Closing Streets vs. Buying Hotels or doing neither in the City of Cedar Rapids

The Gazette is reporting in the Sunday edition of the newspaper in the story titled Cedar Rapids will announce purchase of Crowne Plaza that the City will acquire the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel as part of the U.S. Cellular Center/Events Center redevelopment plan.

Other recent news for Cedar Rapids:

• Privatizing parking in C.R. no simple matter - The Gazette


• Payments to renters complicated for Cedar Rapids - The Gazette

Closing streets for the benefit of a private entity is very unusual, though it has been done once already for PCI, with the closing of Seven Street SE between Eighth and Seventh Avenue nearly twenty years ago. PCI has been awarded the 1000-1200 blocks of Second Avenue SE for their medical mall development.

Other local government news for Cedar Rapids:

• Local-option revenue could help buy land for key projects - The Gazette


• Corps endorses flood-protection for east side - The Gazette


• First major wave of flood demolitions nearly finished - The Gazette


• Area flooded in 2008 targeted for new Cedar Rapids housing - The Gazette

Unemployment rate, Linn County, IA - Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
6.3% of the labor force - Not seasonally adjusted - Sep 2010

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Branstad addresses questions at Rotary and to The Gazette Editorial Board on Monday

Click to Submit ?

Terry Branstad was the program this Noon at the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids, then visited with The Gazette's editorial board at 1:30 p.m. Some of the topics discussed at both venues ...

• Commercial Property Tax reform


• Reducing the size of state government


• Flood Mitigation for the City of Cedar Rapids


• Education


• Improving Iowa's business climate


• Environmental concerns


• Local concerns and past Economic Development

It was a good program and Branstad was very open to a Q&A with Rotarians today, who asked a variety of questions.

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Wow, August is about to wrap up... Where did our Summer go?

It's been a busy month. Students headed back to schools and colleges. The final weekend in many ways seems like the final weekend of Summer, before we head into Labor Day weekend and September shortly.

In Cedar Rapids, Mt. Mercy College has become a local university, as of this past week.

Mount Mercy in Cedar Rapids becomes a university ‎- Radio Iowa
An eastern Iowa school is the second in the state this month to change from a college to a university. Mount Mercy ...

Mount Mercy Change to University Began Years Ago‎ - KCRG
Mass Celebrates Mount Mercy Name Change‎ - KCRG

This past Tuesday, August 24Th, we learned that the City of Cedar Rapids is taking the first step towards the closing of two blocks of Second Avenue SE for a medical mall.

Council Votes 6-3 to Close a Piece of Second Avenue SE‎ - KCRG
By Tracey McCullough CEDAR RAPIDS — After lengthy comment this evening from ... the council voted 6-3 to close a two-block stretch of Second Avenue SE to ...

BBC finds connections between Katrina, Cedar Rapids disasters‎ - Iowa Independent
“The government says 'because you initially helped yourself we won't help you'”, says Nancy Kasparek, president of US Bank in Cedar Rapids. ...

July unemployment rate remains flat in Corridor‎ - TMCnet
Area jobless rate holds steady at 6.3 percent‎ - Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

Lake Delhi damage could top $150 million, dam repair may cost $5 million - The Gazette
Damage from late July flooding that breached the Lake Delhi dam could top $150 million and repairs to the dam itself could ...

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PCI says that Skywalks "won't work" and closure of Second Avenue is necessary for Cedar Rapids

The Medical District will have a new skywalk over 8Th Street SE near Mercy Hospital, but the citizens and taxpayers of Cedar Rapids are being told it "won't work" for the proposed Medical Mall along Second Avenue SE, between 10Th and 12Th streets. The popular public street needs to be closed and given to a private organization.

Open Houses are being conducted this week in Downtown Cedar Rapids and The Gazette is reporting ...



Skywalks as an alternative to closing Second Avenue won’t work for PCI - The Gazette
Skywalks an Alternative to Closing Second Avenue Won’t Work for PCI - KCRG-TV
Closing a stretch of Second Avenue SE is necessary to facilitate patient flow through the Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa’s proposed new medical “mall” at 10th Street SE and Second Avenue SE, the physicians group has said ...

The group and other representatives of the new Cedar Rapids Medical District are holding open houses:

• Wednesday, from 4 to 7 p.m.
• Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The open houses will be held in The Ballroom at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel

The two groups will discuss the Medical District as well as PCI’s plans to build the mall inside the district.

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More Public Spending on the way for the City of Cedar Rapids

Talked to a newer Cedar Rapids resident who was concerned about his rising property taxes today at work. He estimated his taxes were going to rise as much as $2,200. He found out about the changing tax climate in our community, when he and his wife went to refinance his house of two years and property taxes came up.

City seeks $12.2 million in I-JOBS funds for amphitheater, fire stations - The Gazette
The City Council is seeking to secure $12.2 million more in state I-JOBS disaster-related funds in a statewide competition for a remaining pot of about $30 million in such funds ...
Council members look at sprucing up gateways into city - The Gazette

While the City of Cedar Rapids needs to rebuild, the questions regarding the designs and costs of flood mitigation infrastructure leads one to pause. The State and Local community typically has to come up with a 35% match with the Federal government.

The Corp of Engineers is still working on the recommendations for our community. Right now, there are significant differences between what our community wants to see vs. what the Corp has been suggesting.

