• Business & Economy
  • Politics & Government
    • Campaign Countdown
      • 2012 Reports
  • Sports
  • High School Sports
    • Football Friday Night
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • All Topics

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

  • Home
  • Audio Archives
  • Contact Us
  • Reporters
  • Affiliates
  • Affiliate Support
  • PostsComments
You are here: Home / Politics & Government / Naming of Council Bluffs/Omaha bridge spurs controversy

Naming of Council Bluffs/Omaha bridge spurs controversy

September 9, 2008 By admin

The new pedestrian bridge that links Omaha to Council Bluffs will open to the public on Saturday. Last night , the Council Bluffs City Council voted to name the bridge after former Nebraska Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey. The Omaha City Council will address that topic later today. The 22-million dollar project has some people upset.

There were several council members in Council Bluffs that were opposed to naming the span after Kerrey saying the name should reflect both communities. Kerrey secured federal money to build the bridge. Some are making accusations this is pork barrel spending. Kerrey disagrees.

Kerrey says: "And this is done very much publicly. This is a project that began several years before the earmark itself that has support of both the state of Iowa and the state of Nebraska with resources put in. Both the cities of Omaha and Council Bluffs are supportive. A considerable amount of private sector support for it as well so it wasn’t like I stuck an earmark, just dump a bunch of money into Nebraska and Iowa. There was a big effort underway." Kerrey stated there will always be those who oppose projects.

Kerrey says, "I would disagree. It is not to the public good if you are not part of the public that is going to be using this bridge. You can say that by someone saying I don’t drive across the Interstate 80 bridge. So why did they build a bridge that allows a car to go across the Interstate into Missouri when I don’t drive a car." Kerrey said that every public expenditure needs to be justified.

He says: "It is quite common for someone to say, ‘That doesn’t do me any good. I’m not eligible for Social Security. I’m not eligible for Medicare. My kids aren’t going to school.’ It is quite common to have a situation where an objection is going to be raised by someone saying why do I want to spend money in Sheridan County? Why do I want to spend money in Polk? Why do I want to put money into someplace where I don’t live? That is a very common and legitimate argument."

He says he "opposed putting my name on other things when state projects were done and I participated or in some cases led out the development of it. I’m honored by it. I’m much more excited about the bridge opening and getting it in a position where I can see people using it." A committee assigned to research the name submitted the "Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge" to Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey and Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan. That name was passed along to both councils. A dedication ceremony is planned for Saturday that includes the official lighting and fireworks.  


Print pagePDF pageEmail page

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Facebook

Filed Under: Politics & Government

Featured Stories

Appeals Court throws out murder verdict saying jury influenced by social media

Packing 40 years of memories, Iowan heads to Barbara Bush’s funeral

Governor approves new Iowa law on ‘food shaming’ and unpaid school lunch debt

Iowa Senate honors Wally Horn for 46-year legislative career

Clive massage therapist facing sexual assault charges

TwitterFacebook

Drake pitcher earns another Missouri Valley weekly award

Former Iowa State coach Earle Bruce dies at 87

Golfers tout economic impact on Iowa

Iowa NASCAR driver pays tribute to hockey team

Morris headlines women’s pole vault at Drake

More Sports

Tweets by @RadioIowa

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

RSS O.KayHenderson.com

  • Campaign surrogates: asset or liability? September 22, 2016
  • Proposed slate of 2016 RNC delegates from #IAGOP May 20, 2016
  • AUDIO: #IAGOP chairman talks about idea of ‘brokered’ convention March 18, 2016
  • @TerryBranstad statement on Obama nominating his cousin to SupCo March 16, 2016
  • ‘Substantial growth’ in voter registrations for both parties from #IACaucus March 15, 2016

Archives

Copyright © 2018 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC