Josh Mandelbaum

The public has wanted us to address predatory towing practices in our community for as long as I have been on the Council. Our towing contract was an opportunity to better protect the public, and while it made some modest improvements, the contract was a missed opportunity to protect the public so I voted no. I also proposed that Council have a worksession to address towing practices with private/non-consensual towing and proposed specific steps for Council to take. Council did not set any date certain but there was a commitment to have a worksession. That worksession will only happen if Council hears from the public. It is time for us to do better.

Crow Tow awarded Des Moines impounding contract despite controversies Des Moines City Council member Josh Mandelbaum says he will push for a towing ordinance after controversial Crow Tow gets impound contract.

There are 12 women who have an active application to serve on Planning and Zoning. Councilmember Gatto did not contact a single one of them, even the ones who live in his ward, as part of the so called "due diligence" before making an exception to our gender balance policy. The policy exists so that qualified candidates get a fair shot and don't get overlooked. Councilmember Gatto violated our policy, and what he did was wrong.

Councilman calls for apology after exception made to city’s gender balance policy Des Moines City Council made an exception to its gender balance policy to appoint two men to a commission. Now questions are swirling about whether women who applied for the board were given full consideration.