Sullivan's Salvos

7-7-09

2009-07-05T17:44:00.000-05:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 7/7/09

I need to begin with a correction… last week, I said that I had been writing Salvos for 388 weeks. I’m not sure where I got that number, frankly!

I rechecked, and the number is actually 251 weeks. (Perhaps it only FEELS longer!) Anyway, I apologize for the misinformation.

Tiffin is holding its second annual Tiffin Fest this weekend. For more info, see:
http://tiffin-iowa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=27&Itemid=64

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford made the news recently when he skipped the state for an affair in Argentina. This case has generated a great deal of talk; I figured I might as well weigh in!

For starters, I think the details of Mr. Sanford’s marriage are the business of the Sanford family and no one else. Personally, I do not believe that marital fidelity translates to ability to govern.

That said, some argue that a politician who will lie to his wife will lie to the public. OK, I can buy that. It certainly does reflect poorly on his character, and I would not begrudge anyone who voted against him solely on that basis.

But I would argue that in the money-driven politics of this country, MOST governors would (and do) lie to the public, whether they cheat on their spouses or not.

The real issue in this case is that Sanford abandoned his position as Governor and left the state with no way to be contacted. During the week he was absent, there could have been any number of disasters that would have required the Governor’s leadership.

In my opinion, this is gross negligence, an abdication of duty, a betrayal of the public trust, and unbecoming of the Office of Governor. I feel Sanford should step down. Should he choose not to resign, the voters of South Carolina should send him a strong message of disapproval. Primary or General election, it does not matter… this issue is not political. It is about good government.

As our School Boards and City Councils struggle to balance their budgets, please remember something: any individual can balance a budget fairly easily.

She would tax herself what she thought was fair. Then she would fund programs and services she liked and used, and cut those she did not. Viola! The budget is balanced.

Problem is, cities and school districts represent more than one person. Those people disagree as to what is valuable, and disagree as to how much we ought to pay.

Elected officials are charged with striking a balance that the community will accept. If they do not do so, we can vote them out. But please vote knowing that budgeting for thousands of people is a challenge.

Backyard Abundance is holding several tours this summer. Our neighbors hosted one last year, and it was a fun event.

For more info, see: http://www.backyardabundance.org/events.aspx

Diversity Circles encourage dialogue to create awareness, to help develop sensitivity to and understanding of others, and to build and strengthen ourselves and our community. Facilitator guided discussions on such issues as race, immigration, religion, and sexuality encourage participants to take action for positive change.

The next Diversity Circle will be held: Monday, July 13, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Grant Wood Elementary School Family Resource Center.

Sponsored by: Grant Wood Neighborhood Association, City of Iowa City Human Rights Division, City of Iowa City Neighborhood Services, City of Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center, Johnson County Social Services, Iowa City Community School District and Women’s Resource & Action Center.

DID YOU KNOW? Pagans called the Midsummer moon the "Honey Moon" for the mead made from fermented honey that was part of wedding ceremonies performed at the Summer Solstice.

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com.

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

6-30-09

2009-06-27T14:11:00.001-05:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 6/30/09

Happy Independence Day! I will be at a niece’s wedding, so the usual routine of parades is not in the cards this year.

No matter how you spend your July 4th, please give a little thought toward Jefferson, Madison, and the folks who got this great country started.

As I celebrate America this week, I am going to raise a toast to something that has made America great – the middle class. Then I am going to raise a toast to the folks that brought you the middle class – organized labor.

I am frustrated by the criticism I hear directed toward organized labor. Let me ask… how well has management fared the past couple decades? Do we really want more of, from, by, and for corporate boards and CEOs? How well has that worked, anyway?

Has the private sector managed our banking and credit system well? Mortgages? Health care? The environment? You know the answers. Corporatism has helped the wealthiest among us, and hurt everyone else. There is nothing to argue.

I hear it all the time: “I’m in favor of unions, but…” This is a cop out. Too many people want to have it both ways. When push comes to shove, there is really only one question that needs to be answered: Which side are you on?

I have been writing Salvos weekly for 388 weeks now. One thing I have neglected to do over that whole period of time is put in a plug for my friend John Deeth.

I do not read too many blogs regularly, but one I have been enjoying for several years is the John Deeth Blog.

Deeth is a keen observer of local politics, and even if you disagree with his political leanings (decidedly left of center), you will undoubtedly find things of interest. Plus, John is just a darn good writer!

I highly recommend you check it out at: http://jdeeth.blogspot.com.

There has been a great deal of talk regarding the Senior Center lately; I thought I’d add my two cents.

While I am not a senior, I have spent countless hours speaking to folks who are, including dozens of Senior Center users. I think there are a few points that should be very clear:

1. Seniors are not of one mind. There is no “senior viewpoint” toward the Senior Center. Some love it, some do not. Some want segregated programs, some want intergenerational programs. Viewpoints are many and varied.

2. We need better info from both seniors who use the Senior Center and seniors that don’t. Programs and funding should reflect this info, at least to some degree.

3. There is no reason to call for the demise of the Senior Center. That would be foolish. There ARE good reasons to change some things. Budgets are tight; everything deserves an equal review. How can one justify NO look at the Senior Center when everything else is cut? People pretend they want bold leadership from elected officials – until they disagree with that bold action!

4. Making changes does not necessarily mean a reduction in staff (though that should be on the table). It does not mean a change in the Senior Center Commission. It simply means thinking outside the box.

5. The Senior Center facilities are CLEARLY underutilized. Putting the Senior Center under Parks and Rec would allow for a bigger-picture view, and more cost effective usage of city facilities. In tight budget times, we need this. There are evenings that groups have nowhere to meet, while the Senior Center sits empty. We should fix this.

6. Many of the programs and services that take place at the Senior Center are NOT Senior Center programs… including Senior Dining, RSVP, and many others.

7. In tight budget times, we need to discuss whether or not limited funding for senior services should be directed toward healthy 60-year-olds, less-well 90-year-olds, or some combination.

8. Similarly, we need to discuss whether or not limited funding should be directed toward home care, congregate settings, or some combination. If congregate, one site, or several?

9. There are no easy answers. But doing the same things will not improve the situation. All parties need to be open to suggestions.

There are lots of brilliant seniors out there. I say we get a group of seniors with a mix of viewpoints, and put them to work on improving the services we provide to our seniors!

DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County hires over 900 poll workers annually.

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com .

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

6-16-09

2009-06-20T13:13:00.001-05:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 6/16/09

It has been a rough week for me, as I lost my maternal grandmother on Wednesday. Granny was my caregiver when I was young, and I was blessed to have her as a huge part of my life.

Julia Jack spent over 93 years on the family farm, only recently moving to the Solon Care Center. She was a caring, intelligent, fun-loving woman who was a proud farmer and an environmentalist since before the word had been coined. She was the kind of grandmother that drives parents crazy, spoiling her grandkids.

She left me many gifts – an enthusiasm for learning, a fascination with history, a love of nature, some basic cooking skills, an interest in gardening, a devotion to public radio, and a pretty decent sense of right and wrong. I owe her more than I can ever repay, and love her more than I can ever express. Rest in peace, Gran.

The annual Iowa City Pride Festival will be held Saturday, June 20th. There has never been more to celebrate, so join in the fun! The parade is at noon on Saturday the 20th; see the Connections website fore more info: http://www.queerconnections.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=5&Itemid=114

IBEW Local 1634 is holding its 10th annual fishing tournament at 7 AM on June 27 at Sandy Beach. The event includes cash prizes in 7 different categories, lunch, door prizes, drawings, and an all around good time!

Tickets are $10, and can be purchased from Local 1634. Please call 319-295-1034 for more information.

I have always found it interesting that Iowa City has preconceived Neighborhood Associations. I understand that there are physical features (rivers, highways, etc.) that tend to create very real boundaries. Yet it seems fundamental to me that neighborhoods must define themselves.

For example - according to Iowa City, my neighborhood is defined by Lemme School, which is about eight tenths of a mile away. Yet I live less than one block from Hoover Elementary, where all my kids have gone to school. The community spaces we use are parts of Hoover and City High. When my neighbors and I speak of ”neighborhood”, we are more likely to extend the boundaries eight tenths to the north (Regina), south (Hy-Vee), or west (toward downtown). No one in what we define as our “neighborhood” participates in the City’s preconceived Neighborhood Association.

Things were much different when I was growing up on the farm. No one tried to define our neighborhood but us. We defined our rural “neighborhood” as anyone within a few miles any direction. The definition included residents of three counties. A shared rural lifestyle was just as important as a shared geography.

Folks involved in the controversial road projects that were proposed for Prairie DuChein and Newport Roads reported that they came out of the ordeal with a much stronger sense of their own neighborhoods. I am hearing similar reports from friends who were flood victims.

The way in which we define our neighborhoods is central to several current hot button topics.

The controversies over school district boundaries are partly about neighborhoods. Newer neighborhoods feel as though they are not given the same deference as those that are more established. (And some cynics might add, wealthier.) Controversies over Roosevelt elementary, Idylwild, the location of the new Shelter House, downtown drinking, the Sutliff Bridge, historic districts, and perceptions regarding crime and safety are all neighborhood related.

I would argue that neighborhood boundaries are mostly invisible, and change periodically based upon the people involved. I feel this is the key to dealing with neighborhood issues – respecting the connections that exist.

DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County residents are 85% Caucasian, 5% Asian, 5% African American, 4% Hispanic, and 1% other. (Source: US Census Bureau.)

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com.

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

6-23-09

2009-06-20T13:11:00.001-05:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 6/23/09

The Board had a three-hour long meeting on Thursday the 18th. Obviously, there are several things to discuss if you meet for three hours.

The unfortunate thing is, the odds are good none of you will ever know what was discussed. Unless you come in for a copy of the DVD, catch the video on government access, or go to the City Channel website, the details of the meeting will never be public.

Why? No media was there to cover it. So if you care about Sheriff’s services to Tiffin, services for seniors, domestic partner benefits, union contracts, Veteran’s Affairs, 120th Street through Shueyville, Medical Examiner fees, Mental Health Services, appointments to the Board of Health, or the chicken processing plant outside of Frytown, well… you are out of luck.

I understand these topics are not sexy. Maybe you really DON’T care. But this is the routine functioning of government. Citizens need to know. For well over a century, the people of Johnson County have depended upon the media to report the news. That is no longer happening. So now what?

Getting a job is now a different process than it was in 1980. In recognition of this, the Johnson County Livable Community for Successful Aging Initiative is sponsoring a workshop for job seekers aged 50 and older.

The workshop will be June 30 from 3-5 at the Coralville Public Library, and is open to anyone 50-plus. There is no fee, and light refreshments will be served.

Iowa Workforce Development, Kirkwood, Elder Services, and the Iowa City Area Development Group are partnering with Johnson County to make this workshop available.

An interesting tidbit of information from the University of Massachusetts: An investment of $1 billion in defense generates 8,555 jobs and $564 million in wages and benefits. The same $1 billion investment in education creates 17,687 jobs and $1.3 billion in wages and benefits.

Obviously, we need investments in both defense and education. But clearly moving some of our federal expenditures from defense to education would be a positive move for the US.

Speaking of government – it strikes me that we have very short memories. Take a step back with me, if you will - beginning in September of 2008, through November of ’08 and beyond.

The public was faced with two stark ideological choices: on one side, government is the problem. Government is too big, taxes are too high, and there are too many regulations. If we just get government out of the way, the invisible hand of the free market will take care of us all. People need to take care of themselves. Things are going along fine.

