After months of delays, Iowa City’s Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is close to beginning its work of documenting systemic racism in the community, and collecting the stories of those who have experienced it. During its meeting on Thursday, the TRC voted to endorse a contract with Kearns & West to provide organizational […]
Iowa City City Council
Posted inLetters
Letters to the editor: Community members sound off on candidates for Iowa City Council
Little Village has covered the candidates in the special election to fill the vacant at-large seat on the Iowa City Council as they’ve discussed important issues in two public forums. LV has also received many letter about the candidate, and for the convenience of voters still making up their minds about whom to vote for in the Sept. 4 primary, we’ve compiled those letter below.
Posted inCommunity/News
Construction begins soon on nature-themed play area in Riverfront Crossings Park
Now that first phase of construction on Riverfront Crossings Park is well underway, work on phase two — an extensive nature play area — is projected to begin in September, Juli Seydell Johnson, director of the Iowa City Parks and Recreation department said.
Posted inCommunity/News
Climate action grants now available for Iowa City community organizations
Iowa City community organizations can now apply for a climate action grant worth up to $5,000. The city council has allocated $25,000 for the grants, which will support local climate and sustainability actions performed by two or more community-based organizations working in partnership.
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa City council aims to ensure development saves century-old church, without breaking the bank
Plans to preserve the 109-year-old, former Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City church building moved forward Tuesday night during an Iowa City Council work session. Updated plans would keep the church while lowering city expenses connected to a planned mixed-use development on the corner of Iowa Avenue and Gilbert Street — an area currently occupied […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa City Council nixes ‘Sanctuary’ label but reaffirms hands-off policy on immigration enforcement
By Emma Husar and Lauren Shotwell A resolution unanimously passed Tuesday by the Iowa City Council reaffirmed that no public resources would be devoted by the city police department to detecting undocumented immigrants. Council members noted that the move works to help maintain relationships between police officers and the community, ensuring that victims and witnesses […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Public contribution to The Lens makes sense
While single, I framed a picture of Johnny Cash — an insert from an old record — and hung it in my living room. Later, I got married. My wife and I bought a house. We had different opinions on where (or if, in my wife’s view) we should hang this piece in our new […]
Posted inCommunity/News, Letters
Letter to the Editor: For sustainability, vote three Ts and a Rock
Change can be easy if we start small. If you believe in recycling; reusing; reducing; then you will want to vote this November 3. The positive impact of your vote could be one of the biggest turning points for a beautiful, sustainable Iowa City. There are four CORE candidates whose visions will turn Iowa City’s […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Interview: City Council candidate Scott McDonough on TIFS and affordable housing
The November elections may be seven months away, but some Iowa City residents are already announcing their bids for City Council. Scott McDonough, owner of…
Posted inCommunity/News
Fate of cottages still uncertain
The Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) voted unanimously last week to recommend giving the three workers’ cottages on South Dubuque Street historic landmark status. The vote comes after the HPC reviewed a petition submitted by the Friends of the Historic Preservation, which calls for the city to rezone the block from a commercial zone […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Council votes against public hearing on cottages
Iowa City Council voted this morning 4-3 not to have a public hearing to discuss the historic status of three workers’ cottages, located on the 600 block of South Dubuque Street. The buildings, which had been slated for rezoning into the new Riverfront Crossings District, are on the chopping block after an engineer’s report from […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Historic cottages on South Dubuque Street in danger
The Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission will consider the fate of three 19th century cottages today at 7 p.m. in City Hall. The commission will review an application, submitted by Hodge Construction, that seeks to rezone the 600 block of South Dubuque Street from a commercial land zone to a mixed-use building zone. The […]
