Pro-21 group seizes momentum
The differences between Yes for Entertaining Students Safely and 21 Makes Sense, the two organizations dueling over the 21-ordinance, couldn't be clearer. Just ask Google.
A quick search of each name is most telling in its results. Search for "21 Makes Sense," and the first hit directs you to the group's website — a well put together, professional, and content-filled site. You can find a plethora of videos, news, letters to the editor, a (very long, continually growing) list of supporters, ways to get involved, and even a place to make a donation.
Search for "Yes for Entertaining Students Safely" and the first local hit leads you to a Cedar Rapids Gazette story. You could keep looking, but there'd be no point. The anti-21 group doesn't have a website yet. But that will change soon, at least according to the campaign's officials.
"There's going to be a series of dedicated websites coming online soon," said Matt Pfaltzgraf, who heads the anti-21 effort. "They should be rolling out later in August."
Though the battle seems to be the same as it was in 2007, both campaigns see significant differences.
Indeed, when 21 Makes Sense's website hit the Internet earlier this summer, the anti-21 group was taken a little by surprise.
"In 2007, things hadn't even started at this point," Pfaltzgraf said. "Everything's bigger this time."
Nick Westergaard, the campaign manager for 21 Makes Sense, agreed, noting a series of important differences.
"The ordinance is actually on the books now. It's more tangible than it was in '07," he said. "We also have the support of the university, which is emphatic of the community's changing mindset."
The anti-21 group has certainly taken notice of that.
"Last time, our opponent was a local doctor," said Pfaltzgraf. "Now it's the UI and the city trying to shove a bunch of problems onto the bars, when they actually have a lion's share of the blame.
As an Editorial Board, we certainly agree that this situation is escalating. There are more Iowa City police and UI police officers downtown, and coverage of the drinking scene at Iowa has never been greater.
Whether the problem is actually greater is up to the community to decide, however. This is something that both campaigns have taken to heart.
"We're a broad-based group," Westergaard said. "We're really working to bring all sides of the community together on this issue."
The anti-21 organization acknowledges that it has room for improvement.
"Last time, there wasn't much community outreach," Pfaltzgraf said. "This time, we're going to put in the hours, the time, the money. This is not a community versus student issue."
It would appear that 21 Makes Sense seems to have seized the upper hand this time around, however. Beginning with its media rollout this summer, the implementation of the ordinance in June, and the launch of the sleek website not long after, 21 Makes Sense is rolling.
"We're [lobbying] at the Farmers' Market, we were at Jazz Fest and Art Fest," Westergaard said. "We're taking this very seriously."
The anti-21 group, by waiting this long to get into gear, seems to be waiting for the students to get back into town.
"Most of our campaigning last time happened in the last six weeks leading up to the vote," said Pfaltzgraf. "That won't be enough this time."
We agree. 21 Makes Sense has a roughly $2,000 fundraising advantage, for the time being, a great website, solution-based positioning, and an array of prominent, influential supporters. Even though the numbers, and past history, are against them, it seems like this campaign will be the one to watch come the fall. It's time for Yes for Entertaining Students Safely to step up.
Editor's Note appended 08/07/10:
A previous version of this story contained an inaccurate quote which included inaccurate figures on alcohol-related arrests. The DI regrets the error.
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