On the other side, government is a good thing. The government provides vital public services, and taxes support these efforts. Taxes are a small price to pay for the benefits of a strong public sector. The marketplace has failed the public at large, and regulating the market is the proper role of government. People need to take care of each other. Things desperately need to change.

Fast forward to June 2008. I still hear a lot from people who believe the former. Have we forgotten that the folks who believe the latter carried the day in November of ’08?

Granted, not every decision is as stark as the one I outlined above. There are nuances, compromises, and concessions.

Still, it seems to me that way too many elected officials at every level – City Councils to Boards of Supervisors to State Legislators to the US House to the POTUS – are forgetting what the people asked for.

So – remind them. Remind US. Stand up for what you believe, and vocalize it to the people who represent you.

In a similar vein, a friend sent me a very poignant piece on healthcare. Please check it out:
http://blog.buzzflash.com/carpenter/422

DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County cuts about 15,000 checks every year.

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com .

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

6-9-09

2009-06-07T07:15:00.001-05:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 6/9/09

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. I lost my own father ten years ago, and I have missed him every day since. Please take some time this week to reach out to the dads in your life.

The summer season of celebrations has begun, and the season continues Friday-Sunday in North Liberty with the annual North Liberty Fun Days celebration. For more info, see: http://www.northlibertyiowa.org/fundays/index.htm.

Johnson County will be part of a very neat project later this month when the 7th annual Project AWARE passes through. AWARE stands for A Watershed Awareness River Expedition, and Project AWARE volunteers canoe down various Iowa Rivers removing trash.

This year, from Saturday, June 20 until Saturday, June 27, Project AWARE volunteers will cover roughly 80 miles of the Cedar River, from Center Point to roughly Muscatine. This includes 2 days in Johnson County.

On Wednesday, June 24, the group will start at Palisades-Kepler State Park near Mount Vernon, and paddle 8.6 miles to Sutliff, where they will camp overnight on land owned by Dan Clark. On Thursday, June 25 the group will paddle paddle 15.4 miles to Cedar Valley Park near Tipton.

Melissa and I are canoeing the 24th, and you are welcome to join in the fun! Canoes are provided, and volunteers can work one day or all week. For more information on volunteering, see http://www.iowadnr.gov/volunteer/aware/index.html .

The Cedar River is full of trash, particularly after last year’s floods. We all have an obligation to clean up our environment; this is a great way to do your part locally.

Do you have an interest in the outdoors that you would like to share with others? If so, you may be one of the people the Johnson County Conservation Board is looking for!

Throughout the summer and early fall the Conservation Education Center at Kent Park is open to the public on weekends and holidays from 1-4. The JCCB is currently seeking more volunteers to help staff the CEC.

Volunteers answer questions from the public and ensure that someone is in the CEC to interpret displays and to hand out literature. All volunteers attend a short volunteer orientation to familiarize them with the building, the displays and the answers to commonly asked questions. Volunteers are an integral part of the visitor experience at F.W. Kent Park and their efforts help staff to provide additional educational programs.

If you are interested in joining this great team of volunteers at the CEC, please contact Naturalist Brad Freidhof at (319) 645-1011 or bfreidhof@co.johnson.ia.us.

Good luck to Dave Redlawsk and Aletia Morgan as they leave Iowa City for Rutgers University. Many of you know Aletia, who served admirably on the ICCSD Board of Directors. Her husband Dave is a Political Science professor who served a stint as Chair of the local Democratic Party, and served as a key part of the campaign team that got Dave Loebsack elected to Congress.

It is always sad to see good folks leave Johnson County, but that is the nature of our community. Best wishes, Aletia and Dave!

An invitation from Gary Sanders to the readers of Salvos:

PARTY----SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 1-4 pm, LOWER CITY PARK, SHELTER 6 (by the parking lot)
BRING FOOD/DRINK IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT
(rain date, Sunday June 21, 1-4pm, Upper City Park, Shelter 3)

TO CELEBRATE GETTING MY FIRST SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK ON JUNE 17, AND TO HONOR FRANCES PERKINS, THE DRIVING FORCE IN ESTABLISHING SOCIAL SECURITY IN 1935 (AS FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT'S SECRETARY OF LABOR)----------

EVERYONE IN IOWA CITY INVITED. REPUBLICANS MUST BRING NOTARIZED STATEMENT THAT THE NEW DEAL SAVED AMERICA.

BRING YOUR OLD WORK PHOTOS--PRIZES AWARDED!!!

SPECIAL(invited) GUEST---KIRSTIN DOWNEY, AUTHOR, "FRANCES PERKINS:THE WOMAN BEHIND THE NEW DEAL"

NO ONE UNDER 40 ALLOWED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENT OR BY SPECIAL PERMISSION.

DID YOU KNOW? All road embargoes for 2009 have now been lifted.

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com .

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

6-2-09

2009-05-31T13:23:00.000-05:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 6/2/09

We are approaching the one-year anniversary of the floods that affected us all so deeply. Even though my family and I did not personally suffer any losses, I will never forget June of 2009.

Please be sensitive to the impact that anniversaries can have. There are several people in Johnson County who have been through a lot; we all need to be supportive.

Johnson County has a critically important position available, as there is an opening on the Board of Health.

The 5 members of the Board of Health are appointed by the Board of Supervisors, and serve 5-year terms. This is to fill an unexpired term, and the appointment will run through December 31 of this year. (The successful applicant could then seek reappointment if she/he chooses.)

For more information on applying, see: http://www.johnson-county.com/Employment/pdf/Board_of_Health.pdf.

It seems there has been a tempest in a teapot created over the State’s new law requiring gender equity on boards and commissions at the local government level. In light of the identity politics surrounding the appointment of Sonya Sotomayor to the US Supreme Court, perhaps now is the time to discuss the issue.

The law does not go into effect until 2012, but the Board brought it up during some recent appointments.

I recognize why the Legislature passed this law. There are still far too many places where women are underrepresented on boards and commissions. I expressed my concerns that there might be unanticipated consequences to the passage of this law. The following situation illustrates one such example.

I voted to add TWO WOMEN to a commission that already had 5/7 female members. Because 3 Supervisors voted the way I did, that commission will now have 6/7 female members. I feel good about this vote, because the two women were clearly the most qualified candidates. Our vote is legal for now; as of 2012, this commission will need to have at least 3 men.

Clearly, eliminating a preponderance of women was not the intent of the folks that passed the law. I suppose they knew there would be some unintended consequences; my guess is they decided that it was worth trading a couple women in Johnson County for scores of women statewide. I can understand that logic.

I also think it is worth noting that diversity can be measured many ways. Johnson County fares extremely well as far as diversity in terms of sex and sexual identity. We do not fare very well when it comes to diversity in terms of race and ethnicity.

Just as importantly, the most underrepresented group as far as local governments are concerned are people of low income. Go through the lists of the people that are appointed to boards and commissions. Show me the people who earn below Iowa’s median per capita income of $25,000. The only appointees you will find are self-advocates who sit on Mental Health Commissions. People without money are always the least represented group.

One last thought: people talk a lot about appointing the “most qualified” applicant. Even this can be interpreted differently. For example, earlier I mentioned the opening on the Board of Health. I think Boards of Health should have several members who have a deep understanding of health – MDs, for example. Our current 5-member Board of Health has an MD; a DVM/PhD; and an RN. In my mind, this is a great mix.

While I like the credentials of our group, I feel strongly that the Board of Health should also have at least one “lay person”. The people need representation from some Jane or Joe Average who struggles with her health insurance provider, and wants clean restaurants, air and water. (We currently have that, too.)

I do not begrudge the Legislature for passing this law. It was probably needed in several places. I do not think Johnson County is one of those places. But we will certainly continue to seek out members of underrepresented groups, and we will certainly comply with the law once it goes into effect.

DID YOU KNOW? Memorial Day reminds us that one of the services provided by County government is Veteran’s Affairs. You can reach the Johnson County Department of Veteran’s Affairs in the new Health and Human Services Building at 855 S. Dubuque Street, or by calling 356-6049.

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com .

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

5-26-09

2009-05-24T08:16:00.000-05:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 5/26/09

Congratulations to all the graduates! This is always such a very special time of year… granted, I am a big softy, but I get a bit misty every time I hear Pomp and Circumstance.

My son BJ is a 6th grader at Hoover, and since he is our youngest, we are basically through with our neighborhood elementary school. Last Saturday were our final Kickers soccer games after sitting out there through approximately 300 games. Then there are final concerts, final track meets, and all sorts of other “finals”.

It is not traditionally viewed as a big milestone, but I am amazed at the impact that is having on me. I will really miss Hoover! Meanwhile, congrats to all of you that have a family member completing one phase of her or his life.

I am receiving a very nice honor this Thursday… the Heritage Area Agency on Aging (AAA) has selected me as their 2009 Outstanding Elected Public Official.

For those that are unfamiliar, Heritage is one of 667 Area Agencies on Aging nationwide and one of only 13 in Iowa. The agency plans, coordinates and funds a variety of human services programs that serve the 60,000+ older adults who reside in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Washington Counties. Heritage serves people age 60 and above as well as their families and communities.

This is really a tremendous honor. Thank you to the overly kind and generous local folks who placed my name in nomination. I have tried very hard to serve the seniors of Johnson County; it is really neat to have that effort recognized.

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter was in the news recently for switching from the Republic Party to the Democratic Party. While this move is condemned by Republicans and hailed by Democrats, I’m not so sure it is good for anyone except Arlen Specter.

Don’t get me wrong; Specter is a decent man, particularly for a 30-plus-year veteran of DC politics. But he does not measure up on labor, the environment, economic justice, health care, or any number of Democratic Party issues.

Why should Pennsylvania Democrats embrace a man who has served the opposition for over 30 years and make him their standard bearer? Specter is viewed as a moderate now, but he was a typical member of the GOP when he was first elected. Should he be rewarded by Dems because his own party has moved so far to the right?

Specter has only been with Democrats on roughly 30% of his votes. Is that really acceptable to the Democratic Party? Senate Dems do not need 60 members – they need 60 VOTES! Otherwise, they will be as irrelevant as the Iowa House- 56 members, and no results.

Some moderates are truly independent thinkers, but I think there is a tendency to romanticize moderates of either party. Too often these folks are credited with being icons of the American system of government. I would argue that often moderates are gutless, intellectually dishonest, calculating self-preservationists.

The Iowa House of Representatives has been a study in the frustration of working with so-called “moderates”. They have produced very moderate results. Give me the choice between a straight shooting opponent and a false friend, and I’ll take the honest opponent.

US politics have rarely focused upon helping those that need it. I would argue that no administration has really looked out for the little guy since Lyndon Johnson was elected in 1964. Johnson, of course, forgot about the little guy as far as Viet Nam was concerned, and all his good work is largely overshadowed by that fiasco. (Rightfully so.)

Now is no time for more of the same. Now is no time for moderation. The people of this country (including this County) want a new direction. Will someone PLEASE step up and offer progressive change? Who in politics is looking out for the least among us?

DID YOU KNOW? Johnson Co. Board of Supervisors Meetings are on the web!
Local government meetings can be viewed at: http://www.citychannel4.com/video/cc4live.html
Gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors meetings. Taped for view at 5:30pm every Thursday... also live coverage on the second Thursdays at 5:30... you can also watch taped coverage on Sunday's at 1:30pm and Tuesday's at 9:30am!

