|
rodsullivan.org
SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
September 26, 2009
Sullivan’s Salvos 9/29/09 I am not sure how to start this off, so I’ll begin with the facts. Johnson County Supervisor Larry Meyers passed away around 1PM on September 22. Larry is survived by a sister, three brothers, and his adult son, Jordan. I had known Larry since 1999, when he ran the Caucuses in Newport Township. Larry enjoyed talking politics, but did not set out to be a candidate for office; he was drafted, for lack of a better description. Despite this somewhat unique entrée into elective office, Larry took the job of Supervisor very seriously, and served Johnson County well. Larry was a really fine man, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with him. He was bright, funny, optimistic, and loved to learn new things. Larry truly cared about people, and always wanted to do right by folks. Larry was always reasonable, but passionate about many issues. He cared deeply about land use, and caused many people to take a strong look at the things we encourage. The best part of the service was when Jordan and others spoke about Larry’s amazing job as a single father. He worked full time, volunteered at school, made it to Cub Scouts, conferences, and concerts. He cooked supper and did laundry and read to his son… he did everything that two parents need to do. He obviously did it well. And he did it by himself. I enjoyed serving with Larry, but I do not think of him as a coworker. I think of him as a friend. I will miss you, Larry. I’ll miss you in the beer tent at Beef Days. I hope you are already golfing up there. Rest in peace, my friend. One final appeal (I promise!) to come get your apples! They are very tasty, and have not been sprayed. Please let me know if you are interested. I have had several discussions with other people lately about the vitriol that seems to be out there of late. People seem to be meaner than a few years ago, and looking to criticize and/or hurt everyone in their path. I have seen it at the convenience store, schools, high school sports, work - just about everywhere. I am sometimes guilty of ignoring the Christian example and responding in kind. I have done that a couple times in the past couple years, and that came under public scrutiny recently. Obviously, my exchanges with these two individuals were not work-related, and were intended to be private. I still should not have said what I said, and I regret my actions. I apologize to all for my poor choices. That does not change the fact that I feel the Press Citizen enables racism in our community. They do not perpetrate the act, but they hand the Klansmen their sheets. It is a problem, but they do not see it. The paper has chosen to target me because I am a critic. And trust me, there is a lot of stuff they are not telling/showing you! As some of you may know, I have 3 African American children. I guess this stuff hurts me more deeply than I ever realized. I certainly need to apologize for my language. But I am not going to apologize for standing up to bullies and bigots. But I can’t change the Press Citizen or the people who post there. I can control my reaction to the racists. I am hereby done posting on that site. I am speaking with a counselor to talk some things out. I promise I’ll try to do better. I had the privilege of serving as a judge for the 1st Annual Chili Cook-Off in Lone Tree. This event was the brainchild of Helen Lemley, and was held in conjunction with the Lone Tree Farmers Market. There was music, food, and 14 types of chili to sample! The event was simply wonderful, and shows what a little imagination can do for a small town. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to participate. The winners, in case you were wondering: 1st Place: Alyssa Werbach - $1,000; 2nd Place: Mary Larson - $500; 3rd Place: Chanda Ruess - $100 plus a 1 night stay at Riverside Casino; Peoples Choice: Nancy Yakish - $50 + $30 Gift Certificate to LT’s Grocery. Government is GOOD! How do I know? Because of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Every year in the US, consumer products cause 21,700 deaths, 28 million injuries, and cost us $200 billion. That compares very favorably with countries of similar populations. (Source: Times-Picayune.) Imagine things without the CPSC! What if we used market forces to get defective car tires off the market? (Just wait until enough people die – then they’ll change!) The CPSC keeps us safe. Brought to you by your GOVERNMENT! October 4-10 is Mental Illness Awareness Week. The local chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) has events all week long. Please see: http://www.nami.org/MSTemplate.cfm?MicrositeID=60 for more information. The Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) of Johnson County is holding its 3rd annual Art Auction fundraiser and 60th anniversary celebration October 4th from 4-7 PM at the Brown Deer Clubhouse. Tickets are $30, and include wine and hors d’oeuvres. You can make reservations by calling 337-9686. VNA is a wonderful organization that helps thousands of vulnerable Johnson County residents every year. Please help them if you can! DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County has 21 townships. 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
September 20, 2009
Sullivan’s Salvos 9/22/09
Please stop by and pick some apples! We truly have far more than we could ever use, and I hate to see such good food go to waste. If you picked some once, pick some more! Just reply to this E-mail if you would like to arrange a time to stop by.
For fans of great writing, local author Larry Baker has a new novel out. A Good Man is now available at local bookstores.
Harry Ducharme is at the end of his rope. Booze and bad decisions have taken him from the A-list of talk-radio fame down to a tiny station in St. Augustine, Florida. He talks mostly to himself, not sure anybody is listening, reading books and poetry that he likes, playing golden oldies from the 60s, and wondering how he got there.
From Iowa farm to Florida beach, Harry is surrounded by men and women with their own burdens to carry. Eventually, his role becomes intertwined with contemporary politics, Iraq, 9/11, old-time religion, and classic literature from writers like Flannery O’Connor and Emily Dickinson, as well as the music of Harry Chapin.
Larry Baker will be reading from A Good Man November 19 at Prairie Lights… make sure you have a copy by then!
I continue to struggle with the role of the Press Citizen in our community-wide dialogue over race, class, crime, low-income housing, immigration, and other issues.
First let me clear up a common misperception: freedom of speech does not apply here. Freedom of speech means the government cannot limit your speech. It does not apply to speech between two private entities. The PC is a private business, and they can say virtually anything they wish. They can also provide a forum (or not) for virtually anything they wish.
Here is the way things play out currently: write anonymous, racist, hateful comments, and the Press Citizen will publish them. Stand up to the anonymous, racist, hateful comments, and they censor your posts.
It is like being in a bizarro universe! I cannot believe this is really where the Press Citizen is choosing to be on these issues. It is difficult times like these that require a local paper to step up and serve as a leader in promoting public discussions. Unfortunately, instead of contributing to solutions, the PC has chosen to exacerbate the problems.
I am sure I’ll get an E-mail from someone at the PC following this column. They will express once again that they have a “report abuse” system in place. So nothing will change. I just wish they understood how much good they could be doing, and how badly they are failing us.
The 2009 Amish Tour to Cure Cancer Bike Ride is Saturday, September 26 at 9 AM.
The Courage Ride, in honor of Seth Bailey, raises money for researching cancer. Proceeds from ride registrations and donations go to the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa. Proceeds from 2008 = $52,906.
This year's ride starts and ends at the Iowa Mennonite School where Seth Bailey played basketball.
In November 1995, seventeen-year-old Seth Bailey was surprised when a sore leg turned into a diagnosis of soft-tissue Synovial Sarcoma. After a valiant fight, he died in 2004. This ride was organized as a tribute to Seth and to others who have been diagnosed with cancer.
The Courage Ride is for amateur and experienced bike enthusiasts alike! Riders will choose to ride 16, 24, 39, 67, or 95 miles. The day begins with Dad’s Belgian Waffle Breakfast. Riders will also enjoy snacks along the route at several well-stocked rest stops. For those riding longer routes, lunch will be included at Wellman. Riders on shorter routes will have lunch at IMS. Showers are available at the school.
Spend a part of your day with us riding through glorious country, listening to the music of local artists at rest stops and the Iowa Mennonite School. Whether you want to raise money for the cause, or just register and ride for the sheer joy of it, this ride is for you. To register, visit http://www.courageride.org/
All City High Alumni, Students, Staff, Families and Friends are invited to City High on Sunday, September 27 from 2 pm to 4 pm for a 70th Anniversary Kick Off Party to begin a year of celebrating 70 years in the beautiful Morningside Drive building. The program will consist of speeches by City High alumni and current students, a short musical tribute, displays of City High memorabilia, tours of the building and refreshments.
Government is GOOD! How do I know? Because our water is very clean relative to the rest of the world. According to UNICEF, 1.8 million children die every year from unclean drinking water. Clean water… brought to you by GOVERNMENT!
DID YOU KNOW? The Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) served 1,870 people in FY09.
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
September 12, 2009
Sullivan’s Salvos 9/15/09
Apples! Come and get your apples! We have more than we can use. Just reply to this E-mail if you’d like to come get some.
The Johnson County Livable Community for Successful Aging Committee will be holding a community visioning meeting September 18 at 8:30 AM at First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City.
Johnson County is a real leader in creating a great place to grow old. The Livable Community initiative has been a resounding success. To learn more, see: http://www.livablecommunity.org/johnsoncounty/welcome.aspx.
Johnson County will be having our annual sale of used PCs, printers and other computer related equipment on Saturday, September 19 from 9am – noon in the Health and Human Services Building, 855 S. Dubuque.
You can find the link to the equipment we have for sale at www.johnson-county.com > the link is on the left side of the page.
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.
The facilitator guided discussions on such issues as race, immigration, religion, and sexuality encourage participants to take action for positive change. Thursday, September 24 from 6-8 p.m. Scanlon Gymnasium/Mercer Park Aquatic Center.
Sponsored by: City of Iowa City Human Rights Division, City of Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center, Johnson County Social Services, Women’s Resource & Action Center and the Iowa City Community School District.
Government is GOOD! How do I know? Because governments provide our outstanding system of roads and highways. Good luck trading with someone in Ohio without using roads! Privatized roads? They suck.
So, next time someone tells you governments cannot do anything right, ask them how they got there. Odds are good they used a road!
60% of Johnson County voters approved the Conservation Bond Issue in November of 2008. These folks were voting to authorize $20 million over 20 years to preserve woodlands and wetlands, clean up our water, create trails, and prevent flooding, among many other things.
So what has happened since? The Johnson County Conservation Board has purchased an 87-acre riparian tract along Clear Creek, south and west of Tiffin and west of Coralville.
This acquisition will improve the water quality in Clear Creek. It will preserve woodlands and wetlands. It will help prevent flooding damage in Coralville due to Clear Creek. It will be the home of a future trail from Coralville, through Tiffin, to Kent Park.
The land cost $420,280… a great price for land in the booming east end of the Clear Creek Amana school district. This is a GREAT purchase that will benefit the people of Johnson County for the next century and beyond.
Great job, voters! Great job, Conservation Board! Way to keep those campaign promises!
Remember when I quoted the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior- “Charity is no substitute for justice”? Nowhere is this more vivid than our ongoing healthcare debate.
My wife is a scientist, but also a Registered Pharmacist. She has volunteered at the Free Medical Clinic for years. Melissa never misses an opportunity to donate her time or money to that particular organization. Her charity is wonderful.
But wouldn’t justice be better? Wouldn’t it be nice if those folks had healthcare coverage? Then Melissa could put het time and money toward another good cause.
Let’s hope Congress gives the people of the US a taste of justice where healthcare is concerned.
DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County has 6,701 residents who served in the military (active duty) during wartime.
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
September 6, 2009
Sullivan’s Salvos 9/8/09
We have apples! They are excellent for baking, and pretty good right off the tree. We have more than we could ever use… feel free to share in our bounty! Please contact me if you would like to come pick some.
School Board elections are today across Johnson County. Perhaps the most amazing thing about these elections is how few people actually vote.
In the ICCSD, the records for both raw turnout (5,341) and percentage turnout (8.6%) were set in 1999, when Don Jackson, Lauren Reece, and Dale Schultz were elected over Tom Thrams, incumbent Susan Mims, and Cindy Parsons. (Listed in order of most to least votes.)
2009 feels like a similar election. Six candidates. Budgetary issues. The community seems tuned in and focused on the race.
Even some of the players are the same. Dale Schultz is a Co-Chair of Sarah Swisher’s campaign. Susan Mims is now running for the Iowa City Council. Lauren Reece has publicly opined against the process used in the closing of Roosevelt Elementary.
There are some differences, however. For one thing, the population in the ICCSD has expanded tremendously in those 10 years, so the raw vote totals might be in jeopardy even if the percentage is not. It will be interesting, for example, to see how the burgeoning population of North Liberty responds.
So – let’s set a record. Get out and vote. Remember, polling places are different for school elections. See the Johnson County Auditor’s website at http://www.johnson-county.com/auditor/ for more information.
Many observers of the Iowa City Council are calling for the heads of the councilors who concentrated low-income housing in a certain area of town.
Do these same people understand inclusive zoning? This is the idea that every new subdivision be required to contain a certain percentage of affordable housing. Theoretically, if you concentrate poverty, you create problems. An inclusive zoning ordinance would spread out lower income housing and stop this concentration.
Iowa City does not have inclusive zoning. There has never been a majority of the Council willing to require it. Ironically, the two people who seem to get the most criticism in this area (Karen Kubby and Amy Correia) have always favored inclusive zoning.
Karen and Amy did not create this situation. They are among the very few (Larry Baker, Mike Wright, perhaps a couple more) ever to serve on the IC Council who had the guts to vote to address the issue. Now they are being demonized.
Who DID concentrate this housing? Every councilor who ever opposed inclusive zoning. Which is pretty much everyone BUT Amy & Karen. If you must cast blame, look there. Not that casting blame will help. I urge more positive actions on the part of the citizenry. Just cut Amy & Karen some slack.
Now that school is in session, volunteers are everywhere. You may have seen recently that Iowa City ranked second nationally in terms of volunteerism. I have little doubt that this is true of the rest of the County as well. Thanks to all of you who selflessly donate your time!
I am SO sick of people bashing government! Government is GOOD. Government allows us to live together in a functioning society.
Does government screw up sometimes? Sure. So does the private sector. My point is that government is unfairly criticized.
I am going to write about something good (if not great!) that government does every single week. I hope you will join me in standing up to the BS and voicing your support for the many good things government does.
Let’s begin week one with a timely piece of good government – free universal public education. What a truly great thing – brought to you by government!
The 8th annual Field to Family Local Foods Festival is hosting several events this month.
A Culinary Walk to benefit the Johnson County Local Food Alliance (JCLFA) will be held September 10 from 5:30-8 PM. Tickets are $25 and are available at New Pi and the IMU Box Office.
A JCLFA Harvest Dinner will be held September 26 at 5:30 PM at the University Athletic Club. Tickets are $35 and are available at the IMU Box Office.
For a full calendar and more info on all the events, please visit the JCLFA website at: jclfa.org.
The I-Renew Energy & Sustainability Expo 2009 will be held September 12 & 13 near Norway, Iowa. For more info, see: www.irenew.org/expo.
DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County has a tremendous amount of information available on the H1N1 flu virus. For more info, see: http://www.johnson-county.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
|
|
