Gomers -- What's going wrong

SOMETHING'S MISSING: A task force charged with recommending ways to improve the transparency of the state Board of Regents and Iowa's public universities has come up with some worthy recommendations that include online opportunities for expanded information and public input. However, they do not recommend any open comment times during the regents meetings. We are troubled by this neglect of face-to-face interaction. It can't and shouldn't be replaced entirely by digital tools; it's still an important part of public scrutiny of government bodies.

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TRASH TALK: Jeff Pomeranz, Cedar Rapids city manager, has been leading an admirable campaign to get more residents involved in cleaning up trash on public areas. It's a big challenge (as it is in most communities). A recent non-scientific poll stroll through the downtown revealed evidence of too many people still not caring - the most common trash item we saw were cigarette butts on sidewalks, parking areas, landscaping, streets, flower pots, etc. Blaming the state's 2008 smoking ban in work buildings, restaurants and public places doesn't cut it. Proper disposal of trash - including the butts - is first an individual responsibility.

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