TEL AVIV – A delegation of senior U.S. officials, including National Security Adviser John Bolton, shared a historic dinner with their Israeli counterparts at the City of David site in Jerusalem on Tuesday evening. In addition to Bolton, the dinner was attended by U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, Israel’s National Security Adviser Meir Ben Shabbat and Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer, along with other senior U.S. and Israeli officials.“We are delighted to announce that yesterday evening, August 21, 2018, a historic working dinner for senior United States and Israeli officials was hosted in the City of David archaeological site of ancient Jerusalem,” an official statement about the meeting said. Working dinner between senior United States and Israeli officials at the historical City of David National Park, August 2018. (photo credit: AVI DAVIDI) Doron Spielman, Vice President of the City of David Foundation, said, … [Read more...] about Bolton, Israeli Officials Break Bread in Jerusalem’s Ancient City of David
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EPA Administrator McCarthy announces LEED Platinum Certification of San Francisco City Hall
City Hall becomes the oldest building in the U.S. to receive LEED Platinum Certification for existing buildingsSan Francisco – Today, U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy joined City of San Francisco officials to announce the U.S. Green Building Council’s award of LEED Platinum Certification – the highest possible rating – to San Francisco’s historic City Hall. Completed in 1915, City Hall is the oldest building in the United States to receive LEED Platinum Certification for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance in (LEED - EBOM). This LEED classification highlights the potential for significant water and energy savings in existing buildings. Platinum Certification of San Francisco’s 100-year-old City Hall is the culmination of a multi-year water and energy retrofit partnership between the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), the U.S. EPA, and the City Administrator’s Office. An EPA grant of $700,000 supported the … [Read more...] about EPA Administrator McCarthy announces LEED Platinum Certification of San Francisco City Hall
Photos: Seiler opens historic Southside School and gives his final state of the city address
Michael Laughlin / Sun Sentinel In his final state of the city address, Mayor Jack Seiler highlighted all thatÕs bright about the cityÕs future, Tuesday, January 30, 2018. The event Tuesday night doubled as the opening of the historic Southside School. In his final state of the city address, Mayor Jack Seiler highlighted all thatÕs bright about the cityÕs future, Tuesday, January 30, 2018. The event Tuesday night doubled as the opening of the historic Southside School. (Michael Laughlin / Sun Sentinel) SEE MORE GALLERIES … [Read more...] about Photos: Seiler opens historic Southside School and gives his final state of the city address
Why is half of San Jose City Council in Japan on taxpayers’ dime?
By Emily DeRuy | [email protected] | Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: April 9, 2018 at 1:35 pm | UPDATED: April 10, 2018 at 3:42 am Even as San Jose faces a budget shortfall, half of the City Council — and some of their staffers — are visiting Japan on the taxpayers’ dime this week to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the sister city relationship with Okayama. Now, Mayor Sam Liccardo wants to make sure such a big group trip doesn’t happen again by tightening San Jose’s “sister city” travel policies. As the delegation to Japan prepared to visit Okayama University, the city’s historic castle and partake in a Japanese tea ceremony, a memo by the mayor questioning the necessity of such a large delegation circulated through City Hall. The city’s current travel policy states San Jose officials and staffers can travel at the city’s expense as long as there’s some public benefit. But it doesn’t limit how … [Read more...] about Why is half of San Jose City Council in Japan on taxpayers’ dime?
Editorial: Why San Jose City Council should tighten its travel policy
By Mercury News Editorial Board | Mercury News April 11, 2018 at 6:15 am San Jose needs to improve its Asian ties, but sending half the City Council to Okayama on taxpayers’ dime isn’t the best way to go about it. Especially when it means five members missed Tuesday’s council meeting when the city is facing a budget shortfall. Instead of discussing that issue or other priorities, such as fighting homelessness, a light agenda was forced on the remaining council. The situation demands a tightening of San Jose’s travel policy. Mayor Sam Liccardo, who did not make the trip, is recommending that taxpayers pay for only one council member’s expenses for such sister-city trips. Any other council member wanting to attend should use private funding. That makes sense. Sister-city relationships are important for cities. But the heart of the program should be driven by volunteers from the arts community and members of the business community wanting to extend … [Read more...] about Editorial: Why San Jose City Council should tighten its travel policy