We Had To Destroy The Village To Save it

I'll… just… leave this here.

Opponents of a 70-home subdivision proposed for rural Johnson County are not going down without a fight. A handful of them plan to start a hog operation across the street from where the homes would be built…

"Shitting in your own nest" is supposed to be a metaphor, not a literal game plan. See also the term spite house, "a building constructed or modified to irritate neighbors or other parties with land stakes. Spite houses often serve as obstructions, blocking out light or access to neighboring buildings, or as flamboyant symbols of defiance."

It's a high risk strategery that could backfire and cost the Newport Road Gang some of their allies, like urban environmentalists and certain extremely high salary University athletic staff. 

I had an ellipsis there in the midst of Gregg Hennigan's paragraph:

...and also will actively campaign against the county’s justice center project...

because… screw you that's why?

…Iowa City attorney Jeff McGinness said Wednesday. 

AKA Iowa City School Board member Jeff McGinness. Welcome to our reality soap, The Real Housewives of Johnson County.

Tomorrow's Board of Supervisor's meeting should be epic. In addition to the third and final vote on the zoning in question…




…there's also a resolution supporting - topic of the week - marriage equality. Will be interesting to see how the new Republican supervisor walks THAT fine line.

As for the Dooley zoning, the great irony here is that the Dooleys were among the strongest opponents of development in the Newport Road area… until they weren't anymore. Which sums the whole saga up well.