SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
May 11, 2008
Sullivan’s Salvos 5/13/08
Happy Mother’s Day (a day or two late). If you forgot to call your mother, I’m sure it is not too late! Pick up that phone! Meanwhile, Happy Mother’s Day to my wife, my mom, and my two grandmothers. I love you all!
I have had my fill of the Press Citizen. The most recent racist diatribe on their message boards actually calls for ethnic cleansing! (It is true; I have printed it and copied it. I am not interested in reprinting it here; if you really want to know the specifics, check it out yourself.)
As the father of three African American children, I find this insulting, offensive, and totally lacking in class. I am thoroughly embarrassed for my community. I am going to contact the Iowa City Human Rights Commission to see if my children have any recourse.
I know, I know… I do not need to read the message boards. That is true. It is something akin to a car crash – it is difficult to look away. And even if I do not see it, others do. This is my community, and I expect better!
I know there are some really good folks who work at the Press Citizen. But I think it is time they all looked in a mirror. Each of them needs to be advocating for a change in this company policy. What does it say if you continue to stand by silently while your employer prints hate speech? At what point do you act?
What really irks me is that I have sent not one but two letters on the topic. One was dated March 25, the other April 15. Both letters were sent to Susan Patterson Plank, the Des Moines-based Gannett employee who supposedly runs the Press Citizen. Ms. Patterson Plank has not responded to either of my letters.
Gannett should be ashamed. The Press Citizen should be ashamed. We should all be ashamed. This reflects terribly upon our community. University of Iowa officials, City Councils, Chamber of Commerce folks, ICAD, and everyone else who has a vested interest in how our community is portrayed should be very concerned.
I would invite you to join me in calling Ms. Patterson Plank to complain, but I am fairly certain she does not give a damn. Besides, you would have to call Des Moines to reach her. She has no E-mail address listed on the Press Citizen website.
The Press Citizen ran a series over the weekend that touched on the difficulties that can arise when a school is trying to teach children who are poor.
The number of poor children in the ICCSD is on the rise, and folks are having difficulty explaining it. I am not surprised when I hear there are more poor kids. The economy is worse for people making $10 an hour than people earning $30 an hour. The poor feel economic troubles earlier and these troubles hurt them worse.
The average wage in Johnson County is about $14/hour. That works out to about $28,000 a year in income. Since that figure is an average, we know that lots of people earn more, while others earn less. For every professor earning $80,000, there are six people earning only $20,000. For every bank Vice President earning $120,000, there are eight people earning only $15,000.
Here is my argument. We have always had poor people here. Unfortunately, their lives are often invisible to those of us who earn more. Most of us seldom speak to a person who is earning $15,000, unless we are at a drive up window. These folks do not live in our neighborhoods, they do not work with us, and we do not socialize with them. If you are reading this, the odds are good that these generalizations apply to you.
(I will admit, I have always liked to pretend that I was somehow different. We have foster children on occasion, and we are exposed in that way. I am a social worker by trade. But I do not break bread with poor people any more than anyone else.)
The one place where the poor interact with the rest of us is the public schools. Our kids are exposed to people who have much less than they do. School is one place where these families are NOT invisible.
Below is a list of Bike Week activities going on this week in Johnson County:
Monday, May 12
Bike Commuter Breakfast, 7 to 9am
College Green Park
Bike/Car/Bus Race
12:30pm Depart Coralville City offices
Conclude at Iowa City City Hall/Chauncey Swan Park
Bike Rodeo
6pm Sugar Bottom Bikes, North Liberty
Tuesday, May 13
Bike Commuter Breakfast, 7 to 9am
On Melrose, in front of Kinnick Stadium (Krause Family Plaza)
Wednesday, May 14
Commuter Doughnuts and Coffee, 6:30-7:30am
Sugar Bottom Bikes, North Liberty
Bike Friendly Cities Forum, Noon-1pm
Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room A
A lunchtime discussion on how to make Iowa City more bike friendly. Sponsored by the Bicyclist of Iowa City.
Mayor’s Ride from Old Pi to New Pi
Riders meet at Chauncey Swan Park in Iowa City beginning at 5:00pm. The ride will depart for Coralville’s New Pioneer Coop at 5:45PM.
Prizes and refreshments at the end of the ride hosted by New Pioneer Food Co-op. Everyone is welcome! Interesting or dressed-up bikes encouraged. First 150 riders receive a free bike light courtesy of World of Bikes in Iowa City
Friday, May 16
Bike to Work Week Celebration, 6-9pm (Location to be announced)
Join fellow biking/walking enthusiasts for an end-of-the-week party. There will be food, drink and live music—as well as lively conversation and drawings for prizes, including a grand prize.
DID YOU KNOW? One in every seventeen adults has a serious mental illness. (Source: NAMI.)
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
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 8:50 PM
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