• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Politics / Govt / Iowa City leaders to spend thousands replacing benches after complaints

Iowa City leaders to spend thousands replacing benches after complaints

January 23, 2019 By Radio Iowa Contributor

The city council is going to replace some benches on the Ped Mall in Iowa City that have armrests.

The city council in Iowa City has agreed to spend $10,000 to replace 14 benches in the Ped Mall.

The action follows nearly two months of push back from people who’ve complained that the newly installed benches are “hostile” toward the homeless because they have center armrests – preventing people from laying down on the benches.

City councilor Susan Mims voted against the replacement plan, saying she’d prefer the money go directly to families in need, rather than encourage people to sleep outside. “With the prices that were in the staff memo, 10%, roughly $6,000, is rent and utilities for six months for a family of four,” Mims told KCRG TV.  The 14 benches represent 20% of all the new benches.

Council member Mazahir Salih called for replacing half of the new benches with center armrests. “We can’t satisfy everyone, but we try as much as we can to satisfy the public. It think it should be 50-50,” Salih said. “It would cost us around $21,000, which is reasonable.”

In addition to spending $10,000 to replace the 14 benches, city leaders decided to give another $10,000 to Shelter House, a homeless advocacy group.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt

Featured Stories

All bodies of missing now recovered from rubble of collapsed Davenport building

Governor signs child care expansion into law

Iowa seniors have until July 1 to apply for new property tax break

Smoke from distant fires creates colorful sunrise in Iowa

DOT’s Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division to merge into State Patrol

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Hawkeye women to play Virginia Tech

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 6/5/23

Iowa eliminated at NCAA regional

Iowa names Beth Goetz interim AD

Cyclone Trio Invited to USA Basketball U19 Training Camp

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC