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rodsullivan.org
SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
June 26, 2010
Sullivan’s Salvos 6/29/10 In this edition: *Happy Independence Day! *Door Knocking in Hills *Politics of the Founding Fathers *Census Data *Wheeling Through the Years *Did You Know? *Happy Independence Day! I hope you all have a safe and wonderful 4th of July! Maybe we’ll see you at parades in Morse, Sharon Center, Hills, Oxford, or Coralville, or at the Jazz Fest in Iowa City! *Door Knocking in Hills I am joining State Senator Becky Schmitz and several other local folks for some door knocking. Senator Schmitz is in a very competitive race against former legislator Sandy Greiner. Becky has served us well, and needs our help! Please join us Tuesday, June 29th at 5:30pm at the Hills Ball Park. It will take about 2 hours. Thanks in advance! *Politics of the Founding Fathers As I celebrate the birth of our country, I am going to celebrate the REALITY of our founding fathers rather than the myths we perpetuate today. Contrary to what we hear from many Tea Partiers, our founding fathers do not fit neatly into current political subdivisions. The founders were all male and white, and those who were gay were quiet about it. The folks who founded the US were overwhelmingly wealthy landowners, most of whom also owned slaves. They were willing to go to war over taxes. They were not too interested in upsetting that status quo. On the other hand, ideas like freedom of speech, strict limits on police powers, universal public education, a separate and equal judicial branch, no cruel or unusual punishment, and no official state religion could be viewed as liberal. They were radical for the time. Heck, they are radical now! Most importantly, it is important for us to understand that we are not doing ourselves any favors by trying to co-opt these men. They were imperfect men that led imperfect lives. They were at times hypocritical and inconsistent. They seldom all agreed. They certainly do not fit neatly into the political constructs of today. Would Adams be a Republican? Would Jefferson be a Democrat? And what about the big fish, Washington? Everyone wants to claim him! The bottom line is that we do not know. Speculation is just that – speculation. We all want the founding fathers on our side. Proving that they would be on our side is another matter altogether. So, rather than fighting over this TOO, why not agree to share in the celebration of this day and these people? Perhaps we can set aside our differences for one day and agree to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of our great nation! *Census Data You may have noticed that the new Census data is out for 2009. Johnson County is estimated to have almost 132,000 residents as of 2009, moving us ahead of Blackhawk County (129,000) into 4th place in Iowa. It is interesting to look at Blackhawk and Johnson Counties side by side. Here are a few things that jump out at me: 1.) Blackhawk County did not lose residents, but it only grew by 1,000 people over the past decade. Meanwhile, Johnson County grew by about 21,000 people over the same period. 2.) Iowa City (69,000) and Waterloo (66,000) are the largest cities in the respective counties. But while Iowa City has grown 11% over the decade, Waterloo’s population has declined by about 3,000 people. 3.) Both counties are home to Regent’s universities, but the UI is about twice as large, and has many more graduate programs and graduate students. 4.) “Suburban” areas of both counties (Coralville, North Liberty, and Tiffin in Johnson County; Cedar Falls, Hudson, and Evansdale in Black Hawk) grew more than the largest cities. 5.) The Blackhawk County economy has traditionally depended upon John Deere and meatpacking for much of its employment. Neither industry supports workers the way they did in the 1950s and 60s. 6.) Johnson County benefits from the symbiotic relationship we share with Linn County. Thousands of folks work in one county but live in the other. Together, the laborshed is much larger than that of Blackhawk County. So – we have growth. In general, that is good news. But growth has downsides, too – most of them related to the use of natural resources. The key for us moving forward is HOW will we grow? We need to be thinking in terms of preserving farmland and natural areas; creating urban densities; providing public transportation; and generally attempting to mitigate the downsides of growth. *Wheeling Through the Years “Wheeling Through the Years”, a documentary film featuring local activist Keith Ruff, will have its world premiere Thursday, July 1 at 5 PM at Access 2 Independence, 381 E. College in Iowa City. The documentary takes a hard look at societal attitudes toward disabilities through the life of Keith Ruff. I have known Keith for about 20 years now. He is a great guy, who has done his best to educate others on disability issues. I plan on attending – I hope you will, too. *DID YOU KNOW? Buffalo County, South Dakota has the lowest per capita personal income of any US county at $12,558. (Source: NACO.) 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, 2010
Sullivan’s Salvos 6/22/10
In this edition:
*Strategic Planning
*Performance Evaluations
*”Real America”
*Child Tax Credits
*Did You Know?
