03
Mar
2004
Once again, the "Best of the Quad Cities" has revealed that something is seriously wrong with the taste buds of our residents. (See River Cities' Reader Issue 464, February 18-24, 2004.) To have Red Lobster listed as number one in the best seafood category makes this obvious. This is a restaurant chain, people! Their food is spawned in ponds, frozen, and microwaved before it hits your table. At least Biaggi's has fresh fish flown in occasionally. I wonder why more of the small "mom and pop" places are not listed under the top three "bests." To have fast-food chains listed there is a serious statement about the lacking spirit of exploration here. As a transplant from a major metropolitan area, I have found many wonderful surprises in the Quad Cities when it comes to food, but these are locally owned and operated businesses. As one who delights in good food and spirits, I urge everyone in the QCs to be adventurous in seeking these things.
Laura Abbruzzese
Rock Island
Stop Cobblestone Development, Not John Lewis
As a person who has worked 23 years for organizations committed to helping working families of modest means realize their dreams of home ownership, I have been following with keen interest the story of the proposed Cobblestone development. (See "Cobblestone Terrace Negotiations Die," River Cities' Reader Issue 460, January 21-27, 2004.)
The positives of successful home ownership are well documented, and it is commendable to help families achieve that goal. The question, of course, is what is the preferred path to achieve this goal?
At approximately $240,000 a unit for a relatively small home (1,150 square feet), would another approach serve better all those involved?
It's safe to assume that there are enough abandoned and/or distressed properties in the central city that could benefit from the $2.4 million proposed to erect 10 new units. Assuming purchase/rehab costs of $100,000 per unit, John Lewis Community Services could make more than twice as many units available and at the same time address other urban concerns.
The families could get more home with a much smaller mortgage. Neighbors would be grateful to the developer for addressing rundown properties in their midst. City fathers and others interested in the wise use of public funds should be interested in and encourage investigating such approaches. Scattered sites have many advantages.
The suggested course may be more problematic to develop. Gaining site control on several properties and developing separate work write-ups is more difficult than a cookie-cutter approach. These difficulties, however, are not insurmountable considering the potential gain.
Stop John Lewis? No. Their goal of helping families become home owners is laudable. Stop the Cobblestone project as proposed? Yes. Concerned citizens have an obligation to challenge John Lewis to re-think its current proposal.
Chris Ericksen
Davenport
Another Nail in the Coffin of the American Experiment
Presidents Bush and Fox (of Mexico) support construction of a European Union-style continental government, which begins next year with the completion of the so-called Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Amnesty programs for illegal immigrants dovetail with the FTAA plan and will accelerate the erosion of our southern border and amalgamation of our country with Mexico. In fact, amnesty for illegals as prescribed by President Bush must occur first in order for the FTAA agenda to succeed.
Thus at a time when our nation's manufacturing economy is reeling, our communities are suffering from unemployment, and our homeland is menaced by terrorism, Bush and his congressional allies plan to reward millions of foreign criminals in our midst in order to curry favor with a hostile government (Mexico) and advance our nation's descent into a regional government. Our nation's sovereignty will be gone.
Hard to believe? Not really. Not when one realizes that both the Republican and Democratic parties have been selling us out for years. The FTAA will be another nail in the coffin of the American experiment if Congress approves the measure. Americans must tell Congress today to vote "no" on amnesty for illegals and to stop the FTAA.
Donald W. Jones
Davenport
Garbage Fees Not Necessary
So, the Davenport aldermen say job cuts aren't necessary, that the taxpayers and property owners will have to bear the brunt of the budget deficit. I think the aldermen should listen to the taxpayers this time.
What have they done to make our community a better place to live and work? What have they done to keep costs under control? Did they think that the economic boom of the mid- to late-90's was going to last forever? Did they plan to put aside any extra money for when the economic tables turned? Was there ever any extra money, or was it just spend, spend, spend?
