Plant managers, senior municipal officials, self-employed and salaried workers, visionaries and rank and file residents – those who want science-based industries in Arad, those who have a broken sidewalk in front of their homes and hundreds more – got together this week for a three-day marathon session called: Arad – The Dream and Its Fulfillment!

This week, the Alon Gymnasium became the focus of a major happening in which everyone, young and old, had an opportunity to express an opinion about the city we live in and what we’d like to see in the future. Dozens of discussion groups formed and hundreds of topics were raised. People were free to start discussion groups on any topic close to their hearts or to join those already in session. The floor was given to all and everything is on record.

This major project, initiated by the E.D.U. (Economic Development Unit), funded by the Partnership 2000 of Arad, in cooperation with several local municipalities, was intended as another stage in the planning of the Arad Master/Contour Plan and the future of the city.

The Plan is designed to provide planners with milestones that reflect the public’s wishes and choices. Just before the plans were finalized, officials decided to enable authentic public cooperation in decision-making concerning the city’s future. Residents indeed availed themselves of the opportunity: More than 50 discussion groups formed, each with 3-35 participants, covering a variety of topics, including saturated (hi-rise) construction, attracting science-based industries, the educational revolution, access for the disabled, tourism as an economic bridge, the Beduins as neighbors, development of green areas, the historical museum, a railroad line to Arad, relations between Orthodox and non-religious Jews, a municipal animal corner, whither Arad youth, the local police, a new chess center, an Interior Ministry office for obtaining ID cards, setting up a martial arts center and so on. One group even questioned the seriousness of public cooperation and sought ways of maintaining the momentum of the various ideas raised.

Each group summed up its recommendations and aspirations at the end of discussions, hoping they will be taken into account in developing the Master/Contour Plan. The project’s initiators, in turn, hope that the groups will continue their joint activity to promote the issues for which they were formed.

Although the project succeeded in attracting massive public presence and cooperation, some criticism was voiced as well, relating primarily to the event’s having constituted a social encounter and group dynamics session more than authentic realization of the public’s wishes. Another frequently expressed complaint maintained that the project’s cost, NIS 200,000, is excessively high considering the present hard times.

Tevet 5764 - January 2004