Neighborhood Safety Forum in District 3 Cedar Rapids at 7 p.m. on Monday, January 23 at St. Paul's UMC

We begin the fourth week of 2012 in Cedar Rapids this week.

Council Member Pat Shey is hosting the Neighborhood Safety Forum. Pat Shey represents District 3 on the City Council for Cedar Rapids.

The purpose of this forum is to provide information to help residents make their homes and neighborhoods safer. We will discuss current crime statistics, what you can do to protect your home, how you can make your neighborhood safer, and what you should do if you experience a crime or witness suspicious activity.

Pat Shey to Host Neighborhood Safety Forum on Jan. 23
City Council Member Pat Shey will host a Neighborhood Safety Forum on Monday, January 23, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, located at 1340 3rd Ave SE, especially for residents of District 3.

“The purpose of this forum is to provide the citizens of Cedar Rapids with information that will help them make their homes and neighborhoods safer,” said Shey. “We will discuss current crime statistics, what you can do to protect your home, how you can make your neighborhood safer, and what you should do if you experience a crime or witness suspicious activity.”

The forum will feature a panel discussion, moderated by Shey, which will include the following experts from the Cedar Rapids Police Department: Lt. Jerry Potter, Sgt. Matthew Welsh, Investigator Michael Bailey and Crime Analyst Dawn Stanford. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and share concerns during the forum.

Residents with personal experiences to share are encouraged to submit a written narrative or statement before the forum and send them to Pat.Shey@cedar-rapids.org. All statements will be compiled, scanned and share with all who are interested.

As a new Commissioner of the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission, I plan to attend. After last week's Commission meeting, I indicated that to my fellow Commissioners my interest to serve on the Outreach Commission.

With redistricting in the City of Cedar Rapids, our home is now in District 3 as of mid-January 2012. Indian Creek Hills is now entirely in Precinct 25, as opposed to being divided into to districts, as before. We will be voting at Erskine ES again.

Also, I have spoken to people in our community that have been disappointed with the following story.

More than 8,700 arrests logged near Cedar Rapids elementary schools
Data doesn't mean school neighborhoods are unsafe, officials say - The Gazette
CEDAR RAPIDS — In a study of arrests made within a half-mile of Cedar Rapids’ public elementary schools, more than half occurred near Polk, Johnson and Taylor schools. This doesn’t mean the neighborhoods aren’t safe, though. “Johnson, Taylor and Polk are all situated in the city’s higher concentration of population,” Cedar Rapids police Sgt. Cristy [...]

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It should be an interesting Neighborhood Safety Forum at St. Paul's UMC.

Robin Tucker is one of two appointed to fill vacancy on Civil Rights Commission

On January 10Th, Mayor Ron Corbett with the consent of the City Council appointed Robin Tucker and Anne Pham to the eleven member Civil Rights Commission for the City of Cedar Rapids. Tucker and Pham will fill two vacancies on the Commission through June 30, 2013.

The Commission is made up of eleven volunteer members, who are appointed by the Mayor for three-year terms, comprise the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission. Each member may serve two consecutive three-year terms. This is a policy-making body which directs the Commission staff. Commissioners are also involved in revising the local civil rights ordinance and assist staff members in their efforts to enforce these laws. The Commission annually elects a Chair and a Vice-Chair. Regularly scheduled meetings take place on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.

Robin Tucker's father, I.L. 'Tommy' Tucker, proudly served on the original Commission or Committee on Human/Civil Rights for the City of Cedar Rapids. He served for approximately 32 years and was recognized by the Commission for his past service on July 15, 2011 at a Cedar Rapids Kernals game, where he was asked to throw out the first pitch. Tommy Tucker Realty Co. is a contributor to the Friends of the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission Foundation, as is the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors. (Pictured are Mom and Dad, with our City's Civil Rights Director Karl Cassell, along with my father throwing out the first pitch).

We believe strongly in the tradition of Equal Opportunity in employment, housing, education, public accommodations and credit in our community. "Like my father, I look forward to paying my civic rent in service to the Commission for the next 18 months," said Robin Tucker.

