OTOC & Allies End Coal Burning in North Omaha
The OTOC Environmental Sustainability Team formed early this year upon learning that the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) planned to continue burning coal in North Omaha and retreat from the use of renewable energy sources (including wind and solar). They presented 4 key demands to the OPPD Board leading them to revise their plans to end coal burning in North Omaha by 2016 and maintain a minimum use of 32% of renewable sources.
Pictured at right is the team of OTOC leaders that pushed the Board to revise its energy plan. Articles below quote OTOC leader Laurie Gift and OTOC ally Rev. Eric Elnes.
Read moreNebraska Cattlemen & Restaurant Associations Join OTOC FOR Immigration Reform
Perhaps for the first-time ever, representatives from Nebraska Associations as disparate as Restaurants, Cattlemen and Dairy joined the owner of Campbell's Nurseries and the co-chair of IAF organization Omaha Together One Community (OTOC) in a strongly worded plea for support of immigration reform. Stating that "the current immigration system hinders Nebraska employers from maintaining a stable workforce and hurts law-abiding Nebraska businesses" they note that "there is nothing 'seasonal' about feeding or caring for livestock," among other occupations.
Read moreOTOC Leverages Nearly $1 Million for Demolition & Training
Omaha Together One Community (OTOC) leaders applauded the decision of the Mayor and City Council to finalize $957,000 for demolition of condemned houses and $25,000 to support job training in the 2014 Budget.
OTOC advocated for increased demolition funding in the 2013 budget and as a result, approximately 93 structures will be demolished this year, nearly triple the number from 2012. OTOC expects that the $957,000 in demolition funding in the adopted budget will allow the city to demolish over one hundred dangerous, condemned buildings in 2014. "These demolitions will heighten the quality of life for neighborhoods, businesses, and nearby institutions like churches and schools like the one where I work " said OTOC leader Karen McElroy.
Read moreAMOS Backs Greater Emphasis on 'Restorative Justice' For Juvenile Offenders
"In the disagreement between Polk County officials and the citizen group AMOS, logic seems to favor AMOS. Especially in the long run.
Read moreGrant to Iowa Will Bolster Juvenile Justice Efforts
The $750,000 grant will provide training and technical help from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for improving services to young offenders. The three-year program will be administered by the Iowa Department of Human Rights' Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning....
Read moreAMOS Clergy & County Attorney Debate Draws in Sheriff
"Polk County Attorney John Sarcone accuses AMOS of distortion and grossly misleading people about juvenile justice in our county
Read moreDebate Over Race & Juvenile Justice Heats Up in Iowa
Citing concerns about an exponential rise in juvenile filings and detention holds, clergy leaders of A Mid Iowa Strategy (AMOS) are calling on their County Supervisors to vote against increased funding for juvenile attorneys, calling it a "direct result of the more punitive approach" recently taken towards children. An editorial written by several clergy triggered a heated response by the County Attorney (both pieces included below).
AMOS advocates a return "to the best practice model the County Attorney's office pioneered from 2006-2009" which made good use of "informal adjustments and alternatives to detentions for non-violent, non-repeat juvenile offenders."
Read moreAMOS Helps Keep Youth Out of the Court System
"Cy was a choir director, community leader and maker of fine clocks. When I knew him, he was 80 years old and lay leader of the church I served. One snowy morning, he came to my office and simply said, 'We have to go to Albert Lea.' I said, 'That is in Minnesota, and they have lots of snow.'
Read moreOTOC Celebrates $500K More for Building Demolition in Omaha
After 3 years of raising the issue, leaders of Omaha Together One Community (OTOC) are pleased with the decision of Mayor Suttle and the Omaha City Council to invest a total of $500,000 in new funding to demolish condemned buildings in 2013. Total funding for demolition in 2013 will be $840,000, up from $340,000 in 2012.
"Many of the speakers advocating the demolition of rundown homes were representatives of Omaha Together One Community....'The first speaker from OTOC showed a variety of pictures of rundown houses. The number of such condemned houses has grown from 400 to 742 in three years,' said Karen McElroy. 'We understand that this is a tight budget year, but the mayor and City Council need to make the tough decisions to preserve our urban neighborhoods,' she said."
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