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It's a Party at the University of Iowa ...

It's not just football fun at the University of Iowa ...

Iowa makes Princeton Review’s Top 10 party school list - The Gazette
The University of Iowa has made the Princeton Review’s list of Top 10 party schools in the United States ...

Look at this photo from the Gazette story above ...

The Iowa City community and the University of Iowa are trying to change things though ...

Impact of 21-only starting to be seen - Iowa City Press Citizen
For supporters of the city's 21-only ordinance, the early returns look promising. ... be an indicator that Iowa City is no longer becoming a drinking destination for out-of-town ... Gang activity not new to Iowa City...
Ferentz to campaign for 21-only ordinance - Iowa City Press Citizen
“The city of Iowa City has already gone through this process before where ... was the top strategy to deal with underage and excessive drinking. ... passed the new ordinance through this spring in a series of 6-1 votes. ...

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New Political Party being formed in the State of Iowa

In order to form an official political party in the State of Iowa, the supporters of a new political party must run a candidate for either the office of President or the office of Governor. If the candidate receives 2% of the vote, the State of Iowa will officially recognize the political party.

Local Cedar Rapids residents and citizens from outside the City of Cedar Rapids have decided to form a new political party. Here's a link to the The Citizen Action Party.

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City of Cedar Rapids continues push to close Second Avenue for Medical Mall

The headline on the Saturday morning newspaper's front page of The Gazette is entitled "Study: C.R. can handle closed Second Avenue." PCI wants to have the City of Cedar Rapids close Second Avenue SE from Tenth to Twelve streets, so PCI can construct a Medical Mall.

The City of Cedar Rapids now has a "draft report" that is a "work in progress" ~ the current "report does not include any cost figures related to the considerable changes to the city's street infrastructure that are premised in the report."

The article reports about the recently completed traffic study by Anderson-Bogert Engineers and Surveryors, Inc. of Cedar Rapids. Reporter Rick Smith wrote that the traffic report: "says the city street system also appears to have sufficient capacity to handle other development that might come nearby and a 'fairly generous' growth in traffic."

What about the cost?

What about the need for taxpayers, citizens and guests to our community needing to "find their way for a few years," if Second Avenue SE between 10Th and 12Th streets is closed and Second and Third avenues remain one-way in certain locations and revert back to two-way in other locations? Between the river and 5Th Street SE, will all our current one-way avenues remain one-way?

This past week we heard there is some people in our community that want to close a portion of Third Avenue SE near the Museum of Art. Did the study include that future recommendation, as well?

How far will this suggestion go with the current City Council?

Mayor Ron Corbett reported again on Monday that the study to close Third Street SE for the Event Center expansion will soon begin. Currently, you can take Third Street SE west to get onto I-380. The City of Cedar Rapids has already closed First Street SE at Eighth Avenue for the new Federal Courthouse.

The City of Cedar Rapids has closed a street in the past for PCI. Seventh Street SE between Eighth and Seventh avenues was closed for one of PCI's current properties in Cedar Rapids. PCI plans to consolidate facilities currently located in SE Cedar Rapids into one Medical Mall.

What will happen to PCI's current facilities?

If Second Avenue isn't closed for PCI's planned Medical Mall, will they exit Cedar Rapids for Hiawatha? A local resident in Cedar Rapids suggested what is wrong with that?

Another local resident commented this week about Verizon's tunnel on Fifth Street beneath the street to connect two buildings that Verizon used for a time. Wouldn't a tunnel be an option as well?

Didn't the original Downtown Framework Plan discourage closing streets?

Typically, functional cities want traffic to flow throughout the community. Streets, trails, sidewalks and other types of paths connect neighborhoods and offer walkers, runners, bikers and vehicle traffic to enter and exit one neighborhood, one after another. They connect communities together. Another viewpoint on issue of closing streets, link.

Earlier this week:

Cedar Rapids man pickets; opposed to Second Avenue closure - The Gazette
Jul 26, 2010 ... GIVE ME A BREAK… when PCI starts offering health care for everyone in Cedar Rapids that uses 2nd Ave then they can close any street they ...

While The Gazette says "can handle closed Second Avenue" note the KCRG headline ...

Street System Could Cope with Closed Second Avenue ‎ - KCRG
CEDAR RAPIDS - A draft of a traffic study on the proposed closing of a section of Second Avenue SE to allow ...

Could we cope with a Closed Second Avenue SE between 10Th and 12Th Avenue?

• How many more streets in Cedar Rapids will be closed for private use?


• How many more streets in Cedar Rapids will be closed for public use?


• How will citizens be allowed to participate in the community dialogue and process?

Meetings set for August on Cedar Rapids Medical Mall proposal ... - The Gazette
Meetings set for August on Cedar Rapids Medical Mall proposal. Posted on Jul 13, 2010 by admin. An artist's rendition of the new Cedar ...

The City Charter promotes the important role of "citizen participation" for our community. In the Long-Term planning for our community, how do these projects measure up? Is the Medical Mall concept in conflict with other reports and plans formulated by the community or government?

Are the Mayor and remaining eight members of the City Council embracing our City Charter?

It appears a group of Landlords are upset with the City Council in regards to Chapter 29. Again, another group in our community has been asked to "find their way for a few years?"