This Monday, January 16Th, our Nation and community will celebrate the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday. Robin Tucker is scheduled to attend both the 26Th Annual Remembering Martin Luncheon at the Hotel at Kirkwood at 11 a.m., as well as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Monday evening at St. Paul's UMC at 7 p.m. The evening event is open to the public and there is no charge attend, though a free will offering is taken.

Happy New Year as the first full week of 2012 is now in the books ..

We hope everyone had a great Christmas, time off for the Holidays and a happy New Year! We enjoyed time here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa over the Holidays! We spent time over the New Year's holiday up in Omaha to visit with family and friends.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all who are battling with health issues as we welcome 2012!

Christmas was very memorable this year. We enjoyed a beautiful Christmas Eve service at St. Paul's UMC here in Cedar Rapids. It is always a joy to spend time with friends and family. Many in the family had to work over the Holidays, but we had plenty of time with both friends and family.

It was a good Rotary year in 2011 in Cedar Rapids. During the Christmas and New Year's holidays, the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids was dark, with no meetings. We will enjoy our first meeting of 2012 on Monday, January 9Th with the University of Iowa' Provost P. Barry Butler providing our program. What exactly is a provost?

Over the years, our family has enjoyed relationships with Grand Island College, Coe College, Creighton University, the University of Iowa, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the University of Northern Iowa, Kirkwood Community College, Drake University, South Dakota State University and a couple of the University of Wisconsin campuses. I enjoyed a brief week with the University of Memphis and GlobalEd studying International cultures with a representative from FedEx.

Currently, family and extended family have recently attended or are now attending the University of Northern Iowa, Indian Hills Community College, Tidewater Community College, Pima County Community College, Creighton University and the University of San Francisco. Education is one of the most important aspects of any society. We must not forget the value of learning from birth to our final years of life. It is an important aspect of our Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness for our Republic.

I am proud that decided to attend a Jesuit Catholic university for four years. We are also proud to be Panther parents with the joy of watching our children gain an education experience in biology, chemistry, anthropology and international studies.

Over the Holidays, we enjoyed a couple movies at the theatre. The Iowa-Oklahoma game at the Insight Bowl was enjoyed at DJs on the big screen in Omaha, near TDAmeritrade Park and the CenturyLink Center Omaha. The company was better than the outcome. It was nice to see Creighton and Iowa enjoy some good road wins in basketball over the Holidays.

This past week, we enjoyed returning from our trip to Omaha. New Year's and New Year's Monday were enjoyable. The Rose Bowl went to the Pac 12 this year. The Big Ten has some work ahead in the coming year. It was nice to see ten programs reach a bowl game, which was a conference record. On Iowa!

On Tuesday, I had the pleasure to participate as a Precinct Chair at CR45 with 211 of my neighbors in holding our local Iowa Caucus. What a historical vote, with the closest vote in the history of the Iowa Caucus. Now, onto New Hampshire and South Carolina with the GOP enjoying primaries in those two states. At our Caucus at Erskine ES, neighbors spoke for Huntsman, Gingrich, Paul, Santorum and Romney. My actual voting precinct CR41, Bethany Lutheran enjoyed a strong turnout, as well. I have enjoyed the past four years serving as a central committee chair for my precinct here in Linn County.

At the same time, our daughter enjoyed a dress rehearsal for Washington High School's show choir and I heard she did an outstanding job on her solo. Her first competition is Saturday at Linn-Mar. Show choirs competitions will be throughout January, February and March.

On Wednesday, we celebrated a birthday in the family, with a lovely dinner out at Cibo Fusion. It was nice to see the Iowa basketball team win back to back road games in the Big Ten for the first time, since January 1998. Then on Thursday, we enjoyed a family dinner, as Carole's sister and family visited, while returning home from Omaha. It was a great visit for all.

Well, the holidays have clearly concluded. Our daughter in college has left for another semester. We have enjoyed a couple new family favorites lately. Red Mango when visiting Omaha and Orange Leaf here here in Cedar Rapids. We look forward to the new east side location.

It will be a busy year in 2012 and it is off to a fast start. Happy New Year everyone!

Christmas has passed, so what is up in the New Year in Cedar Rapids?

We hope everyone had a nice Christmas holiday. We enjoyed our time with friends and family this Holiday Season.

No, not heading to Phoenix this year for an Iowa bowl game, though we will be rooting for the Iowa Hawkeyes vs. the Oklahoma Sooners, in a homecoming game for OU coach Bob Stoops. The Hawkeyes are playing in the 2011 Insight Bowl. The second straight year in the Insight, as Iowa attempts to win for the first time, an unprecedented four bowl games in a row.

It's Monday, December 26Th and the New Year is less than a week away now.

On Tuesday, January 3Rd, Iowans will have an opportunity to participate in the Iowa Caucus. Our President will likely be unattested, but the Republican nomination process will have the first test, in Iowa. Who was the first to file in Iowa? As the link pointed out, it was the President.

Do you feel the Presidential race in Iowa is a little quieter, than in the past? The candidate we are pulling for is placing most of his focus on New Hampshire, which will have the first primary in the Nation on January 10Th. A candidate with a strong philosophy on free markets and small government would be a breath of fresh air right now. What's ahead for the GOP field?

The City of Cedar Rapids on January 2Nd will seat two new City Council members. From a gender standpoint, the Council will add another women to the Council The five cities of Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Robins and Fairfax will bring a sales tax extension to the public again in March 6, 2012.

Out with the old - Rick Smith, The Gazette
Arena renovation taking shape in downtown Cedar Rapids
The City of Cedar Rapids is renovating the old U.S. Cellular Center, hotel and is adding a new convention center to the adjoining block and street.

Cedar Rapids-based radio station to launch in 2012‎ - The Gazette
(Dave DeWitte/Sourcemedia News) CEDAR RAPIDS — Corridor radio listeners might soon be able to tune in to a Spanish language broadcast of a Kernels baseball ...

The City of Cedar Rapids will likely be seeking to fill a vacancy with the police chief in the new year. City Manager Jeff Pomeranz will get an opportunity to fill the position. The present police chief was selected by the City's first full-time city manager.

Over the past year, we were involved heavily with three issues directly in front of the City Council.

• Robin Tucker served on the Charter Review Commission in 2011


• The discussion of the boundaries for the MedQuarter district in Cedar Rapids


• The proposed Section 8 housing mandate and Lawful Source of Income being added as protective class in the City's new proposed Chapter 69 ordinance

Likely, new matters will arise in 2012. We want to wish you and yours a Happy New Year in 2012.

As we begin to Celebrate Christmas with family and friends

Wow, Christmas weekend has arrived. It has been a very busy year in 2011 with our real estate and manufacturing businesses. Our kids are busy with education and work. I have been busy with community and public policy issues, along with family, business and Rotary International.

We want to wish all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays this year. Before we know it, we will be into 2012 and another Iowa Caucus will be in the books.

Our thoughts and prayers are especially with those traveling, ill, homeless, encountering violence, struggling, alone, under or unemployed this Holiday Season. We hope 2012 brings about a better community dialogue on a issues requiring attention. We need to turn the direction America is headed. The 2012 Presidential process, along with the Local, State and Federal elections will be very important for the direction our Republic and how America interacts with the World as a whole.

The changing of the seasons: Thanksgiving to Christmas, Football to Basketball, Autumn to Winter ...

We witnessed the end of the College Football regular season on Saturday. Sport is always bitter sweet. Someone has to win and on the flip side, someone has to lose. Fans, often get restless, when their team they follow isn't performing up to the standards expected.

Will patience and hard work achieve the right outcome down the road?

We often learn most in life from our loses, our failures and our mistakes. There are more important things in life to be thankful for, than the win-loss record of our local team. After all, sport is only a game, but the experience of playing a team sport can help build character for the future ahead.

Over the past three months, we have enjoyed watching a variety of sports.

• George Washington High School sports, especially prep football


• Opening kickoff of the Green Bay Packers was outstanding! Some good games to date!


• The Washington Warriors win @ Linn-Mar in playoff football game brought great joy!


