Is it Time to Connect the Dots America?

UN Agenda 21 - Coming to a Neighborhood near You - American Thinker

Most Americans are unaware that one of the greatest threats to their freedom may be a United Nations program known as Agenda 21. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Sustainable Development created Agenda 21 as a sustainability agenda which is arguably an amalgamation of socialism and extreme environmentalism brushed with anti-American, anti-capitalist overtones. - American Thinker

So, are we seeing it with the decision in Cedar Falls this month? - YouTube

City Ordinance Demands Keys From Citizens for Lock Boxes ... - healthfreedoms.org
Jun 13, 2011 ... For citizens of Cedar Falls, Iowa, ordinance 2740 (unfunded city-wide ... based on footage from the May 23 City Council meeting and posted it to YouTube. ... “If it does pass, we are going to file a lawsuit,” Saul said. ...

The City of Cedar Rapids passed a revised Chapter 29 in 2010.

In Cedar Falls, Iowa, the government is attempting to nullify the Fourth Amendment. The City Council is scheduled to vote on the third and final reading of an ordinance adopting a 2009 International Fire Code that specifies the fire chief can require lock boxes for emergency access to keys to buildings. - Kurt Nimmo

By the way, the 2009 International Fire Code was approved in Cedar Rapids with the adoption of the revised Chapter 29.

One World Government Quotes By World Leaders
One World Government Quotes By World Leaders: Henry Kissinger, David Rockefeller ... Al Gore, Barack Hussein Obama, French President Chirac, Strobe Talbott, ...

We had an interesting conversation today in Cedar Rapids. Tonight, after that conversation, we googled the following on Governor Rick Perry of Texas.

Bilderberg-Approved Perry Set to Become Presidential Frontrunner ...
Jun 20, 2011 ... Look beyond the rhetoric and study what Perry has actually done in his role as Governor – he's the ultimate globalist – his every action ...www.infowars.com/bilderberg-approved-perry-set-to-become-presidential-frontrunner/

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness ...

Don't take your future for granted, as you watch reality TV or follow your favorite sporting event in the United States of America.

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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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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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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

As we close out the month of August in Eastern Iowa

The right decision ... cut your loses as Roy Marble is terminated ...

Former Hawkeye Roy Marble loses youth post after arrest - The Gazette
Former University of Iowa Basketball star Roy Marble has been terminated from his ...

We need help in Cedar Rapids post-Flood Gov. Chet ...

Fong wants Culver to make some noise - The Gazette

A New York Times progress report on flood recovery in Cedar Rapids caused a ripple in the 2010 race for governor. After reading the Times’ story -- “After Iowa flood, feeling just a bit ignored,” Cedar Rapids Republican Christian Fong criticized Gov. Chet Culver’s comment that Iowa was “not making a lot of noise” about the flood that caused an estimated $8 billion damage across the state and as much as $6 million damage in Cedar Rapids-Linn ...

Federal Stimulus funds are not hitting the local market as well as elsewhere ...

Linn County coming up short in federal stimulus funds - The Gazette
Just like in real estate, location appears to be key to cashing in on the federal stimulus program. Take Monona County in western Iowa, for example. It’s home to 8,966 people who own 16,383 vehicles — cars, trucks, trailers, buses and mo-peds. Of the $47,035,324 Monona County is getting from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, $46,333,400 is from the federal Department of Transportation for road projects. Linn County, where 208,574 people live and own 254,000 vehicles, already has spent its $962,000 ...

Yes, even Firefighters will have to get off the streets for MDA ...

Cedar Rapids panhandling ordinance passes first reading - The Gazette
Beggars on Blairs Ferry Road will soon be a thing of the past. A new ordinance, approved unanimously by the City Council Wednesday night, would outlaw panhandling on the city’s right of way, or soliciting money from anyone in a motor vehicle. The new ordinance will apply even to firefighters raising money with boots in the street for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Aggressive panhandling would also be forbidden. Beggars who won’t take no for an answer, touch the people they ask for money, ...

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Monday, June 22, 2009 - What's been happening around Cedar Rapids lately?