*Strategic Planning
Johnson County is currently involved in a strategic planning process – I thought I’d share a brief update.
For starters, we are doing this without a consultant. Personally, I am very pleased by this. I think there are things that organizations undertake that require outside help. More often than not, I do not believe strategic planning is one of them. I have participated in several strategic planning initiatives where the facilitator did not add much to the process. Participants offered all the info and did all the work, then paid a big bill.
Executive Assistant Andy Johnson is leading our process, and doing just as well as someone we would pay $15,000. (That is both a compliment to Andy and a knock on consultants!)
We began by reviewing the strategic plans of some of our peer counties, and picking out things we liked. This was followed by brainstorming with Elected Officials and Department Heads. The Board then put ideas into 5 general categories; the final piece will be fleshing out the details.
I cannot recall the exact names of each of the 5 categories. But rough descriptions of the 5 categories are: 1.) Budget; 2.) Infrastructure; 3.) Environment; 4.) Customer Service; and 5.) Quality of Life.
Needless to say, not everything fits neatly into these categories. Trails, for example, might fit into 3 or 4 different areas. Other items do not really seem to fit anywhere, yet sound like good ideas.
A few of the specific goals that I really like include:
*Increasing unobligated financial reserves.
*Giving the public an opportunity to vote on a Justice Center.
*Addressing noncompliance with EPA air quality standards.
*Implementing best practices wherever feasible.
*Increasing opportunities to transact business online.
Those are just a few. They may receive enough support to make the list, or they may not. In order to turn those (or any) topics into good goals, they will need to be measurable, time limited, and responsibility will need to be assigned.
So – it is your turn! What should Johnson County be doing? Now is a great time to communicate your thoughts. Please let me know what you think!
*Performance Evaluations
Johnson County recently adopted a new employee evaluation form, and accompanied it with mandatory training on how to do employee evals.
This may sound pretty innocuous. You may ask yourself why I even bother mentioning it.
The answer is simple. Organizations run on employee performance. Organizations do not improve unless they regularly, honestly evaluate employees and coach them to get better. All employees – stars and those who struggle – benefit from the evaluation process.
If you want to hear more about employee evals or want to see the form we use, please let me know.
*”Real America”
Sarah Palin has a habit of showing up in small towns and referring to those places as “the Real America”. That is why I found it interesting to note that almost 85% of all Americans live in a metropolitan area of over 50,000 people.
Even in Iowa, the quintessential rural state, about 45% of our 3 million residents live in urban areas. In Johnson County, only about 15,000-20,000 out of 135,000 residents live over 2 miles from an urbanized area.
What does this mean? First of all, “Real America” is insulting. We are all Americans. Secondly, whether intended this way or not, “Real America” can easily be used as code for white, English speaking and straight. Third, it is helpful for all Americans to recognize that we are a large and diverse country. Finally, there is no reason to divide America along imaginary lines; we have enough real divisions that require our attention.
*Child Tax Credits
A message from my good friends at the Iowa Policy Project:
Thousands of Iowans would be affected if Congress chooses against extending Child Tax Credit improvements made in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or ARRA. The Child Tax Credit is able to reach thousands more Iowans with improvements made in both 2008 and in the 2009 Recovery Act. See IFP's backgrounder
You might find this short report useful in the coming days and weeks as Congress acts on provisions in ARRA. We invite you to see our many other reports and short background sheets on how the Recovery Act has affected Iowans. See those pieces on our ARRA Iowa Impacts page
The Iowa Fiscal Partnership is a joint public policy analysis initiative of the Iowa Policy Project in Iowa City and the Child & Family Policy Center in Des Moines. Find IFP reports at www.iowafiscal.org.
*DID YOU KNOW? Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin is the first and so far only open lesbian woman to win election to Congress. In 1998, she became the first ever openly gay person to win election to Congress as a non-incumbent.
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 16, 2010
Sullivan’s Salvos 6/15/10
In this edition:
*Transitioning Youth
*Immigration
*Pride Events
*Goodwill Annual Report
*Did You Know?
