Rental permit moratorium is needed in Iowa City

We moved here in 1974 to go to graduate school, and have watched the town grow. Iowa City has been a great place to raise a family and to live with progressive thinking about how to keep it livable for long time residents when we have such a diverse age and ethnic population due to the university and hospitals. The Iowa Legislature has taken away local control for guns, schools, health, taxes, and rental permits. The university has had to reduce upper degree programs that kept older students in our town. Until the legislature changes politically, we need to find ways to stop loss of our unique identity.

One of the ways the city has kept the growth livable for long-term residents is limiting the number of rental properties. You can drive through our neighborhood and tell which properties are rentals, with a landlord not maintaining the place as well as an owner would. Parked cars add to the danger of children playing and not being seen. A few of my neighbors help snow-blow sidewalks for some older residents, but rentals don't clear walks or drives unless I contact their landlords. I even have to leave notes to remind rentals to take empty garbage cans back from the street.

Do not just listen to rental property owners and real estate agents who do not live in these areas, and who benefit financially. Please find way to limit the effects on neighborhoods. We do care and want the moratorium.

Judy Pfohl

Iowa City