Monday, June 22, 2009 is the first full day of Summer. Summer officially began June 21, 2009 at 1:45 am.

The Gazette on June 19, 2009 ran a story titled Gazette, city officials heading to flooded neighborhoods. The Gazette is bringing it's “In the Neighborhood” picnics to three flood impacted neighborhoods. The recent one-year anniversary wasn't something all residents were desiring to celebrate.

"Not everyone was in the celebration mood. One of the Great Flood of 2008’s
cruel parting gifts has been that one resident may have an inspiring story of
reclaiming a home while the person next door never will." - The Gazette

The Gazette reported in an article titled Museum of Art fully open for first time since ’08 flood that The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art as of Saturday, June 20, 2009 has opened all it's 16 galleries.

The Gazette reported in an article dated June 19, 2009 titled Mound View neighborhood fights decline of properties the desire to reduce multi-family housing in the neighborhood. After WWII, single-family housing in the today's core neighborhoods were shifted to multi-family to help respond to the housing crunch coming out of the war. Today, many residents would like to see this housing return to it's original zoning and use.

Further news on June 19, 2009, The Gazette reported in an article titled Cedar Rapids businesses say federal aid not enough regarding the recent $517 million HUD allocation to the State of Iowa. Again, the Small Business Recovery Group was disappointed to see there allocation remain the same as in the past. The allocation for administrative costs for Flood Recovery continued to out pace funds allocated for Small Business recovery.

Down in Iowa City, another June 19, 2009 article in the Gazette titled UI admits search committee violated open meetings law during the 2007 presidential search that lead to the hiring of President Sally Mason.

The City of Cedar Rapids will continue to use the Police Department's firing range as The Gazette's June 19, 2009 article titled Shooting to continue at Cedar Rapids firing range explains.

The new United States Federal Court House has a couple of years before it is completed. The old Federal Court House has been idle, since the Flood of 2008. The Gazette reported in article on June 19, 2009 titled Temporary federal courthouse moves into $4 million renovated building.

"The look of the temporary U.S. District Courthouse totally changed this
week with a move into a renovated 30,000 square-foot building at 4200 C St.
SW." - The Gazette

Some recent news on the Unemployment rate in Iowa shares that Iowa's jobless rate jumps to 5.8 percent for May 2009. The rate was 4.0 percent in May 2008.

The State of Iowa announced that of the $517 million received from HUD that $245 million earmarked for flood buyouts. The majority of the money is headed for the City of Cedar Rapids The Gazette reported.

A middle school teacher at Regis announced that he will run for City Council.

Nick Duffy announces candidacy for Cedar Rapids City Council ... - KWWL.com

IowaPolitics.com - For Immediate Release Contact: Nick Duffy 319.361.7403. June 17, 2009. Nick Duffy Announces Candidacy for Cedar Rapids City Council ...

Duffy announces Cedar Rapids council bid - Topix - Duffy announces Cedar Rapids council bid. Nick Duffy, a 23 year old who took a shot at a Cedar Rapids school board seat in 2006 as a 20 year old...

Duffy announces Cedar Rapids council bid GazetteOnline.com ... - Duffy announces Cedar Rapids council bid ... CEDAR RAPIDS — Nick Duffy, a 23 year old who took a shot at a Cedar Rapids ...

Nick Duffy: Running for Cedar Rapids City Council - IowaPolitics ... -teacher Nick Duffy today announced that he is seeking a position on the Cedar Rapids City Council as an at-large candidate. ...

Iowa Content » Duffy announces Cedar Rapids council bid - Duffy announces Cedar Rapids council bid · from Gazette Online

At the June 17, 2009 City Council meeting, The Gazette reported in a story titled Vernon tears into Prosser over police substation about District 2 Council member Monica Vernon's frustration about the delays over the proposed police substation at the corner of First Avenue and 15th Street East.

For more information on City government: visit Eye on the Island - By Rick Smith.