• Iowa, Iowa State, Nebraska and a variety of college football games (Note: UNI plays Friday on ESPN in the FCS playoffs). There were plenty of highs and lows this season. Enjoyed the fellowship of the Alabama-LSU game party with friends!


• Enjoyed the Creighton men's basketball season getting off to a great start, with a solid win @ UAB, the win over Iowa at Wells Fargo in Des Moines and being in the house for the solid win over Campbell on Black Friday at CenturyLink Center Omaha.

After enjoying season tickets, since 1974, with my parents; then, Carole and I decided to not renew our tickets to the University of Iowa. It was odd at first, but it was nice to focus on work and home a little bit more on football Saturdays. I was pleased to attend the Iowa-MSU game, with some old high school day friends. I have enjoyed watching the Green Bay Packers get off to a strong start in 2011.

Our Rotary Club has moved to a new location in 2011. In November, just before Thanksgiving, we enjoyed another joint Rotary Club meeting. Rotary International President (2010-2011) and Rotary Foundation President (2011-2012) Ray Klinginsmith as our Joint Rotary keynote speaker. I continued to volunteer at Rotary Pribyl Junior Boys Golf Tournament this year. One of our joint projects that our Metro Rotary Clubs perform. On Monday meeting of the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids will feature, our District Governor Jim Patton.

On Tuesday before Thanksgiving, I and others spoke at the City Council meeting in Cedar Rapids, on the upcoming proposed public hearing and first reading. On Tuesday, a Public Hearing will be held on a recommended complete revision of Chapter 69, Civil Rights code for our community. Congress did not pass Lawful Sources of Income, as a protected class, out of committee. Constitutional issues and property right issues have been mentioned, as a reason. We would recommend all residential property owners in Cedar Rapids listen and learn about this issue and the impact it will have on their rights, if passed in the current form. Letters are flowing into the City Clerk's office on this issue.

The Gazette should learn that the State of California considers the Lawful Sources of Income issue as a "protected characteristic" and the State of California has reversed the language, as a "protected class" per I.L. "Tommy" Tucker, a long-term Civil Rights Commission member in Cedar Rapids and my father. The term "protected characteristic" is likely not found in Iowa Code, so this issue may be more appropriate at the State level, rather than local.

Why Should Lawful Sources of Income become a Protected Class in our community?

The U.S. Constitution, the Iowa State Constitution and the City Charter of Cedar Rapids[pdf] are important references, when we have a community conversation. We are hopeful that our City Council members will be prudent and ask the Civil Rights Commission on Chapter 69 to go back to the community for amendments and rework. The City Council will discuss this matter at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday at a Public Hearing during the Council Meeting for December 6Th.

Iowa, Creighton, Nebraska and Thanksgiving 2011 ...

We get ready to welcome Thanksgiving week this year. It is a little different, with the changes in the college football landscape.

As a child, Thanksgiving would always include a great family feast and a little NFL football on television. While in college, I had the opportunity to spend a Thanksgiving with one my classmate's family in Oklahoma City. We drove down to Dallas and attended the Cowboys game vs. St. Louis for the holiday.

Over the years, Thanksgivings in Nebraska have been popular. The big family feast on Turkey Day, then then the Nebraska-Oklahoma games, which later became the Nebraska-Colorado games on Black Friday. Now, there is a football game that involves both Iowa and Nebraska, with the first Heroes Game in Lincoln, kicking off, as the Cornhuskers joined the Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference this year.

Iowa vs. Nebraska in Big Ten football

On Sunday, my alma mater, Creighton (3-0) meets in Des Moines' Wells Fargo Arena for a men's college basketball game with Iowa (3-0). It is the fifth time, since my graduation that both teams have met. The last time both teams meet was in the first round of the 2001 NCAA Basketball Tournament. Iowa has played, since in the NCAAs.

Two of our children are enjoying a week off of school for Thanksgiving. Another one of our daughters is off to Colorado to visit an old high school classmate. We look forward to spending Thanksgiving with the entire family again this year.

It should be interesting on Black Friday with the big football game. It will be interesting seeing Iowa playing after Thanksgiving regularly now, with the new Big Ten Conference. It's old hat for Nebraska, but it will be interesting with them now in the Big Ten.