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rodsullivan.org
SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
June 29, 2008
Sullivan’s Salvos 7/1/08 Happy Independence Day! It is great to see so many Johnson County communities going forward with their plans for the Fourth. We have a lot of clean up to do, but we need to take the time to enjoy ourselves, too. I hope you and yours have a fun and safe holiday. Want to volunteer to help with flood cleanup? The United Way has recently begun a Volunteer Action Center to link volunteers to the appropriate projects. If you need help or want to volunteer, please give them a call at 337-VOLS. As of Tuesday, June 24, just under 1,100 Johnson County households had registered with FEMA. The breakdown was roughly 500 Iowa City, 500 Coralville, and 100 rural. We headed down to Mosquito Flats Saturday and Sunday to join hundreds of others in volunteering to do flood clean up. Here are a few notes from the flood zone: *The jokes have switched from “Normandy Beach” to “Normandy, post-War”. Unfortunately, many front yards do look as though a war had been waged. *Please volunteer! You can make a HUGE difference! Five of us worked for 4 hours Saturday; six of us worked for 2 hours on Sunday. (That was about all my back could take.) But that is 32 hours of hard labor, and we could really see the results of our work. That little bit mattered. *As is always the case in Johnson County, it is a small world. We began helping at a random house, and it just so happened we knew a couple other folks who were helping there. Moreover, as it turns out, the owner of the home is the author of Iowa’s Home Rule legislation. For people in city and county government, that is probably the most important piece of law ever written! After the clean up is complete, he and I are going to talk some Home Rule! *There are more sad stories than I could ever begin to relate. In one poignant moment, I was explaining the significance of Home Rule to Melissa. She replied, “I could tell he was well-educated. He had me throw away a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Stanford.” Every home lost things of equal or greater sentimental value. *Despite all these losses, flood victims remain unimaginably upbeat. I was inspired just to be in the presence of people dealing with tragedies in such a positive manner. *If you require additional incentive to volunteer, the fried potatoes at the corner of Manor and Eastmoor were awesome! There are people from all over the US helping in this neighborhood; the potatoes are prepared by volunteers from Springfield, Illinois. If you have read Salvos for more than 3-4 weeks, you probably recognize that I am no fan of President Bush. This is not a partisan issue, though we have several fundamental ideological disagreements. I like and respect most Republicans. Unfortunately, our President is not one of them. I feel strongly that George W. Bush has been one of the worst Presidents in US history. I am sure there are several instances where I have puffed out my chest and boasted about what I might say if I had the chance to speak to the President. Well, I actually got that opportunity last week when President Bush visited the area to view the flooding. I shook the President’s hand, and I got the chance to say one sentence. Did I charge him with being a war criminal? Did I accuse him of violating the Constitution? Did I accuse him of being a hypocrite? No. I said, “Thank you for coming, Mister President.” Pretty wimpy, huh? I just decided that I was not there to make a political statement, but to do my best to ensure that our area gets the most possible Federal assistance in the wake of our disaster. Congressman Loebsack, Senator Grassley, and Senator Harkin can all deal with him civilly; I guess I should be able to do the same thing. In this case, discretion was the better part of valor. (In case you were wondering, he is quite a bit shorter than I imagined. My guess is about 5’9”. He is very thin and wirey, too.) DID YOU KNOW? The average six year old laughs 300 times per day. The average adult laughs 17 times per day. (Source: Iowa Foster & Adoptive Parents Association.) 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
Sullivan’s Salvos 6/24/08
Flood relief web sites are now online. I am very proud of Johnson County’s site. It is easy to use and has lots of helpful information:
http://www.johnson-county.com/flood.shtml.
It is a cliché, but I believe it was proven true over the past couple of weeks: tragedies bring out both the best and the worst in people.
The best was so easily apparent – thousands of volunteers sandbagging, moving things, and just pitching in.
Then there were the State, County, and Municipal employees – heroes one and all. These employees went above and beyond time and again, all with no complaints.
Most of these folks are members of unions… PPME and AFSCME at the County. Remember that next time someone tries to convince you how union employees are lazy and cannot be trusted.
Disaster prevention, response, and the beginnings of recovery were handled masterfully by our engineers, administrators, and emergency personnel.
On the flip side, we all need a bit more patience. We all suffered losses of differing magnitudes. We all deserve respect and understanding. We all want things to return to normal tomorrow, but that will not happen.
The worst of the worst are the scam artists. They are already in town, and already preying upon vulnerable residents. Please do not give out social security or bank account numbers, and never pre-pay for work. There is no such thing as a “FEMA approved” contractor; check everyone out thoroughly.
In many cases, restraint is the proper course of action. Unfortunately, we usually fail to recognize people for things they do NOT do.
Two recent local examples: Barack Obama cancelled a trip to CR due to the flooding, and North Liberty cancelled its annual Fun Days celebration. Both events COULD have taken place, and both likely would have been successes. But in both cases, organizers made the difficult but wise choice to cancel. Kudos!
I had a couple real ideological tests last week. I have been a member of the ACLU for about 20 years, ever since being introduced to the organization by my friend Dave Leshtz. I really respect the way the ACLU defends the Constitution.
So here I was last week, authorizing several Mandatory Evacuations, and instituting a Mandatory Curfew. To the best of my knowledge, both are unprecedented in Johnson County, and both gave me pause.
I believe strongly in individual rights, particularly those enshrined in the Bill of Rights. The idea of and taking away civil liberties from my fellow citizens was a difficult decision; frankly, I never would have imagined myself in this position!
That was not the only test. Twice we decided that the Board of Supervisors needed to hold emergency meetings, each done without the usual notification. (Minutes are available on the website.)
This also goes against my core belief in open government. I do feel the meetings were necessary, particularly because we were concerned that conditions might have been even worse.
So, I am curious as to what you think. I was forced to make some difficult decisions. Did I do the right thing?
As if there were not enough sad news lately… Iowa City lost a wonderful community member this week with the passing of former City Councilor Dee Norton.
While many people will recall Dee for his good work in politics, I will remember him fondly for two other things:
First, I remember Dee for all the games of noontime basketball we used to play. When I first joined in during the mid 1980s, Dee was already well past the age where he could join the AARP. To top it off, Dee was neither tall nor quick. Despite his physical shortcomings, Dee was a real joy to play with. He hustled and played very smart, but he was known primarily for his wonderful, self-deprecating humor. Dee was an absolute joy to be around.
Secondly, I recall listening to Dee and his wife Carrie entertaining the crowd by singing, “I Remember It Well” at several Senior Dining sites. The song was the perfect vehicle for the self-deprecating humor I mentioned earlier. Neater still - watching him it was clear that after many years, he was still madly in love with his wife.
But it is not politics (and certainly neither basketball nor singing) that will define Dee’s legacy. That legacy is the outstanding parks and trails that Iowa City enjoys today. As Chair of the IC Parks & Rec, Dee spearheaded the bond issue that created Hickory Hill, Mercer, Willow Creek, and Terrill Mill. Can you imagine Iowa City without these places?
Dee was still doing it just prior to his passing. Dee and his wife Carrie once again demonstrated their passion for the City’s park system with a financial donation to Friends of Hickory Hill Park that helped purchase the 16-acre Dickens Preserve that will be added to the park.
It strikes me that a nice tribute to Dee Norton would be the passage of the Conservation Bond issue this November 4. I think he would have liked that.
DID YOU KNOW? US libraries had over 1.3 billion visitors last 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
June 15, 2008
Sullivan’s Salvos 6/17/08
It is pretty much all flooding today. I have spent dozens of hours sandbagging and moving things, and dozens more in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). There isn’t time to do much in this edition of Salvos, so I’ll try to keep this short and factual.
I cannot even attempt to give you up to date information in this environment. I urge everybody to check out official city and county websites for current facts, and listen to 800 AM and 1630 AM. All have been good sources of information.
