Katzilya

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Katzilya (Alstern: כצליה ) is the third-largest city in the State of Eretzora after Ayalon and Kiryat Shlosha, with a population of 530,766 in 1584. It is the capital and second largest city of Silesia, the most populous Eretzoran state. The city of Katzilya forms part of the Katzilya Bay Metropolitan Area, the second most populous metropolitan area in Eretzora. Along with Kiryat Shlosha, Katzilya is a cultural, commercial, and financial center of Eretzora, hosting many of the country's top businesses.

Founded in 1521 by Arthur Gold - a Goldecian immigrant to the Alstereni People's Republic - the city was initially settled by Saratovan-speaking immigrants, escaping persecution in the rest of the Union of Socialist Republics. The city experienced an influx of Kvaennan Alsterenis in the 60s, and subsequently became the Eretzoran centre of Reform Alsterenism, which had developed in the diaspora. In 1579, two Belay terrorists infiltrated an elementary school in the city, killing thirteen children and two members of staff.

Katzilya is generally regarded as a secular city, though its Alsterenist population is considerably more mixed than other cities in Silesia. Reform Alsterenists constitute 42.4% of the city's Alsterenist population, followed by secularists at 32.9%, traditionalists at 20.3% and orthodox at 4.9%. Kvaennan Eretzorans, the majority of whom identify as Goldecian-Eretzoran, are particularly dominant in the city, comprising just under half of the city's total population. The non-Alstereni population is relatively small, constituting around only 3.4% of the city, making Katzilya one of the most Alstereni cities in the country. It is estimated that 20% of the city speak Goldecian as a first language. It is commonly hailed as a fine example of secular-religious coexistence, having significantly less clashes between the two groups than other major cities.

The city is governed by the Katzilya Municipality, currently led by Ron Laari of Katzilya Beitenu (Katzilya Our Home), a political alliance between Agudat Eretzora, Shinui and Am Echad. With a GDP per capita of $52,635 it is the most affluent major city in Eretzora. It is known locally as "Little Goldecia", due to the prevalence of both the Goldecian language and culture in the city, though the term has, in recent years, been used derogatorily to refer to the city's inhabitants.

Etymology

Arthur Gold - the city's founder - named the area Noran (a term that today refers solely to the city's oldest district, Noran Yashan), which remained the city's official name even after additional neighbourhoods were constructed. The city council voted unanimously in favour of changing the name to Katzilya - after the founder of Katzism, Asher Katz - in 1549.

Politics

Katzilya Mayor Ron Laari

The Katzilya Municipality is governed by a 31-member city council elected for a five-year term in direct proportional elections. All Eretzoran citizens aged 18 or above residing within the city's boundaries are eligible to vote in municipal elections. The municipality is responsible for social services, community programs, public infrastructure, urban planning, tourism and other local affairs. The city hall and the mayor's mansion are both located at Rubin Avenue, in the north of the city.

Despite being governed by left-leaning parties until 1580, Katzilya has shifted considerably to the right since the late 60s, perhaps due to the city's rising Mizrachi (Eastern) population and the string of terror attacks that shook the city throughout the 70s. It has become one of the least left-wing cities in the state of Silesia, with the left managing to secure only 3 seats combined at the 1584 municipal election. Still, secular parties continue to dominate the city's political scene.

Composition of Katzilya City Council (1588)

Group		Leader	Parties	Total
	Katzilya Beitenu	Ron Laari	Agudat Eretzora, Shinui, Am Echad	15
	Otzma Alsterenit	Yaakov Weitz	Otzma Alsterenit	7
	HaAvoda	Menachem Herzog	HaAvoda	6
	Eretz Yashana	Nissim Ze'ev	Eretz Yashana, Moledet	3
Total				31

Mayors

	Mayor of Katzilya		Took office	Left office	Party
1		Sergey Krasnoselsky	1521	1525	Alstereni Communist Party
2		Chaim Goldberg	1525	1535	United Workers Party
3		Amir Halgani	1535	1546	United Workers Party
4		Natan Epstein	1546	1556	Ometz
5		Ehud Netenyahu	1556	1560	HaAvoda
6		Shlomo Silvan	1560	1580	HaAvoda
7		Yael Horowitz	1580	1588	Katzilya Beitenu
8		Ron Laari	1588	Incumbent	Katzilya Beitenu

Districts

Noran Yashan

Noran Yashan - Katzilya's oldest neighbourhood.

Noran Yashan (Alstern: נורן ישן, meaning Old Noran) lies in the city's easternmost district, on the coast of the Ostaran Sea. It was the very first area of the city to be settled and is home to many of the city's historical buildings, including the Old Railway Station and the Old City Hall. Although initially a somewhat poor and crowded neighbourhood, today, Noran Yashan is mostly affluent and highly sought-after, with average house prices being approximately double that of property in surrounding neighbourhoods.

The neighbourhood's residents are mostly newcomers, having arrived in the last decade from other parts of the country or abroad. Many of Noran Yashan's original inhabitants have been forced to settle elsewhere in the city, due to rising prices. Noran Yashan is predominately secular, with the vast majority of its residents identifying as nonreligious, and it is politically one of the most left-wing areas of Katzilya. Approximately 37% of residents speak Goldecian as a first language, higher than anywhere else in the city, making it the district in which Goldecian culture has the greatest influence. It is also one of the most ethnically diverse neighbourhoods in the entire city, with non-Alsterenis constituting around 13% of the total population, many of whom are foreign nationals.

It is known for its distinct architectural style, known as Eastern Bay Style - a defining feature of which is large bay windows, which is common across Noran Yashan. Various businesses are based in the district, including many that sell luxurious goods and award-winning restaurants. It is regularly visited by tourists, due to its historical significance and the high concentration of bars and restaurants.

Har Barvazim

Buildings in Har Barvazim, Katzilya.

Located adjacent to Noran Yashan, Har Barvazim (Alstern: הר ברווזים, meaning Mount of Ducks) is a mostly middle-class neighbourhood by the coast of the Ostaran Sea. Initially part of neighbouring Noran Yashan, it formed a distinct culture and identity in the mid 60s, as many of its original buildings, which had been given little care, were either demolished and replaced or completely restyled. Today, Har Barvazim is known for its modernity and innovative style, which is reflected in the architecture of its buildings and its overall layout.

The neighbourhood's relative proximity to Noran Yashan has attracted young people from around the country, particularly students, who make up around 25% of its population. There are two student accommodation centres owned by the University of Katzilya in the district. It, like its neighbour, is considerably more ethnically diverse than other parts of the city, with non-Alsterenis constituting around 7% of the population. Har Barvazim has a high proportion of residents with origins from the former Union of Socialist Republics; it is one of only three districts in which Kvaennan Eretzorans do not form the largest group. It is also predominantly secular, albeit less so than Noran Yashan. There is a small orthodox community living in the very north of the district.

As the neighbourhood has a large student population, it is home to a large number of student bars, nightclubs, restaurants and takeaway shops. Prices are considerably less than in neighbouring Noran Yashan, though high in comparison to western districts of Katzilya. It is home to several museums including the Eretzoran Military Museum and the Goldecian Genocide Museum. There are four Alsterenist temples in the district, including one affiliated with the Orthodox Union.

Kfar Goldanim

Kfar Goldecian is a residential area in western Katzilya.

Kfar Goldanim (Alstern: כפר גולדנים, meaning Village of the Goldecians) is a residential neighbourhood in the western sector of Katzilya, overlooking the city's financial district. It is the most affluent neighbourhood in the western sector of the city, which is signficantly poorer than the wealthy coastal neighbourhoods. The buildings in Kfar Goldanim were built in the same architectural style that can be found in Noran Yashan, though the bay windows are even more prominent in Kfar Goldanim. The University of Katzilya has a campus in the centre of the district, though very few students reside in the area.

The neighbourhood is known for being a stronghold of Reform Alsterenism, with the vast majority of its residents identifying with the branch. There are thirteen reform temples and two orthodox sakaks in the neighbourhood, though the orthodox community is almost nonexistent. Kfar Goldanim is almost exclusively an Alstereni district, having only a handful of non-Alstereni residents. Goldecian speakers constitute 29% of Kfar Goldanim's population, making it one of the least Alstern-speaking neighbourhoods in the entire city. It is known for being considerably right-wing, more so than other affluent districts.

Lev HaIr

Lev HaI - the financial centre of Katzilya.

Lev HaIr is the financial centre of Katzilya and also its most densely populated district. Aside from housing the headquarters of many of the country's largest businesses, there are three large shopping centres, including the country's largest, inside the boundaries of Lev HaIr. It is the city's principle commercial district, containing the highest concentration of shops, bars and restaurants of any district in the city. The district is also renowned for its nightlife, being home to some of the city's biggest and most popular nightclubs.

The district is one of the most ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse neighbourhoods in Katzilya, being home to large numbers of all communities. Lev HaIr is predominantly secular, though reform and orthodox Alsterenism both have a presence in the district. There is a large orthodox community in the westernmost section of the district, bordering the mostly orthodox city of Pardes Katz. The vast majority of residents speak Alstern as a first language (65%), with Goldecian-speakers comprising only 7%.

In recent years, Lev HaIr has become the centre of the city's LGBT community, being home to many LGBT bars and nightclubs, as well as a cinema, a community centre and a homeless shelter for LGBT youth. The city's annual LGBT pride event commences from the district, and many of its participants return for evening celebrations. Whilst Katzilya as a whole is often hailed as a fine example of secular-religious coexistence, there have been some clashes in Lev HaIr, particularly during events like LGBT marches. The country's largest film festival is held annually in the city, at the Esther Silverstein International Cinema in the very centre of the city.

Demographics

Beit Shalom - the city's main Reform Alsterenist Temple - the largest of its kind.

According to the Eretzoran Central Bureau of Statistics, the city was home to 530,766 residents in 1585. The city has a population growth rate of 1.15%.

Reform Alsterenists constitute the single largest religious grouping in Katzilya, being approximately 42.4% of the city's Alsterenist population. Secular Eretzorans make up around 32.9% of the population, up from around 25% in 1580. The increase can be explained by younger Eretzorans, particularly those from Reform backgrounds, increasingly identifying as secular. Traditional Alsterenists comprise 20.3% of the city's total Alsterenist population, with Orthodox Alsterenists making up around 3.4%. The orthodox population, which has an annual growth rate of 4.1%, is the fastest growing community in the city. The non-Alsterenist population comprises only 3.4% of the city, making Katzilya one of the most Alsterenist cities in the country.

Alsterenis of Kvaennan origin, primarily from Goldecia, make up an estimated 50% of the total population, down from 68% in 1580. Eretzorans with origins from the former USR constitute around 27% of the city's total population whilst the remaining 23% are mostly Mizrachi (Eastern) Eretzorans. The non-Alstereni population is relatively small, constituting around only 3.4% of the city and comprising mainly of Belay Eretzorans, Kazemuran migrants and non-Alsterenist Goldecians.

Culture

LGBT pride event in Katzilya - an annual occurrence.