• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Sunday, May 22, 2022
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home Local Government

Protesters Arrested at Des Moines City Council Meeting

Protesters were arrested at the Des Moines City Council meeting after the council voted four to three to proceed with their consent agenda without public comment.

Shane Vander HartbyShane Vander Hart
July 20, 2021
in Local Government
Reading Time: 2 mins read

DES MOINES, Iowa – Several protesters were arrested at the Des Moines City Council meeting on Monday evening after the council voted four to three to proceed with their consent agenda without public comment.

RELATED POSTS

Linn-Mar School Board approves controversial transgender policy

Linn-Mar School Board votes to continue to consider a new transgender policy

Des Moines Police identify teen killed in shooting outside East High School

There was a request to remove five items in the consent agenda for public comment:

  • An extension of the grant performance period for the Project Safe Neighborhood Grant through the Office of Drug Control Policy until December 30, 2021
  • An application for funding through the Community Oriented Police Services (COPS) Grant Program to contract with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) in the amount of $148,500 for de-escalation training.
  • Approval of a Joint Application with Polk County for funding through the 2021 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program to be utilized for the purchase of law enforcement equipment in the amount of $169,638
  • The purchase of several police vehicles.
  • Annual renewal of software maintenance, licensing, and support for the City’s Public Safety Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD System) for the police and fire departments. 

Councilman Josh Mandelbaum said that he would support public comment on these items as a group for up to 30 minutes. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Councilman Joe Gatto noted that he didn’t see the need for public comment since money was already allocated for most items, and they were appropriate for the consent agenda.

“So I’m not going to support anything like that just to sit here and be able to take some type of criticism or comments of any kind. I think we’ve already had plenty of that,” Gatto said.

After voting down the motion to allow up to 30 minutes of public comment, the council voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda.

One protester stood on her chair. Mayor Frank Cownie asked her to sit down and said she was disruptive. After appealing for her to sit down, he requested assistance. The City Council voted to go into a five-minute recess as Des Moines Police moved in arrest and remove at least three or four protesters who had signs calling to defund the police. This council meeting is the third in a row disrupted by protesters. 

Cownie, in late June, said that he would enforce rules for conduct during city council meetings.  

Tags: Des MoinesDes Moines City CouncilDes Moines PoliceFrank CownieJoe GattoJosh Mandelbaum
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Iowa DHS Announces Pandemic Food Assistance Distribution Plan for Children Under 6

Next Post

Miller-Meeks Bill to Support DHS Workforce Passes House

Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart is the editor of The Iowa Torch.

Related Posts

traffic industry charging car
Opinion

Curry: Drive a Tesla, get free property taxes

May 3, 2022
Local Government

Des Moines ends mask mandate for city buildings

February 28, 2022
Six projects in Iowa receive $22 million in tax credits for historic preservation
State Government

Six projects in Iowa receive $22 million in tax credits for historic preservation

February 14, 2022
Local Government

Des Moines City Council to Conduct Public Hearing on Revised City Precinct and Ward Map

December 17, 2021
Politics

Des Moines Voters Re-Elect Boesen and Mandelbaum to City Council, Ousts Gray

November 3, 2021
Local Government

City of Des Moines Collects $34.5 Million From Local Option Sales Tax in FY2021

October 20, 2021
Next Post
Miller-Meeks Bill to Support DHS Workforce Passes House

Miller-Meeks Bill to Support DHS Workforce Passes House

Parental Rights Bill Advances In the Iowa House

Families in Iowa to Receive $159.6 Million Under Child Tax Credit Expansion

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates

Get The Iowa Torch right in your inbox!

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Recommended Articles

Bill Expanding Parent-Taught Driver’s Ed Heads to Gov. Reynolds

May 3, 2021
Sinclair: Hold Onto Your Mittens

Sinclair: Hold Onto Your Mittens

January 22, 2021

Sixty Iowa Lawmakers Call on Iowa Supreme Court to Reverse Abortion Ruling

September 8, 2021

Popular Stories

  • architecture building city facade

    Five Iowa House Republicans took money from teachers’ union PAC

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reynolds endorses two pro-school choice Iowa House candidates

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Bird raises $300k for Attorney General campaign in 2022

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Vander Hart: How can we trust Liz Mathis?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • WATCH: Iowa 3rd Congressional District Republican Primary Debate

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government
  • Uncategorized

Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.