By PEGGY CIDORDowntown Jerusalem(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
It might have been hilarious if it were not our sad reality.How should Jerusalemites feel upon learning that the Central Bureau of Statistics has declared that our city has dropped from middle to lower status in regard to economics and development? What encouragement can we find in the fact that our capital, which we hold to be central in our national life, has now officially been declared poorer than ever? Not that the situation was so good until now, but this is distressing.What has happened? There are several reasons for the decline in status, but beyond objective ones, such as the effect of political and security tension on economy, there are other factors involved in creating an atmosphere that enabled this regrettable situation to develop.What can be done in order to return this extraordinary city to a more desirable position? Let’s start with the atmosphere and the attitude toward Jerusalem.For the past few years, Mayor Nir Barkat and two of his deputies have been busy tracking decisions to move various governmental offices out of Jerusalem, most for unacceptable reasons, such as the request of employees to relocate organizations to the center of the country for their own convenience. A prime example is the plan to open the new broadcasting authority in Modi’in instead of Jerusalem, as required by law.The list of offices that have moved out of the city or are trying to do so is long – a section of the Agriculture Ministry, a branch of the Science Ministry and more. Barkat, Deputy Mayor Ofer Berkowitz (Hitorerut) and before him Rachel Azaria (Yerushalmim), as well as city councilman Arieh King (United Jerusalem) have been busy tracking such initiatives in order to prevent the exodus.What can one expect from a capital that is despised by the government? Why would investors, hi-tech promoters or any other businessmen willing to open or develop a successful business want to move to – or remain in – Jerusalem if the government officials themselves are trying to escape from here? Add seasonal terrorist attacks and one has an answer to the question of how we reached this unfortunate situation. No matter how many times our leaders repeat the cynical mantra about the holy importance of Jerusalem, nobody is making the effort necessary to ensure its position.Jerusalem should be flooded with budgets, initiatives, investments, job opportunities, and above all, with a genuine effort demonstrating to the rest of the country that this is the right place to be, to invest in and develop. Words, even magnificent and inspiring ones, are not enough here. If the government does not change its attitude toward the city – the sooner the better – then Jerusalem will be a lost cause.Barkat could do more. He could have reacted to this sad news differently.He certainly could have spared us the problematic declaration that he is happy about the figures of the CBS. Still, that is not where the crux of the problem is. The bottom line is this: the government must stop talking about Jerusalem and start working for Jerusalem.