By Mazahir Salih, Iowa City Mayor Pro Tem, At-Large City Council member I am voting for Oliver Weilein in the March 4 special election because he can represent all of Iowa City. He understands our community — not just as an observer, but as someone who lives and works alongside us. Many immigrants are his […]
Letters
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Working folks deserve Oliver Weilein on council
By YueWon Lee, Iowa City The statements hereafter are my own and do not represent my workplace nor the union I am a part of. Oliver Weilein is the pro-labor working class councilor that Iowa City needs. As a City employee and member of AFSCME Local 183, I know that Iowa City puts in the […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Oliver Weilein is the only choice for trans rights
By Dr. Emma Denney, Iowa City There have been unprecedented attacks on the civil rights of trans Iowans this week. HF 583 — a bill stripping civil rights protections for trans people from the Iowa code, legalizing discrimination against us, and legally erasing trans and intersex people — was forced through subcommittee and committee in less than […]
Posted inLetters
Letter from Laura Bergus: Weilein walks on the right side of history
By Laura Bergus, Iowa City Council member, District A We can expect the next few years to be increasingly difficult and dangerous for many among us. The time to stand up against bigotry and hate is now. Having served on City Council through the COVID pandemic and the protests of 2020, I know we require […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Iowa’s SF 347/HF 558 is merely an attempt to intimidate librarians into censorship
By Kristin Watson, Coralville After reading Sam Helmick’s letter regarding SF 347/HF 558, I read the bill and am both alarmed and amazed by the absurdity. Sections b. and c. forbid librarians from providing obscene material or hardcore pornography to minors, under threat of substantial penalty. This might possibly seem reasonable until you realize it’s already […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Enough about twitter already. There’s so much more to Oliver Weilein
By Riley Eynon-Lynch, Iowa City A recent op-ed claimed that Oliver Weilein “prefers violence against the government to thoughtful action.” The claim was based on social media posts, and broadcast publicly without nuance, investigation, or compassion. This particular letter was one of many that use a shallow analysis of some tweets to disqualify a candidate, […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: SF 347 would restrict access to information and create barriers to learning
By Sam Helmick, Iowa City I’m writing with urgent concern about Senate File 347, legislation that would dramatically restrict our library’s ability to serve as an anchor institution of learning and discovery for everyone in our community. As a librarian, I’ve witnessed first-hand how our library sparks curiosity and opens doors through its diverse collection […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Ross Nusser is the leader Iowa City needs
By Chuck Skaugstad Jr., Iowa City As a longtime Iowa Citian and business owner, I have had the privilege of knowing Ross Nusser since he was a child. Over the years, I’ve watched him grow into a dedicated community leader, a compassionate advocate and a problem-solver who isn’t afraid to do the hard work to make Iowa City better. […]
Posted inOpinion
Democrats are still playing by ‘West Wing’ rules, and it’s costing us everything
Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing holds a special place in the hearts of nearly every consumer of American political media. It’s hard not to admire the fast-paced dialogue, the earnest idealism and the morally upstanding characters who populate the Bartlet administration. The show was a masterpiece. But no matter how real it seemed, it was […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: SF 347 threatens Iowa public libraries and criminalizes librarians
By Katie Roche, Iowa City I am writing to express my strong opposition to Senate File 347, a bill that poses a serious threat to the vital role public libraries play in our communities. If passed, this legislation would place undue restrictions on libraries, limiting access to educational and informational resources that benefit people of […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Oliver Weilein makes me want to stay in Iowa City
By Zoe Mahler, Iowa City I’m really excited about Oliver running for city council. In the two years since I’ve returned he has proven time and time again how a person can connect with Iowa City. It feels like there is such a turnover or divide between university and permanent residents. Like a pressure to […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Vote with courage on March 4, Iowa City
By Ben Smasher, Iowa City Iowa City is currently engaging in a vital discourse over the upcoming City Council special election. It is great to see so many recognizing the opportunity to make a difference even in a smaller election. I wanted to comment on the radical viewpoints of candidate Oliver Weilein and fears over […]
