University Daily Kansan, August 25, 1980
Festivities mark City Hall opening
The new Lawrence city hall at Sixth and Massachusetts streets was dedicated Saturday—complete with speeches and free balloons—even before the groundbreaking three weeks and only half of its $3 million construction cost has been paid.
The four-story structure was partially paid for by revenue bonds that will in turn be paid off with federal revenue-sharing funds.
Saturday's dedication marked the end of more than 100 years of renting and borrowing city office space.
"Although we've had some good landlords, it's tradition to have city government operate in its own house," City Commissioner Barkley Clark said.
The public voted against a new city hall by more than 2,000 votes in a referendum in the early 1970s. The building was approved five years later. Construction began in the summer of 1978, but was delayed by heavy snow and the high price of bricks the next year.
BEN BIGLER/Kansan staff
Members of the Kaw Valley Dance Theater perform during dedication ceremonies of the new city hall Saturday. The opening of the new city hall ends more than 100 years of renting and borrowing office space for city workers.
Activities to celebrate the dedication of the new building included a band concert, a puppet show, singing, dancing and speeches.
The completion date was pushed from Dec. 1979 to March 1980, and finally to July 11.
in the parking lot, firefighters displayed city equipment and tied balloons to the wrists of small children. In the four-story brick hall, more than 100 of the curious wandered through city offices.
But even on dedication day there were hints of complications to come.
From city hall, tour groups could see downtown Lawrence and the green banks of the creek where the peeling roof of the Bowersock Mills and Power Co. cable
building to the north and far City Co. to the south. Both buildings were built before the turn of the century and both are scheduled to be demolished.
The cable building will be raised as soon as the city accepts a bid, City Commissioner Donald Binns said. However, Bryan Anderson, owner of
Fat City Toy Co., is trying to fight city hall if he is unsuccessful, the native limestone structure will be destroyed to make room for 90 parking places.
Youngest GOP delegate backs hard-line platform
By STEVE BASKA
Staff Reporter
The equal rights issue is better left to each state than to the U.S. Constitution, says Vonn Fisher New, Lansing sophomore. Fisher New, 19, was the youngest delegate to attend the annual National Convention this summer in Detroit.
"Equal rights are very important to me as a woman." Fisher New said. However, she believes a constitutional amendment is not necessary to achieve them. Leaving the Equal rights issue to the states might not be as fast, but they would be created in a healthier manner, she said.
A CONSTITUTIONAL amendment would force the drafting of women, she said, something she considers a negative aspect of the ERA.
The Republicans ended their 40-year support of the Equal Rights Amendment by refusing to adopt a plank that it in the official party platform.
In 1976, Fisher New attended the GOP convention in Kansas City, Mo., by standing outside Kemper Arena and asking for unneeded guest passes. She asked Mr. Kemper so much that she decided to try to be a delegate to the 1980 convention.
Last May, she was elected as a delegate-at-large during the Kansas state Republican convention. She and her mother flew to Detroit with the 32 other Kansas delegates, their alternates, reporters and accompanying families. In Detroit, they were met by a high school band at the airport and helped during their stay by a Civic Host Committee.
FISHER NEW paid most of her own
expenses on the trip but had donations from the Aitchison County Republican
She is also 2nd District chairman of the Young Republicans. As chairman, she coordinate political programs and engage people to get involved in politics.
She said she thought Ronald Reagan had "the best chance of anyone to beat President Carter" in the election, and that he needed to be tougher with the Russians.
"Carter has been too soft in foreign policy," she said, "and his economic theory is not working at home. I think he will spend more money wage and call for a large tax cut."
But Fisher New said the goals of the Democrats and Republicans were to restore jobs and improve the economy. The difference is how they go about it.
SHE ALSO TRINKS the Republican party is changing.
"Since 1932, the Republican conservative ideology has been viewed negatively," she said. "Now the party has come up with conservative proposals that are truly progressive and will be good if put into action."
Fisher New agreed with the abortion plank of the Republican Party platform, which calls for a constitutional amendment banning abortion, but said she was not completely satisfied with the wording.
The real Republican party is not the people with hats on in the convention, but the salute is to the people watching the convention home and working in their state party."
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