Earlier in the month of July, the City Council on back to back 2Nd and 3Rd readings replaced the existing Chapter 29 with a complete new Chapter 29, drafted by professional staff in the Code Enforcement department and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.

While citizens of our community have to live under our community standards in Chapter 29, a citizen board or commission was not used in this case. The same people who will enforce and implement Chapter 29, also wrote it.

What will be the impact be on affordable housing, economic development and the preservation and use of our current housing stock?

Landlord Group Sues City Following New Ordinance - KCRG
Jul 30, 2010 ... CEDAR RAPIDS - The Landlords of Linn County, a group that represents most landlords in ... Landlord Group Sues City Following New Ordinance ...

Why not utilize a Citizen Board or Commission in the legislative process in our community? Isn't that government 101? Isn't that more in keeping with our City Charter?

Why did our City Council rely on professional staff to develop and write public policy?

• Does Iowa Home Rule law permit the City to intervene and govern civil relationships?


• Equal Protection under the 14Th Amendment


• Are mandates into civil relationships appropriate by the City of Cedar Rapids?


• Is this good public policy to fix it later?

Yes, certain City Council members have supported the new municipal code, even though they have publicly stated, they don't have it all worked out yet. After all, it is a "work in progress" ~ like other public issues in Cedar Rapids.

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Wouldn't our Country be better off with an expansion of the use of The Four Way Test?

We need to improve our public policy in our country today: Locally, within each State and at the Federal Level ...


Our public leaders, elected officials, community and business leaders would be wise to remember the following when promoting policy at the local, State and Federal levels.




Four Way Test - Rotary International
During a business crisis in 1932, he wrote the "Four Way Test," shown below. It was adopted as part of Rotary International in January of 1943. ...


The future of our great Republic has a lot at stake with the growing size of government. Our founding fathers were strong proponents of a limited government.

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Wishing all a belated Happy Independence Day!

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. - The Declaration of
Independence

The Fourth of July celebrates our Independence Day as a Republic. May we always preserve our Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness that our founding fathers embraced in the Declaration of Independence. We hope everyone had a very nice 4Th of July, 2010!

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Don't forget to Vote today in Cedar Rapids or around the State of Iowa

Click the link below to find your polling location in Iowa, so you can vote in either the Democrat or Republican primary. http://sos.state.ia.us/elections/VoterReg/PollingPlace/search.aspx

Further, if you are not registered, you can still vote, by registering at your polling place. You will need proof of identity and show proof of residence, but you can vote.

There are contested races that will be determined in today's statewide primary. The polls are open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Our favorites are http://millermeeks.com/ in the 2Nd Congressional District race. We believe Branstad will likely defeat Roberts and Vander Plaats in the Republican Governor's Race.

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City Council in Cedar Rapids leaning to appoint interim City Manger

The transition from the Commission to the Council-Manager form of government has not been smooth for the City of Cedar Rapids. Especially, with the first two city councils and with the hiring of the first city manager for the City of Cedar Rapids. The City Manger resigned this spring. Now, news out of City Hall has a new development coming forward, within our community.

City Council May Hire Interim City Manager on Tuesday, May 25Th

Possible Interim City Manager - City of Cedar Rapids
The City Council will consider hiring an interim city manager during tomorrow night's meeting ...

Various News agencies are reporting ...

Cedar Rapids to hire Thoms as interim city manager - The Gazette
City set to hire Allan Thoms, who held key posts in state government, as interim city manager ...
Cedar Rapids to Hire Interim City Manager‎ - KCRG
Former Dubuque mayor to be hired as interim city manager in Cedar Rapids - Dubuque Telegraph Herald
AP Cedar Rapids is planning to hire former Dubuque mayor Alan Thoms as the city's interim city manager. Mayor Ron Corbett said Monday that Allan Thoms ...

The City of Marion hired a former mayor of Cedar Rapids to serve as City Manager in the past. Now, the former mayor of Dubuque is likely in line to serve the City of Cedar Rapids as interim City Manager.

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Local cameras - Big Brother is watching and ticketing in Cedar Rapids

This group was created to inform others of the location of the Cedar Rapids
Police Departments mobile speed cam. The vehicle is a red Jeep license plate
#216 BSG. If you come across this vehicle, please note the location and time you
saw the vehicle. ~ Facebook group

Cedar Rapids Mobile Speed Cam -Facebook

A number of the cameras were recently installed behind an exit sign on I-380
near Diagonal Drive S.W. Those cameras will monitor northbound traffic entering
the downtown portion of the interstate. The speed limit in that area is 55 miles
per hour. - Dave Franzman

Big Brother takes on I-380 with new speed cameras - The Gazette
Cedar Rapids Police will soon kick it up a notch when it comes to those automated cameras for traffic violations ...

Red Light Camera's Go Live - City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa ... - City of Cedar Rapids
Feb 11, 2010 ... CEDAR RAPIDS, IA -February 11, 2010 - The Cedar Rapids Police Department is giving the green light to the Red Light/Speed Camera project ...

In other news on the highway in the State of Iowa ...

State Trooper driving Governor Culver during his re-election ...‎ - Examiner.com
This weekend, while an Iowa State Trooper was driving Governor Culver and his son in an un-marked SUV, another driver nearly ran them off the road. ...