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com .

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

5-19-09

2009-05-17T10:20:00.001-05:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 5/19/09

Happy Memorial Day! Thanks to all who are serving and have served our country. Your service is appreciated!

The Board voted on May 14 to explore rebuilding the missing section of the Sutliff Bridge.

I thought this was a no-brainer. Granted, I am biased… I grew up at the Sutliff Store. But look at the facts:

*The Sutliff Bridge is a huge tourist attraction, with visitors from all 50 states and several foreign countries. Thousands of people visit Johnson County so they can check out the bridge. Boaters, anglers, birdwatchers, bikers, motorcyclists, snowmobilers, history buffs, and others visit Sutliff for recreation.

*FEMA will pay 90% of the cost, with the State of Iowa picking up 10%. So no money comes from the County budget.

*Liability will cost Johnson County only a couple dollars per year, and the Sutliff Bridge Authority has pledged to continue raising money for maintenance.

* If, at some point, engineering studies show that rebuilding the bridge is not viable, Johnson County can change course and use FEMA funds to demolish the remaining section. (Clearly, not my preference.)

Two Johnson County residents have recently been honored for their outstanding service on behalf of senior citizens. Congratulations to Eve Casserly of Coralville, who was honored with a Shining Star Award from Governor Culver. Even more impressively, the Reverend Bob Welsh has been honored with the first ever Betty Grandquist Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of working to improve the lives of senior citizens. Kudos to both of these wonderful volunteers!

Great news from Johnson County’s Free Tax Help Program – also known as You Earned It, Now Claim It!

This effort, a cooperation between the ICCSD, Iowa City, and numerous local agencies, brings a tremendous amount of money into Johnson County that would likely otherwise go unclaimed, including Earned Income Tax Credits. The money goes directly to our poorest residents, who tend to spend it locally.

The numbers? We held 36 clinics throughout Johnson County, with 93 volunteers providing 1800 hours of service. They filled out 954 returns (a 42% increase) and the amount coming back to Johnson County is $1.2 million, 100% more than a year ago.

Thank you to everyone who has been involved in this outstanding effort!

There are many critical decisions facing the ICCSD Board of Directors. In my opinion, the key issue here is not local at all. The problem lies with the Iowa Legislature. Here is the problem: the Legislature has decided that there is a maximum that can be spent per pupil. It does not matter if the money comes from the Feds, State, or local taxes – school districts are capped at a maximum per pupil amount. When you hear Dr. Plugge talk about “Spending Authority”, he is referring to the fact that we are capped by the State.

I can empathize. Johnson County faces the same dilemma when it comes to Mental Health & Disability services. Even though we want to spend more, we can’t. I fear that we are going to be faced with the same scenario as it applies to several Public Health programs.

While I understand the State’s desire to equalize per pupil spending, I think the approach is wrong. We should not penalize local governments who want to exceed State expectations. The proper role of State government is to set MINIMUM expectations, not MAXIMUM outcomes. Why hold people back?

Every child in Iowa deserves a great education; great should be the baseline. But local communities should be able to do better than great! I hope the ICCSD Board will enlist the citizens of Johnson County and crusade for the right to exceed state standards.

DID YOU KNOW? 68 Iowans died on the job in 2008, including 3 members of the US military.

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com.

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

5-12-09

2009-05-14T13:56:00.001-05:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 5/12/09

We went through a trying time the past two weeks, as our computer quit working. That explains why there was no Salvos for a couple of weeks.

Thankfully, all the information from our hard drive was salvaged, and the repair was not too expensive.

It is a pretty scary proposition to lose your hard drive. For me, it means family photos, home movies, my calendar, all my music, hundreds of E-mail addresses, and much more. It certainly reemphasized the need to back things up more frequently!

If I needed a dose of humility, two weeks without Salvos provided it! While over 400 people receive Salvos on a weekly basis, less than ten asked where it was after missing two weeks!

The biggest news of the past couple weeks was the vote on the local option sales tax. Regardless of how you felt about the outcome, I hope every citizen appreciates the work of the Johnson County Auditor’s Office. They handled a complicated and contentious election extremely well. Kudos!

I stood by a couple weeks ago and watched as dozens of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters filed for marriage licenses. What a wonderful day! It felt good just being around so much love and happiness.

I challenge anyone to convince me how the Bible and/or the Iowa Constitution should be used as a blunt instrument to harm our fellow citizens. Do unto others, as you would have others do unto you…

There are so many bad things in our world today. Poverty, hunger, disease, unemployment, pain, death… why not embrace the little things that bring joy into our world?

In a related matter, you may have heard that some county governments have opined on the implementation of the Iowa Supreme Court decision in Varnum vs. Brien. Johnson County wrote a letter in support of following the law. Nine out of the ten countywide elected officials signed this letter.

Frankly, I wish the letter had been more strongly worded. Rather than, “we urge others to follow the law,” I would have preferred a letter that said, “we support full equality for all people.” But what we sent was better than nothing.

I was very disappointed in a recent Board action. We decided not to allow the third floor of the new Health and Human Services Building (HHS) to be used as a temporary location for the Homeless Overflow program.

Run by the Consultation of Religious Communities, the Homeless Overflow program provides overnight accommodations when Shelter House is full. Regrettably, Shelter House is full all winter – the Overflow provided 1,700 nights of shelter this past season.

Unfortunately, several churches will be unable to participate this upcoming winter. Plus, moving the cots and equipment from place to place is wearing out the volunteers. The new and expanded Shelter House will not be built in time. So the Consultation needs a location for one more winter. The HHS building is perfect – a big, empty space with restrooms, near downtown, where cots could just sit all day.

I have served as a driver several nights per year for approximately the past 4 years, so I have seen the Overflow firsthand. Volunteers stay awake and monitor every guest all night long. All guests have passed a breathalizer test. No one is allowed in, and once you leave, you may not return. Local churches have been doing this for years, and they have incurred no expenses. Problems have been very minimal. Johnson County had little to fear.

And consider… a program serving the homeless was asking to use the HEALTH and HUMAN SERVICES building! Am I the only one who sees the irony here? The HHS building may be managed by the Board of Supervisors, but it belongs to the public – even those with nowhere to stay.

The Board instructed our Facilities Manager to work with the Consultation to find an alternative location. I thought this was ironic, too, given the group with whom we were working – we basically said there is no room at the inn, but we may have a manger you can use.

DID YOU KNOW? Campsites are now open in Johnson County! Please check out the wonderful facilities provided for public use by the Conservation Board.

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com .

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

4-28-09

2009-04-26T11:43:00.001-05:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 4/28/09

I have to crow a bit… we just got home from watching our daughter Jordan run at the Drake Relays. Jordan is a freshman at City High, and ran on the 4 x 400 relay team.

The weather was lousy, and Jordan’s team just missed qualifying for the finals. But Drake is a neat event, and it was pretty cool to have a child experience it. Thanks for allowing me to brag!

I recently finished an interesting book on political history. “The Progressive Revolution: How the Best in America Came to Be,” by Michael Lux makes the point that bipartisanship may be overrated.

As Lux points out, Lincoln had zero support from Democrats in Congress when passing his agenda. All the opponents were sure his actions would bring the US to its knees. Teddy Roosevelt had zero support from his fellow Republicans when it came time to bust the trusts, siding instead with the William Jennings Bryan Democrats. All the opponents were sure his actions would bring the US to its knees. FDR had no Republican votes in the Congress when Social Security was created. All the opponents were sure his actions would bring the US to its knees. President Obama’s stimulus plan got zero Republican votes in the House and three in the Senate. All the opponents are sure his action will bring the US to its knees. (Time will tell!)

There are several additional examples. Bottom line is, bipartisanship has its place, but not if you need to make significant changes. The opposition party is just that – opposition. They are in place to stop the majority. If you are always looking for compromise, you’ll never get the change you seek.

The other piece of this, of course, is we need politicians at all levels who are willing to take a stand, then accept the electoral consequences. To be an effective elected official, your platform must be more important than your own reelection.

Happy May Day on May 1st! As you probably know, May Day has long been recognized worldwide as a celebration of the worker. The holiday took on special meaning for workers in the US following the Haymarket Square massacres of 1886.

Unfortunately, during the “Red Scare” of the 1950s, the US quit celebrating May Day, fearing that the celebration was too closely aligned with the USSR and too anti-business. The US created “Law Day” to take its place.

While Law Day is certainly a noble endeavor, the US caved in to fear when moving away from the celebration of May Day. And the only people to suffer from this change in emphasis are US workers.

Some folks still do recognize May Day as a worker’s day, and they are gathering on the Ped Mall at noon on May 1. I urge you to join them!

Speaking of Law Day, it is being celebrated at the Johnson County Courthouse on Thursday, April 30 from 3 – 4:30 PM. There are tours, refreshments, and many activities for the kids.

The Johnson County Safe Kids Coalition is holding Safe Kids Day Saturday, May 2nd from 11 to 2 in the south parking lot of Coral Ridge Mall.
There will be lots of events for the kids, plus child safety seat checks, a bike safety rodeo, tours of emergency vehicles, and all kinds of demonstrations. Call Doug Stahl at 339-3338 for more information.

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Walk for the Mind of America is Saturday, May 2nd, at Lower City Park in Iowa City, with check in at 9 and the walk at 10.

This is the biggest annual fundraiser for NAMI. For more information, contact Della McGrath at 358-8448 or dellamcgrath@qwestoffice.net.

The Crisis Center Pancake breakfast is Saturday, May 2nd from 8-2 at Parkview Church. This is the biggest annual fundraiser for the Crisis Center. For more information, call 351-2726.

The Mayor’s Youth Empowerment Program (MYEP) is holding its 6th annual Youth Festival Saturday, May 2nd from 10 AM -3 PM at 1060 Cross Park Avenue in Iowa City.

The usual bikes, food, fun, games, auction items, and the like will be available; there is no charge for admission. All proceeds support MYEP work with Johnson County youth.

DID YOU KNOW? You can look at and reserve campsites at any county park in Iowa through mycountyparks.com .

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com .

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

4-21-09

2009-04-18T19:43:00.001-05:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 4/21/09

Johnson County is receiving $236,000 in Federal Stimulus money specifically for energy efficiency. This will likely go toward renovations to improve the energy efficiency of the Administration Building. And when we improve energy efficiency, we save tax dollars.

Special thanks to the staffs of Senator Harkin and Congressman Loebsack for their assistance in helping Johnson County to benefit from this program.

One year ago, Johnson County signed on to the Sierra Club “Cool Counties” program. At roughly the same time, Iowa City, Coralville, and North Liberty signed on as Sierra Club “Cool Cities”.

That is great, right? We are all green here! Regrettably, very little has happened since these agreements were signed.

One of the key components of becoming a Cool County or Cool City is the creation of a citizen advisory committee. I was one of many folks who thought it made sense to make this advisory committee regional, rather than having 4 separate committees. Most elected officials felt similarly, so it was decided that the advisory committee would be a committee of the Johnson County Council of Governments (JCCOG).

The JCCOG committee finally met in very late March. Better late than never, obviously. One would think that applying green principles to flood recovery would have made a lot of sense. What’s more, much of the Federal Stimulus Plan had a green focus. We may have really missed out by delaying so long!

Meanwhile, no big initiatives have come from Johnson County or our cities. Discussion of green ideas keeps getting pushed to the back burner.

The people assigned to this committee are great people. They can advise all they want, but at some point, elected officials need to get moving.

