YMCA Tax Payment Request Sparks Cedar Rapids Debate
Wayne Meier Jr of Cedar Rapids leads a letter urging the city to levy payments in lieu of taxes on the $8 million YMCA. Co-signed by six area fitness executives, the missive argues the YMCA has become a fitness business serving affluent adults, not a community center, and calls for revenue to fund public services.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids
YMCA
Cpas
Wayne Meier Jr
Midwest Athletic Club
Woo Jin Jung
New Life Fitness World
Kurt Miles
Open Court Sports & Fitness
Dallas de- Long
Marion Fitness & Health
John Voskamp
Aspen Athletic Club
Tracy P. Davis
Core Fitness
Iowa City
Sanders
Scott Olson
Olson
Congress urged to fully fund AIDS relief plan in 2005
Readers urge Congress to provide 3.6 billion for the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in 2005 plus 600 million still unfunded from 2004. They cite Bush’s pledge of 15 billion, the need to aid Africa, and ongoing AIDS deaths and orphaning.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Congress
State of the Union
Bush
Africa
America
Ellen Fisher
Cedar Rapids
Bring U S troops home from fighting stupid war
A speaker argues for immediate withdrawal of U S forces from Iraq criticizing the White House and signaling the troops are compelled by duty rather than desire. The critic questions leadership and patriotism rhetoric while calling for an end to the conflict.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
U.S
White House
Iraq
John Q
Hitler
Mussolini
Tito
Mrs
America
Patriotism and policy clash over Oklahoma City legacy
A reader condemns sensationalism on the Oklahoma City bombing and argues for open-minded patriotism. He recalls Vietnam, critiques the White House, and questions funding for veterans hospitals and local development tied to tax incentives. The letter links national trauma to local politics and civic responsibility.
Also Mentioned on This Page
YMC
Edar Rapids
Young Men’s Christian Association
Ahmed Yassin
Hamas
Israel
Yassin
James Eaves-Johnson
Coralville
United States
Vietnam
Sen
John Kerry
Gazette
C.A
Wiiter
Oklahoma City
Bob Ray Sanders
the Gazette
ARMY