IOWA FOCUS: Blogs, Candidates, Peace Vigils, Groups and Events

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REBUILD IOWA UNDERWAY From Iwoa Rep. Elesha Gayman's (D-Davenport) Newsletter:

The Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission held their first meeting on July 17. The Commission is chaired by General Ron Dardis of the Iowa National Guard. Governor Culver and Lt. Governor Judge attended. The 15-member Commission received an overview of the natural disaster events that have led to the Governor designating 90 of Iowa’s 99 counties as declared disaster areas and 80 counties receiving presidential disaster declarations.

Governor Culver has directed the Commission to have their initial recommendations within 45-days. The Commission reviewed a calendar of events that solicit public input, coordinate task force meetings, and develop its first report by September 2 on the initial steps the Legislature and the Governor should take on the recovery. The Commission will continue to meet after that point and develop a long-term vision for rebuilding a safer, stronger, and better Iowa, which will be due October 31. As the recovery process continues, the Commission will continue to advise and monitor the implementation of the short-term and long-term plans.

The Governor has formed a Rebuild Iowa Office, with Lt. Governor Judge acting as director, to lead the recovery effort. The agency is staffed with key state employees throughout state government. The Rebuild Iowa Office was created through executive order #7 and it will be maintained until the recovery effort is complete.

Schedule of Meetings

The Commission plans to hold several meetings and listening sessions on the road. They will be in Cedar Rapids on July 31st; Ottumwa on August 5th; Red Oak on August 11th (listening session); Fort Dodge on August 12th (listening session); listening sessions will also be at the State Fair and Cedar Falls on August 19th. The task forces will all meet in the Des Moines area between July 28-30 and August 6-8.

ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WITH MORTGAGE PROBLEMS ALSO from Elesha Gayman's Newsletter:

The housing crisis in America is seriously impacting thousands of Iowans. As a growing number of citizens face foreclosure, a group of public and private organizations has developed the creation of the Iowa Mortgage Help campaign. The Iowa Mortgage Help Hotline is 877-622-4866. Homeowners are encouraged to contact the Iowa Mortgage Help hotline or visit the website at www.IowaMortgageHelp.com.

The initiative is fueled by a $1.5 million grant the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) received from the federal government. IFA submitted the grant application in partnership with the Attorney General’s Office, Iowa Mediation Service (IMS), the Iowa Home Ownership Education Project (IHOEP) and Iowa Legal Aid. The funds increase the capacity of foreclosure prevention counseling agencies around Iowa and include a multimedia statewide awareness campaign.

Beware of Foreclosure "Rescue" Scams

The Attorney General has warned that Iowans who are having difficulty making their mortgage payments, for whatever reason, may be approached by con artists aiming to cheat them in "mortgage foreclosure rescue fraud" schemes. The schemes ask people to pay hundreds of dollars for so-called assistance, but they end up just taking people's money and doing nothing.

BLOGGING IOWA:

Bleeding Heartland is a community blog for Democrats and progressives in the state of Iowa.

Blog for Iowa is a progressive source of information in Iowa.

The Deprogrammer is an antidote to the misinformation of mainstream media, based in the Quad Cities.


Some Stories of Interest:

Contact Congress on Verified Voting

Push utilities to do more on energy efficiency. This does more for us than building new coal or nuke plants and it is MUCH cheaper.

Republican Lantham Stuck in the Past: Drilling for Oil is SO 20th Century


Let me introduce you to a candidate running for Conrgess in Iowa. Becky Greenwald is running against Tom Latham (R) in the IA-04 district.

Let me quote from her website:

"In Tom Latham, we have a congressman who has continually opposed women’s reproductive rights and has given a green light and a blank check to George Bush’s war in Iraq.

Together, we will make a difference for those struggling to get by on the minimum wage.

We will make a difference for those who cannot afford access to quality healthcare.

We will make a difference for those brave men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and facing life with an injury and the scars of war.

We will make a difference when we repeal the unfunded mandate known as No Child Left Behind.

We will make a difference when we invest in homegrown energy alternatives which lessen our dependence on foreign oil, clean up our environment, and put Iowans to work at high-paying jobs which can’t be outsourced and can be unionized."

You can help out Becky either by donating through my Act Blue Site or by volunteering for her campaign if you live in her area.


Peace Vigils:

Weekly Anti-War Vigil at Nollen Plaza
Every Thursday
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Nollen Plaza, 3rd and Locust Des Moines, IA
Contact: Wendy Vasquez
Please join us for this weekly witness against the war.
For more information, contact Wendy Vasquez at 515-771-8656.

Women for Peace Knitters
Supporting the peaceful arts of knitting and crocheting. This group meets monthly on the 2nd Tuesday, 9:30-11:30 am at Prairiewoods, 120 E Boyson Rd, Hiawatha. (Group also meets fourth Tuesdays each month at Marion Public Library, 7-8:30 pm., Marion.) For more information call 377-3252.

Cedar Rapids Peace Vigil
Women for Peace, Iowa, meet each Saturday at noon at the corner of 1st Avenue and Collins Road.


And for those who are focused on combining fun and politics, here are the local Drinking Liberally groups in Iowa:

Ames, Iowa
* Every Friday, 5:00 pm onward
* Legends American Grill, 200 Stanton Ave, 7th Floor (in Campustown)
* The group will meet in the large accessible party room left of the elevators unless it is booked by a larger group. We will then be in the Sky Box. Ask a waiter for our location.
* Hosted by Jan Bauer and Brent Wynja, ames (at) drinkingliberally.org

Des Moines
* Every Thursday, 8:00 p.m. onward
* The Lift, 222 4th St (between Court Ave and Walnut)
* Hosted by Amanda Mittlestadt, Tricia Kell, Cassie Samspon and Matt Jesson, desmoines (at) drinkingliberally.org

West Des Moines
* Third Friday of each month, 5:00-7:00 pm
* Tonic, 5535 George M Mills Civic Pky (within West Glen Towncenter)
* Hosted by Cassie Sampson, Mikael Brown and Jenny Irlmeier, wdsm (at) drinkingliberally.org

Eating Liberally
* Second Monday of each month, 6:00-7:30 pm
* Continental Wine Bar, 428 E Locust St
* Hosted by Marcus Walsh and Tricia Kell, desmoines (at) eatingliberally.org

Iowa City, Iowa
* Every Thursday, 8:00 pm onward
* The Mill Restaurant, 120 E Burlington StBlg