West Des Moines says charges in Governor's stop up to state patrol‎ - Radio Iowa

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Education: High School Graduation, College Planning and Expanding Taxes ...

High Schools around Iowa are holding Senior Recognitions, Proms and are heading into Graduation in the coming weeks ...

Today's article is from the Monday, April 26, 2010 edition of The Des Moines Register featuring a. The column is titled, "College offer many options for Adults back in class." For more on college offerings read, “Iowa Higher-Education’s Third Way: Community Colleges’ 2+2 Programs.”

The Cedar Rapids Community Schools are moving to increase facilities with a new administrative building. All this despite the more than challenging economy right now, with Flood Recovery on top of that.

TONIGHT: Cedar Rapids school board to discuss new administrative building - The Gazette

“The need for a $45 million dollar administration building at this time is
totally without merit and will be an irresponsible act by the board.” - Dick
Fredericks of Palo

Slow Economy Could Help Cedar Rapids School District - KCRG
“The need for a $45 million dollar administration building at this time is totally without merit and will be an irresponsible act by the board,” Dick ...
Cedar Rapids School District Names New Executive Director of Special Services - KCRG

Choice of Schools in Cedar Rapids-Iowa City area tightening up ...

Many Corridor schools restricting open enrollment - The Gazette

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Miller-Meeks rocks 2Nd Congressional District Convention in Iowa

Republicans in the 2Nd Congressional District in the State of Iowa meet in Fairfield on Saturday, April 24, 2010 for the District Convention. There was a good turnout from the 15 counties in the 2Nd District, but not all 128 delegates from Linn County were in attendance. Linn County will send 128 delegates to the State Convention in June.

The morning began with Senator Chuck Grassley addressing the GOP audiance. All three governor candidates spoke during the day. Governor Terry Branstad and State Representative Rod Roberts addressed the audiance early in the day. After Terry Branstad spoke, the first of four 2Nd Congressional candidates spoke, starting with Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who is seeking the Republican nomination to face Democrat David Loebsack in the November general election.

The primary in the State of Iowa will be held on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 for both the Republican and Democrat parties in Iowa. Incumbant Governor Chet Culver and 2Nd District Representative Loebsack, both Democrats, will each face an interesting race with Branstad and Miller-Meeks, the likely opponents.

Miller-Meeks had the strongest address of the afternoon. After the address, newly elected State Central Committee representative passed on his postitive impressions of Miller-Meeks strong speech to her campaign manager, Tracie Gibner. It rocked the audiance in Fairfield.

The three other 2Nd Congressional candidates, each from Linn County, addressed the audiance as well. Most of the speeches were similar to most speeches they have each given in the past. Miller-Meeks distinguished herself with a fresh and spiritied address to the activists in attendance at this year's district event.

Most of the GOP state candidates came to Fairfield to address the 2Nd District. Secretary of State candidate Matt Schultz of Council Bluffs spoke early in the day. Later in the day, State Auditor David Vaudt, Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and Attorney General candidate Brenna Findley each addressed the audiance one after the other. All three were traveling the State together today.

Later in the day, State Treasurer candidate Dave Jamison and finally the third and last governor candidate Bob Vander Plaats addressed the audiance. By that time, most of the audiance was tired, after the long day of elections, especially with the State Cental Committee, which took multiple ballots, after David Chung of Linn County was elected on the first ballot.

Nine candidates seeked election to the State Central Committee from the 2Nd Congressional District. They elected three new members to the State Central Committee. Two of three incumbants seeked re-election, but each was voted out, including the longest member of the State Central Committee, Lisa Smith of Ottumwa.

The Republicans voted not to debate the platform this year in the 2Nd district, due to time constraints. This was a frustration for some in attendance, but the election of State Central Committee members and other elections took time. Further, there were a lot of candidate speeches, including House Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen of Linn County and GOP Iowa State Chairman Matt Strawn.

As mentioned, the June 8, 2010 primary in Iowa will determine the Republican and Democrat candidates for the general election on November 2, 2010.

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With tomorrow being April Fool's Day: American Taxpayers should tell Congress "We are not being fooled"

American Taxpayers To Congress:

"You Are Not Fooling Me!!"

Call Congress on April 1st!

Dear American Taxpayer,

On this Thursday, April 1st we are asking you and everyone who supports the FairTax to call their two United States Senators and Member of the House of Representatives to tell them you are not fooled!

Just think, hundreds of thousands call their Senators and Member of Congress, all on one day: do you think that will get their attention?

You bet it will!

Tell them you and hundreds of thousands of FairTax supporters are not being fooled, and are not fooling around anymore!

Call and tell them:

• Taxes are out of control, and you know it.


• Deficits are out of control, and you know it.


• Gifts of taxpayer money to banks and special interests are out of control, and you know it.


• The economy and the future of country are out of control, and you know it.
  

Your Senators and their phone numbers:

• Charles 'Chuck' E. Grassley - (202) 224-3744


• Tom Harkin - (202) 224-3254

Your Member of the House of Representatives:

• David 'Dave' Loebsack - (202) 225-6576

Make three calls, all on April Fool’s Day. Tell your Senators and Member of Congress you are not fooled, you know what is happening to our nation.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans calling every Senator and Member of Congress on one very appropriate day, April Fool’s Day! They will never forget it!

Make your three calls this Thursday, April 1st!

We received the above e-mail from http://FairTax.org.

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Obama headed to Iowa after The House passes Health Care bill

You may find the following Monday, March 22, 2010 article was published in The Washington Post. titled, "A look at the health care overhaul bill" of interest.

The Public Interest Institute suggests the following on the ideology of reform, read: "Let the Market Work, Government Won't."

President Obama heading to Iowa City to promote Health Care Reform.

Obama To Speak About Health Care In Iowa City‎ - WCCO - Mike Glover
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) ― President Barack Obama will speak about health care Thursday in Iowa City, marking passage of the historic legislation by returning ...

As National Write Your Congressman Reports on Monday, March 22, 2010 ...

Health Care Overhaul Bill: Democratic leaders in the House have promoted legislation designed to remake the nation's health care system. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) posted a preliminary $940 billion cost estimate for the bill. President Obama canceled a planned trip to Asia to help push through the legislation. The House voted and passed the health care package on Sunday, March 21, with floor action to follow in the Senate as early as this week.Republicans were thwarted in a bid to bar Democrats from using a rule that allowed them to clear the Senate-passed health care overhaul and to pass a reconciliation bill after making changes to that measure. (H.R.4872)

Budget Math Hinders Health Care Bill: House Democrats had difficulties crafting a final health care bill that would achieve a five-year deficit reduction of more than $100 billion. The problem delayed what party leaders hope will be a final vote on the measure to Sunday.Under the little-known rules for budget reconciliation, a bill passed through the expedited parliamentary process must produce a greater deficit reduction than the legislation it amends. Since the Senate health care bill would produce $104 billion in deficit savings in its first five years, according to the CBO, the final bill — which will include changes to the Senate bill — must provide more savings. (H.R.3590) (H.R.2847)

Hammering home reform - The Economist
Barack Obama’s health reforms cross the most important threshold

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State and Federal Candidate papers have been filed in the State of Iowa

The article mentions the Federal and State wide races in the State of Iowa as well as local legislative races for State Senate and State Representative in Eastern Iowa ...

Highlights of June 2010 primaries in the State of Iowa:

• Governor Terry Branstad is seeking his party nomination for the opportunity to face Governor Chet Culver in November 2010


• Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is seeking her party nomination again to face 2Nd Congressional Representative David Loebsack in November 2010


• Council Bluffs attorney and city council member Matt Schultz is seeking his party nomination to run against current Secretary of State Michael A. Mauro in November 2010

Who’s running for election - The Gazette
These candidates filed nomination petitions by 5 p.m. Friday with the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office and will be on the June 8 primary election ballot. Note that (i) indicates incumbent, D indicates Democrat, and R indicates Republican. Incumbents, regardless of party, are listed first ...

The primaries will be very interesting for both Republican and Democrat party races in June 2010. Do you need to register to vote in Iowa? Link

Interesting billboard in Cedar Rapids on 3rd Avenue SW near the Sled Shed highlighted by Facebook user Doug Wagner. The billboard asks "How's that 'Hope and Change' working for You?"

We the People are the voice of America.

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P.S. - Linn County and other county races will be determined on March 31, 2010 and primaries and the general election for county races in Iowa will be in June and November as well.

Welcome to Cedar Rapids: Where some our local leadership since the '05 City Election want it both ways?

Folks, we want our cake and eat it too ...

Cedar Rapids is a vibrant urban hometown - a beacon for people and businesses invested in building a greater community for the next generation. - City of Cedar Rapids

The key word of concern is "urban" ...

By the way, the Federal Government classifies "urban" as

populations of 500,000 people or more.

A good resource to discuss some of our current and future challenges is the League of Cities and Counties in the State of Iowa. Prior to the change in the Form of Government vote in June 2005, The Gazette held a good forum with the League of Cities and Counties in 2005.

How many U.S. House members does our "urban" community have in Washington D.C. representing us today? How many does the City of Chicago have? Are we really "urban" folks?

But, go no further than our most recent "Conflict of Interest" story unfolding in the City of Cedar Rapids right now ...

"It’s a small town. It’s no different from all the other people that come before
the council that I know or have some relationship with.” - Council member Pat
Shey

Say, what? Could this be part of our branding problem that the City of Cedar Rapids has right now? Maybe, we need to rethink our "urban" thing we are trying to force down our public. Maybe we need to look at our hometown culture and determine what really exists today in our community?

"It's a small town." No, we would say Algona is a small town. While, Cedar Rapids isn't "urban" in the true sense. Suggesting Cedar Rapids is a "rural" community like Algona isn't the direction we should turn to either. But, the words of one of our council members says a lot of the disjointed messages we hear in our community often these days.

Actually, the banking model (Urban, Community or Rural) would seem most appropriate for Cedar Rapids. Cedar Rapids is in the middle.

We should stop branding Cedar Rapids as an "urban" community; when in fact, we are more like that "small town" of Algona, Anamosa or Marion, than clearly Kansas City, Charlotte, Memphis or whatever "urban" community one of City Council or City Consultants want to think up next?

Council’s $540,000 yard-cart fix raises appearances of conflict - The Gazette
It’s a small world. It didn’t seem so much so Thursday evening when only one of eight City Council members at a budget hearing ...

