This week in Iowa organizing
Our hearts and thoughts continue to go out to the students, their families, and the community of Perry following Thursday's tragic and devastating events. And we hope that political ideology and gamesmanship does not cloud discussions on how to prevent this type of violence that happens much too often in this country.
We also hope you stay safe and warm with the snow beginning to descend on Iowa. We need the precipitation, but not necessarily all in one fell swoop! But now that the snow is here, factory farm operators cannot apply liquid manure to farm fields (more on that below).
And today marks the start of the 2024 legislative session. We'll use these weekly emails as a way to keep you updated on major happenings at the statehouse, in addition to timely emails when your call or email to lawmakers matters on key issues.
Lastly, one week from today are the Iowa caucuses. Check out information on how to participate in the Republican caucuses here and the Democratic caucuses here.
Alright, more updates and ways to take action below,
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
At the Statehouse
2024 legislative session begins
Well, it's here - the 2024 legislative session. Expect to hear quite a bit of talk about even more tax cuts, 'comprehensive reviews' of our state's Area Education Agencies, and enacting Reynolds' call to eliminate or consolidate state boards and commissions. But that won't stop us and allies from speaking out for preventing eminent domain abuse by CO2 pipeline profiteers, investing in public programs and water quality initiatives, fully funded and safe public schools, and more.
Today: shortly after lawmakers gavel in, allies will hold a 'People's Agenda' rally in the capitol rotunda at 12:30pm to demand lawmakers put the values of freedom, opportunity, and respect at the forefront of this legislative session. Then at 1pm, March for Our Lives Iowa will hold a student walkout and protest in the statehouse rotunda demanding action on commonsense gun laws.
Tomorrow: Governor Reynolds will deliver her Condition of the State address at 6pm. Keep an eye on your email inbox tomorrow morning as we want to flood the Governor's office with hundreds of calls from Iowans across the state demanding she let Iowans know where she stands on CO2 pipelines and their threat of abusing eminent domain for private gain.
Take action
Today - Jan. 8: new year, new DSM council, unfinished business
For 7 years now, CCI members and allies have been working to end racial profiling by the Des Moines Police Department (DMPD). We've made progress, and now we want to see completion.
As we head into 2024 it’s time to cross the finish line. Our work has led to two independent reviews confirming much of what we’ve been saying needed to change regarding the policies, practices and culture of the DMPD.
Now it's time for the Des Moines City Council to act. Join us for the first city council meeting of 2024 today, January 8 at 4:30pm. We’re ready to see real change. And we're going to tell the new City Council just that tonight.
Jan. 16: a New Year's resolution for Dubuque!
It's a new year and we've got a resolution for Dubuque - take real action to address our 5 year rental inspection cycle.
Dubuque currently holds the longest inspection cycle of any city across the state. 3.75 equivalent full time inspectors can't oversee 15,000+ rental units in a timely manner and now is the time to act.
That's why on January 16th we'll meet over Zoom to go over the issue and discuss steps we can take to spur the city to action, join us by RSVPing here!
Tues. Jan. 23: The People's Lobby Day
The legislature reconvened in Des Moines today. Last year was a whirlwind of activity, but there's unfinished business for our people and planet in 2024. And we're going to make sure lawmakers know that!
We'll weigh-in throughout the session, but on Jan. 23 we're heading back to the statehouse to call for bold action on preventing eminent domain abuse from CO2 pipeline profiteers, real efforts to clean up Iowa's water, tenant protections from abusive landlords and out-of-state corporations, and more.
Join CCI members on Tuesday, Jan. 23 for our 'People's Lobby Day'!
Our "People's Lobby Day" will be a day of citizen lobbying, meeting with key decision makers, and rallying to put people first and communities before corporations! We'll gather together at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Center at 11:30am that day to share food, community, and prep for the day. Then we'll head to the capitol and take action for our people and planet.
Governor Reynolds may be dead-set on furthering the agenda of her corporate donors and out-of-state special interests (plus in-state special interest Bruce Rastetter) - but we're not buying it and we're not going away!
Live near Dubuque or the Iowa City area? We have a bus to help people get to the capitol! You can sign up to 'hop on the bus' here. Live in the Mason City area? We have a van coming down from there. Reply to this email if you want a ride from Mason City.
Has your county passed the Master Matrix?
It’s time for County Supervisors to vote on, pass, and submit the Master Matrix resolution to the Iowa DNR. County supervisors can weigh in on factory farm construction in your communities if they submit the resolution between January 1 and January 31.
Places where once independent family farms were the life blood of rural Iowa are now overrun by factory farms that break down our communities and pollute our water.
The Master Matrix resolution is not the end-all fix but rather an important tool in our organizing kit. This permitting application can be used to stop or slow the factory farm industry with your help.
Contact your County Supervisors today and tell them to pass the Master Matrix resolution and submit it to the Iowa DNR between January 1 and January 31. You can check out a sample resolution here.
No manure on snow-covered or frozen ground!
If you live or work in Iowa communities near factory farms or the fields where they apply liquid manure, we need your help in making sure factory farm operators follow the rules to protect our water.
From December 21 to April 1, factory farms with 500 or more animal units (at least 1,250 finishing hogs, 500 steers, or 357 dairy cows) cannot apply liquid manure on ground covered with an inch or more of snow or one-half inch of ice. Starting Feb. 1, liquid manure application on frozen ground is restricted.
That means Iowans like you play a critical role in protecting our water from factory farm polluters. They dump it, we drink it, we won't stop until they clean it up!
If you see liquid manure being applied illegally, or if you see something that just doesn't look right to you, give our office a call or email karsen@iowacci.org.
What We're Reading
The case of the missing healthcare providers [The Lever]
Should Iowa be feeding kids or playing politics? [Cedar Rapids Gazette]
Des Moines police need a citizen advisory board, city manager and mayor say [Des Moines Register]
Educators question Iowa's new school book rules after court blocks enforcement [Iowa Capital Dispatch]
'We can't sit back': Amid climbing cancer rates, Iowa health officials eye farm chemicals [MinnPost]