So, next time you hear something from Johnson County, North Liberty, Iowa City or Coralville touting how “green” they are, hold them accountable. Make sure they are doing more than lip service. What actual steps have been taken? Earth Day is coming up. Hold your local elected officials accountable when they show up for their photo ops. Let’s demand some real progress!

So… do you know any seniors or people with disabilities? Imagine for a moment that former Presidents Reagan, Bush, or Bush had gotten their way, and Social Security had been privatized. How do you think those seniors would have fared financially over the past 8-9 months?

Rest assured, the market will recover. No one knows exactly when, but it will recover. And then the cry to privatize Social Security will resume. Remember this period in our lives when those ideas are next floated.

Johnson County will have a sale of used computers, monitors, printers and other computer related equipment to general public. The sale dates will be Saturday May 2, from 9 – 12. The sale will take place at the new Health and Human Services Building, 855 South Dubuque Street. Persons wanting to purchase this equipment can find detailed information on the equipment and the terms of sale on our website at www.johnson-county.com/sale. People without web access can call us at 356-6080 for assistance.

The Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce Buy Here Business Fair is April 23 beginning at 4 PM at the Holiday Inn in Coralville.

Most of the products and services you need, you can buy locally. Please take this opportunity to check out some of our fine local businesses.

The Great Garlic Mustard Challenge is happening once again, but 2009 has a twist… we have been challenged by the Quad Cities! In ’07, 2000 pounds were pulled. In ’08, we got up to 6000 pounds. We can rise to the challenge! Time to take the gloves off (actually, time to put them on) and pull some garlic mustard!

In case you are unaware, garlic mustard is among the most problematic of invasive species. There are really only two ways to eliminate it – burning and pulling. So Johnson County, Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, and the UI all have identified sites where garlic mustard needs to be pulled.

That is where you come in. Volunteers can visit www.icgov.org/garlicmustard for a complete list of the dates, times, and locations. The first date is Sunday, April 26 – check out the times today!

DID YOU KNOW? Iowa City ranks #9 in the US in terms of percentage of residents who commute by bike. (Source: JCCOG.)

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com.

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

4-14-09

2009-04-12T20:31:00.001-05:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 4/14/09

I find it ironic to hear the Republican members of the Iowa House demanding a vote on gay marriage. These are the same guys who claim to stand for individual liberties. I guess what they mean is you have a right to as many guns and cigarettes as you can handle. But individual rights like voting and sexual orientation need to be restricted.

Representative Duane Alons demands that “the people deserve to vote on this!” Why? Do the people deserve to vote on his marriage? I demand to vote on Duane Alons marriage! The very idea is as stupid as it sounds. According to Alons, I have no right to healthcare, but I deserve the right to disapprove other people’s weddings. Huh?

I am particularly offended when people use Christianity to oppose gay marriage. First, no religious groups are required to recognize gay marriage. It is a state issue.

Secondly, I realize that the Old Testament opposes gay marriage in a couple of places. One such prohibition appears in Leviticus, which also prohibits the eating of shellfish. Why is there no similar focus on eating shellfish? The sin of shellfish seems pretty common to me!

Thirdly, when asked about the Ten Commandments, Jesus very clearly said that two rise above all others. First, there is no God but God. Second, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. By my reading, this supports gay marriage. I am not alone in interpreting Christianity this way; several supportive local clergy appeared at the recent gay marriage rally.

But my religious beliefs do not matter here. Rest assured, the rights recently granted to Iowans under our Constitution are now UNDER ASSAULT. Prepare to fight for what is right.

Johnson County is hosting a Grand Opening of the new Health and Human Services building Saturday, April 18 from 1-4 PM. The public is strongly encouraged to join County staff people for tours and refreshments.

The new building, located at 855 South Dubuque Street in Iowa City (across Benton Street from the Administration Building), contains offices of the Department of Human Services, Department of Public Health, Mental Health and Disability Services, Johnson County Social Services, Veteran’s Affairs, General Assistance, and Information Technology.

The 90,000 square foot building opened in mid-January, and includes a two level parking ramp. The building is LEED Silver certified, and will be completely paid off by June of 2010.

Johnson County recently changed a policy to allow individual property owners to have chip seal applied in front of their homes. The individual landowners will be required to pay all the costs, including maintenance, so there is little expense to taxpayers.

This used to be allowed, but the County ran into issues with people refusing to maintain the road surfaces. There were long battles between residents and County staff over what maintenance was needed. Others refused to pay after work was completed. These possibilities remain, but I feel the benefits outweigh the risks.

Dust is probably the single biggest quality of life issue facing rural residents. I ran on a platform of reducing dust, and I want to give rural residents some more options.

Yes, this will be more work for Secondary Roads staff. Yes, this will undoubtedly create hassles for the Board of Supervisors. I think this is worth it to allow folks to improve the quality of life in Johnson County.

Ed Failor and Iowans for Tax Relief are demonstrating their hypocrisy. When Democrats in the Iowa Legislature push a plan that will CUT taxes for 60% of Iowans, keep taxes the same for 14%, and raise them on the RICHEST 26% of Iowans, it is termed a tax increase.

Huh? Ed – 60% of Iowans are getting a tax cut. The 60% who need it most! Of course, Failor only represents the richest 26%.

He is such a hypocrite. His organization should lose any credibility it might have. The name of the organization ought to be “Iowans for Tax Relief for the Rich Only.”

The Hospice Walk for Dignity is this Sunday, April 19 at 12 PM at Willow Creek Park in Iowa City. (The walk itself begins at 1 PM.)

100% of the money raised supports the mission of Iowa City Hospice. For more information or additional materials, please contact Iowa City Hospice at 688-4219, 800-897-3052, ext. 160, or margaret.reese@iowacityhospice.org.

DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County leads the State of Iowa in tissue donation. (Source: Medical Examiner’s Office.)

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com .

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

4-7-09

2009-04-05T10:02:00.001-05:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 4/7/09

Happy 15th birthday to my daughter Jordan on April 8! I do not have the words to describe my feelings toward this wonderful young lady. Every day Jordan makes me more and more proud. I love you, honey!

The big news this past week was the Iowa Supreme Court’s unanimous decision allowing for gay marriage.

I could not be more proud to be an Iowan. I could not be happier for my LGBT friends and their families.

Most Iowans do a pretty good job of following the Golden Rule – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This ruling reaffirms that most basic of tenets.

Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate it. I hope everyone has an opportunity this weekend to spend quality time with family and friends.

Congratulations to Andy Johnson of Iowa City, who was recently hired to serve as the Executive Assistant to the Board of Supervisors. Andy has spent the last 5 years as Executive Director of the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County, and was selected from a tremendously deep and talented pool of candidates.

Andy will begin work May 1st. I am confident that he will do a great job. Please join me in welcoming him to County government!

I attended the community meeting on high schools held at Parkview church, and I came away pleased. I went to a similar meeting a few years ago, and the sides were much more polarized then. This group was very civil, which makes tackling difficult issues much easier.

There are two very interesting things I noted. One change is that the same old battles over the east-west divide no longer rule the day… the north has arrived, and must be taken seriously!

The other thing of note is who is in attendance. I lost my place after awhile, but I was keeping track of the people that spoke. Professor, doctor, professor, lawyer, teacher, nurse, professor, lawyer’s wife… you get the idea. The parents of poor kids were not there. The ICCSD needs to really work to ensure that all voices get heard.

I feel good about things moving forward. There are HUGE issues to address. Decisions MUST be made, not avoided. People WILL be angry. I just hope we can act as a single community dedicated to doing right by all our kids.

As you know, Iowa City was recently awarded the designation of UNESCO City of Literature, only the third city in the world to be so designated.

Edinburgh City of Literature Director Ali Bowden will be part of a program entitled “City of Literature – Prologue – the Vision” Tuesday, April 7 from 5:00-6:30 at the Englert.

Questions and RSVPs can be directed to the Iowa City Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau at 337-6592.

Shelter House is holding its 7th annual Spring Gala Saturday, April 18 at the Hotel Vetro. Doors open at 5:30, with dinner at 6:30 and a live auction at 7:30. Music will be provided by pianists Maggie Mowery and Benjamin Weideman.

Tickets are $50 each. Call 338-5416 extension #101 for more information.

DID YOU KNOW? Over half of all foreclosures have happened in only 35 counties. (Source: USA Today.)

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com.

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

3-31-09

2009-03-29T12:40:00.001-05:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 3/31/09

Only 6 days until Opening Day! Even if one is not a baseball fan, there is a wonderful rebirth that happens every year with Opening Day. Like so many things we associate with spring, a new baseball season is a fresh start. Every team is 0-0, with an opportunity to do great things. Once again, there is hope. And we all need that!

I hope your team (however you wish to define it!) has a “dream season” this summer!

Congratulations to the United Way of Johnson County, which exceeded all goals and brought in over $2.6 million in 2008.

Special congrats to my pal Sandy Pickup of the Free Medical Clinic, the Agency Director of the Year. Another big congrats to emergency phone bank coordinators Barb Davis and Celia Burger and disaster relief coordinators Mark and Carol Martin, who were named the Volunteers of the Year for their service during and after the flood.

All of these folks are tremendously deserving of our thanks, as are the staff, board, and donors of the United Way! Great job all around!

My family and I try to be generous when it comes to giving to charities. I worked for over ten years in the nonprofit sector, so I appreciate that gig. I have been on nonprofit boards, and my family and I have benefitted from the services of nonprofits.

Given this history, I really enjoyed the March/April edition of the Utne Reader. There are a few articles on nonprofits, all very thought provoking. Some advocate for governments replacing nonprofits; others argue for governments leaving them alone. All agree that the nonprofit sector is facing a challenging era. I urge any interested person to check it out! http://www.utne.com/Table-of-Contents-March-April-2009.aspx

There are numerous opportunities out there for Volunteers In Service To America (VISTAs) in Johnson County this summer. If you are interested in a position or know someone who might be, contact Linda Yanney at 319-538-2276. Similarly, if you have ideas for VISTA projects, give Linda a call.

I find it interesting that the same people who wholeheartedly approve of a 90% tax on AIG bonuses (or just taking the bonuses back) DISAPPROVE of raising the top income tax rate from 35% to something closer to 50%.

Why does Senator Grassley express outrage at AIG, and not at other large salaries and bonuses of other top executives? While the other companies might not have received bailout money, they have received the benefit of Congressional largesse for decades.

The top income tax rate under President Eisenhower was 91%. And the US economy grew tremendously during that period. It is time we demand that the rich to carry more of the load.

A 90% tax on a $500,000 bonus still gives the recipient $50,000. That is what I earn in a year, and more than most Iowans earn. I hope the populist outrage over AIG bonuses will translate into real progressive taxation.

I am not the only person who feels this way. Check out the following thoughts from the world’s second richest man, Warren Buffet. I prefer to throw the money-changers out of the temple. But if you worship at the altar of capitalism, well… Buffet is one of America’s greatest capitalists. Buffet writes:

"The world is unfair, and I have been very lucky. I was born white - and male - in the world's richest country, to parents that took care of me, and inspired me. I could, for example, have been born a woman - in Bangladesh - with few possibilities of development. It's a big lottery.

"Imagine that you were asked - 24 hours before your own birth - what kind of a world you would create. You know nothing about who you are, where you're heading or what kind of talents you've got. Most people would want two things: a system that works for production of goods and services, and fair distribution of them. In this lottery it is necessary to take care of the people with the lousy tickets," Buffet says.