It was announced on June 18, 2009 that Iowa Senator Tom Harkin wants bill to apologize for slavery. The Gazette reported as well as a story from the KEVO/Rio Grande Valley website titled U.S. Senate Apologizes for Slavery - The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution apologizing for slavery in the United States. Iowa Democrat Senator Tom Harken introduced the legislation.

Three other recent stories of interest in our community:

Farmers market debate: Downtown or NewBo

Linn County Youth Shelter likely won’t be rebuilt
Could old federal courthouse be new juvenile courts home?

County Supervision - By Adam Belz - A local blog from The Gazette reporter on County Government and The Gazette columnist and opinion page contributor 24-Hour Dorman - By Todd Dorman.

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A Live Chat Today with The Gazette on Local Sales Tax

Live chat: On proposed sales tax increase for Cedar Rapids today from 11 am to 11:30 am with The Gazette's Rick Smith.

Proposal by local councilman in The Gazette story by Rick Smith.

Eye on the Island - By Rick Smith The Gazette
Latest post: Prosser named Iowa’s ‘Manager of the Year,’ but he didn’t tell anybody

http://twitter.com/cidsports

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A commentary received in the mail from P.T.L...

A commentary received recently regarding concerns of lack of limited and efficiency government in Cedar Rapids...

Blogosphere:

Local Media Outlets are reporting that the City Manager in C.R. was named
Iowa Manager of the Year, but he didn't tell anyone.

While his humility is to be commended, we have a member of our C.R. City
Council proposing a 2 cents on the dollar Option Tax, without a Vote, which
isn't even legal in Iowa, yet...and hopes the State Legislature will allow,
under the Broad Category, to help Flood victims. This tax,is being
proposed for 10 years. Where's the Manager's Leadership hereto squelch
such rhetoric in its idea phase, and set the record straight on what's allowed
by the Code of Iowa?

Soon the City will divvy out shares of the Annual Hotel/Motel Tax for next
year? Will the focus of this Million Dollars Plus in Annual Revenue go
towards Flood Relief? With projected revenue shortfalls ahead, due to both the
Flood and the Economy, personnel cuts and Privatization of Publicly run entities
will definitely be on the table as options to improve our use of tax dollars to
fund City Government. What is our City Manager's Vision for improving
Government's Efficiency in a Post-Flood, Economic Downturn C.R.?

Good Government requires Good Vision, Timely implementation of Policies and
retooling and restaffing to meet the new and emerging priorities of the
day! Now that Jimmy has earned his Stripes by being lauded as being the
Best Manager in Iowa, will he live up to his pedigree and our expectations as he
steers us forward using Limited and Efficient Government to guide us through
this Post-Flood Era in the City of 5 Seasons?

Time will tell, as we continue to march towards 2020, with Perfect Vision
for our future, hoping and praying that it's implemented on a Broad Scale to
Protect and Serve our City's Future Viability and Competitive Drive against the Dubuque's,
Waterloo's, Ft. Dodge's and West Des Moines' in securing our share of the pie for our
friends, neighbors and fellow Cedar Rapidians! Is Jimmy on Board with this?
Our Economic future, or lack there of, DEPENDS on it!

Indian Creek Neighborhood Blogger,
Mister P.T.L.

Article on the Justin Shields proposal from KCRG-TV last week.

Rick Smith's recent blog post for the Cedar Rapids Gazette comments about the City of Cedar Rapids' city manager's award.

http://twitter.com/cidsports

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We need more taxes... Globally, Nationally and Locally, right?

Globally, the Wednesday, December 3, 2008 edition of The Wall Street Journal in the Opinion section featured an article titled We Need a Global Carbon Tax. For more on the issue of global warming, read Institute Brief: Global Warming: Making the Evidence Fit the Theory.

The National Write Your Congressmen web site had a headline titled Letting the Bush Tax Cuts Expire. The web site mentioned, the following, which will have the same effect of a tax increase if the tax cuts are allowed to expire...

"With President-elect Barack Obama counting the days until his presidency
begins, Democrats in Congress are beginning to think about how they will
address
the tax cuts implemented by the Bush administration."

