in public engagement, and its many successes:
- Satisfied residents. Very satisfied!
- Many compliments to the Operations Division, all its departments.
- A much cleaner city.
- Quick and efficient response to public inquiries and complaints.
- A system that functions professionally and with seriousness.
- Services and efficient functioning of the Operations Division.
These are significant accomplishments that took place as a result of the public participation. This has translated to:
- Significant increase in the provision of reports by the municipal inspectors on cleanliness issues (littering, not picking up after dogs, leaving garbage bags outside of trash receptacles, and more).
- Cleaning of many Public Private Spaces throughout the city as part of the Sanitation Department’s work plan. (The Municipality is not required to keep these places clean, but has agreed to do so. You can read about it here.)
- Supervision of the work of cleaning subcontractors.
- Adding compactors and cartons receptacles in shopping centers.
- Cleaning of bus stops
- Construction of rooms to hid trash bins in building complexes (in coordination with residents)
- Regular days for clearing pruning and scrap
This is a small list of changes. We have no words to thank you, Operations Division, there’s no one like you.
Here’s Tal’s Facebook post in Hebrew:
Many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation and the US Embassy in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv for its continued support of the Little Prince!