DID YOU KNOW? It takes 47 million barrels of oil to produce the 4 billion pounds of plastic water bottles used each year. 47 million barrels of oil is enough to fuel 1 million cars for a year. (Source: Physicians for Social Responsibility.)

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com.

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

3-24-09

2009-03-21T20:48:00.001-05:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 3/24/09

I sent the following letter to the Press Citizen as a letter to the editor. I also sent it (TWICE!) to the top brass (who are, of course, in Des Moines). I have not received any response, so I guess the PC has chosen to disregard this critical issue.

This is an important issue, but the PC has chosen to ignore it. Heck, they have ignored me – I do not even get a call or E-mail in response! It is sad to see this corporation behave so gutlessly.

I will self-publish here; if you agree with the following letter, E-mail your comments to Susan Patterson-Plank at mailto:splank@dmreg.com .

There are several factors that encourage racism. Fear and ignorance are big contributors. Another important factor is cowardice. When people can hide their identities, be it behind sheets or behind pseudonyms, racism has an opportunity to thrive.

There is plenty of racism in Johnson County. Unfortunately, the Press Citizen has decided to make the single biggest contribution to these racist attitudes. The Press Citizen online forums allow people to post anonymously. The most outrageous and most racist comments come from people who hide behind false names.

Require posters to use their real names. It has always been good enough for the opinion page; why not apply the same rules online? By providing an anonymous forum for racist speech, you are providing the Klansmen with their sheets.

If I were a Fortune 500 company considering opening up shop in Johnson County, I would probably go online and look at the local paper. After reading the PC website, I would immediately look to put my business elsewhere.

The racist comments that permeate the PC website give us all a bad name. Shame on you, Press Citizen. You have an obligation to this community, and you have chosen sensationalism instead. You can, should, and must do better.

I recently attended the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) Spring School in Des Moines, and one of the presenters made an interesting point regarding government finance.

A few years ago, the accounting and auditing standards for local governments were revised. As a part of this, governmental entities were required to show assets and liabilities. Previously, the relative financial health of local governments were judged solely on incomes, expenses, and cash in reserve.

There was a big problem with the old method. Local governments own millions of dollars worth of roads, bridges, buildings, land, vehicles, computers, equipment, and more. If local governments allow those assets to deteriorate, they create a huge liability for their citizens.

Too many times, we ascribe financial acumen to elected officials who spend very little money. But in reality, governments can be penny wise and pound-foolish.

The presenter noted that one Iowa county was downgraded from a AA bond rating to an A rating simply because they allowed their assets to depreciate from $110 million to $85 million. By putting off maintenance and upgrades, this county cost itself a lot of money.

Speaking of bond ratings, Johnson County now has one! This is a first for Johnson County, which has done relatively little bonding in the past.

Why get bond rated? It saves taxpayer money. Oftentimes, Johnson County can get better rates on the bond market than by just going to a local bank. This happened just two weeks ago in our first bond-rated transaction… Johnson County taxpayers saved over $100,000.

After a couple months of work with Moody’s, Johnson County was given an Aa3 rating. There are only three better ratings… Aa2, Aa1, and AAA. This is actually very positive. Cities and counties around the country are being downgraded; the “grade inflation” of the past 20 years is fading away just like the real estate bubble. So an Aa3 rating today would probably have been Aa1 just a year ago. Once this all shakes out, Johnson County will compare quite favorably.

Johnson County was acclaimed for having strong financial management, good policies, a history of saving up to pay for projects, and extremely low debt. On the downside, Johnson County did not have much credit history, and has very small reserves relative to our budget. As we do a bit more bonding, our credit rating should improve. The challenge will be increasing our reserves during tight budget times.

The Arc of Southeast Iowa is holding a chili supper on Friday, March 27 from 4:30-7:30 PM at River Community Church in Iowa City. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for ages 3-12, and under 3 eat free.

All proceeds support the Arc mission of serving people with disabilities and helping to make Southeast Iowa a great place for people with disabilities to live, learn, work, and play.

DID YOU KNOW? It takes 24 gallons of water to make one pound of plastic. It takes 1.5 gallons to produce the average plastic water bottle. (Source: Physicians for Social Responsibility.)

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com .

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

3-17-09

2009-03-14T22:44:00.000-05:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 3/17/09

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Anyone who knows me well knows that St. Patrick’s Day is a very special day for my family.

I cannot let St. Pat’s pass without saying a few words about my late father, Bob Sullivan.

Dad was a proud Irishman. He was even born on March 17! Many of the things I love and the opinions I hold were influenced by Dad. I guess you could say he helped make me who I am today.

He was a really fun person to be around; probably the most fun person I have ever known. That is a neat thing to be able to say about your father.

Dad passed away 10 years ago. I still think of him every day… especially on St. Patty’s Day. I miss you, Dad.

Here are some interesting St. Patrick’s Day facts:

*With 23 percent of the population of Celtic ancestry, Massachusetts has a higher proportion of residents of Irish descent than any other state, edging out New Hampshire (20 percent) and Rhode Island (18 percent). The remaining New England states -- Connecticut, Vermont and Maine -- also rank among the top 10 in this category, as do Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Montana.

*New York City has more residents of Irish descent than any city in the world, including Dublin! Boston, however, has the largest percentage of Irish residents of any large American city.

*22 - Gallons of beer consumed per capita by Americans annually.

*9 - Number of places in the US which share the name of Dublin, Ireland's capital. Dublin, OH was the most populous, at 31,392, followed closely by Dublin, CA at 29,973.

Now we move to a different type of green… I-Renew is celebrating renewable energy Sunday, March 22 from 6-10 PM at the Mill. Musical acts include The Gilded Bats and Ben Schmidt with Larry Mossman. There will be free giveaways, a silent auction, and other fun things. Check it out!

The Linn County Board of Supervisors came under tremendous scrutiny the past couple of years for salary-related issues. There are some interesting comparisons that can be made here.

*Linn County Sups are paid $1 for every $1302 in their budget. They are paid 44 cents per resident.

*Here in Johnson County, we are paid $1 for every $1680 in the budget. We are paid 38 cents per resident.

*Iowa County Sups earn $1 for every $238 in the budget. They are paid $1.28 per resident. Numbers for Cedar County are almost identical.

*In Adams County (Iowa’s least populous) Sups earn $1 for every $150 in the budget. They are paid $3.20 per resident.

As you can see, while County budgets and Supervisor salaries come under fire in larger counties, residents there pay far a lower per capita amount.

The fact that rural counties pay more for government makes some sense. There are 500-1500 miles of rural roads in every county, regardless of population. Every county has to have a jail and a courthouse. Every county must hold elections, assess homes and farmland, record documents, and so on.

Yes, there are rural counties where taxes are lower. Those counties also have far fewer services. If it is governmental efficiency you are seeking, larger counties seem to fare better.

The Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District is having its annual Tree, Wildflower, Prairie Grass, and Seed Sale fundraiser.

This is a great way to get your yard and garden started for 2009! The selection is unbelievable! This is the biggest fundraiser each year for the JCSWCD. You can order online at www.jcswcd.org; the orders are due by March 24.

It is not fun to remind folks of this, but the US continues to be engaged in a war in Iraq that is at least unwise and probably illegal. It has been over 7 years now. Millions of Iraqis have been displaced; perhaps 600,000 or more Iraqis are dead. US troops have suffered 4,182 casualties and over 30,000 serious injuries. The war costs US taxpayers $18 million per hour, every hour.

To remind people of this ongoing issue, there will be a Peace Walk at 7 PM on March 19th. Meet at the corner of Clinton Street and Iowa Avenue. Refreshments will follow at Old Brick.

DID YOU KNOW? Kalona is the largest Amish community west of the Mississippi River.

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com.

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

3-10-09

2009-03-08T16:39:00.000-05:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 3/10/09

A sure sign of global warming: the annual blizzard that accompanies the Iowa Girl’s High School State Basketball Tournament came down as rain.

I want to begin this edition of Salvos with a mention of one of my favorite events (and a sure sign of spring!)

The 26th annual Prairie Preview is on Tuesday, March 10 at Parkview Church. (Please note the new location!)

The keynote speaker is Dr. Bill Zales is a retired college botany professor, now prairie restorationist and open lands advocate. Dr. Zales will speak about the Loess Hill’s unique geology and biology both past and present, explain the successes and failures of their protection, and how optimism must prevail if what little native habitat remaining is to be protected.

The Prairie Preview program includes information and displays from your local environmental organizations and agencies. Doors open to the public at 6:30 p.m. with Dr. Zales speaking at 7:30; refreshments will be provided following his presentation. Contact Tammy Richardson (319) 857-4741 for additional information.

You have probably heard the tempest surrounding the recent Local Option Sales Tax vote. I thought I would share my perspectives.

First, as you probably know, Iowa law is a bit odd in this situation. It allows a municipality with 50% or more of the population of a county to call a sales tax election in that county. Since Iowa City has roughly 68,000 of Johnson County’s roughly 130,000 residents, Iowa City has the ability to call an election. They did so, and an election will be held May 5.

The odd part is that State law gives the responsibility for setting a sunset date to the Board of Supervisors. It would seem that if the city can call the election, they could also set the terms of that election, but that is not the case.

So, Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, and other cities contacted Johnson County and requested a 5-year sunset. After two long meetings worth of debate, Johnson County voted 3-2 for a 4-year sunset.

Where did 4 years come from? A couple Supervisors had been leaning toward 3 years, but wanted to make any vote to renew the tax line up with the next Presidential election. So 4 years was chosen.

Supervisors Meyers, Harney, and Stutsman voted for the 4 years. Supervisor Neuzil voted against the measure (I believe he wanted a 3-year sunset); I voted against the measure because I felt the cities ought to have an opportunity to ask the public for the 5 years they were seeking.

Then the Board needed to vote on the uses of any County sales tax revenue. Again, the vote was 3-2, with Supervisors Meyers, Harney, and Stutsman voting to spend 50% on roads and bridges and 50% on property tax relief. Supervisor Neuzil voted against the measure (I believe he wanted 100% property tax relief); I voted against the measure because I think replacing property taxes with sales taxes has the effect of shifting the cost of government to people with less money.

(Obviously, I am treading into dangerous territory by trying to explain the votes of any of my colleagues. I can tell you HOW they voted, but they need to tell you WHY. If you have questions as to what an individual Supervisor was thinking, I strongly urge you to contact her or him.)

I have written at length on sales taxes in previous editions of Salvos. There will be more to come in a future edition. Meanwhile, let’s continue to focus on process.

While Supervisors disagreed on these votes, I do believe the Board is unanimous in feeling as though the needs of County government are largely being ignored by the cities. Obviously, this is not good. There is some serious work to be done between local governments to heal the wounds that exist. This may be even more difficult now in light of this vote; I do not know. I just know that we need to talk.

I hope local governments can have some meaningful conversations very soon. The public deserves governments who work together for the collective good.

For the past five years, the Iowa City Human Rights Commission has recognized activities performed by local youth that promote and/or contribute to Human Rights in the Iowa City area and abroad.

Activities that the Commission is aware of that would be worthy of an Award include, but are not limited to:

*Collecting money for a Human Rights related organization/cause
*Organizing a Human Rights related activity
*Collecting food/clothing/personal hygiene items for local or national organizations

Students should not be nominated for participation in class activities or pre-organized events. However, any additional activity that comes as a result of a class activity or pre-organized event would be a welcome nomination. Nominations will be accepted until 5 p.m. on April 10, 2009.

