Johnson County gives the Johnson County Fair a lot of money every year. This year it was $103,000. That is taxpayer money. They say the money is so the fair and parking there are free and it pays for the deputies who direct traffic. To me, this is endorsing and supporting the fair. I am strongly opposed to any support or endorsement of a fair that includes children abusing animals for entertainment.
Opinion
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Why we should critique newbo evolve
Cedar Rapids entrepreneur Steve Shriver wrote a letter to The Gazette in February chastising those raising concerns and criticisms of the upcoming newbo evolve festival. Shriver asked, “What do you gain by complaining about an upcoming event?” Shriver’s loaded question reveals his defensive attitude and skewed perception. It’s also emblematic of what is wrong with the current “creative brain trust” in Cedar Rapids.
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Building heights and the future of development in Riverfront Crossings
Iowa City Council’s consideration of a rezoning application for 12 Court St in the Riverfront Crossings District has sparked a kerfuffle about high-rise buildings and the future of development in Iowa City. The debate generally centers on building heights. Whether one supports high-rise buildings — that is, any building over nine stories — is typically framed as an aesthetic preference.
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Cultivate compassion in children
By Lynn Gallagher Children naturally feel compassion for animals. That’s a good thing. We should not encourage them to repress their compassion by teaching them to treat animals like objects. That’s exactly what we are doing when we encourage them to participate in a rodeo. Unfortunately, the Johnson County Fair will include a kids’ rodeo […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: We can end the opioid crisis
Eighty-five percent of heroin users start by taking legal opioids. Fentanyl and carfentanil are involved in a clear majority of overdose deaths. Even combining these with moderate alcohol use can be deadly. Scientists were learning the powers of synthesized opioids prior to the start of the war on drugs. You likely have not heard of carfentanil. It is a manufactured weapon in a manufactured crisis. The toxicity of carfentanil has been compared to that of nerve gas. Yet it is only classified as Schedule II under the Controlled Substances Act in the United States.
Posted inCommunity/News
Remembering Frank Iowa, RAGBRAI icon
For the first time in RAGBRAI’s 45-year history, one of the true legends of the event will be missing. Frank Iowa, the only person from Iowa City to ride in every RAGBRAI, passed away on April 30. He was born Gregson Schmidt, but his love for his state prompted him to adopt the name by which he became known around his hometown of Iowa City.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘American Animals’ combines documentary and drama to explore a real-life art heist
“American Animals”, starting a run today at FilmScene, stars Evan Peters of “American Horror Story,” Barry Keoghan of “The Killing of a Sacred Deer,” Ann Dowd of “Hereditary”…And surprisingly enough, it’s not a horror movie. “Animals” is a crime drama, following a group of four college-age men looking to spice up their life by planning and executing an art heist at the library of Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky.
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: My first flotation tank experience
By Ron Wright With the help of his father and some friends, Patrick Krier has renovated a space in an office building into an otherworldly experience. The Iowa Recovery Room has been open since April 17 and has seen an increasing amount of interest in their floatation tank business. Also called sensory deprivation tanks, the […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Sexuality, gossip, confusion and Catholic school
I don’t need another drink but say I need another drink as I read the situation, one I’ve found myself facing for the past year or so. I’m attracted to women, but don’t know how to view it without a lens. Media portrayals say it’s hot, Catholicism says it’s not. Sexuality clouded by a sea of confusion.
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: The Iowa City Council is halting valuable housing projects because they don’t like tall buildings
The Core 4 of the Iowa City Council have indicated a potentially major shift for the future of development in Riverfront Crossings. There are processes and regulations in place to guide P&Z and the council when considering height bonuses. These are, and should be, totally separate from the rezoning process. While it was appropriate for the council to communicate concerns about height to the developer at this stage, there was no reason to not move forward with the rezoning.
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Iowa must flip flippable districts
It is appalling and shameful that the Iowa legislature and Governor Reynolds just passed the largest tax cut in state history, over $2.1 billion over the next six fiscal years. This huge tax cut will disallow adequate funding for education, health care, environmental protection and many other essential programs. It is a giveaway to wealthy individuals and large corporations and will provide minimal benefits and raise property taxes for working families, seniors and small businesses.
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Zach Wahls will lead Iowa out of ‘dark times’
Our family has worked closely with Zach and his family over the last several months. One of the greatest joys of this campaign has been getting to know Zach, the women who raised him and his sister. It’s easy to see where Zach gets his compassion, his work ethic and his strong moral compass. Zach is remarkable because he was raised by remarkable women.
