Let's Catch Up! October '25

VOTE YES: OUR CITY NEEDS STRONG SCHOOLS

State and federal funding for public schools has taken painful cuts in recent years. And those cuts threaten the communities that depend on them for more than simply educating children without regard for ability to pay.

“Public schools often provide economic benefits for communities,” asserts the Learning for Justice program of the Southern Poverty Law Center, “including employment, economic opportunities, and encouragement for families to move to or remain in a community. Public schools, especially community schools, can promote stronger communities by building relationships among families and educators and partnerships with community organizations and businesses.”

Which is why the November 4 ballot includes an important item for Des Moines residents: a $265 million “Reimagining Education” bond issue to benefit our kids and schools. Renovating school buildings and creating career-focused programs are two key proposals.

In endorsing the initiative, the Taxpayers Association of Central Iowa (TACI) gave particular kudos to the district’s dedication to “addressing critical infrastructure needs, enhancing educational environments, and responsibly managing taxpayer resources.” TACI is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to fostering efficient, effective local government in the greater Des Moines area.

“We were particularly encouraged by the district’s commitment to transparency and accountability, including the establishment of an independent oversight committee tasked with monitoring expenditures and ensuring that bond proceeds are used as intended,” TACI Chair Michele Wilkie said in the organization’s endorsement letter, which was featured on the Des Moines Public Schools website.

Although a successful vote would require an additional $1.99 levy on property taxes, the proposed tax rate would still be lower than the rate Des Moines residents faced five years ago.

Our public schools need to remain competitive with suburban districts. Please vote “Yes” on this item!

Early in-person voting has already started. Or, find your Election Day polling place.

2025: INVEST DSM’S BIGGEST YEAR

This year has all the makings of being the busiest year for Invest DSM, the nonprofit agency focused on strengthening neighborhoods and funded by the Polk County Board of Supervisors and the City of Des Moines.

“With another 329 more grants in progress, we should blow the 2024 numbers [366 completed] out of the water in the coming weeks, and finish 2025 as our biggest year so far,” Christopher Civitate, Invest DSM’s neighborhood development manager, told me.

With projects in six targeted neighborhoods, homeowners have completed 353 projects this year, valued at more than $26.5 million. For every dollar Invest DSM granted, property owners invested $3.86 of their own. Homeowners kicked in $21,064,275; Invest DSM contributed nearly $5.5 million.

More than 90 percent of 2025’s completed projects are homeowner-led, reflecting the organization’s focus on empowering residents to reinvest in their homes and neighborhoods. The remaining projects include commercial improvements, rental rehabilitations, and new single-family construction.

The additional in-progress group Chris spoke of represents an estimated investment of $28.8 million — nearly $8 million from Invest DSM and just under $21 million from homeowners.

In the second half of 2025, Invest DSM expanded its work in two additional Special Investment Districts — North of Grand/Woodland Heights and Union Park. These new investment areas joined the existing districts of Drake, Franklin, Oak Park/Highland Park, and Columbus Park. The photo above shows two new 1,700-square-foot homes built on a once-vacant lot on East Granger Avenue in the Columbus Park neighborhood, south of downtown.

Mayor Connie Boesen, Mike Simonson, and I represent the City on the Invest DSM board of directors.

NEXT YEAR’S INGERSOLL IMPROVEMENTS

Phase 1 construction of the Ingersoll Avenue streetscape, from 31st to 35th streets, commenced in 2020. Yes, it’s been a journey.

Now, with Phase 5 scheduled to begin in 2026, the City’s Engineering Department, Kirkham-Michael & Associates, and The Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand hosted an October 16 open house at Palmer’s Deli & Market to gather input for that stage.

The current plan adds two on-street parking places and eliminates five in/out driveways. The Engineering Department will host an online meeting in January for the public to learn more about Phase 5. More information. Email comments.

Lauren Kollauf, executive director of the Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand, reminded me that there are 280-plus free parallel parking spaces along Ingersoll. There is a two-hour parking limit from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

And how many parking stalls in privately owned lots within a block north or south of Ingersoll (ML King to 42nd)? Lauren shared information from the Walker Consultants parking study, released earlier this year, which details 5,660 parking spaces. Not a typo! Pretty danged amazing. (The 45-page report is packed with helpful information.)

Now, if we could convince the property owners and shops to share off-street parking lots and expenses, everyone would benefit.

One positive step: Ben Landhauser, Artessa Living executive vice president, told me his group has worked out a shared parking arrangement for his company’s planned commercial space at 3121 Ingersoll with the adjoining office building at 3209 Ingersoll. Doing so eliminated two in/out driveways.

“Deb Lawrence at DML Management has been great to work with,” Ben told me. “We will share maintenance expenses for our shared parking area. It’s all about limiting the number of conflict points for drivers.”

FEDS HALT DMACC’S TSA TRAINING

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has paused DMACC’s national online training for TSA employees. TSA determined that funds that could be reallocated during the pause needed to be redirected toward TSA’s core mission.

DMACC offered the nation’s only TSA education program, which included three online courses: Introduction to Homeland Security, Transportation and Border Security, and Intelligence Analysis and Security Management. For TSA employees of six months or longer, TSA paid all fees, including tuition and books. TSA employees received college credits for completing courses.

Steve Barger, DMACC’s director of Homeland Security/TSA Programming, told me that in 2016, DMACC was training TSA employees from six states. “Then,” he continued, “we were asked to expand the program to the entire country! We accomplished that goal in three to four months. Thousands have completed our DMACC courses.”