For additional information or nominations forms, please visit www.icgov.org/humanrights or call 356-5022.

DID YOU KNOW? 80% of plastic water bottles are not recycled, meaning 1.5 million tons of plastic waste annually. (Source: Physicians for Social Responsibility.)

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com .

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

3-3-09

2009-02-28T15:19:00.001-06:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 3/3/09

Since I seldom let any big issues pass by without comment, it is time to discuss the ICCSD building plans. Unfortunately, I could not attend either forum on the subject. This is a very complex set of issues, so we’ll try to break it up into digestible pieces.

First, whether one agrees with her or not, I applaud Mayor Bailey for expressing her concerns over the closing of Roosevelt. I find it amazing that the Press Citizen suggests that she mind her own business. It IS her business! She is a citizen! What’s more, the Press Citizen is always critical of local governmental units for failures to communicate. That is exactly what happened here – but it is not the fault of the city!

Additionally, Iowa City has a comprehensive plan for the whole city, and it is quite good. It includes the preservation of older neighborhoods – preservation that will be ineffective without neighborhood schools. And the PC says the City Council “should not interfere”? The PC should have instead demanded that the ICCSD go over this in a joint public meeting with the City Council.

Secondly, we should recognize closing Roosevelt is a tough call. Students and staff deserve good facilities. The building has clearly deteriorated to a critical point. There is room to build on at Horn. My problem is the school at “The Crossings”. There aren’t any kids there yet – there are kids at Roosevelt. Perhaps repairing Roosevelt would be more expensive… but there are very real costs to suburban sprawl. These should be discussed at length in public forums. Similarly, let’s ensure that other older buildings get the maintenance they need so we do not find ourselves in this position again.

Thirdly, we need to discuss similar issues at Longfellow and Mann. I served on the Yes For Kids Steering Committee, and we sold the bond issue in part on improving accessibility at these older schools. I understand that this can be expensive. I understand that it might be cheaper tear down the older schools and to rebuild on the parking lots and/or playgrounds. But we never said anything about closing them. Fixing, yes. Closing? It was never mentioned. Whatever the case, these neighborhoods MUST have schools, and they MUST be accessible. Anyone who understands Iowa City and the electorate knows this is non-negotiable. We already voted to do it. I personally told people the ICCSD would be fixing this! I was an honest volunteer- please do not make me a liar! As Larry the Cable Guy would say, just Git ‘er done!

It has been mentioned that many kids already do not enjoy “neighborhood schools”. Kids are bussed to several elementaries throughout the District. While this is true, it ignores the fact that most kids in the ICCSD DO have neighborhood schools. When you factor out rural kids, who are going to be driven/bussed in any scenario, most kids live within walking distance of their elementaries. This is the way the public wants it, and experts in all sorts of disciplines agree it is generally best for the community psychologically, sociologically, and environmentally.

My final point is that we tend to assume too much. We assume that the public always wants the cheapest option, but local voters have proven that is not always the case. Voters approved the SILO tax, Conservation Bond, Library bonds in three communities, pool bonds in two communities, and much more. Voters have spoken out in favor of jail alternatives, even though they cost more. Voters have spoken out in favor of arts and culture expenditures, even though they cost more. So instead of assuming people want the cheapest option possible, we could just let people vote on it.

This is evidenced by discussions around school size. The ICCSD tells us we need elementary schools to be built for 450-550 kids in order to be as cost efficient as possible. Yet we are never told what size elementaries should be in order to maximize student performance. Almost every study of student performance shows the optimal elementary size to be 250-400. Why not ask the public if they prefer the cheapest, the best, or some hybrid?

The same discussion needs to take place at the high school level. Explain to the public that a North Liberty-north Coralville high school would only have 600-1000 students. That means fewer opportunities (not NO opportunities, but fewer opportunities) for advanced classes and extracurricular activities. It would not be the most cost effective response to overcrowding at West. But again, almost every study of student performance shows the optimal high school size to be 600-1000. Why not ask the public if they prefer the cheapest, the best, or some hybrid?

I do not envy School Board members. I know most of the ICCSD Board pretty well. I know most of the ICCSD Administration pretty well. These are good people we are talking about, who really care about our kids. These folks work very hard, some as volunteers, and rarely receive the thanks they deserve. School financing is tricky, and most of us do not fully understand it. There is no issue more dear to the electorate than the schools. And the ICCSD is faced with a number of difficult decisions.

Lots of people have a dog in this fight. We all want to claim the moral high ground of doing what is “best for the kids.” But what is best for one is not necessarily best for the next. And what is best for a single school is not necessarily best for the entire District. This is why we elect a Board – their job is to make these decisions. I just hope the decisions are made following lots of public input.

People in the ICCSD need more details on school funding. There are staffing issues; fine. Lay out the problems so the public can opine intelligently. The more information we share, the better our decisions.

I simply hope that the ICCSD Board and Administration seeks input and then gives that input serious consideration. Do not assume that the voters in the ICCSD want the cheapest. They just might want the best.

Second District Congressman Dave Loebsack is hosting a meeting in Coralville on March 7 to discuss disaster tax relief provisions and how they apply to Iowa.

Kristy Maitre, Tax Specialist and IRS Stakeholder Liaison, will provide an overview of disaster relief provisions and how they apply to Iowa, and also answer general questions Saturday, March 7 from 2:00-3:00 PM at the Coralville Public Library, Room A. This meeting is open to the general public.

DID YOU KNOW? Between 1947 and 1973, worker productivity and median worker compensation (wages and benefits) both doubled. Between 1980 and 2005, worker productivity increased 71%, but median worker compensation increased only 19%. (Source: US League of Women Voters.)

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com .

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

2-24-09

2009-02-21T15:13:00.001-06:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 2/24/09

Happy Mardis Gras! Laissez les bon temps roulez!

I am really tired of hearing, either directly or implied, that only property owners matter. Unfortunately, this seems to be prevailing opinion amongst “movers and shakers” in Johnson County.

A few quick facts: as of 2007, Johnson County had just over 54,000 residential units. 55% of those were owner occupied. That means we have over 24,300 rental units. It is very likely that 50,000 Johnson County residents are renters.

But these 50,000 people might as well not exist. Because all the “movers and shakers” care about are people who pay property taxes. Part of this is understandable – people tend to hang out with others of their same age and class. Our “movers and shakers” are virtually all white, predominantly over 45, and definitely all property owners. These are just about the only people with whom our local leaders interact. The “Invisible Man” is alive and well… but he is a she, and she is a renter!

I have had people call me and ask why renters got to vote on certain issues. “They don’t even pay property taxes!” scream the callers. Of course, this attitude ignores the fact that renters make it possible for property owners to pay those property taxes. Plus renters contribute payroll, income, and sales tax revenues.

Throughout history, many so-called “democracies” have limited voting rights to property owners. Thankfully, enlightened leaders moved the US in a different direction. Unfortunately, we have forgotten the idea that “all men are created equal.”

The bottom line is that too many of our leaders, both elected and unelected, look at our fellow human beings as taxpayers first, and human beings second.

Renters, if you want to improve this situation, you need to gather a couple friends together speak up. Write E-mails, make phone calls, show up at meetings, and stress that you matter.

I recently finished an interesting article in the February edition of National Voter, the official publication of the League of Women Voters. I quote:

“Between 1940 and 1970, a period of economic expansion unparalleled in world history, the top marginal income rate never dipped below 70%. This was also a period of unprecedented public investment in roads, sewers, utilities, schools, higher education, and military spending. In only 14 years of the 95 years we have been taxing income has the marginal rate dipped to the current 35%.”

Income taxes work. Period. The Iowa Legislature missed a golden opportunity when they failed to work with Senator Bolkcom on his proposal to replace some property taxes with income taxes.

The Eighth Annual Night of a Thousand Dinners will be held on March 5th from 6-8 p.m. at Old Brick. The Dinner will be one of thousands being hosted around the world as part of the Night of a Thousand Dinners - an international initiative coordinated to raise funds for Adopt-A-Minefield addressing the global landmine crisis.

Every year nearly 20,000 people are killed or maimed by landmines. According to UNICEF, 30-40% of all mine victims are children. There are more than 110 million active landmines buried in the ground in at least 84 countries.

Sponsored by: Iowa City Human Rights Commission, West Branch Friends Church, Iowa Peace Corps Association, Montessori Children's Garden, Iowa City Federation of Labor, Noon Rotary Club of Iowa City, U of I Center for Human Rights, U of I International Programs, Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Johnson County United Nations Association.

Tickets are available at the Iowa United Nations Association Office (337-7290).

The League of Women Voters of Johnson County will be sponsoring a public forum entitled “The Justice Center: It’s not just a jail issue” on Tuesday, February 24 from 7 to 8:30 PM in ICPL Meeting Room A.

Participants will be Judge Russell (Sixth Judicial District), Janet Lyness (Johnson County Attorney), Jim McCarragher (Johnson County Bar), Lonnie Pulkrabek (Johnson County Sheriff), and Lodema Berkley (Johnson County Clerk of Court). Bob Elliott (project analyst with Johnson County) will participate and Alison Werner Smith (League of Women Voters) will serve as Moderator.

The County Supervisors have begun discussion of judicial facilities and jail replacement or expansion. Many topics will be discussed: location, services to be modified or moved, costs, financing, startup and completion dates.

The Shelter House is holding its annual Used Book Sale on 2/28/09 at Hope United Methodist Church from 10 am to 3 pm.

Join Table to Table on Sunday, March 1st at the Hotel Vetro for their 13th annual benefit dinner. Social Hour begins at 5:30, with dinner at 6:30.

Mardis Gras is the theme for the event, and diners will get a 5-course gourmet Cajun dinner prepared by local chefs.

Reservations are $75 per person, and can be made by calling Mercy on Call at 358-2767. Reservations need to be made prior to Friday, February 27.

Table to Table is Iowa’s only food rescue organization, and trust me… they do WONDERFUL work! For more information on Table to Table, visit their website at: http://www.table2table.org/

DID YOU KNOW? The richest ONE PERCENT of Americans hold 34.3% of the wealth in the US. The bottom NINETY PERCENT hold 28.7%. (Source: US League of Women Voters.)

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com.

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

2-17-09

2009-02-14T15:57:00.001-06:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 2/17/09

My good friend Kirsten Running Marquardt recently asked me what it takes to warrant a mention in Salvos.

If you are a wonderful human being like Kirsten, all you need to do is ask! ☺

But I can turn this blatant shout out into something of meaning for other readers. Kirsten is one of many outstanding individuals who work for our Congressman Dave Loebsack. Many citizens feel that the Federal government is somehow inaccessible – in reality, Congressman Loebsack has a knowledgeable staff located right here who are ready, willing, and able to help.

Kirsten works in Linn County; Johnson County residents can get the same outstanding service by contacting the office at 125 S. Dubuque Street in Iowa City, or by calling them at 351-0789.

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors will sponsor a year round county cleanup program for the calendar year 2009. This program offers a year round opportunity for rural residents to clean out their barn, garage or basement.

Participants will be provided with up to 2,000 lbs. of free disposal per household, per calendar year, with a minimum of 150 lbs. per trip. Only those residing in unincorporated Johnson County are eligible for this program. For more info, call Johnson County at 356-6000.

The annual Compeer Concert "Sound of Friendship" is coming up on Sat., Feb. 28, 7 pm, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 1300 Melrose Ave.

