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Comment on 7/18 column: A new attitude about alcohol? by 7/18 column: A new attitude about alcohol? « You are Here | Alcohol abuse,addiction and how to

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:53:35 +0000

[...] Here is the original post: 7/18 column: A new attitude about alcohol? « You are Here [...]

Comment on 7/18 column: A new attitude about alcohol? by John Deeth

John Deeth — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:44:51 +0000

If you’re 18 you’re an adult and you should be able to drink. I don’t want to talk about any of the rest of that until the question of the legal right of ADULTS is addressed.

Comment on 6/3 column: Neighborhood offers more than crime by Tom

Tom — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:26:46 +0000

Wellington Heights is a pretty large area – 1st Ave to Mt. Vernon Road, 10th Street to 19th Street. Most of it IS filled with nice-looking homes, old growth trees and everyday people. There are only a couple of areas where I have safety concerns – around 15th St & 14th St, in the area of 4th & 5th Avenues. We are wrong to give the impression that this whole area is a slum because that is clearly not the case.
To me, reporters have to report; “just the facts, miss.” I don’t think a reporter should be ascribing “the why” during the initial story. The “why” may come out down the road as the case is adjudicated. The Wellington Heights Assn has to take some image control, too, with putting out the uplifting stories that I’m sure the neighborhood is full of.

Comment on 6/3 column: Neighborhood offers more than crime by Hemmingsen: Neighborhood offers more than crime

Hemmingsen: Neighborhood offers more than crime — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:59:11 +0000

[...] this must-read post by Jennifer Hemmingsen on her blog You Are Here, she takes a walk through Wellington Heights with [...]

Comment on 5/20 column: Wisdom for the graduate by Steve Hanken

Steve Hanken — Sat, 23 May 2009 14:06:06 +0000

Although “Fame and Fortune” seem to be the moniker for most graduation speeches, there is something to be said for all of those who won’t find much of either, especially considering 46 cents out of every dollar being spent in this current recession by the government is borrowed.
That means you have to understand we are all in this together and some of the basics you learned in grade school are going to come into play:
Treat others, all of them, as you would want to be treated; one never knows when things could turn on you and the person you are looking at could easily be you!
At least act like what you do matters, since it usually does to someone or they wouldn’t pay you to do it in the first place.
Woody Allen said it best, show up: most of what happens, happens purely because someone showed up. If no one does, nothing happens.
Try to be thoughtful of others, the application of just a little effort on your part will potentially give someone the potential of giving you that same thoughtfulness back. It doesn’t take a lot of extra effort on your part, and could reap a decent return for you in the future.

Comment on 5/16 Column: Lots of help, little direction by B.J. Smith

B.J. Smith — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:11:00 +0000

Jennifer, I’m a little confused. What is the connection between the proposed human services campus, the ANCHOR Center and Wellington Heights, and what is it that’s a no-brainer? Can you explain a bit more?

Comment on 5/6 Column: Readers fire back on guns by hemmingsen

hemmingsen — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:36:10 +0000

Thanks to everyone writing with more information about why you carry.

Some of you seemed to miss the fact that Capt. Stepanek was one of the people who responded to last week’s column. Here’s the full text of what he had to say:

“I believe the second amendment is imperative today as much as any other time in history. I don’t believe that any president or his administration should be able to take away our right to bear arms.

“I also don’t believe the wholesale distribution of concealed weapons permits will do anything but promote more trouble and fear in the community than we already have. Citizens in the Cedar Rapids area can be proud of the past and present law enforcement personnel who protect them as a result of their fine training and dedication to duty.

“The sheriff is a good man faced with a time-consuming, costly task of fairly screening applicants. However, more and more guns carried on the street pose not only many additional problems for police officers and most of all a definite danger from accidental shootings, civilian injuries and death, temperamental behavior, gun thefts and many other related problems. Yes, criminals will have guns, most of them stolen from civilians.

“Civilians who apply for concealed weapons permits are not bad people — and if they are they are screened out. This is not 1870 Dodge City or Abilene, where incidentally, the sheriffs had an ordinance requiring visitors to turn in their guns until they left town. It’s not macho or cool to carry a weapon on the street.

“It’s your right to own a gun if you choose to. But keep it in your home and let those who protect us do their job. Instead, be eyes and ears and support law enforcement wherever you can.”

Comment on 5/6 Column: Readers fire back on guns by Eric

Eric — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:20:24 +0000

Since 1984 29 states have gone from no issue or may issue to shall issue and violent crime has continued its downward trend. I’m not saying that permits help prevent crime as a whole, but the argument that permit holders are going to cause more problems than they solve doesn’t hold water. In every state where Shall Issue legislation is brought up, this arguement is brought up. Based in fear and not logic, it warns of ‘dire consequences’ if permits are issued to ‘just anyone.’ Well guess what, ‘just anyone’ can already carry a gun. They tuck it in the waistband of their pants and go. People who want to be able to legally carry a weapon for their personal defense wish to recieve a permit. As with most of our gun laws, we regulate arms out of the hands of the law abiding, and leave the criminals armed. We don’t want to play ‘dirty harry’ in the streets. We want people who have a clean criminal history, who take the time to be adequately trained, and are suitable proficient with their firearms to be able to carry concealed so that they might exercise their God given right to self defense should it be required.

Police carry a firearm in case they are presented with a situation in which they must defend thier lives or the lives of others. I don’t want to carry to be a vigilante, but if I am presented with a situation in which my life is threatened, I want to be able to defend myself.

Comment on 5/6 Column: Readers fire back on guns by Ben Flooded

Ben Flooded — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:22:24 +0000

The “voice of law enforcement” (Stepanek) that you interviewed is a retired CR Police officer that served from 1955 to 1990, and then moved away to Colorado. Is this the most relevant LEO opinion that you could find to interview in 2009 ???

If I was writing for a newspaper, I might have asked Capt. Stepanek a couple additional questions.
1) How many times in your 35 years on duty did a CCW permit holder cause you a problem?
2) In your 35 years on duty, did you ever arrive on the scene of a crime, where a dead or injured victim may have enjoyed a better outcome if they had been able to draw a firearm to protect himself from the attacker?

Comment on 5/6 Column: Readers fire back on guns by Robert Fowler

Robert Fowler — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:15:53 +0000

I have carried a gun since 1975 when I was beaten unconcious by some thugs. In 34 years I have never had to draw my weapon. I hope I can go another 34 years. But the basic truth is, the police can’t be everywhere at once. Also, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled many times that the police have no duty to protect anyone. Their duty is to protect “the public at large” They do a fine job and I have the utmost respect for them. But I also assume responsability for my own saftey.