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rodsullivan.org
SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
June 27, 2009
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
June 20, 2009
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
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
June 7, 2009
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
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