Iowa City’s growth
The current City Council has accomplished much with Mayor Matt Hayek including new parks, Jefferson Street Historic District, budget management, and limiting downtown bars. In the past, the council has also initiated some environmental and housing improvements. However, now, increasing the tax base is used to justify subsidizing wealthy developers even in a time of record low interest rates.
Many self-employed professionals, landlords, and tradespeople have built up their businesses without any assistance from the city. If they don’t have a 20 percent down payment to build in a premier location, the city doesn’t provide TIF cash for them. If the city is concerned about tax revenue, why give millions up-front to aggressive developers?
In 2012, city funding of up-front TIF for affluent housing outpaced any other public consideration. This type of municipal investment doesn’t seem consistent with either the need for immediate tax revenue or a “progressive” attitude toward affordable housing.
On Oct. 7, seven environmental groups posed questions to City Council candidates about city policy and other activities affecting the environment in Iowa City. Seven candidates for City Council stated their positions on environmental issues. Councilor Rick Dobyns and Tim Conroy were less familiar with some environmental concepts. Scott McDonough has construction experience. Councilor Michelle Payne was absent.
Four candidates emerged with the best ideas on community sustainability. Councilor Jim Throgmorton taught urban planning for 30 years and served on City Council in the 1990s and the last four years. Rockne Cole, a local attorney, represents residents on building, zoning, and affordable housing, among other issues. John Thomas has a 28-year career in landscape architecture and 3 1/2 years on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Pauline Taylor’s 30 years as a nurse and union organizer provide the experience in listening, negotiating skill, and understanding of compromise that a City Councilor needs.
It’s important to elect candidates already versed in the complex issues and direction needed for a greener, healthy lifestyle and fiscal sense. Iowa City needs to grow not just in height but in breadth for the benefit all of its citizens. Throgmorton, Cole, Thomas, and Taylor will look out for all Iowa Citians.
Please vote early or on Nov. 3.
Pam Michaud
A broader and more inclusive vision for council
Like Matt Hayek, I, too, support council candidates marked by “common sense and humility.” However, it’s interesting that our definitions of these fine attributes are so remarkably different.
To characterize Jim Throgmorton as aligned with anti-growth is a huge misunderstanding of his work. The Jim that I know is pro-growth. His ideas of growing our city are aimed at growing the entire city while promoting environmental and social sustainability. Jim supports a “just city” that looks at all of its citizens as valuable. He has been the lone voice on many votes and the truth is, Jim can’t turn things around by himself.
For the past two decades our councils have been dominated by business interests. As a downtown business owner, I have been proud to see the progress in making our downtown a welcoming environment for the community and I applaud the investments in other parts of town. However, in spite of these advances, Iowa City is more segregated than previously and our poverty rates have increased. The current council has not dealt effectively with these ongoing discrepancies in wealth, education, and neighborhood health. The only way that things will change is if we elect people that support a broader and more inclusive vision. Together we can create an Iowa City that actually embodies the community values of sustainability, diversity, and equality. Please join me in voting for Throgmorton, John Thomas, Pauline Taylor, and Rockne Cole.
Candida Maurer