Gazette Daily News Podcast: Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024

– Iowa bill would make it easier for landlords to evict tenants

– University of Iowa to close centers in Cedar Rapids, Quad Cities

– Sykora Bakery building purchased by property owner, restaurateur

Episode Transcript

You are listening to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast on Thursday, February 22. This podcast gives quick bites from the latest headlines coming out of The Gazette newsroom. I’m Bailey Cichon.

Coming up, an advancing Iowa bill would make it easier for landlords to evict tenants

And later, University of Iowa is closing centers in Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities

Plus, the Sykora Bakery building has been bought

First, Iowa Senate Republicans advanced a bill Wednesday that would make it easier for landlords to evict tenants. Senate Study Bill 3102 would make changes to evictions and redefine rent to allow landlords to evict tenants for not paying utilities or fees. Sen. Mike Klimesh, a Republican from Spillville, said it’s almost impossible for cities to collect unpaid utilities from renters quote “unless they go after the property owner” end quote but the property owner didn’t actually accrue the expenses.

The bill would also allow landlords to include otherwise prohibited provisions in rental agreements as long as they aren’t enforced. Currently, a landlord using a rental agreement that is known to be prohibited grants a tenant an action to recover damages. Lisa Davis-Cook from the Iowa Association for Justice said quote, “Not everybody knows landlord/tenant law. A tenant may see a provision in a lease and not realize it’s illegal, and then their landlord enforces it and they have no idea that it shouldn’t be enforced in the first place.” end quote. The bill also extends the timeline for peaceable possession of a property from 30 days to 90 days. Peaceful possession refers to the legal right of a person to occupy and use a piece of property without interference or challenge.Critics say the bill would create more housing instability and weaken tenant protections during a time where rents and eviction filings are growing.

rising rents and eviction filings. Representatives with the Home Builders Association of Iowa, Greater Iowa Apartment Association and Iowa Manufactured Housing Association said the bill aims to standardize and clarify landlord-tenant laws, specifically regarding notice requirements and unlawful lease provisions. Additionally, it aims to provide flexibility to landlords and tenants to work out payment plans.

The bill is heading to the full Senate Ways and Means Committee. For a closer look at the bill, read the story linked in this episode’s description.

Next, University of Iowa is looking to save money by closing several off-campus centers. This includes the Tippie College of Business Cedar Rapids Learning Center on Second Avenue in downtown Cedar Rapids. Additionally, the Birchwood Learning Center in Davenport and Scott Community College Learning Center in Bettendorf are included in the University’s request to the Board of Regents. The board will consider the request next week. If approved, the change will take effect at the end of the current semester. According to the request to close the Birchwood Center, professional students have shown a preference towards online classes. Quote, “Offering both in-person and online has become an inefficient use of resources.” end quote. Faculty resources will be focused on delivering courses online as opposed to teaching in-person and online. Current MBA and MSBA students at the Tippie College of Business Cedar Rapids Learning Center will be able to complete coursework online at their own pace. Last year, 101 students enrolled in the professional MBA program and 37 enrolled in the MSBA program.

Next, In 1927, Joseph and Clara Sykora started Sykora Bakery. The building has housed various bakeries since 1903. In recent years, the fixture storefront in Cedar Rapids’ Czech Village has changed hands. Most recently, a failed attempt by a new owner resulted in the bakery’s closure in 2023. Now, the bakery building has been bought by Cedar Rapids property mogul and restaurateur Kory Nanke. According to property records from the Cedar Rapids City Assessor, the property was sold for $290,000 in December. Nanke’s restaurant group Epic Catering is involved in Cedar Rapids restaurants like Midtown Station, Midtown Reserve, the former Bostons and Czech Town Station, which is next door to the Sykora building. The last owners of the building were John and Sue Rocarek. They brought beloved kolaches to Sykora Bakery for more than 22 years and oversaw it through the 2008 flood.

As always, you can find a link to each of the stories featured in today’s episode in this episode’s description or at the gazette dot com.

Finally, let’s take a look at today’s weather in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It’s warming up! Today will be sunny with a high of 60 degrees and a low of 33 degrees. Friday will be cloudy. Expect a high of 45 degrees. Things will cool off Friday night. Anticipate a low of 18 degrees.

Thank you for listening to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast. Stay up to date with the latest news from Eastern Iowa at the gazette dot com. I’m Bailey Cichon.

Comments: bailey.cichon@thegazette.com