The Parlor City needs to get back on track. The "City of Five Seasons" went through some outstanding times with Urban Renewal in the 1960s and 1970s, but the Farm Crisis of the 1980s created a chic in the armour of our fine community.

We lost some of our industrial base in the 1980s, with losses in heavy manufacturing. We didn't lose our step immediately, but a variety of factors have slowly arisen over the past 15 years. Now, the Flood of 2008 and the recent economic and financial crisis have seen another round of losses in our manufacturing sector.

As a neighbor often says: Pay Taxes! Our economic engine in Cedar Rapids is hammered hard with the burden placed on industrial and commercial property taxes right now in the State of Iowa. There is current pressure to increase property taxes again for new infrastructure and the cost of government services ...

• Rising salaries of city and county employees


• A proposed new $45 million downtown library


• The new Cedar Rapids Community School District board building


• Expansion and recovery of Linn County infrastructure - post Flood


• Expansion and recovery of City of Cedar Rapids infrastructure - post Flood

When, we formed our new Council-Manager form of government in 2004-05, we identified the need for an Ethics component. Sadly, the original members of the City Council, stalled in the creation of Article VI of our City Charter.

Both the transition from the Commission form of government and now the Flood of 2008, has our City Government at times stuck in the mud. Could more mud be in the forecast? Let's hope not.

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P.S. - How much does our local government plan to get into commercial operations, such as yard-cart devise? The City of Cedar Rapids has expanded into housing and development over the past four years. Now, we hear this from the "Council’s $540,000 yard-cart fix raises appearances of conflict" story ...

"Gulick said he has an interest in Brokaw’s invention if it holds out the
potential of making the city some money, adding that the council has not cast a
final vote on the purchase." - The Gazette

Primary Candidate Forum on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at Mt. Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for U.S. House 2Nd District

From the Linn County Republican Central Committee by e-mail ...

One can only regret to notice that the local GOP official web site at the time of this post on this blog has this Forum and this weekend's gun show missing as events for February 2010. Here's the e-mail on today's forum from the LCRCC. Both events are scheduled ...

It's Election Year Already! Yes it's true. Come and hear the candidates for the Second Congressional District Primary in June.

Our Candidates include:
Steve Rathje, Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Chris Reed.

Saturday, February 6,
Time: 1:30-3:30
Betty Cherry Heritage Hall - Mount Mercy College

Brought to you by Linn Area Pro Life United and the Mount Mercy Political Science Club.

The Republican and Democrat primaries in the State of Iowa will be conducted on June 8, 2010. The map at the top shows the county layout for the 2Nd Congressional District of Iowa.

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It's February in the Cedar Rapids and Linn County and some concerns are in the air

How does the City of Cedar Rapids clip a $2.2 million dollar budget deficit?

Corbett looks for ways to cut city budget - The Gazette
Does your employer pay you in cash for unused vacation?The city of Cedar Rapids does for some of its employees, and Mayor Ron ...

The ability to access public information online concerns rural property owners in Linn County.

Some Linn County property owners worry too much public info poses security threat - The Gazette

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Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett to meet with Flood Victims at 6 p.m. on Thursday, January 14, 2010

Breaking News January 14, 2010- The Gazette

LIVE VIDEO: Cedar Rapids Mayor meets with flood victims - The Gazette
Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett will hold a town hall meeting with flood victims from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight at the IBEW Hall located on Wiley Boulevard SW.

The Gazette will provide live video of the meeting at 6 p.m on January 14, 2010 by following link above.

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State of Iowa Legislature begins 2010 Legislative Session

The challenges facing the State of Iowa will fall on the shoulders of the Iowa Legislature and Governor Chet Culver as they began the 2010 Legislative Session on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 10 a.m. The Iowa Legislature plans to cut off business two weeks early in 2010.

Iowa Legislature opens 2010 session facing budget challenges - The Gazette

Iowa Legislature Opens Shortened Session on Budget - ABC News
AP The Iowa Legislature convened Monday for a shortened session with legislative leaders promising to make deep cuts needed to ...

Iowa Legislature set to start brief session focusing on big budget problems - WQAD
Culver stands to gain from shortened legislative session - DesMoinesRegister.com
LAWMAKERS RETURN: Legislators are getting back to work Monday and their focus ... -WHO-TV

Iowa Legislature: New session, old tactics - DesMoinesRegister.com (blog)
Iowa could get as much as $175 million, which looks mighty appealing in such a tight budget year. But there are significant strings attached, ...

In Cedar Rapids, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) meets with the Chamber of Commerce, speaks at the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids at a Noon luncheon, then heads to Anamosa for a Town Meeting.

Businesses tell Grassley that failures will accelerate - The Gazette
CEDAR RAPIDS — Business failures from the June 2008 flood in Cedar Rapids will be higher than necessary because of the slow and ...

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The Federal Government through the IRS is looking to require Registering and CEUs

By the way, if you received your paycheck today: You will see that the Federal Government is asking Employers to collect more tax from your paycheck.

Licensing at the State Level already occurs for various occupations: CPAs, real estate, insurance, appraisers, engineers, lawyers, doctors, etal.

Here comes the Federal Arm for Licensing ...

Under the plan, which would begin with the 2011 tax season, anyone who takes
money to help people with their taxes will have to register with the IRS, and
eventually pass competency tests and sign up for continuing education. So having
made tax filing so complicated that most Americans need help with their forms,
Washington now wants to raise the price of such counsel by regulating advisers
in a way that may reduce their supply. - Wall Street Journal

Today's article is from the Thursday, January 7, 2010 edition of The Wall Street Journal is titled, H&R Blockheads. For more on this issue, read: LIMITS: Increasing Income Tax Complexity Takes up More and More of our Time and Money.

So, what is the Role of the State and the Tenth Amendment? Remember, there was a time when a Federal Income Tax was not lawful. Is this another attack on the Tenth Amendment?

We noticed a comment from a social network friend that posted the following ...

"Tax code complexity violates right to due process, yet see WSJ.com - IRS to Boost Oversight of Paid Tax Preparers

http://bit.ly/5HvGqV"

The same link as above.

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New Cedar Rapids City Council begins work under leadership of new Mayor Ron Corbett

We want to wish the new City Council of the City of Cedar Rapids the very best as they get started in 2010 ...

LIVE COVERAGE: Mayor Corbett holds first council meeting, 5:30 p.m. - The Gazette
Ron Corbett will hold his first city council meeting as mayor tonight. Rick Smith will provide live coverage beginning at 5:30 p.m.

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The University of Iowa wins their first BCS bowl game with a Orange Bowl win over Georgia Tech

Iowa 24, Georgia Tech 14

After the game, Ricky Stanzi was asked a strange question from the Fox Network's Chris Meyers that aired the game between the Yellow Jackets and Hawkeyes ...

The answer has been picked up by several blogs, tweets and other social networks.

"Gotta love America! If you don't love it, leave it!" -Iowa Hawkeye QB Ricky Stanzi (YouTube link)

Chris Myers' Ricky Stanzi Question Leads To USA Rallying Cry (VIDEO)‎ - Huffington Post (blog)
Fox's Chris Myers asked Hawkeyes quarterback Ricky Stanzi if he "feels like ... by the same token GA Tech lost for all America... it truly is "a beautiful ...
Ricky Stanzi Is America And You Can Too - Buster Sports
Jan 6, 2010 ... Fox Sports' Chris Myers asks Iowa quarterback a stupid question about America. Ricky Stanzi gives Myers a stupid answer.www.bustersports.com/.../ricky-stanzi-is-america-and-you-can-too/ - 9 hours ago -
Iowa, Ricky Stanzi, And The Speech That Healed America - SB Nation
Jan 6, 2010 ... SB Nation is a collection of over 200 individual communities, each offering high quality year-round coverage and conversation led by fans ...www.sbnation.com/2010/1/6/.../iowaricky-stanzi-and-the-speech - 8 hours ago -
Video: Ricky Stanzi's Orange Bowl tribute to America - Dr ...
Jan 6, 2010 ... Complete College Football news, scores, standings.rivals.yahoo.com/.../Video-Ricky-Stanzi-s-Orange-Bowl-tribute-to-Ame?... - 7 hours ago -
Ricky Stanzi, American Hero - Andy Hutchins - The Sporting Blog ...
Jan 6, 2010 ... After Iowa stifled Georgia Tech to win the Orange Bowl last night, Chris Myers asked Ricky Stanzi this "question": ...

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On Iowa beat Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl; but let's not forget our government's love for size and fat budgets today

We may be getting excited for the 2010 Orange Bowl tonight on FOX from Miami, Florida between #10 Iowa vs. #9 Georgia Tech, but what good stories are out there regarding our Local, State or Federal public policy ...

Time for Iowans to tell regents 'enough is enough' press-citizen.com Iowa City Press Citizen - http://www.press-citizen.com/
Guest opinion by Jeff Kaufmann and Pat Grassley.
We would go further and suggest the Board of Regents should cut lobbyists for the Regents and high education as well to save money.

Today's article from the Tuesday, January 5, 2010 edition of USA Today titled States braced to tighten 2010 belts amid $14.8B in shortfalls is worthy of your time. For more on this issue, read: Institute Brief: Iowa's State Budget: Spending Our Way to a Crisis Again.

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It's Time to Push Back on the Expansion of the Federal Government in America

We believe in Limited Government and Limited Spending in our country! We believe that our country needs to focus again on Liberty! That Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness is important to Americans. Equality and Property Rights cannot be forgotten, but Liberty and Personal Responsibility are crucial for our Republic. Our President and Elected Officials need to get the financial house in order for our Country.

Today's article is from the Monday, January 4, 2010 edition of The Wall Street Journal is titled, Deficit, Budget Woes Need Solutions as U.S. Nears the Precipice. For more on this issue, read: Institute Brief: Cutting Federal Spending Must Be a Top Priority.

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The Run Away Train that is our Government in America

Our governments at the Local, State and Fedaral levels have certainly lost their way.

An interesting article in 2009 was the article titled Earning, Saving and Giving: Have We Lost Our Way? by Ken Washer, DBA, CFA Associate Professor of Finance at Creighton University.

Further, the Wall Street Journal on Saturday, January 2, 2010 published an article The States and the Stimulus. The story points out how a supposed boon has become a fiscal burden for states. The State of Iowa is certainly a part of that mess, when in 2007-2009 the majority party in both houses, the Democrats, and Governor Chet Culver rode the supposed boon.

Local articles on the local concerns in the State of Iowa ...

12 questions that will shape Siouxland - Sioux City Journal
Facing a likely reduction in funding from the state, district officials will have to get creative. Last year, federal stimulus funds came to the rescue. ...
More budget woes ahead - TheReporter.com - Judy Lin
The stimulus funding and temporary taxes will begin to end at the end of 2010, leaving less revenue for the second half of the fiscal year that will begin ...

The challenges in Sioux City will not be much different for communities like Cedar Rapids and others throughout the State of Iowa. The second article is about the State of California and while the State of Iowa doesn't face the same woes as California, we face the same problem as Wall Street Journal article pointed out.

Unlike Nebraska and the promises given to Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE), how will the State of Iowa fare in Health Care Reform? As a 100% rural state, whether we want to admit it or not, Cedar Rapids by Federal Standards is rural, and would be urban, if over 500,000 people. The impact in the past on Federal programs, including Flood Recovery, has been challenging for rural states.

An article worth a look was supplied by a friend this weekend. It's on Heath Care Reform ...

“VIP” Treatment Under Nationalized Health Care - Hot Air (blog)

Really, the discussion in Washington D.C. is really a topic of National Heath Care Insurance Reform. Is it really Health Care Reform that will push toward encouraging and implementing programs to make all Americans healthier ... nope!

Health care reform – one physician's view - San Diego Union Tribune - Eileen Natuzzi
When the Senate voted for the third time to pass what it calls “sweeping health care reform,” the media splashed it out. ...

Mines dot health bills: Public option among concerns for business - Crain's Detroit Business - Jay Greene
Health care and business leaders in Southeast Michigan have mixed reactions to a 2700-page health care reform bill approved Christmas Eve by ...

"The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said the $871 billion cost of the bill would reduce the future federal budget deficits by $132 billion between 2010 and 2019." Of course, look at government's expectations in the past with Medicare when it was unveiled and the costs that came about. Further, look at our State Budgets today, when everything was a supposed boon, but it turned about to be a bust.

Prudence is needed today more than ever ...

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City of Cedar Rapids will swear in second Mayor, Ron Corbett, to serve under Community's Local Home Rule Charter

"It's been a long path for me to get here, but it has been an even longer path
for all those who were so dramatically affected by the flood. I plan to hit the
ground running just as soon as I get sworn in." - Ron Corbett

Corbett Campaign: Corbett set to be sworn in Saturday - IowaPolictics.com (press release)
Cedar Rapids- Mayor-elect, Ron Corbett is set to be sworn in along with other new city council members this Saturday, January 2nd, at the Veterans Memorial ...

The voters in June 2005 in Cedar Rapids adopted the Council-Manager form of government when they over whelming approved the City's Local Home Rule Charter with over 69% support. The transition to the new form of government has been extremely rocky.

The leadership style of the outgoing mayor contributed greatly to the rocky transition. Further, the hiring of a proponent to the Carver Governance Model may have contributed greatly, especially, with the City Council's inaction establishing the board's pre-stated standards of prudence and ethics and implementing policy to assist in the transition from the Commission form of government to the Council-Manager form of government. The Council dropped the ball on the Ethics section of the City Charter.

The first two and half years were extremely rocky and the expected building blocks were lacking in the transition. Then, the worse natural disaster in the State of Iowa's history occurs in June 2008, with the Flood of 2008.

It will be a challenge for the new Mayor, the third City Council and the community to move forward. Embracing our City Charter and the culture, governance and leadership styles that make the City of Cedar Rapids who we are will be extremely important.

Best wishes to our new Mayor and our other leaders in our community in the New Year. There will be plenty of work ahead for all in our community.

Further, in 2010, we will see Republicans and Democrats conduct a Caucus statewide in each county for each precinct on January 23Rd at 1 p.m. Our State will have a primary in June and a general election in November, as well.

We encourage everyone to get involved and engage in the political process of caucusing, voting and discussing the public policy that our elected leaders will engage in at the local, state and Federal levels.

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A New Decade Begins: Happy New Year 2010 Everyone!

Our thoughts and resolutions from cidsports to kick off the new decade and New Year!

We want to wish everyone the very best in the coming New Year.

H is for Hugs!

A is for Accountability in government at all levels!

P is for Passion!

P is for Prudence and ethics in our society and our government!

Y is for Y that is found in Liberty!

N is for New opportunities that a New decade and New year bring!

E is for Energy!

W is for Work and the good works that come from Service!

Y is for Yesterdays and the lessons that history can bring!

E is for Eradicating!

A is for Attitudes, positive rather than negative!

R is for Rotary and the motto: Service Above Self!

E is for Economics: Earning, Saving and Giving!

V is for Virtue and Values over vice or violence!

E is for Enjoying: Life!

R is for Responsibility: we must support Liberty and personal responsibility!

Y is for the Y in Victory in 2010!

O is for Orange and the January 5Th bowl game and the Iowa Hawkeyes!

N is for Neighbor and The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)!

E is for the E that is found in LOVE!

This first post for the New Year is dedicated to my mother and the many gifts she passes on through her love, support and encouragement from birth through youth through adulthood through our times now in 2010!

Happy New Year Everyone!

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