What are the Odds?

In case you didn't see it yesterday, retired teacher and all around good guy, Hani Elkadi, devoted one of his regular columns in the Press Citizen to what he called the 

 "Interests and Passions of Council Candidates."

Basically he sent a questionnaire asking about favorite or most admired leaders, books, movies, music and more. I replied quickly to try to get my most honest answers and not over-think it. Below is what I said, with links to find out more if you're interested.

What struck me when I read the article is that fellow ICCSD teacher, and Hills Mayor, Tim Kemp, had listed the very same obscure, 1980 independent Australian movie, Breaker Morant, that I had. Figuring that Hani had made an unfortunate copy/paste error, I didn't think more of it, until Tim came to the school district's ESC last night for the Johnson County Inter-governmental Meeting, he asked how I had answered the movie question, and sure enough we BOTH had listed that as our favorite movie, as I say in the post title: What are the odds?
My only (mild) criticism of Hani's article is that he left off favorite color, even though  he asked.

1. As a potential councilor, what do you consider the most urgent environmental issue in your City?

Improving non-car commuting for workers

2. What do you stand regarding the issue of legalization and/or decriminalization of recreational use of marijuana even as a medicinal drug?

I would favor decriminalization

3. What are your favorites in the following:

● Leadership models, males and females (political, philosophical, social,environmental,...etc)

U.S. Political Senator Paul Simon

Philosophical John Dewey

Social Dorothy Day

Environmental Norman Borlaug

● Books (fiction, nonfiction)

FICTION: Lloyd Alexander, John Irving

NONFICTION: People’s Almanac

● Poet  Carl Sandburg, link to one of my favorites of  his poems

● Music folk/bluegrass

● Song EricBogle’s “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda”

● Movie Breaker Morant

● Actor and Actress

                ACTOR Daniel Day Lewis

                ACTRESS Helen Slater

● Comedian Steve Martin (who is also a phenomenal banjo player)

● Painter Marvin Cone

● Color Plaid

● Sport you practice now- recreational biking, formerly rugby

● Sport you attend or watch Wrestling

Iowa Millenials, What it Means for U-Heights

From today's Press Citizen, a thoughtful guest opinion:

State leaders must recognize the 'driving boom' is over

Guest Opinion

Between World War II and 2004, drivers consistently traveled more vehicle miles virtually every year — so it’s no surprise that our policymakers expect that trend to continue about as much as they expect the sun to rise in morning, and act accordingly.
But hold onto your seatbelt — I’m here to announce that the Driving Boom is over.
A new study by Iowa Public Interest Research Group (Iowa PIRG) confirms that our driving is in decline, particularly among younger age groups. As a country, we now drive fewer total miles today than we did eight years ago, and fewer per person miles than we did at the end of Bill Clinton’s first term.
Have no fear. The sun will still rise. But our political leaders need to re-assess our transportation priorities to reflect changing trends. When policy views are out of touch with reality, it is policy that must change.
Why the change now? Simply, the Millennial generation.
Millennials, people born between 1983 and 2000, are already the largest generation in the United States and their choices will play a crucial role in determining future transportation infrastructure needs.

University Heights Needs to Move Forward--Press Citizen Guest Opinion

This Guest Opinion appeared in the Iowa City Press Citizen on August 29, 2011

As a citizen who attended the recent work session for the University Heights City Council, I would like to offer my observations.

This work session was called after discussion of the 34 points in the Maxwell Developer's Agreement was deferred at the Aug. 9 regular council meeting. Based on the progress that occurred at this work session, I feel the citizens of University Heights have finally received a great deal of clarity about One University Place and what it will offer.

Guest Editorial: University Heights TIF Has Benefits

The following guest editorial ran in the Iowa City Press Citizen on August 2, 2011. Since that time the following changes have occurred:

• The project has shrunk 12 units to a total of 67 through a 30 foot reduction in each building. Having fewer units would reduce the amount of revenue generated.
• The city office space portion of the commercial space would be 2,500 sq. ft. finished.
• The amount of TIF requested was reduced by $2 million dollars to $6.5 million.
• The rebate amount decreased from 20% to 10%.
• The developer has asked that the TIF request not be considered until after the PUD is closer to approval.

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Aug. 2. 2011 Guest Editorial
University Heights TIF has benefits

Tax increment financing and University Heights have certainly been in the news lately. Here are some points to keep in mind as you read/listen to the stories in the local media.

No. 1: Hills and University Heights are the only two municipalities in Johnson County who have never granted a TIF. The vast majority of tax dollars committed to TIF projects are done through municipal bonding. Most TIF’s take 100 percent of taxes collected.

No. 2: The One University Place TIF proposal is a "rebate" type of proposal in which the developer receives back a portion of the property tax collected on One University Place only after the sites are constructed and paying property taxes. In this proposal 80 percent of the taxes generated by the sites would be rebated back to the developer up to a total of around $8 million dollars over a period 14 years. This means that 20 percent of the taxes collected would be available immediately for the entities to which they are due: University Heights, the Iowa City School District and Johnson County.