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Home My WebLink About1977-04-19 Correspondence76 ADLAI STEVENSON: A STUDY IN VALUES citizens is to create an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust which is neither justified, healthy nor consistent with our traditions. . Basically, the effect of this legislation, then, will be less the detection of subversives and more'lhe in-imid::!ion of honest citizens. But we cannot suppress thought and expression and .reserve the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. o All this Stevenson would have to say over and over in the year' ahead, when an active concern for the Bill of Rights was identified as an un-American activity. Of his other veto messages, mostly dealing! with relatively trivial legislation, a Few may illustrate his habit of; getting down to basic principles. A bill providing for state regulation of trailer camps, some of which were creating a health problem, heti rejected because it conflicted with a cherished principle: "If load' government refuses to accept and discharge its responsibilities, die � people will have only themselves to blame for the expansion Of central, and the shrinkage and impotence of local, governments." A'@ routine logrolling bill that gave some legislator a new bridge in hist district he denounced as incompatible with a businesslike administrec tion of the highway system, a principle supposed), dear to ncpubli-'F: cans. Of a bill that made it a criminal offense for any person to sell s motor vehicle on Sunday he asked, why not newspapers and ice cream+q cones? Why should any business group with political pull be allowed mss, to dictate the hours of business of its competitors? "Surely surh,d restrictive legislation as this is not compatible with our earnest mnvit tions and constant proclamations about the merits of free enterprise, uk Stevenson found outrageous a bill obviously designed to in vola by to granting a blanket raise in old -age perrsions, without providing the.', necessary funds: "Perhaps such cynicism is good politics, but it seertu" to me cruel as well as fiscally irrespunsihh, and, may I add, futile, , to tine extent that its objective was political intimidation of the r Governor." Another of his best-known veto messages illustrates the novef�' humor for which Stevenson was not vet iv!lilically suspect Over then years legislators had regularly introduced solemn bills restricting the movement of cats. In disapproving the latest of these he wrote: 9 Apprenticeship in Politics: Governor o/ Illinois 77 I cannot agree that it should be the declared public policy of Illinois I' that a cat visiting a neighbor's yard or crossing the highway is a public .v; nuisance. It is in the nature of cats to do a certain amount of unescorted sh. roaming, Many live with their owners in apartments or other restricted premises, and I doubt if we want to make their very brief foray an op- portunity for a small game hunt by zealous citizens.... Moreover, cats perform useful service, particularly in the rural areas, in combating k, rodents—work they necessarily perform alone and without regard for party lines... . We are all interested in protecting certain varieties of birds. That cats can destroy some birds, I well know, but I believe this legislation '+! would further but little the worthy cause to which its proponents give such unselfish effort. The problem of cat versus bird is as old as time. rr If we attempt to resolve it by legislation, who knows but what we may be called upon to take sides as well in the age-old problem of dog t versus cat, bird versus bird, even bird versus worm. In my opinion, the State of Illinois and the local governing bodies already have enough to do without trying to control feline delinquency. Newspapers rejoiced in this message (though I have neglected to look up a possible editorial in the Chicago Tribune). For the rest Stevenson kept busy on the side in his mission of educating the people—pocketbook, heart, and head. He supplemented omsional fireside dials on the radio with a column on state govern- ment that was accepted by over 250 weeklies. lie gave many talks salt over the state, prefaced by jokes and homely anecdotes he tau "reminded of," in the manner of after-dinner speakers, but nettling down to a patient explanation of state problems. lie got -along well with the small local groups that provided most of his audiences, and from all reports made a good impression on them; `.though newspapers commented on his unusual vocabulary, it appears 'Ihat fest' voters except those who took their gospel from the Tribune dismissed him as a cookie -pusher or an egghead. To young people, as sit Commencement exercises, he often expounded a theme that to him fleaer hackrreyccl You love a respzomihilily to acquaint yourselves with the political life of your community, to interest yourselves in the selection of condi• r] V\�L\ va Cl JOHNSON COUNTY Apkit. 