If you have called or E-mailed me about something unrelated to the flooding, I apologize. There simply has not been time to return those messages. Please bear with me; I’ll get back to you as soon as my responsibilities related to the flood subside. Thank you for your patience.
A bit of advice - use common sense. Stay away from all water. Do not try to get from east to west (or vice versa) in the metropolitan area UNLESS IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU DO SO! Do not cross town even to go to work or to volunteer. Stay on your side of the river! If you clog our few open streets, you slow emergency responders and put others at risk!
A second bit of advice… take care of yourself. Get enough sleep, drink plenty of liquids, and take more breaks than you think you need for your mental and physical health. Share your feelings, and be understanding of others.
A third bit of advice… beware of fraud! There are scam artists that have already moved into our area. Never give out your vital information, and demand photo IDs and call back phone numbers from anyone claiming to be some type of official. Do not hesitate to check people out; legitimate individuals will not object.
No one has worked harder through all of this than County employees. Secondary Roads staff deliver sand 24/7, close roads and bridges, work out detours, and see half their facilities gobbled up by the feds. Yet not one word of complaint. Information Services moves EVERYTHING – servers, web, E-mail, data – EVERYTHING – from the Admin Building to Secondary Roads and has it fully functional in about twelve hours. Facilities helps everyone else move, then gets elevations on every County facility and sandbags them tight. Then there are the folks who keep us safe… Ambulance, Sheriff, and Emergency Management are all performing magnificently. Finally, it was great to see clerks, accountants, secretaries, administrators, inspectors, social workers, elected officials, and others all pitching in to move things, sandbag, and do whatever is necessary. Unbelievable work, folks! You are amazing! The public should be VERY proud!
All non-essential County employees should STAY AWAY from work Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Areas under County control are flooded, and County employees should NOT attempt to enter flooded areas. In addition, we do not want County employees clogging our east-west streets. Non-essential County employees should call in each day to the Department Head or Elected Official for whom they work for further information. The Board of Supervisors will meet at 10:30 AM on Wednesday to decide what will happen beyond Wednesday.
Everyone who has volunteered in any capacity… I love you! You are the best! Keep up the heroic work! This is what makes Johnson County great! Unfortunately, our work has barely begun.
Finally, a note of personal privilege… with so many people suffering such massive personal losses this week, I hesitate to even bring this up. It might sound silly to all of you, but it is very difficult to express what the Sutliff Bridge meant to me. I don’t think the loss has really sunken in just yet; please be understanding with me in the weeks to come.
DID YOU KNOW? Because Johnson County has been declared a federal disaster area, affected residents may already begin applying for aid by calling 1-800-621-FEMA or visiting www.fema.gov.
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
June 8, 2008
Sullivan’s Salvos 6/10/08
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. My own father, stepfather, and two grandfathers have been gone for some time now; I am also the oldest in my family.
It is really odd being the patriarch of the family at age 41. It is not a role I cherish; I miss these men every single day. If you are lucky enough to still have a father figure around, please give him a call and express your appreciation.
Johnson County suffered a terrible tragedy this past week. As you are no doubt aware, a small plane carrying 3 passengers (one a baby) crashed on Tuesday. Despite this awful occurrence, it is worth noting the heroism of local endodontist Lanny Kampfe.
Doctor Kampfe dropped what he was doing and did CPR on the baby until emergency personnel could arrive on the scene. Doctor Kampfe – you are a real life hero! Thanks! Meanwhile, my thoughts and prayers to those the deceased leaves behind.
We need an end to the rain. Yes, as an old farm boy, I am often guilty of being overly critical of the weather. But this situation is growing dire. Homes and businesses are flooded. The crops are already late most places, and in trouble in many other areas. Roads need to dry out. Bridges are under strain. We desperately need some drier weather!
I spoke to Governor Culver late Saturday evening, and I was pleased to hear that he was on his way to Iowa City to take a look for himself. He assured me that Coralville and Iowa City would have access to all necessary State resources.