Supposedly, the operating expenses of the city are separate from the capital improvement (River Renaissance, 53rd & Eastern, etc.) expenses and that money from one segment can't be used to cover deficits in the other. Sorry, that reasoning doesn't fly with the taxpayers. If you can't afford to operate the city, then you sure as hell can't afford to build new buildings.
These city leaders want to impose a garbage tax that covers trash and recycleables pickup. We already pay to have our recycleables picked up! Check your "sewer" bill. It's been reported that City Administrator Craig Malin has been given a huge raise, yet the city doesn't have $$$ to cover this raise, so let's charge the citizens for garbage collection. From now on in Davenport, the garbage fees will be associated with Mr. Malin's raise. The garbage fee will be known as the Malin tax. What's next? A vehicle tax (window sticker)? A mailbox fee? Streetlight and fire hydrant assessments?
These same city leaders are trying to attract people to live in Davenport - especially northeast Davenport - with all the new homes, townhouses, condos and senior housing. What does that area have to offer? NO SCHOOLS, NO PARKS, just tremendous over-commercialism. If you live north of 53rd and Jersey Ridge, the closest elementary schools are Eisenhower (at least 2 miles away), Garfield (3 miles) and Harrison (2.5 miles). Parks? Forget about it. Churches, a few. Police? Yeah, right, they're based 5.5 miles away. At least there is a fire station near Krispy Kreme, IHOP, Wendys, Dairy Queen, Quiznos, Arbys, DJs Ribs, Subway, Village Inn, Steak 'n Shake, Taco Bell, Hungry Hobo, Golden Corral, etc.
Remember the public protests at Palmer a few weeks ago? That was nothing compared to when the people of Davenport decide to march on 4th and Harrison and bring traffic and commerce to a halt.
Effective immediately, the city should sell all of the assets that don't deal directly with the governing of our city (empty buildings, extra vehicles, etc.). They should cease with any and all "surveys" and "studies." There should be no tax breaks given to any new or existing business or commercial development; let them pay their fair share, instead of the taxpayers overpaying. The city employees should have to cover more of the costs of their insurances, just like the rest of us do. I can't believe that $20 out of their pocket covers a whole month of health insurance for their family. Turn off city vehicles when they're not in use. Avoid duplication of services between departments, between the city and county offices, and the city and state offices. Sell the historic city hall building and move into any one of the empty boxes throughout Davenport. Any other suggestions? Send them to your alderman, the aldermen-at-large and/or to Mayor Brooke.
Richard K. Martin
Davenport
Laura Abbruzzese
Rock Island
Stop Cobblestone Development, Not John Lewis
As a person who has worked 23 years for organizations committed to helping working families of modest means realize their dreams of home ownership, I have been following with keen interest the story of the proposed Cobblestone development. (See "Cobblestone Terrace Negotiations Die," River Cities' Reader Issue 460, January 21-27, 2004.)
The positives of successful home ownership are well documented, and it is commendable to help families achieve that goal. The question, of course, is what is the preferred path to achieve this goal?
At approximately $240,000 a unit for a relatively small home (1,150 square feet), would another approach serve better all those involved?
It's safe to assume that there are enough abandoned and/or distressed properties in the central city that could benefit from the $2.4 million proposed to erect 10 new units. Assuming purchase/rehab costs of $100,000 per unit, John Lewis Community Services could make more than twice as many units available and at the same time address other urban concerns.
The families could get more home with a much smaller mortgage. Neighbors would be grateful to the developer for addressing rundown properties in their midst. City fathers and others interested in the wise use of public funds should be interested in and encourage investigating such approaches. Scattered sites have many advantages.
The suggested course may be more problematic to develop. Gaining site control on several properties and developing separate work write-ups is more difficult than a cookie-cutter approach. These difficulties, however, are not insurmountable considering the potential gain.
Stop John Lewis? No. Their goal of helping families become home owners is laudable. Stop the Cobblestone project as proposed? Yes. Concerned citizens have an obligation to challenge John Lewis to re-think its current proposal.
