What We've Done

• 2004: After CCI members on the east side of Des Moines voiced their concerns, the Iowa State Fair, for the first time ever, placed trash receptables at key points through the neighborhoods and the city swept all paved streets within a three block radius of the fairgrounds.
  
  
• 2004: Adair-Madison Regional CCI members helped ensure that a new septic system in Madison County was reasonable and didn't place an unfair financial burden on rural residents.
  
  
• 2004: After successfully stopping a 24-hour convenience store from locating on a vacant lot on the north side of Des Moines, CCI members successfully organized to replace the store with an affordable senior housing facility in Des Moines. The Rose, Des Moines' first affordable senior living center, was built in August 2005.
  
  
• 2003: Organized in Mitchell County to stop a proposed coal-fired power plan from building near the town of Mona. Members were concerned about the pollution and serious health effects of coal plants as well as the negative economic impact the plant would create.
  
  
• 2002-2003: Won a multi-million buy out of southeast Des Moines residents who lived within 1,000 feet of a sludge storage facility built too close to their homes in violation of state law.
  
  
• 2001: Convinced the City of Des Moines to invest $225,000 in pollution clean-up at Dean’s Lake and worked with the City to develop a walking trail around the lake.
  
  
• 2001: Stopped the Metro Transit Authority from eliminating a bus route that served Des Moines’ north side neighborhood which also led them to begin exploring the option of para-transit service for elderly and disabled residents in the area.
  
  
• 2000: Stopped Excel from building a mega beef packing plant in Iowa Falls after research showed that the company had a record of mistreating workers, farmers, the environment, and the communities where they locate.
  
  
• 2000-Present: Ran a successful campaign in Southeast Iowa to stop theft of anhydrous ammonia - a common farm chemical used to manufacture methamphetamine.
  
  
• 1998: Won passage in Des Moines of a Conditional Use Ordinance to deal with unruly bars. Under the ordinance when owner want to expand or open a bar, they must first obtain a conditional use permit which allows the city to put conditions on the operation such as providing adequate lighting and making sure no illegal activity occurs on the premises.
  
  
• 1994-1998: Helped neighbors in Des Moines and Waterloo close hundreds of drug houses.
  
  
• 1991-1992: Won passage of the Specified Crime Property Ordinance in Des Moines and Waterloo. This ordinance allows for fines when landlords fail to take action against drug dealers in their buildings.
  
  
• 1989: Convinced a metal burning business located in a residentially zoned neighborhood in Waterloo to move to an industrially zoned area of the city.
  
  
• 1987: Won the rescinding of a bus fare increase, stopped a proposal to end Saturday bus service and doubled state aid for public transit in Dubuque and statewide.
  
  
• 1985: Stopped the misappropriation of funds in Council Bluffs for construction of a storage building on unstable, swampy land and saw that the funds were reallocated to senior transportation and meal site programs.
  
  
• 1983: Stopped a proposal by the Iowa State Fair to demolish 100 homes in order to expand their parking area.
  
  
• 1982-1983: Organized in Sioux City to prevent the closing of 3 inner city schools.
  
  
• 1981-1985: Organized a down sizing campaign in Cedar Rapids in 3 neighborhoods to prevent speculators from dividing up single family homes, depreciating properties, and ruining the neighborhoods.
  
  
• 1979: Won passage of an ordinance in Des Moines which makes it illegal for a sex-oriented business to be located within 750 feet of a school, playground, or residential area.