By Leslie Carpenter, co-founder of Iowa Mental Health Advocacy I have spent years advocating for people with serious mental illness and for a system that treats illness as illness — not as a crime. That is precisely why I support the effort to build a new jail and sheriff’s office. My support is not an […]
Letters
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Letter to the editor: There is no Human Rights Commission consensus on the new jail, yet
By Eleanor Fuller and Susanna Rodriguez, Iowa City Human Rights Commissioners On Sept. 2, a group of FORMER Human Rights Commissioners publicly endorsed Johnson County’s proposed $94.5 million bond referendum to fund a new jail and Sheriff’s office facility. For many readers, it could easily create the impression that the CURRENT Human Rights Commission supports […]
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Letter to the editor: Let’s have a conversation about the jail beyond Yes and No
By Finch Vandyk, Iowa City A handful of Tuesdays from now, Johnson County will vote on a deceptively direct bond measure. “Should we build the $124,000,000 new jail proposed by the sheriff?” There are two options: Yes and No. Emphatic camps have emerged on either side of those options. Yes, we should build the jail […]
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Letter to the editor: Vote Yes on the jail referendum
By Paul Deaton, Solon I visited the current Johnson County Jail soon after it opened in 1981. I remember saying to myself, “My God! They made it too small!” The current board of supervisors approved a referendum for the November ballot to build a new jail and sheriff’s office. I support it. Opinions on the […]
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Letter to the editor: Support the Jefferson Street Historic District at tonight’s Iowa City Council meeting
By David Woodruff, Iowa City; President, Friends of Historic Preservation Right now on the Northside of Iowa City, two houses in the heart of the Jefferson Street Historic District are proposed for demolition. I want to urge the Historic Preservation Commission to oppose this permit and safeguard the architectural and cultural integrity of our community […]
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Letter to the editor: Why you should watch Bergman films
By Jim Walters, Iowa City Today, leaving New Pioneer, I saw a young man with “Ingmar Bergman” emblazoned on a T-shirt. Backing up, I said, OK, what’s your favorite Bergman film? With only a moment’s hesitation, he said, Persona (1966). Good choice, I replied. Persona contains what is arguably the most erotic scene in cinema. […]
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Letter to the editor: Can No voters trust these supervisors to fix the Johnson County jail?
By Rose Phillips, Iowa City I rarely buy stuff on Amazon. But in 2023, I bought some breast pump parts that, if I recall correctly, I couldn’t find anywhere else. Imagine someone was so bitterly opposed to Amazon’s business practices that they didn’t think anyone had the right to buy stuff from them. Imagine they […]
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Letter to the editor: Amendment 1 is a gift to big corporations in Iowa
By Pat Bowen, Iowa City On Election Day, we will be asked to amend the state constitution. It is called: Amendment 1. It may sound good on the surface but it isn’t. It does not mean fewer or decreased taxes for the average Iowan. Amendment 1 is backed by big corporations and their lobbyists who want […]
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Letter from Mandi Remington: We can build a safer public safety system without settling for the first plan
By Mandi Remington, Johnson County Supervisor Johnson County cannot afford to ignore the serious problems with our current jail. People who are incarcerated deserve safe and humane conditions. The people who work in our detention facilities deserve safe working conditions. And our community deserves a public safety system that is effective, accountable, and built around […]
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Letter from Oliver Weilein: The proposed jail would bankrupt efforts to end homelessness in Johnson County
By Oliver Weilein, Iowa City Council member On Nov. 3, I will be voting No on authorizing Johnson County to borrow $94.5 million dollars (plus approximately $30 million in interest) for the purpose of building a new, bigger jail. I strongly urge my neighbors and fellow community members to vote No as well. There are many […]
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Letter from Mandi Remington: Guaranteed income helps Iowa families focus on what matters
By Mandi Remington, Iowa City Most of us want the same basic thing for our families: to know that our children are safe, fed, and cared for, and that one unexpected expense won’t send the whole household into crisis. I know what it feels like when that security isn’t there. Seven years ago, I left […]
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Letter to the editor: Will Republicans vote for a Democrat?
By Paul Deaton, Solon It is a commonplace of 2026 Iowa Democratic campaigns that candidates must appeal beyond party lines. With the registration numbers (only 527,675, or 29 percent, of Iowa’s 1,807,752 active registered voters are Democrats), winning non-Democratic votes is essential. My question is whether Republicans will actually vote for a Democrat. It is […]
