By Ed Flaherty, Iowa City On May 22, two of my friends, Kathy Kelly and Mike Ferner, along with four others, began a 40-day fast outside of the UN in New York City. They are limiting themselves to 250 calories per day. Why? Two simple goals: 1) Unimpeded humanitarian aid for Gaza; 2) Halt to […]
letters to the editor
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Miller-Meeks doesn’t understand the needs of seniors
By Paul Deaton, Solon In defending her vote for the reconciliation bill working its way through the Congress, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks wrote in her congressional newsletter, “(the bill) delivers real relief, starting with a new $4,000 tax deduction for Americans over the age of 65 who make less than $75,000.” No senior I know asked […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Miller-Meeks voted on the side of Big Pharma
By Trish Nelson, Iowa City First district Republican Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks has accepted over $196,000 from Big Pharma since she was elected to Congress in 2020. Is this why she voted against allowing the government to negotiate Medicare drug costs and capping the price of insulin? Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly gave her $1,000 on the day […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Cuts undermine pool usage in Iowa City
By Anne Stapleton, Iowa City As I swam in the pool at the Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center (RAL) in March, an unexpected snowfall provided a stunning sight, framed by south-facing windows. Enjoying the view, pool users greeted each other cheerfully, engaged in healthy exercise. Unfortunately, a pattern of administrative cuts begun in 2022 […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: The Jerusalem Quartet should not be punished for the crimes of Israel
By Joseph Chonto, Davenport Re this letter advocating a boycott of The Jerusalem Quartet’s performance at Hancher: It struck me as reactionary, broad-brush guilt-by-association hysteria, reminding of contemporary rightwing propaganda: a few cherry-picked, contextless facts spun into a conspiracy theory. Labeling the quartet “ambassadors of an apartheid government, used to art-wash the genocide” and the implication they […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: The Jerusalem Quartet, set to perform in Iowa City, are ambassadors of Israel’s apartheid government
Submitted on behalf of Jewish Voice for Peace of Eastern Iowa The Israeli music group The Jerusalem Quartet is scheduled to play at Hancher Auditorium at the end of March. They are ambassadors of an apartheid government, used to art-wash the genocide of Palestinians. We are disappointed in Hancher. No one should go. “But… art?!” […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter to the editor: Erasure in Iowa
By Garry Klein, Iowa City Between the Iowa legislature taking transgender protections out in the state’s Civil Rights Act and the University of Iowa deleting cultural communities and programs that serve students, it is apparent that there is an attempt to erase progressive policy and law that protects and serves Iowans that historically have been […]
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Letter to the editor: A stunning act of overreach and moral cowardice from the Iowa Legislature
By Dani E., Iowa City The Iowa Legislature’s push to remove gender identity from the Civil Rights Act is a stunning act of government overreach and moral cowardice. If passed, Iowa would be the first state to explicitly strip away civil rights from an entire group of people. And what justification do lawmakers have for […]
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Letter to the editor: Trust Ross Nusser when he says he’ll ‘work with’ our MAGA state and federal government
By David Sterling, Iowa City Ross Nusser started this campaign season sounding like he aligned with Iowa City’s progressive values, but his push to “work with” the harmful Republican agenda should raise red flags. Our community values will never “go along with” the state’s Republican legislature, Trump’s federal administration and armed ICE agents marching into […]
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Letter from Mazahir Salih: Why I’m voting for Oliver
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 […]
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 […]
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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 […]
