By I. Alexakis, Iowa City
Due to the recent resignation of an Iowa City Council member, it means that the folks of this community have been granted an opportunity to continue forth on a new trajectory of leadership. The people of Iowa City can continue to alter the narrative of what it means to live in Iowa. I strongly encourage everyone in District C, from the Northside through downtown to put your vote in for Oliver Weilein.
Oliver is someone who doesn’t let up. He moves nonstop to the benefit of others and always gives 110 percent in his beliefs. He believes in Iowa City as a place to live and not just a place to be developed to accommodate football fans and the University of Iowa. He consistently prioritizes the wellbeing of tenants and unhoused populations. Over the past decade, Oliver has been an active member pushing back against abusive landlords and providing critical items to those in need, while simultaneously providing space and opportunity for vulnerable residents to exercise autonomy.
What truly separates Oliver from the rest is that he has nothing personal to gain from the development of Iowa City. He’s not involved with these developers, corporate realtors or landlords who let buildings sit empty while people sleep on the street, who preach affordable housing but prioritize personal AirBnBs for monetary gains. He also rents like so many of us. He helped organize and serves on the board of the local tenants union. He has raised thousands of dollars off the strength of the music scene alone for winter supplies. His gain comes from prioritizing those who need to be prioritized. He is refusing donations for his campaign and asking that they be redirected to various nonprofits.
This is a transitional city with its vastly rotating student population and as the residents, we often get roped into the exploitation of oversaturated rent and housing. Allowing the opportunity for Oliver to lead the charge, is a unique opportunity to push for things like Right of First Refusal for tenants, employees and local business owners to overcome the corporate maneuvering of ownership and provide what has become a rare opportunity for our residents to become and value.
I have watched repeatedly while current elected officials and other moderate leadership in the City would choose to lie and slander Oliver with fear-mongering almost reflecting MAGA rhetoric and with just as little to no substance. Reiterating past social media posts of firearms with no context, but would rather scare constituents into continuing to vote for the continued passivity of our local Democratic leadership. Oliver’s firearms came out of necessity as he and his family were doxxed, threatened and stalked by local neo-Nazis for his anti-racist activism, and has since developed a passion for gun safety and training.
Oliver has been commended by some of Iowa City’s most forward thinking leadership and applauded by the state’s most vulnerable residents. In this day and age, in this state, we are in desperate need for bold leadership, not officials who argue with constituents and sit on their hands. Leadership that values the human rights and life of everyone, and is willing to push back against state and federal legislation.
I’ve watched and stood alongside Oliver countless times as he was willing to put his physical being on the frontlines to protect those around him. It is this kind of mentality and drive that I don’t often see from the usual suspects, the willingness to go all in to provide solace and protect the people around him. As a lifelong resident here, I am relieved knowing we have a unique opportunity to shift away from the norm, and push against the grain of electing developers and landlords to office in Iowa City. I strongly encourage a vote for Oliver Weilein on Feb. 4 for the benefit and wellbeing of everyone here and those who choose to stay.