Locally, KCRG's web site is reporting in a December 4, 2008 story by reporter Mark
Geary: Shoppers Debate Potential New Local Sales Tax. The article reports that some on the City Council want to create a two percent local sales tax. Some would like the State of Iowa to allow the City Council to introduce the city sales tax without a vote of the people. Current Iowa
State law requires a public vote.

It is cold in the air in Cedar Rapids tonight, per twitter.com...

Joe_Winters
Tonight: Clearing and cold - Low near -3...wind chills near -10. More
snow on
Saturday - 1 to 3 inches during the morning. What a December!

Well, there appears to be more than chilly temperatures in the air. Taxes increases: globally, nationally and locally are clearly in the air today.

http://twitter.com/cidsports

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KGAN CBS 2 Top Story: "Ripped Up, Ripped Off" aired tonight

As mentioned earlier today... we were advised to tune in to the 10 pm News on KGAN CBS 2 tonight. The station aired the story "Ripped Up, Ripped Off" discussing the destruction of water stop valves as flood debris has been removed from flood impact properties along the streets in Cedar Rapids.

The Flood of 2008 has created a lot of hardship for residents and businesses directly impacted by this natural disaster. We have all been impacted in one way or another.

During the story, various reports from the City were from 40 to 100 stop valves. However, according the KGAN story, a contractor for the City of Cedar Rapids was estimating it could be as high as 300 stop valves, roughly 20% of the total in the City.

The press release from the City of Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 reported the following:

"During these operations, crews used debris collection trucks with large
claws to scoop and skid loaders to scrape the debris from the City's
right-of-way areas. In some cases, this equipment caught the water pipe head at
ground level and broke the stop valves. City crews and contractors are repairing
those broken valves as they are reported. The average cost of repairing each
stop valve is $1000. So far, 60 stop valves have been found damaged. The City
will submit these repairs costs to FEMA for reimbursement. " - City of
Cedar Rapids

The impact of the flood is still occurring as we work to recovery in various areas of the Cedar and Iowa River Valleys. The Gazette and the following from KGAN:

BREAKING NEWS:

"There has been a major malfunction of the sewage treatment system. The city
is urging all customers in Palo to limit toilet flushing, laundry, and
dishwashing immediately. The city says this may last for 2 to 3 days." -
KGAN web site

As a community, we need to be assured that our public institutions demonstrate stewardship in the business of providing public services. The City's mission statement is linked here. The word "City Government Mission, Vision, and Values" is listed, but I don't clearly see a define set of values listed.

What is the culture within City Government today? Today's stop valve story should raise some questions into our culture within our local government?

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We have a Finanacial Crisis, not an Economic Crisis for now

Where will the public go for leadership in 2008? We have an important presidential election in 2008, as well as important local, state and federal races.

The fundamentals of the economy are strong. But, we clearly have a financial crisis.

We are clearly in difficult times.

But, economically, we do have positive indicators in the economy...

• Worker productivity
• Trade balance is moving favorably the right direction
• Unemployment

However, if we don't resolve the financial crisis properly, we will impact negatively our economy.

The Subprime mortgage financial crisis is a serious problem. We are in difficult times and the government is making important moves to protect our financial system.

Business ethics is alarming.

Lobbying and ethics in government continue to be out of control.

Our tax system has created a burden and has moved the Fortune 500 companies is the wrong direction.

Increasing in the size of the Federal Government is the wrong direction for this country to take. But, are we going to move towards socialism in the near future? The upcoming presidential election certainly is in play for our country to do so.

We need to wake up America. Who we elect at all levels of government do directly impact our lives. Look locally, the concerns we are facing right now. The impact is due to our own votes and those we have representing us today.

We voted to change our Form of Government in Cedar Rapids. We voted to elect the leadership we have at the local and state level. We elect our representatives who go to Washington DC to represent us. We do it at all levels, from school boards to legislative bodies.

The future of our governance is in our hands every two, four and six years. If there is a time in our history, when it is vital for the public to get to the polls, it is 2008.

A Limited Government is vital to the success of our democracy. Get informed and vote...

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