Iowa City District A: Steve Soboroff

I am running for City Council because I think I can help make Iowa City a better community. I live on the southeast side of Iowa City, and I am reminded every single day that we have big problems.

Crime is rampant in several neighborhoods on the southeast side. If we put the time, energy and the money into solving the problems on the southeast side that we have put into downtown, we will be well on our way to cleaning up this area.

Downtown Iowa City is the hub and the energy of our city. The students provide the vibrancy and the energy that makes Iowa City unique. The students need to feel welcome in our downtown and not be treated like second-class citizens. Our permanent residents and the students need to get along and we all need to understand that the university and the city need to work together to make things better.

I have been asked many times about increasing our property tax levy. I am not in favor of this unless I can be shown that we are not wasting the money we are already paying in taxes. People are sick and tired of being taxed, and we need to be better stewards of their money and their trust.

I will fight to keep the police and the fire departments intact. The police and the firefighters keep us safe, and I vehemently oppose any reduction in staff in either of these departments. I also oppose the use of traffic cameras as a revenue generator. Law enforcement needs to remain personal and not become automated.

It is past time to admit that we have not been business-friendly in Iowa City. The mayor and city manager should not be firing salvos at our neighboring cities, for they are not to blame for the reputation that we have earned.

The corridor concept will only work if we all work together and stop pointing fingers.

I think that our police force is professional, well trained and can handle our streets. We do not need campus security regularly patrolling Iowa City streets and alienating our residents and our students. We need to stop sending one-fourth of our student body into the world with criminal records.

We need to remember that the people on Melrose Avenue during game day are our visitors and are vital to our economy. It's time to take back our streets.

I'm proud to be a member of this community, and I will work tirelessly to make it a better place for permanent residents and for our students.

Steve Soboroff has been owner of radio station KCJJ-AM 1630 since 1994 and hosts its morning show. His wife, Janet, helps runs KCJJ Radio along with their partner, Tom Suter. The Soboroffs have one son.

Comments: SteveKCJJ@aol.com