en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/947352 Comments by olddodger http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Czech-Village-Neighborhood-Deemed-Not-Hstorical-Demolition-to-Start-102911844.html#IDComment98923043 The address was at 1209 3rd St SE across from the ZCBJ hall. They owned it from about 1915 until my great grandfather died in 1921. It was located where the drive thru for the bank is. As I was growing up I believe it was some type of beauty salon. Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:28:31 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Czech-Village-Neighborhood-Deemed-Not-Hstorical-Demolition-to-Start-102911844.html#IDComment98923043 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Czech-Village-Neighborhood-Deemed-Not-Hstorical-Demolition-to-Start-102911844.html#IDComment98804469 My great grandparents came from Czechoslovakia and had a store on 3rd St SE. I grew up in the 16th Ave area and it's always been a special place in my memories. Reality is that the neighborhood lost it's identity years ago. This area needs things like the rebuilt roundhouse to reestablish a new Czech identity. I think the city should be sending some of the LOST monies there for certain types of construction. Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:47:36 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Czech-Village-Neighborhood-Deemed-Not-Hstorical-Demolition-to-Start-102911844.html#IDComment98804469 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/09/05/state-spent-nearly-30-million-on-overtime#IDComment97281956 The thing is, when they calculate the spending for an employee, they calculate the total cost. That includes wages AND benefits. If the state allows this one individual to work the equivalent of 3 full time positions, they still only have to pay benefits for the one position. The employee obviously gets a lot more money, the state saves on two extra benefit packages, but the residents of this care facility get potentially sub standard care. Mon, 6 Sep 2010 12:48:46 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/09/05/state-spent-nearly-30-million-on-overtime#IDComment97281956 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/09/05/state-spent-nearly-30-million-on-overtime#IDComment97166352 Taxpayers need to realize that if you want a certain level of service, it's going to cost. The politicians think that cutting staff is the answer but sooner or later it's going to catch up with them. The story seems intended to inflame the taxpayers against the employees working the OT but they should be upset with the elected officials that put the employees and the people serviced by those employees in this position. Sun, 5 Sep 2010 17:36:24 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/09/05/state-spent-nearly-30-million-on-overtime#IDComment97166352 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Cedar-Rapids-Police-Arrest-Three-Men-in-Prostitution-Investigation-102182094.html#IDComment96974260 They've got to do something now that they don't have to sit out on the interstate in speed traps. Hey CRPD how about busting some of those nasty j-walkers downtown? I've got a green light, they've got a don't walk and they just wander right out in the crosswalk. Sat, 4 Sep 2010 17:46:00 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Cedar-Rapids-Police-Arrest-Three-Men-in-Prostitution-Investigation-102182094.html#IDComment96974260 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/09/03/motorcycle-accident-backs-up-traffic-at-highway-13-and-mt-vernon-rd#IDComment96956487 I don't think a light will help as much as people hope. I think the only safe answer is an overpass on Hwy 13. Sat, 4 Sep 2010 14:54:23 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/09/03/motorcycle-accident-backs-up-traffic-at-highway-13-and-mt-vernon-rd#IDComment96956487 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/09/03/motorcycle-accident-backs-up-traffic-at-highway-13-and-mt-vernon-rd#IDComment96956296 Would a signal have made a difference in this accident? It sounds like someone was supposed to stop and didn't. Speeding up traffic at th doesn't sound like a good idea. This intersection is screaming for an overpass on Hwy 13. By the way Gazette writers, stop lights just sounds silly, call them what they are, traffic signals. Sat, 4 Sep 2010 14:52:25 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/09/03/motorcycle-accident-backs-up-traffic-at-highway-13-and-mt-vernon-rd#IDComment96956296 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Cedar-Rapids-City-Council-Needs-to-Speed-Up-Demolitions-102186189.html#IDComment96943301 These are the homes that are in "imminent danger" but it takes over two years to tear them down. Oh wait, we were busy rushing through the PCI mall and the convention center and the outdoor amphitheater. Nice to see the priorities are in order. Sat, 4 Sep 2010 12:34:04 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Cedar-Rapids-City-Council-Needs-to-Speed-Up-Demolitions-102186189.html#IDComment96943301 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/St-Lukes-Cited-as-One-of-Countrys-Most-Profitable-Hospitals-Officials-Disagree-102026728.html#IDComment96526409 Let me get this straight, they report a 36% margin when reporting to one entity but when they report to Medicare, they report a 5% margin because they figure in "other costs". What a crock. Thu, 2 Sep 2010 03:21:41 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/St-Lukes-Cited-as-One-of-Countrys-Most-Profitable-Hospitals-Officials-Disagree-102026728.html#IDComment96526409 http://gazetteonline.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2010/08/29/move-pci-mall%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98main%e2%80%99-level-up-to-spare-road#IDComment95867347 This idea is in some ways identical to the St Luke surgical building at 1st & 10th. Ample covered parking on the ground level and all facilities above. Building PCI like this would be an attractive continuation of the same architecture. Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:53:35 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2010/08/29/move-pci-mall%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98main%e2%80%99-level-up-to-spare-road#IDComment95867347 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/New-Cedar-Rapids-City-Manager-Brings-Experience-Success-Record-to-Town-101754753.html#IDComment95866688 Take a Sunday afternoon drive to West Des Moines and drive around the Jordan Creek mall area. Pretty boulevards with EMPTY store fronts. The mall itself appears to be booming but the surrounding area doesn't look too pretty to me. Keep in mind that W DM has one of the highest per capita incomes in the state. Time will tell how this guy performs but we are in a totally different situation than they were there. Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:46:09 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/New-Cedar-Rapids-City-Manager-Brings-Experience-Success-Record-to-Town-101754753.html#IDComment95866688 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/08/25/police-issue-reminder-on-door-to-door-sales#IDComment95689395 Those people have been "trained" in how to deal with the media. They even have backup spokespersons. At least that's what they claim. Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:05:54 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/08/25/police-issue-reminder-on-door-to-door-sales#IDComment95689395 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/08/27/three-first-avenue-east-sites-still-in-play-for-new-fire-station#IDComment95688738 I still haven't heard any compelling reason why the central station can't go back into it's old site. Of course the building was flooded but so were quite a few private frame built homes whose owners have moved back in. For all intents and purposes, the central fire building is a glorified garage with sleeping quarters. I can see placing command operations elsewhere in a smaller building outside the flood area. The cost to do something like that has to be less than building a completely new station. Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:58:46 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/08/27/three-first-avenue-east-sites-still-in-play-for-new-fire-station#IDComment95688738 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/blogs/24-hour-dorman/2010/08/25/city-council-ties-off-the-artery#IDComment95329458 I posted several comments against the proposal. It's over now, the decisions been made. Time for me to find something else to harp about. Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:06:39 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/blogs/24-hour-dorman/2010/08/25/city-council-ties-off-the-artery#IDComment95329458 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/08/25/city-moves-to-hire-consulting-team-to-help-put-flood-recovery-plans-into-action#IDComment95328665 What is it with city managers? Do they always have to bring their pals with them to consult? The new manager is from West Des Moines and one of the consultants is from.........West Des Moines! What a shock. Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:01:03 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/08/25/city-moves-to-hire-consulting-team-to-help-put-flood-recovery-plans-into-action#IDComment95328665 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/08/25/council-votes-6-3-to-close-a-piece-of-second-avenue-se#IDComment95327689 Already know which street is to be closed next. 3rd St between 1st Ave and A Ave for the "events center" Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:51:48 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/08/25/council-votes-6-3-to-close-a-piece-of-second-avenue-se#IDComment95327689 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/08/23/cedar-rapids-taking-ownership-of-former-federal-courthouse-this-week#IDComment94892878 Hopefully this is win, win for the city. This building is worth keeping up. Parking is the only issue I see that needs to be addres sed. Tue, 24 Aug 2010 01:34:00 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/08/23/cedar-rapids-taking-ownership-of-former-federal-courthouse-this-week#IDComment94892878 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/08/24/council-member-hopes-to-delay-second-ave-vote-to-discuss-other-options#IDComment94891971 She is right, PCI has backed them into a corner. This has nothing to do with lack of vision or desire for progress. This has everything to do with a company trying to force it's wishes on the city and if the city doesn't want to cave in, the group will take it's business to Hiawatha. Vision and progress takes cooperation and compromise on ALL sides. I find it ironic that PCI absolutely refuses to build a skywalk over 2nd Ave but look at the drawing above. I see a skywalk crossing 10th St to the proposed city built parkade. Apparently the skywalk is good enough for the patients but not the staff. Tue, 24 Aug 2010 01:24:02 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/08/24/council-member-hopes-to-delay-second-ave-vote-to-discuss-other-options#IDComment94891971 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/08/20/council-in-for-long-fight-with-fema-over-36-million#IDComment94523617 Exactly. The council chose to take the "possible" windfall and spend it before it was confirmed. The "likely would qualify" statement probably came from what the City provided to FEMA as their needs. Then FEMA found out that the hydro plant was NOT operating and Sinclair and Quality Chef were just storage areas. Sat, 21 Aug 2010 10:18:25 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/08/20/council-in-for-long-fight-with-fema-over-36-million#IDComment94523617 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/08/20/council-in-for-long-fight-with-fema-over-36-million#IDComment94478150 How can a northwest fire station, trails, and the medical mall qualify as "alternative projects"? Common sense says that any project funded by FEMA flood relief money should oh I don't know....go to flood related projects? Sat, 21 Aug 2010 02:01:49 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/08/20/council-in-for-long-fight-with-fema-over-36-million#IDComment94478150