Chris Ericksen
Davenport
Another Nail in the Coffin of the American Experiment
Presidents Bush and Fox (of Mexico) support construction of a European Union-style continental government, which begins next year with the completion of the so-called Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Amnesty programs for illegal immigrants dovetail with the FTAA plan and will accelerate the erosion of our southern border and amalgamation of our country with Mexico. In fact, amnesty for illegals as prescribed by President Bush must occur first in order for the FTAA agenda to succeed.
Thus at a time when our nation's manufacturing economy is reeling, our communities are suffering from unemployment, and our homeland is menaced by terrorism, Bush and his congressional allies plan to reward millions of foreign criminals in our midst in order to curry favor with a hostile government (Mexico) and advance our nation's descent into a regional government. Our nation's sovereignty will be gone.
Hard to believe? Not really. Not when one realizes that both the Republican and Democratic parties have been selling us out for years. The FTAA will be another nail in the coffin of the American experiment if Congress approves the measure. Americans must tell Congress today to vote "no" on amnesty for illegals and to stop the FTAA.
Donald W. Jones
Davenport
Garbage Fees Not Necessary
So, the Davenport aldermen say job cuts aren't necessary, that the taxpayers and property owners will have to bear the brunt of the budget deficit. I think the aldermen should listen to the taxpayers this time.
What have they done to make our community a better place to live and work? What have they done to keep costs under control? Did they think that the economic boom of the mid- to late-90's was going to last forever? Did they plan to put aside any extra money for when the economic tables turned? Was there ever any extra money, or was it just spend, spend, spend?
Supposedly, the operating expenses of the city are separate from the capital improvement (River Renaissance, 53rd & Eastern, etc.) expenses and that money from one segment can't be used to cover deficits in the other. Sorry, that reasoning doesn't fly with the taxpayers. If you can't afford to operate the city, then you sure as hell can't afford to build new buildings.
These city leaders want to impose a garbage tax that covers trash and recycleables pickup. We already pay to have our recycleables picked up! Check your "sewer" bill. It's been reported that City Administrator Craig Malin has been given a huge raise, yet the city doesn't have $$$ to cover this raise, so let's charge the citizens for garbage collection. From now on in Davenport, the garbage fees will be associated with Mr. Malin's raise. The garbage fee will be known as the Malin tax. What's next? A vehicle tax (window sticker)? A mailbox fee? Streetlight and fire hydrant assessments?
These same city leaders are trying to attract people to live in Davenport - especially northeast Davenport - with all the new homes, townhouses, condos and senior housing. What does that area have to offer? NO SCHOOLS, NO PARKS, just tremendous over-commercialism. If you live north of 53rd and Jersey Ridge, the closest elementary schools are Eisenhower (at least 2 miles away), Garfield (3 miles) and Harrison (2.5 miles). Parks? Forget about it. Churches, a few. Police? Yeah, right, they're based 5.5 miles away. At least there is a fire station near Krispy Kreme, IHOP, Wendys, Dairy Queen, Quiznos, Arbys, DJs Ribs, Subway, Village Inn, Steak 'n Shake, Taco Bell, Hungry Hobo, Golden Corral, etc.
Remember the public protests at Palmer a few weeks ago? That was nothing compared to when the people of Davenport decide to march on 4th and Harrison and bring traffic and commerce to a halt.
Effective immediately, the city should sell all of the assets that don't deal directly with the governing of our city (empty buildings, extra vehicles, etc.). They should cease with any and all "surveys" and "studies." There should be no tax breaks given to any new or existing business or commercial development; let them pay their fair share, instead of the taxpayers overpaying. The city employees should have to cover more of the costs of their insurances, just like the rest of us do. I can't believe that $20 out of their pocket covers a whole month of health insurance for their family. Turn off city vehicles when they're not in use. Avoid duplication of services between departments, between the city and county offices, and the city and state offices. Sell the historic city hall building and move into any one of the empty boxes throughout Davenport. Any other suggestions? Send them to your alderman, the aldermen-at-large and/or to Mayor Brooke.
Richard K. Martin
Davenport
