SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
September 28, 2008
Sullivan’s Salvos 9/23/08
We still have too many apples! Come get all you want!
Homecoming is this weekend in Iowa City. I love Homecoming! I love the game, or course, and I love the parade. But I also love the pomp and circumstance, the traditions, and the many excuses to have a good time!
Traditionally, when I think of Homecoming, I think of Homecoming at the UI. Homecoming takes on a whole new meaning for me this year; my daughters (a freshman and a junior at City High) plan on attending the City High Homecoming game on Friday, and the dance on Saturday. I wish the UI and City High had their Homecomings on different weeks!
In addition, it is Homecoming at my K-12 alma mater (Lisbon Community Schools), and I have twin nieces there who are seniors and in the running for Homecoming Queen!
So, Melissa and I have many competing priorities this weekend. Never before have dresses, shoes and hair been so important! Wish us luck! Meanwhile, GO HAWKS!
I am troubled by the proposition of the new owners of the Sheraton getting any tax incentives from Iowa City. I am doubly troubled by the proposal to reduce the public access between College and Burlington Streets.
Some of this is my usual song and dance. You have heard me say it before. I believe government exists to provide for the public good, not to transfer public dollars to private entities. I keep talking, but nobody seems to care.
The debate has basically boiled down to this: advocate for tax giveaways, and you are pro-business. Oppose tax giveaways, and you are anti-business. I find it ironic, because businesses pay property taxes. So local businesses foot some of the costs of transferring public dollars to private entities. Tax dollars local businesses pay are being given away to out of state corporations. I see my stance as completely pro-local business, though I doubt I could get even one local business leader to publically agree with me.
Here are a few additional reasons I dislike this plan:
1. I remember when Dubuque Street was a through street. The city closed a busy street at a busy intersection so the hotel could be built. Iowa City gave up a tremendous amount to allow that hotel to be in that location. Now, 30 years later, all parties seem to have forgotten what Iowa City gave up. Why is the city so willing to give the hotel control of what is technically a public street? How is reducing public access serving the public good?
2. Iowa City wants to extend the downtown business district south of Burlington Street. How does closing off the key gateway between north and south facilitate this plan?
3. Hotel owners complain about the drunken antics of the late night passersby. It is hard for me to have much sympathy for the hotel owners when they run a bar that targets the college crowd.
4. The idea that somehow giving the new owners what they want will bring more revenue to Iowa City is totally unsubstantiated by any type of research. Show me the money!
5. When the new owners bought this property, they knew what they were buying. Why is it the city’s obligation to step in? I know a woman who just bought a trailer in the Thatcher Mobile Home Court. She thinks she got a bad deal. Should the city step in? Of course not. But when wealthy out of town hoteliers do the same thing, the city feels the need to act. These are public tax dollars, and I do not wish to see my tax dollars handed to out of town hotel owners.
6. Where is the public benefit? How does changing anything at the hotel benefit the residents of Iowa City? Should Council actions benefit a small group of out of town owners, or the taxpayers of Iowa City?
7. Some argue that the hotel is somehow too important to the city to allow these owners to screw it up. I disagree. No one can prove that to me. But let’s assume it is true – the success of this hotel is integral to the well being of Iowa City. Then I would argue that Iowa City should buy the hotel, and manage it with the best interests of the public in mind.
We will see where this goes. Meanwhile, what are your thoughts?
Early voting for the General Election begins Thursday, September 25. I know that several of you enjoy the ritual of going to the polling place on Election Day, but I urge everyone out there to vote early.
Voting early helps the campaigns, and gets you off their lists. It helps the Auditor’s Office by reducing the work necessary on Election Day. It helps everyone. Please vote early!
Rally for Our Land, Water, and Future - Tuesday, September 23, 7:00 PM at Iowa City Public Library.
This rally is sponsored by the Iowa City Area Group of the Sierra Club. Come to this rally, and help pass the Johnson County conservation bond initiative on Election Day. If approved by a 60 percent super-majority of voters, Johnson County would sell $20 million in bonds, and would establish a dedicated fund to purchase natural areas, wetlands, open space, and wildlife habitat.
Speakers include: Mark Ackelson, President of the Iowa Natural heritage Foundation, and Janelle Rettig, Co-Chair of Citizens for Our Land, Water, and Future, which is leading the effort to pass the initiative.
Open to the public - please bring your family, friends, and neighbors. Free of charge, but please consider making a contribution to this worthy cause at the rally. For more information, please contact: Mike Carberry at 338-8820 or 319-594-6453.
Best wishes to the Reverend Mark W. Martin and his wife Carol on their upcoming retirements. The Martins have served Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church in University Heights for over 22 years, and given the gifts of faith, hope and charity to thousands of Johnson County residents over that time.
Not only have the Martins served the members of Saint Andrew, but also countless local organizations like the Iowa City Public Library, Elder Services, the United Way, and many more.
We have attended Saint Andrew for approximately 9 years. Pastor Martin baptized our children. Every time I take on an issue - poverty, homelessness, health care, hunger, tax fairness, volunteerism – just about anything – I do so inspired by the sermons of Pastor Martin.
In addition, the sermons are almost always funny. Today offered a great example:
A Sunday School teacher asked her class to draw something from the Bible. She noticed one little girl drawing furiously, and they had the following exchange:
“What are you drawing?”
“God.”
“God? But no one knows what God looks like!”
“Well, they will in a minute!”
Mark preaches his final sermon on Sunday, and I doubt there will be a dry eye in the house. Mark and Carol – we love you and we’ll miss you. My prayers for a fulfilling and relaxing retirement.
DID YOU KNOW? Of 64 local companies reporting data to the Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD), 86% reported an increase in sales in FY07. 88% reported an increase in sales in FY08.
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 @ 10:13 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home