en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/614606 Comments by CRNATIVE http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/New-Time-Check-Recreation-Center-Moving-Forward-120255984.html#IDComment144492764 Funding for this? - not a question I think our city leaders have ever really been concerned with. Kind of reminds me of a group of children running the city - just start building all these neat projects and then figure out later how we'll pay for it. Someone should be taking notes as you will soon be able to write a book on "how to send a city into bankruptcy". Just as my children haven't learned yet, there is not an unlimited supply of money. Not saying this project isn't worthwhile - I'd much rather see a project like this than many of the other projects we have going on or are planning to do (such as the wall). Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:08:09 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/New-Time-Check-Recreation-Center-Moving-Forward-120255984.html#IDComment144492764 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Collective-Bargaining-Overhaul-Dies-in-Iowa-Senate--117956439.html#IDComment134952670 I'm a Republican and when you think about it, Republicans and Democrats are really no different and both want the same thing. I want to keep as much of the money I earn as possible and likewise, Democrats want to keep as much of the money I earn as possible. Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:01:19 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Collective-Bargaining-Overhaul-Dies-in-Iowa-Senate--117956439.html#IDComment134952670 http://www.kcrg.com/sports/local/Iowa-Football-Ticket-Cost-Goes-Up-5th-Highest-in-Big-Ten-117214213.html#IDComment131836324 That was my first reaction too but then I remembered there are 12 teams in the Big Ten now so there are 7 schools lower than us and 4 schools higher. Wed, 2 Mar 2011 12:55:27 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/sports/local/Iowa-Football-Ticket-Cost-Goes-Up-5th-Highest-in-Big-Ten-117214213.html#IDComment131836324 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Police-Chase-Ends-In-SUV-Crash-In-Southwest-Cedar-Rapids-116918488.html#IDComment130631328 Actually, if you check Iowa Courts Online, there is a 45 year old Daniel Hite with a pretty extensive criminal history - maybe someone didn't do their math correctly when they came up with 55 as his age? Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:47:41 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Police-Chase-Ends-In-SUV-Crash-In-Southwest-Cedar-Rapids-116918488.html#IDComment130631328 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Giveaways-of-Flood-Damaged-Homes-to-Qualified-Builders-is-Harder-than-First-Thought-116711224.html#IDComment130074750 What is everyone's obsession with building right next to the river! It's not like this is the last patch of land available on which to build in the city. Build outside the flood plain and don't worry about a flood anymore. Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:12:40 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Giveaways-of-Flood-Damaged-Homes-to-Qualified-Builders-is-Harder-than-First-Thought-116711224.html#IDComment130074750 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Corbett-and-Cedar-Rapids-Council-Majority-Approve-First-Convention-Complex-Contract-116710744.html#IDComment130072995 Wow - and this is what we have for leadership in our city. The council and our mayor sound like my teenager with a credit card. They both have no idea where the money is coming from. We could write a book with some of recent quotes from our mayor: "I don't thnk they're going to move" - you better not just think, you better KNOW before proceeding. Kind of like driving across a flooded road saying "I don't think its too deep". Not a sign of a leader. If you're not right here, this is going to cost the city taxpayers ANOTHER $15,000,000! You hear about all of these cities on the verge of bankruptcy around the country and Cedar Rapids is on the fast track there as well. I think the mayor and every city council member should place their names on plaques outside the hotel, convention center, the "wall", and every other major project that is sending our city into bankruptcy so we remember the ones who took us there. Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:03:13 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Corbett-and-Cedar-Rapids-Council-Majority-Approve-First-Convention-Complex-Contract-116710744.html#IDComment130072995 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Cedar-Rapids-Eyes-Vision-Iowa-to-Help-with-the-87-Million-Riverfront-Amphitheater-115684629.html#IDComment127120372 Actually, with all of the tax increases being proposed, 80 will probably be the eventual population of Cedar Rapids. Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:30:27 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Cedar-Rapids-Eyes-Vision-Iowa-to-Help-with-the-87-Million-Riverfront-Amphitheater-115684629.html#IDComment127120372 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Corbett-and-council-majority-not-bowing-to-Branstad-over-citys-Convention-Complex-project-labor-agreement-115618639.html#IDComment126957562 "Council member Tom Podzimek suggested that requiring two different bids, one with a project labor agreement and one without, could complicate the bidding and make it difficult to determine who the lower bidder was." ummm, the one with the lower amount would be the low bidder. Here's an example to help: Bidder A: $10 Bidder B: $5. Bidder B would be the lower bidder. Wed, 9 Feb 2011 18:38:42 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Corbett-and-council-majority-not-bowing-to-Branstad-over-citys-Convention-Complex-project-labor-agreement-115618639.html#IDComment126957562 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Cedar-Rapids-Downtown-District-Will-Take-Over-Parking-Operation-April-1-115619244.html#IDComment126899603 "with the city picking up half of the extra cost and the district half of the difference between city wages and the private-sector ones that the district otherwise would pay for the positions." Once again, this amounts to yet another union-sponsered welfare program Wed, 9 Feb 2011 12:38:57 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Cedar-Rapids-Downtown-District-Will-Take-Over-Parking-Operation-April-1-115619244.html#IDComment126899603 