HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-02-06 Proclamationr I City of Iowa City
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, Home Rule is essential to effective and responsive municipalgovernance in
Iowa and provides flexibility to make decisions at the local level, where decisions are
made closest to the people they impact and can be tailored to fit local conditions, needs
and concerns in order to better serve taxpayers;
Whereas, the City of Iowa City supports Home Rule and the powers it provides to
make local decisions that best reflect the residents of our community;
Whereas, the citizens of Iowa approved the adoption of Home Rule in the Constitution
of Iowa on November 5, 1968;
Whereas, this is the 50`h year of municipal Home Rule in Iowa;
Whereas, Home Rule continues to be vital to the health and prosperity of all cities in
Iowa;
Now, therefore, I, James A. Throgmorton, Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby recognize
The 50th Anniversary
of Municipal Home Rule in Iowa
and proudly support its continued authority.
M or
Signed in Iowa City, Iowa,
this 6"' day of February 2018
City of Iowa City
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, since 1976, February has been designated as a month in which we celebrate
the rich legacy of African-Americans and their many contributions to this country; and
Whereas, Iowa City can count among its past and present residents many African-
American leaders, educators, and social justice pioneers of state and national prominence.
They include Frederick "Duke" Slater, a University of Iowa football player who went on
to became a judge of the Superior Court of Cook County, Illinois; Phillip G. Hubbard, a
University of Iowa professor and administrator who was the first African-American
faculty member at the University of Iowa, the first African-American administrator at any
of Iowa's state universities, and the first African-American vice president at a Big 10
university; and last, but not least, Helen Lemme and Elizabeth "Betty" Tate, both of
whom were social and civic leaders who have had Iowa City Community schools named
after them; and
Whereas, in an effort to preserve African-American history, the City of Iowa City
recently received a grant from the National Park Service to preserve two homes: the Iowa
Federation Home, located at 942 Iowa Avenue, and the Tate Arms Home, located at 914
S. Dubuque Street. Both homes represent a time when the University of Iowa did not
allow Black students to reside on campus and the Black community here took it upon
itself to provide places for Black students to live; and
Whereas, the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission is currently working
towards getting these properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and
thereby to solidify their importance as historic landmarks associated with the struggle to
ensure housing equality for Black students in Iowa City; and
Whereas, during Black History Month all are encouraged to reflect on past successes
and challenges and look to the future to continue to improve society so that we live up to
the ideals of freedom, equality and justice.
Now, Therefore, I, James A. Throgmorton, Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby proclaim
the month of February 2018 to be
Black History Month
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M or
Signed in Iowa City, Iowa,
this 6th day of February 2018.