en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/619557 Comments by floodvictim101 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/03/29/loss-of-soccer-field-to-baseball-leads-to-complaint#IDComment64662322 I live next to a baseball diamond.... the old Hayes school has a good sized one and the city stopped supporting it... instead they are now going to build a $150K brand new one? Makes perfect sense... to this city... Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:07:28 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/03/29/loss-of-soccer-field-to-baseball-leads-to-complaint#IDComment64662322 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/02/08/what%e2%80%99s-on-your-mind-2#IDComment57253137 As a person effected by the flood I am hearing a lot of people that seem to think that F.E.M.A. and the city just backed up a truck and dropped off a pile of Money and Material Items and we (flood victims) have made money off of the Flood. I also hear people say comments like " It's their stupidity for not having flood insurance." or " Well duh, its a flood plain." I would like to set the record straight on a few items, 1) Yes as a victim of a disaster I got money to help off set my loses, Did I make money? No in fact we drained our savings and checking accounts getting back on our feet. 2) We did not get a tax break from the state, if they gave it to you it was a mistake and they made darn sure to get that money back, plus interest. 3) This whole 107% for the buyout, I see this as a way off setting the double payments people have had to pay. (keep in mind you still have to pay your mortgage on your house even if it is destroyed.) 4) When purchasing our home we were told not to get flood insurance by several experts including insurance companies... I can not speak for everyone but most of the people I know now owe more then there home is worth and it will stay that way for a long time.... Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:22:07 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/02/08/what%e2%80%99s-on-your-mind-2#IDComment57253137 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/02/17/miller-sues-the-supervisors#IDComment57249188 To me it looks as if the BOS are saying one thing "Yes we welcome an Auditor to look into the actions and see if there is wrong doing.." yet there actions are complete opposite of that. To me who has no in depth knowledge and just an average John Q. Public, it looks as if the BOS is doing everything in its power to prevent an audit. There are a lot of people myself included that would like to know 1) Where is the tax payers money is going 2) Is everything above board 3) Why is the BOS doing everything in its power to stall an audit? I for one get confused when they talk about the budget being under because the numbers are always different, and I am talking tens of thousands dollars here... Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:55:09 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/02/17/miller-sues-the-supervisors#IDComment57249188 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/02/10/corbett-says-hud-approves-107-percent-of-pre-flood-value-city-will-use-lost-funds-for-down-payments-too#IDComment56353962 Our home also dropped in value... so we are paying more then what the house is worth, did the Mortgage company cut us any sort of break what so ever? No... It took them six months after the fact of constant calling and letters to get a response of so sorry, you can stop paying and go into foreclosure and we would still let you buy another house as long as you act fast before the foreclosue hits the systems...I loudly said I though was an odd way to do business with all the foreclosures out there.... I agree with the comment about the city has really done nothing to protect us... And this winter is reminding me of Winter of 2007... If it happens again i gone.... Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:50:16 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/02/10/corbett-says-hud-approves-107-percent-of-pre-flood-value-city-will-use-lost-funds-for-down-payments-too#IDComment56353962 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/02/10/corbett-says-hud-approves-107-percent-of-pre-flood-value-city-will-use-lost-funds-for-down-payments-too#IDComment56338257 Where are you getting these numbers? I as you guessed was hit by the flood, we were in the house under 2 years, were told by THREE insurance companies not to get flood insurance since your not in danger of being flooded... Ok so its my fault for listening to the experts. FEMA would pay flood Victims MAX $28,000 MINUS anything you got from insurance (if you had it) So if Insurance already paid you FEMA did not... I rebuilt my home since it was on the 500 year flood plain area and I have flood insurance now, As for the Free Loader comments, I work 40 - 60 hours a week to pay mortgage and for six months had to pay mortgage and rent while I was not in my home, I did not walk away from those responsibilities, that is not the term of a Free loader as for the people that are getting more then there house is worth, I DO NOT agree with that, however I also know the hardships they are going through, its people like you who have not had to be in there shoes or a flood victims shoes that can call me a freeloader, do you own a home? Did you have to go throw out everything you owned? Did you work a full time job then go to the house you loved and started a family in and gut the insides and rebuild? Did you have to drain your savings account so you could get back into it? Why didn't I just let the bank take it back and let it sit and rot?- that would be what a free loader would do... Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:26:54 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/02/10/corbett-says-hud-approves-107-percent-of-pre-flood-value-city-will-use-lost-funds-for-down-payments-too#IDComment56338257 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/02/09/crash-backs-up-collins-road-traffic#IDComment56043626 I am not gonna say I am an expert driver but when snow and ice are involved its time to slow down and pay attention... I have seen so many people driving like its summer outside and then they have panicked looks on their face when they slide through a stop sign or light and almost get hit, doesn't matter if you have all-wheel drive/ 4 wheel drive or not no traction is no traction, so please slow down, and pay attention my son was almost hit in the parking lot of Hy-Vee because someone was going to fast, I was lucky that I saw the car and grabbed him up or it would have hit him, missed me by only a few inches.... Tue, 9 Feb 2010 17:58:48 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/02/09/crash-backs-up-collins-road-traffic#IDComment56043626 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/02/03/more-details-emerge-in-waterloo-west-teacher-case#IDComment55324021 What ever happened to innocent till proven guilty?... oh wait that's right its now Guilty until proven innocent... If its true he should be punished, however if the accusations are false his lively hood has been compromised and he will probably sue the district... Now before you start tearing my opinion apart, there was a teacher in my home town that was accused of having a fling with one of his students,he was fired (not suspended), arrested, and then charges dropped before being taken to trial, long story short it was proven that on two of the three dates given for the alleged flings he(teacher) was on vacation out of state with his wife and kids, and the third time he was in the hospital recovering from back surgery... Lets just say he sued, he won lots of money, ... So I now have a wait and see attitude... Thu, 4 Feb 2010 13:29:53 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/02/03/more-details-emerge-in-waterloo-west-teacher-case#IDComment55324021 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/01/27/police-respond-to-shooting-in-se-cedar-rapids#IDComment54033063 Personally it seems more and more fights are breaking out that end up in gunfire... It won't be long before one of these morons (person pulling trigger) hits the wrong house either by mistake (thinking they person they want to shoot lives at 123 anyplace when they live at 132 anyplace) or accident (stray bullet, ricochet) and some little kid gets killed. Honestly I don't care what color the shooter is every time I hear reports of gunshots, home invasions, and the violent crimes it just makes me want to pack my family up and drive away. I realize no place is really safe but the incidents just keep climbing and the reason I think is simply that the maturity level of most of the people committing the crimes has never risen past junior high. Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:15:15 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/01/27/police-respond-to-shooting-in-se-cedar-rapids#IDComment54033063 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/01/20/group-seeks-solutions-on-rise-in-delinquent-loans#IDComment53195858 Lets face it we can not totally blame the Mortgage companies... I put a lot of blame on them yes, but when we bought our first house we sat down and ran the numbers including closing cost and if we could make the payments if one of us lost the job, that is how we concluded price range of a house. We were approved for more then we could have ever hoped to afford because the mortgage companies at the time did not care if you foreclosed because it was a buyers market, house flipping shows were all the rage, and people bought more house then they could afford, so yea the mortgage companies have a good portion of the blame but so dose the person that signed the papers... Keep in mind I not included the people that were lied to or hoodwinked. Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:32:36 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/01/20/group-seeks-solutions-on-rise-in-delinquent-loans#IDComment53195858 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/01/20/group-seeks-solutions-on-rise-in-delinquent-loans#IDComment53195050 About five years ago when we bought our first house, they did extensive credit reports , income to debt ration analysis, and we were turned down once because of something on my report in error. Then when we got the loan the amount we were allowed was well beyond what we could even hope to afford in monthly payments.To break it down, we found a nice little house for like 75K that was well under what we could afford monthly payments even if one of us lost a job, but the Realtor saw we were approved for over 135K and would show use these huge houses that was close to the maxim amount we could take, I have to admit we were tempted but in the end we sat down and looked at the bottom dollar... When we sold the house the deal almost fell through because the buyer lost his job, but found one like two days later and the mortgage company only needed him to be at the job two weeks so we just pushed back the closing for that for two weeks... I heard that and just shook my head... Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:27:38 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/01/20/group-seeks-solutions-on-rise-in-delinquent-loans#IDComment53195050 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/01/21/cedar-rapids-hotel-robbed-at-gunpoint#IDComment53193551 I worked at several hotels and I can tell you this they don't pay much over Minim wage, and your more likely to be robbed at those times too.... Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:12:17 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/01/21/cedar-rapids-hotel-robbed-at-gunpoint#IDComment53193551 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/01/21/police-use-tear-gas-arrest-cedar-rapids-man-for-burglary#IDComment53193292 Let me get this straight, the guy was arrested for ALLEGEDLY burglarizing someones home? So now the police can toss tear gas through your window and gas you just because your suspected of something? I realize they have to bring the guy in and question him, but what happens if he is not the guy? Does the city have to replace property that was damaged? Can the guy sue the city? I know I am being a little over the top but, I've been pulled over and frisked and my car searched just because I was driving a car that was the same make and model of one they were looking for and the cops were not gentle about it and didn't even apologize after words, Watch the guy will get charged with resisting arrest next.... Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:09:48 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/01/21/police-use-tear-gas-arrest-cedar-rapids-man-for-burglary#IDComment53193292 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2009/12/30/court-sides-with-iowa-city-homeless-shelter-backers#IDComment49682575 I see the point of view from the business and residence owners, worried that the shelter MIGHT increase crime and decrease property value. However the argument could be used on a lot of things, sorry you can't have dog because it MIGHT bite someone, or you can't have children because they MIGHT grow up to be criminals, I know I am stretching it a bit but I think a clean place to sleep and a roof over a head is worth a lot more then property value, we don't need another shooting of a homeless person. Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:27:44 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2009/12/30/court-sides-with-iowa-city-homeless-shelter-backers#IDComment49682575 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/flood-recovery/2009/12/29/flood-victims-consider-the-prospect-of-another-flood-without-pricey-levees#IDComment49597836 What do you do? I am back in my house but now I am not sure it will ever be worth what we are paying on it and even when the 5 year forgiveness on the Jump start loan runs our are we going to be able to sell? These are thought that keep me up at night and make me so bitter anymore, I have two houses next to me one is abandoned due to the flood the other was completely renovated they have been on the market for sale since June of last year and I don't believe a single person has looked at either one of them... I want out of Cedar Rapids but know that we can not afford two houses. Don't get me wrong I am glad we are in our home again and do love the house but to be honest I just worry now anytime we get a lot of rain or come spring I will be a wreck... And I something has to be figured out on SOME FLOOD PROTECTION build up what we already have because I refuse to go through it again! Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:42:53 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/flood-recovery/2009/12/29/flood-victims-consider-the-prospect-of-another-flood-without-pricey-levees#IDComment49597836 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2009/12/28/flood-protection-system-for-cedar-rapids-too-costly#IDComment49460496 I just want to add a lot of people forget that just because your home was flooded doesn't mean your still not responsible for that mortgage you took out, so you have many people left in a rut, they have to pay rent and for a home they may not be able to live in. Even the flood buy out people had to have current up to date mortgage or the city would not buy there property... I know of one couple that used there FEMA money to buy a trailer and just let the property go into foreclosure... It still makes me wonder how many of these homes the city is able to get cheaper since they have been foreclosed on then if they actual have to make a buy out offer? We are actually looking at property outside of Cedar Rapids of buying and building a home on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:30:27 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2009/12/28/flood-protection-system-for-cedar-rapids-too-costly#IDComment49460496 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2009/12/28/flood-protection-system-for-cedar-rapids-too-costly#IDComment49448136 I now have flood insurance, well worth it... I got it as soon as possible because I knew Cedar Rapids would drop the ball on the flood protection once they got an estimated bill, now there is Millions spent on consultants and there consultants and we are back to square one, oh wait not quite square one you now have a lot of property that will be flooded again in the future... I once really liked living in Cedar Rapids it had so much potential now all I see is the inept City that is slow to respond to crisis and quick to try to up there pay (yes very bitter about that pill)... they just took so long getting the money to the people that needed it and now are balking at protecting its citizens... I am tired of writing and emailing our leaders only to be ignored, what happened to that city that I moved to that had such potential? Oh it was washed away long ago before the flood.... Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:58:12 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2009/12/28/flood-protection-system-for-cedar-rapids-too-costly#IDComment49448136 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2009/12/28/wheels-of-justice-grind-as-court-cuts-wreak-havoc-on-scheduling#IDComment49447004 Why does it seem that when there must be cut backs that the first hit is education or the legal system? How come you don't see the Mayor or Governor take a cut in their pay or finding something else to cut, I mean how much more can you cut these programs before they become useless, are we there yet? If you had a car and had to cut back on maintenance, you wouldn't let the brakes(legal system) quit working (or would you?) and you wouldn't let the engine (educational system) seize up due to lack of oil.. yet the first things they cut are the funds that provide education and protection... go figure... Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:46:19 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2009/12/28/wheels-of-justice-grind-as-court-cuts-wreak-havoc-on-scheduling#IDComment49447004 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/80036497.html#IDComment48886451 ... The sad fact is there are people that would try to venture out if it wasn't for the news saying No, Stop, do not drive. I mean lets face it you have people that thing four wheel drive, all wheel drive, or front wheel drive will give them extra traction on Ice... then they have the people that think if they can just get out of there drive way the ice on the roads will be less slick? Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:30:40 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/80036497.html#IDComment48886451 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2009/12/23/iowa-state-patrol-tells-drivers-to-stay-off-the-roads#IDComment48876064 Duh, roads are a like a sheet of ice, I don't care if you have Four wheel drive, All wheel drive, or a monster truck, your going to have little to no traction and most people can't drive in snow, let alone Ice... Maybe its just me (which has to do holiday traveling too) but I don't need a declaration telling me to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary, I know I can drive pretty good in most bad weather but I refuse to attempt it in Ice unless its life or death.... Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:13:54 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2009/12/23/iowa-state-patrol-tells-drivers-to-stay-off-the-roads#IDComment48876064 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2009/12/21/halloran-leaves-office-feeling-good-about-tough-mayoral-term#IDComment48607372 ... My momma always told me to speak my mind in a respectful manner so here it is... You got elected for a job that you were unprepared for and dropped the ball during one of the largest National Disasters in Iowa history, there are families still trying to rebuilding there lives and may take years to recover because its taken so long for the city to act on anything other then to vote pay raises for each other then wonder why there is an angry mob outside... for this I will always be bitter and think you did a horrid job but I am just one voice and I do wish you the best in any future endeavors and hopefully your health stays good. Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:57:19 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2009/12/21/halloran-leaves-office-feeling-good-about-tough-mayoral-term#IDComment48607372