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Corbett-and-council-majority-not-bowing-to-Branstad-over-citys-Convention-Complex-project-labor-agreement-115618639.html#IDComment126899176 I'm not sure why everyone is backing Corbett on this - Project Labor Agreements plain and simple drive up costs - costs that come directly from the taxpayers. It's totally anti-competitive and amounts to another welfare program - basically paying extra money on top on what the job should cost. Wed, 9 Feb 2011 12:35:31 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Corbett-and-council-majority-not-bowing-to-Branstad-over-citys-Convention-Complex-project-labor-agreement-115618639.html#IDComment126899176 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Pre-School-Education-Forum-Sparks-Debate-114419219.html#IDComment123226207 and unless you're 6 years old, you didn't have government paid for preschool when you received your education either Sun, 23 Jan 2011 14:47:14 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Pre-School-Education-Forum-Sparks-Debate-114419219.html#IDComment123226207 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Lawyers-In-Bedbug-Lawsuit-Seek-Class-Action-Status-114201944.html#IDComment122349387 More than likely, the settlement will turn out something like this: Lawyers - millions of dollars, everyone else - coupon for a free Pay Per View movie. Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:08:51 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Lawyers-In-Bedbug-Lawsuit-Seek-Class-Action-Status-114201944.html#IDComment122349387 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Major-Sporting-Event-Decisions-Expected-This-Week-114032099.html#IDComment122082812 But just wait Cedar Rapids, soon we will have a $300 million wall, If we are going to be taxed for 20 years, I would much rather the money goes towards building facilities that allow us to compete with other cities on things such as that rather than literally dumping $300 million into the river. Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:24:25 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Major-Sporting-Event-Decisions-Expected-This-Week-114032099.html#IDComment122082812 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/State-Okays-15-Million-for-Collins-Road-Underpass-at-Lindale-113304254.html#IDComment120823885 So for $1.5 million – we instead could buy a van, hire a driver at $15/hour and run the van shuttling people back and forth across the street from 8AM to 10PM 7 days a week, 365 days a year for 15+ years with money left over. Wed, 12 Jan 2011 04:27:13 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/State-Okays-15-Million-for-Collins-Road-Underpass-at-Lindale-113304254.html#IDComment120823885 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Cedar-Rapids-Offering-Deals-on-New-Homes-112079624.html#IDComment116463021 Move in, get $35,000 instant equity - sell home, walk away $35,000 richer. Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:11:10 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Cedar-Rapids-Offering-Deals-on-New-Homes-112079624.html#IDComment116463021 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Coralville-Firm-Readies-Electric-Car-Smartphone-App-111696339.html#IDComment115091532 For the Chevy Volt: 120v charger (plugs in standard outlet) 6-8 hours 240v charger (like a dryer or stove outlet) 3 hours 16 KWH will get you about 40 miles. On my latest electric bill, that would cost about $1.76 So if the car you drive now gets 30 mpg, that would be the equivalent of paying about $1.32 per gallon of gas. It will be a long time before this savings makes up for the extra cost in the vehicle however. Sat, 11 Dec 2010 15:15:00 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Coralville-Firm-Readies-Electric-Car-Smartphone-App-111696339.html#IDComment115091532 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/High-Praise-for-Convention-Complex-Design-City-Council-Doesnt-Blink-at-86-millon-Budget-Jump-107013498.html#IDComment109023347 Wow - so going from a conceptual plan to actual costs we've more than doubled the cost of this first phase in this project? If a conceptual plan can be that far off, how can we have any confidence in the rest of this project? This is kind of like going to an architect to draw up a conceptual plan for a $200,000 house that ends up costing $450,000. If they are that bad in estimating and their conceptual plan was that far off, I have a feeling we're in for a long, long road of budget increases. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:25:53 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/High-Praise-for-Convention-Complex-Design-City-Council-Doesnt-Blink-at-86-millon-Budget-Jump-107013498.html#IDComment109023347 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Council-Approves-Pet-Licensing-Two-More-Votes-Yet-to-Come-103976554.html#IDComment101440776 I'm not sure I understand the logic here - just because I own an animal, since the the animal shelter is used to shelter stray animals, I should required to support a portion of that. Isn't that kind of like saying since some people with cars will receive tickets for speeding and running red lights, since I own a car, I should be required to pay a fee to help cover the costs of writing those tickets? Wed, 29 Sep 2010 03:35:27 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Council-Approves-Pet-Licensing-Two-More-Votes-Yet-to-Come-103976554.html#IDComment101440776 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Council-Approves-Pet-Licensing-Two-More-Votes-Yet-to-Come-103976554.html#IDComment101439026 The ironic thing is that it's the irresponsible pet owner whose pets end up getting picked up by animal control - the same irresponsible owners who will not be paying to license their pets. So this will end up being paid for by people who never use animal control or animal shelter services. Why not just fine those that use the service - or at least charge a large penalty if an unlicensed pet gets picked up. Wed, 29 Sep 2010 03:20:51 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Council-Approves-Pet-Licensing-Two-More-Votes-Yet-to-Come-103976554.html#IDComment101439026 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Dubuque-Mom-Fears-Baby-Formula-Recall-103671349.html#IDComment100624467 Here's food for thought - both coffee and chocolate contain insect fragments ground in with it. Google it (it was also recently on NPR). Fri, 24 Sep 2010 02:19:07 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Dubuque-Mom-Fears-Baby-Formula-Recall-103671349.html#IDComment100624467