14, 1977 Alayoa. Many Neuhauzek Iowa City Civic Centek 410 East Washington Stkeet Iowa City, IA 52240 Dean Mayon Neuhausek: e 1060 William Street P.O. Box 1517 Iowa City, Iowa 52240 319/338.7823 FJLE0 R I41977 ABBIE STOLI=US CITY CLERK It ha.s come to the attention o6 .the Ptann.ing Division o6 United Way that an appticatdon has been made to HUD by a pn.ivate devetopek bon constkuctdon o6 the Winding Ckeelz Apartments, .in which 50 o6 the 96 un.Cts would kecet.ve Section 8 assistance. We ate awake o6 some o6 the pkobtems which akose .in the Malek IV Apaktmentz, adjoining this site and undek the same management. We beet that many o6 these pkobtemz weke Zntens.i6.ied by the tach o6 space and 6ac.it.it.tez bon keekeat.ionaC and zoc.iat activities .in the complex. When, a6tek much e66ont by nes.idents and othek concerned peksonz, some o6 these 6ac.itit.iez weke pkov.ided, pkobtemz tessened and the quat.ity o6 tt6e .in the pkojeet impkoved. Atthough ptane 6ok Winding Ckeeh do .inctude a swimming poot, .it w.itt be usabte onty a smatt palet o6 the yeah. and woutd .in auk judgment not constitute an adequate pkov.is.ion 60k sociat and keckeat.Conat needs. We kecogn.ize the need 6ok adddt.ionat subsidized housing .in ouk com- munity and hope that .in ptann.ing 6ok .it att the needs o6 the kes.idents o6 such housing witt be taken .into cona.idekat.ion. We woutd appkee.iate youk 4nctud.ing theee comments o6 the Ptann4ng D.iv.is.i,on with communications you may have with HUD. Sinccn ety, Faith Knowtek, Cha.ikpekson Ptann.ing Division i UT 0 • 2 • • CIVIC CE111ER. 410E WASHINGTON 5T. IOWA 1933 IOWA S2210 ]19351.1800 %L • May 2, 1977 Ms. Faith Knowler, Chairperson Planning Division United Way of Johnson County 1060 William Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Dear Ms. Knowler: Your letter to the Mayor, dated April 14, regarding the Winding Creek Apartments has been referred to the Department of Community Development for reply. I appreciate the concern for adequate recreational and social facilities which you express. The City has filed a statement with HUD regarding the Winding Creek plans. The statement made note of the problems in the area, but provided a qualified recommendation for approval, based on the mix of subsidized and non -subsidized units, and the occurrence of substantial other development in the area. The City specifically reserved the opportunity to revise these continents if the plans for Winding Creek are changed. Because this department shares your concern regarding the adequacy of social and recreational opportunity within Iowa City, I will be glad to forward your comments to HUD in future correspondence. Very truly yours, A04,41tm Dennis R. Kraft Director Department of Community Development DRK:sc from the desks of the CITY CLERK'S OFFICE Heft to FELE '$tra.etttQ a�tapoxdcdi U � d.a#sd N j is17 7 ►�.. kox6 . A, A. -W-4 � 'Dq�id GNua�F, V • 'g►cu � ck.► 799' Bicyclists of Iowa City_ BOX 841 IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240 April 12, 1977 Attached is a rough draft of the changes we feel should be made in the proposed Title 6 of the city code. The comments are neither complete nor comprehensive, but do cover those points we feel are most important. Also attached is an excerpt from the 2>:d jal_Re a ar noting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Highway Administration are proposing Federal standards that would require the recognition of bicycles as vehicles and subjecting the bicyclist to the same roles of the road as the motorist. Most comments on the proposal have been in favor of this stance. We remain ready at any time to answer any questions on our viewpoints, and are interested in anything which will increase the -viability of the bicycle a.s a means of transportation. cerely :L Levid L. Christ Secretary RR3 Box 76 Iowa City, Iowa 5224:1 fs:.1L:._ - Li= U-" CITY CL: -RK 799 r 0 UTO ref -es/ co t., 1�7'- Vehicle code, 6.01.20 StartinL-: with rails, change to "rails, except vehicles moved coley by human power." UVC 1-134 6.01.33 Replace period with ",exclusive of the sidewalk, berm or shoulder even though such sidewalk, berm or shoulder is used by persons riding bicycles or other human powered vehicles." UVC 1-158 6.01.45 Strike "excepting devices moved by human power," UVC 1-184 6.04.01 Chanre possible to practicable. This will require slow bicycle riders to keep right, but allows the fast rider to choose a proper and safe position in the street, 6.04.07 Add "This section shall not apply to bicycles except as otherwise prohibited in this title." 