According to the DMACC website: “Since the spring of 2018, over 2,600 employees have earned their TSA Certificate of Achievement in Homeland Security, with more than 6,200 participating in the program.”

Steve told me he believes 600–700 TSA employees were completing classes when the program was paused in late April. Many TSA employee students chose to continue program classes at their own expense during the pause.

DMACC’s TSA program.

DMACC has a sterling reputation for creating hands-on and online training to develop employee skills.

PROUD UNCLE

Retired Des Moines Police Department Captain Dave Seybert was all smiles on October 10 after pinning an officer’s shield on his niece, Luci Seybert. Officer Seybert served 18 months as a cadet before being selected for the 24-week academy, along with 19 other recruits.

Officer Luci begins her 16-week field training program with Senior Police Officer Peyton Mercer on the First Watch (9 p.m. to 7 a.m.) and will rotate to the Second and Third watches with other training officers. All new officers follow similar field training duties.

THE BUTT OF ALL RECYCLING

Since 2022, Operation Downtown has shipped more than 700,000 cigarette butts to an innovative company that transforms typically nonrecyclable items into useful products such as park benches and chairs. So far this calendar year, Operation Downtown has sent more than 200,000 butts to New Jersey-based TerraCycle.

“There’s no revenue from the program,” Operation Downtown executive director Amy Lego told me, “but there’s no shipping costs either.

“When people are given a proper place to dispose of litter,” Amy added, “they’re more likely to use it, allowing Operation Downtown to keep cigarette butts out of our waterways, streets, and landfills.”

TerraCycle’s Eric Ascalon told me that cellulose acetate in cigarette filters accounts for roughly 20 percent of the weight of its partner’s outdoor chairs, benches, and tables. Butt contributions from Operation Downtown — one of TerraCycle’s top recycling municipality partners, according to the program — are now part of 10 Adirondack chairs this year alone.

Recycling note: Imagine how much we could eliminate from the waste stream by banning plastic grocery bags (12 states and 500-plus counties and municipalities already do so) and Styrofoam carryout containers (nine states already do so).

ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

Patrick Malone, a graduate of Hope Ministries’ one-year program at its Door of Faith facility, recently moved into a new Hope Ministries Supportive Housing for Men community at 3333 East University Avenue. The three-building facility, formerly home to Hope Ministries’ women’s and children’s program, currently houses 14 men in two buildings.

When contractors finish remodeling a third building — thanks to a $165,000 Lowe’s grant — there will be independent rooms for 24 men. The third building includes a community and fellowship room, case management office, pool table, table tennis, and fitness room. Private rooms include a bed, dresser, closet, and nightstand.

Residents pay $500 a month for a private room, with a shared adjoining-room half bath and semiprivate shower room. Patrick is responsible for his own grocery shopping, meals, and transportation to the Amazon warehouse in Bondurant, where he works as a delivery driver.

Cole Lindholm, Home Ministries’ president and CEO, told me residents can stay up to 24 months at the East University campus. The facility demonstrates “the importance of community in recovery,” Cole said.

“We introduced this supportive housing program to provide an affordable option as they transition into permanent housing. The Des Moines metro is in dire need of more affordable housing options, and our men have struggled to find and secure a place upon completing our program.

“The beauty of this East University campus is the community that is in place and which is fostered there. This two-year arrangement is a unique opportunity to practice what men learned at Door of Faith in an affordable and supportive environment, all while being a part of a community that is bigger than them.”

To qualify for the supportive housing, residents make a sobriety commitment, demonstrate secured income, and earn recommendations from their case managers. An on-site housing supervisor organizes social activities and a weekend shared meal.

Patrick, 40, was employed as a Target optician and living at an extended-stay motel when he went on a series of alcohol benders.

“I got out of the service in 2018 after serving four tours as a Navy corpsman [also known as a Marine Corps medic],” Patrick told me. “I suffered from PTSD and drank heavily. Some days, I drank 18 or more beers.

“I was never homeless and had plenty of good jobs. But I knew I had to make some changes. I was desperate.”

Patrick completed the Hope Ministries’ one-year program in September. He described his life as “working on myself.”

“I’m happy and content,” Patrick told me. “This housing is a good community environment for me.”

TWO RIVERS AND A VIEW

During a sneak peek tour earlier this month, BNIM architect Jonathan Ramsey described features of the new Two Rivers Park, on the east side of the Des Moines River and north of East MLK Parkway.

MidAmerican Energy developed and funded the nine-acre park on the southwest corner of the Market District and just north of the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers. MidAmerican will retain ownership of the land, but the Polk County Conservation Board will operate it.

A formal dedication will follow in the spring, when additional native flowers and grasses are established. More details.

AIRPORT’S EZ-PICKUP WORKS GREAT

If you haven’t tried the new EZ-Pickup area at the Des Moines International Airport, I predict you’ll be amazed by how seamless it operates. The designated area inside the parking garage is a genius improvement that reduces curbside congestion. Uber/Lyft pickup has also moved to the garage.

The new EZ-Pickup area is located near the center of the parking ramp and at street level. Just follow the signage into one of the 26 stalls, directly across from the main terminal doors. Then text the stall number to your traveler(s). Just stay in your car and wait patiently.

Last weekend, Susan and I made seven trips to pick up family members who flew here for a reunion. Each time, it was effortless for us and our cousins. They agreed: EZ Pickup directions are well marked in the terminal. And did I mention EZ-Pickup is free for the first two hours?

Kudos to the airport’s in-house team — communications, electricians, and maintenance — for this improvement.