By Tom Carsner, Iowa City
Amy Hospodarsky, Newman Abuissa, and Clara Reynen will bring fresh, positive, and creative proposals to the Iowa City Council that will move Iowa City forward beyond the muddled responses from our present council majority in this time of fascist assaults on our democracy. I encourage you to vote for them in the Nov. 4 election.
These three candidates are challenging the tendency of the present Council’s majority — three of whom are candidates for re-election — to primarily react to traditional proposals from city staff. We need active councilors to meet the moment.
This council majority crushed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; has not taken bold climate action; has refused to consider policing alternatives to make the city safer and healthier; has not defined a response to ICE actions; has endorsed the landslide losing candidate in the March special election; and has lost touch with the political climate of Iowa City.
Amy Hospodarsky has many nonprofit and small business connections and has displayed inclusive organizational leadership — such as the Englert Theatre, South of Six District, and Crowded Closet. She knows our public safety system should be rooted in community trust, not only enforcement.
Newman Abuissa, is a 30-year resident, and longtime transportation engineer for Iowa DOT. His immigrant experience led him to be a UI and Iowa City leader in human rights. He knows how to stand up to ICE. He interacted with many Iowa towns in his job, and that experience will help reverse the exodus of businesses leaving Iowa City.
Clara Reynen has stood up to UI authorities through her COGS union activity. She will apply her librarian experience to make Iowa City government more transparent. Clara also believes the public can be made safer with alternatives to present policing.
Let’s elect these three candidates on Nov. 4 to provide the best offense against creeping authoritarianism from Des Moines and Washington D.C.