Tickets are $15 in advance ($20 at the door) and get you an evening of delightful music (Kol Shira, Dan Moore, the Pan American Steel Band) followed by a gourmet dessert hour with danceable music by Spontaneous Combustion (featuring Gene Spaziani on clarinet!). If you cannot attend the concert but would like to purchase a ticket, it can be donated to a client so she can attend the concert.

Compeer is a small non-profit based at the Community Mental Health Center whose only purpose is to match community volunteers for friendship activities with an adult receiving mental health treatment.

There are 15 consumers on the waiting list to be matched with a community friend, so if you know of anyone who might be interested in becoming a Compeer friend, please refer them to Karen Fox at 338-7884 x 245. Volunteers make a commitment to spend 4 hours per month with their friend in activities of mutual interest. An important goal of this program is to combat the social isolation often experienced by persons suffering with a mental illness.

This event brings in about 23% of total budget needs; all music, venue and desserts are donated so there is very little overhead, and your dollar goes directly to the program.

As you know, President Obama has suggested limiting to $500,000 the incomes of corporate CEOs who take TARP money from the government.

I find it ironic when I hear folks say that they feel for the CEOs. You see, I spent most of the Reagan/Bush/Clinton/Bush era as a social worker. As you may recall, the last 28 years saw a huge demonization of individuals who accepted assistance from the government. Assistance from the government was “welfare”. Remember President Reagan’s “welfare queen”?

What I recall hearing at the time was – “You accept welfare; how dare you have color TV?” “You accept welfare; how dare you eat out?” “You accept welfare; how dare you buy nice clothes for your kids?” And so on, and so on, and so on. The message was clear to my clients – accept welfare, and society expects you to have zero luxuries. Accept welfare, and you deserve bread and water – nothing more.

Medicaid, the federal health insurance program for the poor, still requires recipients to have resources of less than $2000. The message, again, has always been clear: “You want government healthcare? You’d better be VERY poor!”

Ironically, now the people accepting welfare are the peers of (and donors to) Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush. And we are suddenly concerned about whether or not they can make it in New York City on $500,000 annually.

Guess what? NYC has 50,000 homeless people on any given night. I think our CEO friends can struggle by on $500K. Frankly, I’d like to see them get by with under $2000 in assets like the approximately 40 million Medicaid recipients.

I can hear it now: “But I know so-and-so who is with a big bank, and he and his family are great people.” I am sure they are. Most of the people with whom I used to work are great people, too. They were just poor. Most of the people reading this do not really know anyone who is truly poor. We know who a few people are, but we do not know them well.

Now the E-mails will come, accusing me of “class warfare”. Fine. But why wasn’t it “class warfare” when four Presidents and a lemming-like society did it to the poor people I served?

As Warren Buffet has pointed out previously, “Class warfare has been raging for a long time. And my class won.”

DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County’s free tax help program (You Earned It, Now Claim It!) helped complete over 660 returns in Johnson County in 2008 – a 100% increase from 2007.

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com.

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

2-10-09

2009-02-08T14:54:00.001-06:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 2/10/09

Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope each of you will take the time to reach out to another human being this weekend… whether it is the love of your life, a new crush, or just a platonic acquaintance. Let’s spread some love!

I know folks are anxious to hear about the FY10 County budget. Here is what I know so far:

The budget the Supervisors are bringing to the public hearing is for approximately $84,100,000 dollars. The total budget is $125,000 less than last year, which translates to an overall decrease of -.001%.

This is inclusive; the Joint Emergency Communications Center and Conservation Bond initiative are included. Obviously, some departments got a bit more funding than the current year, others got a bit less. Most stayed very close to where they were a year ago. All 500-plus County employees are getting raises of 3%.

This budget gets submitted to the State, then published in the local papers. After the public hearing, the budget can be lowered, but not increased. So what I describe is really a final draft.

I am pretty happy with the way this budget turned out. I think it responsibly meets the needs of the citizens of Johnson County without a huge tax increase.

I wrote the following in the January 13 edition of Salvos: “In short, big cuts are not called for at this time. The Board is working very hard to minimize any tax increases… if I get my way, tax bills are going to stay pretty close to the same as last year. I think we can do that without hurting the people of Johnson County.”

I think that has come to pass. I am proud of the budgetary work of the Board of Supervisors this year. If you have questions, comments, or concerns on the budget or any other matter, just give me a shout.

Johnson County resident Janelle Rettig serves on the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Commission. At her regular meeting last week, they had a presentation on State Air Plan & Non-Attainment.

You might have heard in the media last month that Muscatine and Scott County are out of attainment. You might be surprised to hear that on Fine Particle Monitoring for 2005-2007, Iowa City ranked next in concentration. In other words our Ambient Air Quality is almost as bad. http://www.iowadnr.gov/air/news/articles/08dec22.html

I appreciate Janelle bringing this to my attention. I think we need to do something about this. This hits close to home - literally, as the air quality gauge sits atop Hoover Elementary in Iowa City – my son’s school, one block from my house!

I have asked the Board’s Executive Assistant to look into getting a local presentation of this data. I know our local Board of Health is also interested in this topic. If my colleagues agree and we get something scheduled, I’ll let you know.

Meanwhile, thanks once again to Janelle for her outstanding work! We are lucky to have her on the DNR Commission.

There have been plenty of examples of government waste over the years. Unfortunately, these examples get all the press, while programs that serve people well are largely ignored. The right wing propaganda of the past 30 years has become well ingrained, and we need to reeducate the public as to the many good things governments do.

People who claim “Governments just need to quit spending,” just do not get it. When the government cuts back spending, poor children go without school lunch. Senior citizens go without glasses. There is no space in the domestic violence shelter. Working families go without insurance. People with disabilities sit idly. Scientific research dries up. Air and water get dirtier. Streets become more dangerous. Class sizes increase. Preventative services get cut.

This goes on for a few years, until the public gets fed up. Then spending increases to address some of these needs. Then there is an outcry over spending, and things are cut once again. It is a vicious circle.

Governmental cuts are rarely at the expense of the military. Cuts in governmental spending rarely have big effects on the wealthy. When governments cut back, the poor and middle class are hurt the most.

Obviously, we should never accept governmental waste. We should always be vigilant about the ways in which our tax dollars are used. At the same time, blanket calls for the government to spend less are often poorly disguised attacks on the poor and middle class.

Governments must not only look out for the most vocal taxpayers, but also for the silent masses who truly struggle to get through each day.

Governments CAN always cut back… the questions are SHOULD they cut back, and if so, HOW? We need healthy discussions on the needs of our citizens rather than mindless cries for less governmental spending. As President Obama has pointed out, we need to fund programs that work well, and end programs that do not. Notice the piece about fund those that work well!

It is time once again for one of my rants on grammar. This week, the topic is the word “incentive”. (Unfortunately, we get to hear about incentives all too often.)

The problem is not the word incentive, it is the attempt to create a verb from the noun. We do not “incent” developers. We “incentivize” developers.

That said, if local leaders want to go ahead and quit using the word altogether, I am OK with that!

DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County’s free tax help program (You Earned It, Now Claim It!) helped complete over 660 returns in Johnson County in 2008 – a 100% increase from 2007.

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com.

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

1-27-09

2009-02-01T12:37:00.001-06:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 1/27/09

I have written before about my frustration with our collective lack of historical perspective. Unfortunately, this is on display constantly. One incident that hit home with me occurred at a recent Iowa Wrestling meet.

Iowa was wrestling Wisconsin. Wisconsin is coached by Barry Davis. Barry and I knew each other in college and for a few years after; this explains why I am stewing over the issue. He’s a local guy, from the Swisher area. There is no finer human being out there. I’d be willing to bet he has never lied, cheated, or stolen. (Or bet, for that matter!) He is a good coach – his teams are always in the top twenty in the country.

What’s more, Barry Davis is one of the top ten greatest athletes ever to come from the State of Iowa and/or University of Iowa. At the time of his graduation, he was arguably the most successful wrestler in UI history. State champ, National champ, World champ, Olympic Silver Medalist… he did it all, and did it with style. Fans adored him, as well they should.

So when Coach Davis returns to Carver Hawkeye Arena and starts arguing with Iowa Coach Tom Brands, the Iowa crowd boos. Booing Barry Davis? I think back 25 years, and this scenario is unimaginable.

Is this a big deal? Of course not. The unfortunate thing is that our lack of historical perspective goes beyond sports to more important endeavors, like family, friends, economics, and government. The wrestling incident simply serves as one more example of the way we live in the moment, with no historical perspective.

Bowl for Kid’s Sake is happening again Saturday the 21st and Sunday the 22nd. This event raises money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County, one of the worthiest organizations you will ever find. (For more on BBBS, see: http://www.bbbsjc.org.)

As always, there will be a Sullivan for Supervisor team participating again this year. (We bowl on Saturday.) I hope you get your own team and compete. If not, we welcome your pledges… if you are kind enough to sponsor us, checks can be made out to “BBBS”, and mailed to:

Sullivan for Supervisor
2326 E. Court St.
Iowa City, IA 52245

Or pledge online by visiting our site at BBBS: https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=296576&lis=0&kntae296576=F5B5E92A4F3D4D8B8FC0D1E490AA49F9

We are not great bowlers, but we are better than President Obama! We promise to try to make you proud! Thanks in advance for your support of this very worthy cause!

Johnson County is once again providing free tax help! You Earned It, Now Claim It! will provide at least 36 separate opportunities for people who earned under $40,000 to get their taxes done for free.

This free help is available at several locations throughout the county, and translators are available at several sites. And all this takes virtually zero in terms of County tax dollars! For more information, see
http://www.johnson-county.com/socialServices/tax_services.shtml.

The Press Citizen recently identified “mental health” as one of the unmet needs of the community. We can assist toward this unmet need by spreading the word about the upcoming "Family to Family" class that is starting February 1st (Sunday) from 5:30-8:00, to be held at the Iowa Realtor's Assoc. Education Conference Center, on Hwy 1, (in the strip mall by Paul's Discount Store).

This is a 12 week class that is free...taught by trained volunteer family members, using a structured and scripted manual. The class is based upon theories of stress, coping, adaptation and family outcomes. It is being taught in all 50 states...families teaching families.

Mental illnesses are REAL, and they are largely treatable. Rehabilitation and recovery are the goals of all who live with and love a person who is coping with illnesses such as major depression, panic disorder and OCD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, borderline personality disorders and disabling PTSD.

These are medical conditions... Check your insurance to make sure you are covered for these illnesses to the same extent as any other medical/physical/neurobiological disorder. With easy access to medical help, with informed family members...life with major mental illness is comparative to life with any other chronic medical condition.

For more info, contact the NAMI trained teachers: Marva Abel, 319-321-1383 or June Judge, 1-319-351-8694.

I strongly encourage you to try to attend the few remaining Iowa Women’s Basketball games. The coaches and players are wonderful people. The team is not only good, but exciting! And the price is extremely reasonable. This squad and these people have earned our support.

The schedule can be found at: http://hawkeyesports.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/sched/iowa-w-baskbl-sched.html.

I wrote a while ago about my frustration with people using “an historic.” Here is another grammatical pet peeve:

We seem to be inventing new plurals. I often hear “persons” used as a plural for person, and “monies” used as a plural for money. The correct plural words are, of course, “people” and “money”.

If you ever (or always) catch something in Salvos that does not seem to fit the rules of grammar and usage, please let me know!

DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County has planted more than 153 memorial trees in county parks since the inception of the memorial tree program.

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com.

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

2-3-09

2009-02-01T12:35:00.000-06:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 2/3/09

Johnson County has recently been forced to make some very difficult decisions regarding the services we provide to folks with mental health needs and people with developmental disabilities (MH/DS).

In Iowa, Counties manage the MH/DS system. The Federal government funds about 50% of the system (primarily through Medicaid), the State funds about 20% of the system, and Counties fund about 30%. In all but a couple states, the MH/DS system is a Federal/State system, with no local funding. So Iowa is somewhat unique in this regard.

MH/DS services are also unique in Iowa because they have a dollar cap rather than a levy cap. To illustrate the difference – a capped levy is multiplied by the taxable value of the property; we then pay taxes based upon that formula. If property values go up, even a capped levy rate will generate more revenue. With a dollar cap, the amount of money stays the same over time.

Counties are also limited in that MH/Ds expenses may only be paid from the MH/DS levy; no supplementing is allowed. Similarly, MH/DS funds may not be used for other purposes.

Our dollar cap is right around $14 million. This is only slightly higher than it has been for the past twelve years. So, over the course of twelve years, wages and insurance have gone up, plus we serve a couple hundred more people. Yet we are expected to do so on that same $14 million. In previous years, we have cut corners here and there, and made things work. People have agreed to less service than is ideal, but enough to survive. Unfortunately, this amount of money no longer cuts it.

So, what can Johnson County do? We can ask the Federal government to fund a larger share of the services; we can ask the State to fund a larger share of the services; we can ask the State to allow Counties to move from a dollar cap to a levy cap; or we can cut services.

The Feds have not responded. The State has not responded. So, after consultation with people who use services and people who provide services, Johnson County has decided to implement a waiting list for services. (No official vote has been taken yet, but staff and advisory groups have recommended a waiting list.)

Johnson County is not unique in having a waiting list. About 15 Counties have waiting lists already; by June, that number may be as high as 40 or 50. So people with disabilities and their families are struggling all across our State. And trust me, families DO struggle! It is tremendously challenging to have a family member with a disability.

Assuming Johnson County votes to institute a waiting list (again, there has been no formal vote yet), the waiting list could go into effect as early as April 1. It will almost certainly be in effect by the start of the FY10 fiscal year on July 1.

This is a very sad day indeed. I ran for office for a single reason - to represent the interests of those with less. Few people have less than our fellow citizens with disabilities.

What will happen to people on this waiting list? Good question. Some folks will be fine, as they rely upon the kindness of friends and family. Many will sit idly. Others may go without the medicine they desperately need. Some will go without food and shelter. It is not a pretty situation.

What can you do? Contact your Federal and State representatives. They can fix this. Let them know that asking our most needy citizens to wait for the services they desperately need is simply not OK.

I finished an interesting book recently - A People’s History of Poverty in America by Stephen Pimpare. The book takes a look at things through the eyes of the poor from roughly the Dark Ages through today.

There were several things in this book that struck home with me. I was particularly intrigued by the portions of the book that focus on the way society passes judgment on welfare recipients.

It is only a slight exaggeration to say that throughout history, “Christians” have worried principally about the morals of poor Americans, much the opposite of the example set by Christ himself. Meanwhile, poor Americans have been more concerned with securing food and shelter.

As the book also points out, instead of placing the blame for ghettos on the inhabitants, we might better blame those with the political and economic power to improve the situation.

I hear from too many people who believe the only worth an individual has is the amount he pays in property taxes. I disagree.

Pimpare created a very thought-provoking work – I recommend it to anyone interested in history, social services, public policy, or all three.

DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County’s free tax help program (You Earned It, Now Claim It!) brought in an additional $600,000 in returns into Johnson County in 2008.

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com.

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

1-20-09

2009-01-22T21:46:00.001-06:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 1/20/09

The Iowa Legislature is back in session, and there are several discussions worth mentioning. One idea I really like is Senator Joe Bolkcom’s proposal to allow local governments the option to use a Local Option Income Tax.

As you know, local governments get most of their revenues from property taxes. While property taxes certainly need to be a part of the mix, they clearly penalize people who are property rich but cash poor. The classic example is the little old lady who paid off her house in 1985, and retired in 1990. Her property taxes have gone up since 1990, (as have the costs of food, electricity, medicine, and the like) but her income has not risen. A Local Option Income Tax would shift some of the total tax collected from her to wealthier people.

I have always favored greater use of income taxes. Income taxes ensure that those best able to pay do so. Income taxes are much less regressive than sales taxes, and quite a bit less regressive than property taxes.

You’ll hear lots of carping that this is complicated and unworkable, but that is a red herring. This is not a new idea; Johnson County residents have been paying an income tax surcharge for schools for years. If you look at any Iowa Income Tax form, you’ll see that it is a quick and easy calculation. You already do it. It cannot be simpler.

Under Senator Bolkcom’s proposal, voters would need to approve the tax. This only makes sense; voters already weigh in on Local Option Sales Taxes and bond referenda – they should vote on this as well.

Another piece of Senator Bolkcom’s proposal is that at least 75% of the revenues raised would need to go toward offsetting property taxes. This makes sense to me. It forces advocates of revenue diversification to commit to lowering property taxes, but also acknowledges that local governments are cash strapped. Frankly, I think they could say that 80-85% of the revenues need to be used to offset property taxes. That would still give a boost to local governments while bringing greater equality to our tax structure.

Right now, the far right has set the tone for all budget discussions in this state. They scream, “We must cut taxes! Times are tough!” You may recall that they used to scream, “We must cut taxes! Times are good!” To these people, tax cuts are ALWAYS the answer. Frankly, we can (and often have) cut taxes too much.

Right-wingers complain about property taxes. But trust me, they will be even MORE opposed to income taxes. These same right-wingers will find reasons to oppose income taxes, even if it is a dollar-for-dollar replacement of property taxes. Because they do not WANT fairness; they want the wealthy to benefit at the expense of everyone else.

In my mind, we need to look out for those who have less. Those with less need help. In most instances, the necessary help comes from the government. That help must be funded – that means those with less need people to pay taxes. Tax cuts for the rich do not help people on Medicaid.

Thanks, Senator Bolkcom, for putting forward this option. Iowans need to at least be allowed to have this discussion. It is long overdue!

A friend sent me an AMAZING article from the Gazette dated January 24, 1990. The article covers the Iowa City City Council as they debated approving the Idyllwild development. Check out these quotes:

“The two Council Members who voted against the zoning - Susan Horowitz and Karen Kubby – said Iowa City’s Floodplain Ordinance is out of date, and that development in the area should not be permitted until the safety of residents can be determined. ‘I want to assure the safety of our homeowners,’ Horowitz said. Horowitz said taxpayers in the future will pay a price when the city is sued by homeowners following a flood in the proposed area.”

Pretty eerie, huh? In the same article, the Council at the time relies on the same tired argument we hear so often in zoning matters… “We have no legal basis to deny the request.”

I am no law professor, nor am I a zoning administrator. But I know enough to know that response is BS. The idea of “no legal basis to deny” only applies to platting, not zoning. Councils are never REQUIRED to rezone. Yet we still today hear this specious argument used to justify bad ideas.

It would be interesting to go back and find all the letters to the editor accusing Kubby and Horowitz of being anti-growth kooks. I wonder how the letter writers would feel now?

The 12th Annual Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP) Souper Bowl is January 29th from 5:30-7:30 at the Quality Inns and Suites of Iowa City.

Advance tickets are on sale now for $20 or you can buy tickets at the door. For more info, contact 351-1042.

Saturday, January 24 from 8 pm to midnight at the Solon Legion is the winter fundraiser for the Sutliff Bridge Authority. We will be celebrating 25 years of establishment for the SBA and we are trying for a little something special that evening.

Schmo Sounds will playing - $5 donation at the door goes towards the Sutliff Bridge Memorial Fund. As always, we will have t-shirts and sweatshirts for sale, along with a 50/50 drawing and great raffle prizes.

If you or someone you know is interested in making a cash donation, or donating an item for raffle or auction, please let me know.

DID YOU KNOW? Right-handed people live, on average, 9 years longer than left-handed people.

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com.

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

1-13-09

2009-01-10T22:15:00.000-06:00

Sullivan’s Salvos 1/13/09

As you know, we recognize the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Junior’s Birthday next Monday. We will REALLY make a statement the next day, on January 20, when we inaugurate President Obama.

As the parents of three African American children, we have attempted to explain the significance of these men and these moments… I’m not entirely sure we even fully understand. This really is a special time. Enjoy.

We all know that there are economic troubles around the globe. In light of this, I have heard a few folks ask why the County isn’t making budget cuts. There are several reasons.

First and foremost, we have significant needs. Governmental services are vital to our achievement of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Several governmental services simply cannot go away. People depend upon County services.

Secondly, a huge majority of the residents of Johnson County DO NOT WANT cuts in services. They expect the same levels of service from Sheriff, Ambulance, Health, Roads, Social Services, etc. As a matter of fact, I get 20 times more requests for additional services than I get requests for cuts.

Thirdly, our budget right now is solid. There is no need to make drastic cuts at this time. I am confident we can meet our demands without raising taxes and without cutting services.

Fourthly, over 75% of the County budget goes toward personnel. The Board is certainly going to scrutinize any new hires… personally, I am against any new hires at this time. We will also need to review the staffing in each department, and look at ways to keep our personnel costs low. It is important to understand that significant budget cuts mean cuts in personnel. Right now, layoffs are not needed, and would be very counterproductive. There may come a day when such cuts are necessary, but that time is not now.

In short, big cuts are not called for at this time. The Board is working very hard to minimize any tax increases… if I get my way, tax bills are going to stay pretty close to the same as last year. I think we can do that without hurting the people of Johnson County.

A careful approach should allow us to weather the storm. If not, we will still have time to act when we need to act. That is in accordance with what the vast majority of the people of Johnson County want.

In a related matter, a friend sent me the following NY Times article by Nobel laureate Paul Krugman. It talks about the importance of government spending during an economic downturn.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/29/opinion/29krugman.html?th&emc=th

The Johnson County Long Term Recovery Committee invites property owners who sustained damage during last summer’s flood to participate in a comprehensive assessment of unmet needs.

Trained and supervised volunteer teams from the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) Disaster Response Services will be available to meet with residents January 12–17.
Teams of CRWRC volunteers will conduct surveys at Iowa City City Hall and at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church at the following times:

Monday, January 12 9:00 am – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 13 9:00 am – 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 14 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 15 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, January 16 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 17 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Appointments are encouraged and may be made by contacting United Way of Johnson County at 338-7823. The assessment takes approximately 30 minutes, and the first 200 participants will receive a $25 gift card to Hy-Vee.

The Obama for America folks are hosting a benefit concert for the Crisis Center on Friday, January 16 from 7-11 at the Mill. Several great acts are featured, including Jeffrey Morgan, Kol Shira, Pigs and Clover, Pandelirium, and Shinbone Alley. Admission is two cans of fruit or hearty soup.

A big part of the Obama campaign was the slogan, “We are the change we have been waiting for.” This is a great example of that ethic!

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2008 IOWATER Awards. Nominate your projects, groups, peers, and yourselves. Nomination deadline is January 30, 2009.
Click here for a Nomination Form

DID YOU KNOW? The percentage of Iowans receiving food assistance went up 90% from 200-2007. (Source: Iowa Kids Count.)

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com .

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod