By David Woodruff, Iowa City; President, Friends of Historic Preservation Right now on the Northside of Iowa City, two houses in the heart of the Jefferson Street Historic District are proposed for demolition. I want to urge the Historic Preservation Commission to oppose this permit and safeguard the architectural and cultural integrity of our community […]
Letters
Letter to the editor: Why you should watch Bergman films
By Jim Walters, Iowa City Today, leaving New Pioneer, I saw a young man with “Ingmar Bergman” emblazoned on a T-shirt. Backing up, I said, OK, what’s your favorite Bergman film? With only a moment’s hesitation, he said, Persona (1966). Good choice, I replied. Persona contains what is arguably the most erotic scene in cinema. […]
Letter to the editor: Can No voters trust these supervisors to fix the Johnson County jail?
By Rose Phillips, Iowa City I rarely buy stuff on Amazon. But in 2023, I bought some breast pump parts that, if I recall correctly, I couldn’t find anywhere else. Imagine someone was so bitterly opposed to Amazon’s business practices that they didn’t think anyone had the right to buy stuff from them. Imagine they […]
Letter to the editor: Amendment 1 is a gift to big corporations in Iowa
By Pat Bowen, Iowa City On Election Day, we will be asked to amend the state constitution. It is called: Amendment 1. It may sound good on the surface but it isn’t. It does not mean fewer or decreased taxes for the average Iowan. Amendment 1 is backed by big corporations and their lobbyists who want […]
Letter from Mandi Remington: We can build a safer public safety system without settling for the first plan
By Mandi Remington, Johnson County Supervisor Johnson County cannot afford to ignore the serious problems with our current jail. People who are incarcerated deserve safe and humane conditions. The people who work in our detention facilities deserve safe working conditions. And our community deserves a public safety system that is effective, accountable, and built around […]
Letter from Oliver Weilein: The proposed jail would bankrupt efforts to end homelessness in Johnson County
By Oliver Weilein, Iowa City Council member On Nov. 3, I will be voting No on authorizing Johnson County to borrow $94.5 million dollars (plus approximately $30 million in interest) for the purpose of building a new, bigger jail. I strongly urge my neighbors and fellow community members to vote No as well. There are many […]
Letter from Mandi Remington: Guaranteed income helps Iowa families focus on what matters
By Mandi Remington, Iowa City Most of us want the same basic thing for our families: to know that our children are safe, fed, and cared for, and that one unexpected expense won’t send the whole household into crisis. I know what it feels like when that security isn’t there. Seven years ago, I left […]
Letter to the editor: Will Republicans vote for a Democrat?
By Paul Deaton, Solon It is a commonplace of 2026 Iowa Democratic campaigns that candidates must appeal beyond party lines. With the registration numbers (only 527,675, or 29 percent, of Iowa’s 1,807,752 active registered voters are Democrats), winning non-Democratic votes is essential. My question is whether Republicans will actually vote for a Democrat. It is […]
Letter to the editor: It’s time for Coralville to try fare-free buses
We ask that the city of Coralville implement a pilot program for fare free busing. Coralville was specifically mentioned as an ideal candidate for adopting fare free in the Nov. 18, 2025 New York Times article by Cara Buckley about the successes of the Iowa City fare free program. We are situated between two cities, Iowa City […]
Letter to the editor: Congress should oppose the integration of U.S. and Israeli defense
By Ed Flaherty, Iowa City The U.S. Congress is preparing to give Israel unprecedented privileges via the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Section 219 of the draft NDAA directs the Secretary of Defense to expand integration of the U.S. and Israeli military sectors. If Section 219 becomes law, U.S. and Israeli militaries will be […]
Letter to the editor: Where were the candidates at Iowa City Pride?
By Kate Carroll de Gutes and Laura Julier, Iowa City We’re writing to express our disappointment and, frankly, outrage that Christina Bohannan, Josh Turek, and Rob Sand failed to show up for the Iowa City Pride parade on Saturday, June 20. The Johnson County Democrats and part of each candidate’s team were there waving signs. They even […]
Letter to the editor: Local voices matter in the conversation over nuclear power
By Paul Deaton, Solon On June 18, the Cedar Rapids Gazette reported the Iowa nuclear task force wrapped up its work, saying, “Task force members reiterated the importance of community education on the topic, noting that residents and lawmakers often have misperceptions about nuclear energy.” But what if community members are already well informed and […]