As of this writing, Iowa City and Coralville both need volunteers to sandbag. To help out, simply report to the areas in need: Edgewater Drive in Coralville, and 1519 S. Gilbert; 1800 & 1805 Stevens Drive; Thatcher & Baculis Mobile Home Parks at 2254 S. Riverside Drive; and Normandy Drive areas in Iowa City. Bring gloves and a shovel if you can. Please forward this information to others who may be interested.
Melissa, BJ, and I sandbagged at Normandy Drive on Saturday. I was there from about 10:30 AM-1:30 PM. Then Sunday, I shoveled at Thatcher Mobile Home Court from about 10-2 and again from 6:30-7:00. I wanted to share a few observations:
First, thanks to Solon, Mount Vernon, and Oxford! Volunteers from those three communities outnumbered volunteers from Iowa City proper.
Secondly, the city employees in the Iowa City Public Works Department have some very impressive skill sets!
Thirdly, I met some of the nicest people I have ever met anywhere! At Normandy, I worked with a doctor, a lawyer, a veterinarian, several grad students, a few laborers, a clerk… people from all walks of life were there pitching in. Men and women, young and old, all races and religions. I got a great sense of community from my time volunteering! On Sunday, Thatcher was a little more heavily weighted toward people who actually live there. As a matter of fact, people at Thatcher were beginning to feel a little neglected. One thing that gave us all a boost is when we were joined by Congressman Loebsack. Dave jumped in and shoveled, and the locals were really pleased. It demonstrated first hand that some people in politics really do care!
Finally, my thoughts and prayers to those affected by flooding. I cannot imagine the frustration you must be feeling. I am thinking of you!
I am honored to be selected as one of three Democratic candidates for the 2008 General Election for Johnson County Supervisor. Your support is very humbling.
No one runs a campaign by her or himself. Thanks to everyone who helped! If I may thank a few people specifically…
My wife Melissa is a wonderful, strong, smart, understanding, and supportive partner. I would be helpless without her. I love you, Honey! Thanks!
My children (Rachel, Jordan, and BJ) have sacrificed and pitched in, and put up with all my election season grumpiness. I love you guys! Thanks!
Gary Smith has dutifully served for 5 years in the thankless role as my campaign treasurer. Thanks, Gary! I appreciate all your help!
Rachel Stewart has served as my Webmaster, and her husband Duncan has volunteered to do just about everything I could ask. Thanks, guys!
Thanks to the Iowa City Federation of Labor, Teamster’s Local 238, AFT Local 716, and IBEW Local 1634. Your endorsements mean a lot!
Finally, everyone who made a call, sent an E-mail, sent a check, put up a sign, stuffed an envelope, and cast a ballot… you know who you are. I appreciate your friendship and support. Thanks!
I promise to do my best to make you proud! PLEASE hold the 3 Democratic nominees accountable! Our job for the next 5 months is to represent the concerns of the Democratic Party; make sure we do so. Now on to the elections in November!
Congratulations to Terrence Neuzil and Pat Harney on their victories Tuesday. I look forward to working with both gentlemen.
Congratulations, too, to Terry Dahms on running a fine race. Terry is a very good and decent man who has served Johnson County very well in several capacities. He also has more than a few good ideas – I hope the new Board will listen up when Terry speaks!
This weekend is Fun Days in North Liberty. For a listing of all the Fun Days events, see http://www.northlibertyiowa.org/fundays/index.htm.
DID YOU KNOW? Tuesday’s turnout was the lowest in a primary since 2002, when only 1,036 Democratic voters turned out. (There were no contested seats in the 2002 Democratic primary.)
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
June 1, 2008
Sullivan’s Salvos 6/3/08
Today is the Primary Election. Please get out and vote! I would also like to invite anyone and everyone to watch the returns with my family and I at the Okoboji Bar & Grill at Sycamore Mall. People will be there starting at about 7:30 PM. Polls close at 9 PM, and results should begin coming in at that time.
If you have a Sullivan yard sign and want to drop it off, feel free to leave it at 2326 E. Court Street in Iowa City any time that is convenient. If you wish to have it picked up, E-mail me at this address, or give me a call at 354-7199. If I win, feel free to save it for the fall. If I lose, I still want the signs back – I will recycle the cardboard, and donate the wires to a friendly campaign. Thanks for your willingness to publicly demonstrate your support!
The 21st Annual ICARE Pancake Breakfast will take place on Sunday, June 8 from 8 am - 1 pm. The menu includes pancakes, fresh fruit, sausage, juice and coffee. The event takes place on the Ped Mall. Tickets: Pre-event:$10; at the gate:$13. Children 7 and under eat free with purchase of an adult ticket. To buy tickets on-line and save click http://www.icareiowa.org/tickets.html.
I am furious over the way some people use the image of “the little old lady on a fixed income trying to stay in her home” as a justification for trying to reduce property taxes.
Do not get me wrong. I know such women exist. My own mother and two grandmothers all fit the definition. And I certainly do not wish such women any harm. But let’s look at the facts:
First, if these same people REALLY cared about these folks, they would have joined me in opposing the biggest tax increase in Johnson County history, the Local Option Sales Tax. This hurt people on fixed incomes far more than any property tax increase. Folks who bring this up never concern themselves with the sales taxes these women pay. I wonder if that is because all these “concerned” folks own lots of property themselves?
Secondly, why is it taxes that drive these women out of their homes? What about the costs of medicine, food, gas, and insurance? Each of these has increased at a far greater rate than taxes, and with the possible exception of gas, take up a greater percentage of a fixed income. Yet taxes always take the blame.
Thirdly, while the concern for these women keeping their homes is admirable, the same women are far from the neediest among us. Only 50% of the population in Johnson County owns a home. There are lots of little old ladies out there renting already- many are housing-burdened; some are even homeless. A person with a home has a valuable asset that almost half of us lack. Perhaps people should show greater concern for little old ladies who do NOT own homes!
Fourthly, for some reason, this concern for little old ladies does not extend to services. The folks who complain about the taxes on the little old lady do not advocate for increased funding for Elder Services, for example.
Fifthly, for some reason this compassion does not extend to people who use General Assistance, MH/DD, or other services. County funded services always look at both income and ASSETS before granting eligibility. Applicants are required to maintain incomes at the poverty level before they can receive vital County services. We force these folks to accept poverty in exchange for services; where is the advocacy for them? It seems poverty is an OK policy for many County residents, but property-owning older women deserve a break.
Sixthly – (yes, sixthly!) – some people who pretend to advocate for these little old ladies claim that property taxes drive rents. WRONG! Ask any economist; rents are a product of supply and demand. If there was adequate affordable housing in Johnson County, landlords could not use property taxes as an excuse for raising rents.
And lastly, these same people always assume that landlords deserve a set amount of profit. If an individual invests in the stock market, we assume she took some level of risk. When a person invests in the local real estate market, we assume she is somehow entitled to a certain profit. We do not hear the tax hawk politicians pleading with landlords to accept less profit and help out the little old ladies; it is somehow the job of government to keep her in her house. It is simply assumed that any and all increases in property taxes are passed straight to the renter. Landlords are heroes to this crowd, and government is evil.
Hey – I have a mother and two grandmothers who live in their own homes and have fixed incomes. I am sensitive to the fact that property taxes can be a difficulty for them. But property taxes are a bogeyman and a red herring. If we want to help these women and women like them, pass a more progressive income tax structure and single payer national healthcare. That will show you care about the little old ladies.
So how about it, those of you that care so much about these little old ladies? Their incomes are small. Join me in support of a local income tax to replace some local property taxes. Either that, or quit using them as tools to lower your own property taxes and those of your landlord pals.
DID YOU KNOW? According to the US Conference of Mayors, Iowa will have no net decline in property values in 2008. Illinois, Missouri, and Minnesota expect declines; Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas do not.
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
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