Letters to the editor: Iowa City school board members have hurt children; vote them out

Iowa City school board members have hurt children; vote them out

I am writing to endorse Micah Broekemeier,Jacob Onken and Robert Decker for Iowa City Community School District board on Nov. 7. I have found these candidates to exhibit the highest level of pro-family positions. These candidates represent a return to a educational system where parents are involved and our students are the district's No. 1 priority.

Our current board has become a group of political activists who put their political positions ahead of our kids.

The current board joined the teachers union in a suit against the governor to keep our kids out of school.

As more information became available as to the risk for our kids, the board choose political science rather than medical science to keep their authoritarian polices in place and our kids out of school

The current board supported fewer limits on who uses our daughters' bathrooms and locker rooms. Discipline in our schools is out of control. Talk with your child about what is happening in their school.

Ask your child any school-related question that you think they should be able to answer. Pay attention to your child's answer.

It will take years for our children to recover from the damage the board caused our kids with their policies.

It's time to clean house

Tim Borchardt, Iowa City

Black-and-white thinking on war is unhelpful

I sent the following message to President Joe Biden:

"The attack on Israel by Hamas was horrific — and wrong — but Hamas does not represent all Palestinians, just as Benjamin Netanyahu does not represent all Israelis. I am a Jew — well aware of the long history of antisemitism, and the fact that there are countries and organizations surrounding Israel that openly want it destroyed. But one thing is certain: Killing innocent Palestinians will not make Israelis more safe; it plants the seeds for more hatred and more killing. It is right and proper for the US to 'stand with Israel,' but it is wrong to do so without calling out the current bombing and blockade of Gaza for what it is: genocide. I urge you to withhold all monetary and military support for Israel as long as it continues this campaign against innocent Gazans. It sickens me to think that my country — my taxes — are supporting this war."

I urge any of you who feel the same way I do to do the same. More importantly, I urge all of us to refrain from the black-and-white thinking that leads to treating a group of people, be they Palestinans, Israelis, Democrats, Republicans, whatever, as "less than." We are all human beings and we all deserve to be treated with honesty and respect.

Peter Rolnick, Iowa City

Pauline Taylor listens to constituents across Iowa City

If you’ve driven up Rochester Avenue in Iowa City to see the results of the reconstruction project, you know what a hot mess it is. Almost everyone in the neighborhood signed a petition against the project as it currently exists.

The only two members on the City Council who listened to the affected neighbors and cared about their concerns were Pauline Taylor and John Thomas. They visited the project site, talked with neighbors, and tried to get the council to make modifications to the overengineered and wasteful project, which has done irreparable damage to many properties. This is one of the reasons we will be voting for Pauline Taylor and not Laura Bergus come Nov. 7.

Michael Hovland and Nancy Jones, Iowa City

Broad support highlights Mandi Remington's quality

Mandi Remington, Iowa City Council candidate, has attracted endorsements from local, state, and national groups and individuals. These endorsements help voters learn about her excellent work and the policies she is pursuing.

Elinor Levin and V Fixmer-Oraiz are local elected officials supporting Remington because they know her personal story and her advocacy for those on the margins in Iowa City. Sikowis Nobiss and Jenny Britton are residents who have worked alongside Remington in local groups dedicated to addressing concerns such as truth and reconciliation, police reform, civil rights, food security, affordable housing, and other causes. Remington also has the support of Hani Elkadi, who has known her since she was a young teen.

SEIU, the union for UI Hospital nurses and other employees, endorsed Remington because she is committed to policies that support local workers. The Iowa Democratic Party Progressive Caucus and Iowa Unity Coalition are statewide groups that know Remington’s work as founder of Corridor Community Action Network, organizing locally to strengthen community and support people in need.

Remington is the only candidate to win endorsements from national groups, including Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Run For Something. Not only does Remington share their progressive policies, but they know her work. MoveOn also recognized her advocacy by awarding her with a full scholarship to their recent 25th anniversary summit.

I encourage you to follow the advice of these endorsers and vote for Mandi Remington for City Council.

Sean McRoberts, Iowa City

Copper is critical for the US energy transition

EVs, solar panels and wind turbines rely on copper. Producing it in the US, in a historic mine in the Copper Triangle of Arizona, is the best way to ensure the copper we need is produced under the highest ESG standards.

Resolution Copper in Arizona has undergone a 10-year co-design, consultation and permitting process. Along with other strategic and critical minerals, Resolution is expected to produce up to 25% of US copper demand each year. There has been extensive consultation, coordination, and collaboration with local communities and Native American tribes and their collective voices drove major changes to avoid ancestral sites, preserve and safeguard special areas and safeguard the local environment.

There is a growing need for raw materials. The US is nearly 50% net import reliant on copper. The infrastructure at Resolution will deliver critical minerals required to meet our country’s growing need. If we want to reach our net zero goals, domestic production is a vital resource.

The evolution towards a greener future can coexist with domestic copper production. Comprehensive regulations to protect ecosystems, cultural heritage, enabled with new technology innovation, and community agreements are now the standard for the US copper industry.

Vicky Peacey, president and general manager at Resolution Copper

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Letters: ICCSD school board members have hurt children; vote them out