6.04.13 Add "A signal by hand and arm need not be given continuously if the hand is needed in the control or operation of Yrs a bicycle." UVC 11-1208 6.07.03 Strike word "motor" in filet line. ' 6.12.11 Replace section with "Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of road- ways set aside for theSp exclusive use of bicycles. Person riding two abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a land roadway, sha11 ride witain a since lane." LNC 11-1205 F U CITY CLLR%K 0 . 6.12.13 Add subpart "This section shall not prohibitattaching a bicycle trailer or bicyclesemi.trailer to a bicycle if that trailer or semitrailer has been designed for such attachment." UVC 11-1204 6.14.10 Add "Q. Bike lane." 0 u FEDERAL RE6n1ER, VOL 41•—NO. I5-71uus:%Y, JAI:L'A:A 22, 1976 [ 23 CFR Part 2204 1 113 cket No. 7140; Notice 31 HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM STANDARDS Pedakyclist Safety Most commD ents to the ovket, how- tt' rn seer com`1nin ie rrv;kn sal ttcde.:^cit esfety_ r s. 1e were run:<rous Cntm!ler: AMeen Pe- destrian End CvcL'st activity c:tcd, such lis tmi.n'n r ter•hnttues and t'r� ct croups. 11 the Ftnndardr are con^.Lined, ene, or both, furctfonel prorranu ^..ey suffer. Separte st atidard< also (,l;% -:. Ac the need to Elmvanco•-sl- resort: the Pedestrian standard. Ccnsequrntly. 8 Is nmi,osed that the eyeL':t a.•td tede:trinn safety E 11car_. : of be;Tm—Itcd. s. Lepisfatfun—unflarneffy of Ieios and rules of the road.,An overwhelming me- fority, of comments to o: Uc .117M., Issue Ca a nab yC at lin a lo- mocis linifor Iity of laws or OpMo.- • i 4 Stall L aeua6 ons bile miu yaes resulted in the Inclusion of this e!enlent In the standard. To I.onfornt their mace to that of the proposed standard, gnrty-�nng: Ftrtce oldbo rc aired to Inrludr bl:fcics 1 Nr, a nye ra ❑ tr. r u .-m u vn- 1 fir. Ina, per. emis open- Ile, pt(Tq - cyces on the shoulder or oiM:r P,ra within the highw•aY right-of-way, in- cluding sidewalks unit drivermys, would be affected by lheso chanPes. Aamnxbnatciy 20 nerceu" of IL•e rem- - I,9c rr in favorof tU icclle: cer;ma to I Ir cn um ru yc R re r::a :m sudor eebid6 Duero .It i, Intln• nm, that cent unlandnu•nW to Ulu Vi tme- 10 Coac c cent Ili it cvr ,n bate ratio will.Luba tow"111AeUlu ur4, NHTSA realizes that States need flexi- bility In their proin'amming efforts and that wire nature and magnitude of Pedal - cycling safety probleins and programs vary between and tdthin the States. Where must he, howeier. generally nn- lic•able stational requirements to aid all highway users by allowing Limn to antic- inate uniformity and ronststencv as they move from Jurkdic".0 to jurisdiction. Further, the legtdMmandate found in 23 U.S.C. 402 that the standards must In- clude Pectoral bicyclist safety require- ments expressed In terms of pertoratsucc, criteria It clear and Incoutravertible. - A. Ib U'rullic laws slid Ordlnunces. way Safety Rngnuu SLu"dl,rd No. a. MEARDON, SUEPPEL, DOWNER & HAYES WILLIAM L.MEARDON LAWYERS WILLIAM I. SU EPPEL ROBERT N. DOWNER 100 SOUTH LINN STRCET JAMES P.HAYES IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240 JAMES O,MCCARRAGHER THOMAS J. CI LEN MARK T. HI.MER THOMAS O.HOBART MARGARET T. LAINSON April 19, 1977 City Council City of Iowa City City Administration Building Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Re: Proposed Flood Plain Ordinance Ladies and Gentlemen: TELEPHONE 338-9222 AREA CODE 319 On behalf of Duane Bolton, E. F. Lindquist and myself, as well as several other clients represented by this law firm, I respectfully object to the enactment of the proposed Flood Plain Ordinance which you now have before you for consideration. Our objections to the Ordinance are: 1. It constitutes a "taking" of property under the provisions of the Constitution without the payment of just compensation. If the Ordinance is for the benefit of the public generally (as opposed to being for the benefit of those it specifically affects) , the public should pay the cost of it and not the involved property owners. It is our opinion that a "taking" is involved rather than a proper exercise of the police power. 2. The provisions of the Ordinance are discriminatory, unreason- able and arbitrary. For example, it is difficult to understand why a It pro- bability (based upon a fictional 100 year flood experience) has been selected. Respectfully submitted, IAly1 WLhi/sc B rr. APR119 r1 ?!9 F71 LI ABBIE STOLF;. C?TY CM:QV go3 co -AI. -Cr •,, 401e CIVIC CENTER. 110E WASHINGTON ST IOWA CITY. IOWA 52240 Ij 319354 -IM O IOW CRL'. r..wr rur May 2, 1977 William M. Meardon Meardon, Sueppel, Downer $ Hayes 100 S. Linn St. Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear W. Meardon: At the regular Council meeting of April 19, received and placed on file a copy of your the proposed flood plain ordinance. This 1 a part of the public hearing. Thank you fo concern to the City Council on this matter. of any additional service to you, please do let me ]mow. / ce ly, / eal City Manager — NDB: bac the City Council .etter opposed to atter was made expressing your IfIcan be not hesitate to -2