*Transitioning Youth
I have been involved in a neat program designed to help young people who are aging out of the foster care system. The following info on the Transitioning Youth program comes from LaTasha Massey, an employee of Johnson County Social Services. People interested in helping out should contact LaTasha at 356-6090.
Our vision is that youth and young adults who are “aging out” of the foster care system should have healthy and meaningful lifelong connections within their own community. It is through these connections that they will be better able to gain the knowledge, skills, and resources to support themselves and realize their goals for their lives. Iowa Youth Dream Team is one strategy to support youth and young adults as they transition from the foster care system.
In Iowa, 800-900 young people annually end their involvement with the foster care system as they “age out” at age 18. These “system-involved youth” face many obstacles and challenges!
State and national research demonstrates that these young people fare much worse than other youth in a host of outcome areas including education, employment, health, housing, and supportive relationships. National studies show that 4 years after leaving care, 25% of youth have been homeless, only 46% have graduated from high school, 42% have become parents themselves, and fewer than 20% are self-supporting.
It is clear that to improve the outlook for youth aging out of foster care, more attention needs to be given to helping youth establish lifelong connections and permanency. Coordination is needed, and greater efforts to engage families and communities in supporting these young people are critical.
To address the needs in Johnson County, the Iowa Youth Dream Team (IYDT) process has been developed. This process is a youth-centered practice model that empowers youth to take control of their lives and dreams. Supportive adults and peers create a team that helps the youth make connections to resources, education, employment, health care, housing and supportive personal and community relationships. Through these connections and relationships, young people will be better able to gain access to and take advantage of the resources, knowledge, and skills to support themselves and realize their life’s dreams.
Please let me know if you would be interested in getting involved! We need community members to serve as team members/mentors.
*Immigration
I continue to see the issues around immigration differently than many of my fellow Americans.
Most immigration occurs for economic purposes. This is an economic issue – there is a US demand for low wage labor, and Mexico has a supply of people willing to work for wages considered low in the US.
The thing that is SO wrong in my mind is that corporations maintain so many more rights than people. Multinational corporations are free to operate ANYWHERE they want; try to stop this, and the international economic, legal, and military forces rally to the defense of the corporation.
Human beings, on the other hand, have no such economic rights. Management can go wherever it likes; labor is strictly limited. BP can continue to operate in the US forever… a person who crosses the border seeking work is jailed.
Before we can talk about immigration reform, we need to discuss economic reforms. It is a skewed and unfair marketplace that created illegal immigration in the first place. Let’s fix it.
*Pride Events
There are many Pride events taking place this week in Johnson County. The Friday night Patio Party is an annual get together for members of the LGBT community and allies. The festivities begin at 6 PM on Friday, June 18 on the patio of the Sheraton in downtown Iowa City.
The Iowa City Pride 2010 Parade will take place on Saturday, June 19, starting at College Green Park at 12 noon. Check-in/line-up will begin at 11 a.m.
Registration for the Pride Parade is non-competitive, free and open to the public. Prizes will be awarded for creativity, enthusiasm, etc., after the parade!
*Goodwill Annual Report
There are many nonprofit organizations that serve Johnson County. Few have served as well and as long as Goodwill Industries of the Heartland.
Goodwill exists to overcome barriers to employment. Most folks think of people with mental retardation as the population served, but Goodwill does much, much, more. Goodwill serves people with physical disabilities, people with mental illnesses, people with brain injuries, people fighting drug addictions, the homeless, veterans, people reentering society from prison, at-risk youth, seniors, and many more. If barriers exist to employment, Goodwill tries to help.
I recently received Goodwill’s 2009 Annual Report, and I thought I’d mention a few statistics:
*Goodwill of the Heartland served 1,454 clients in 2009 – 480 in Johnson County.
*The 2009 budget is over $21 million - $15.5 million from store sales. Over 500,000 donations came in during this period.
*The original recyclers, Goodwill kept over 23 million tons of waste out of local landfills in 2009.
Thanks to Goodwill CEO Jeff Nock, Board Chair Dick Schwab, and all the fantastic people that continue to keep Goodwill among the top nonprofits in eastern Iowa!
*DID YOU KNOW? US Representative Pete Stark (D-CA) is the only open atheist in the history of Congress.
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 6/8/10
In this edition:
*Happy Father’s Day
*Speaking of Fatherhood…
*Primaries
*North Liberty Fun Days
*No Government – Unless We Need It!
*Great Iowa River Canoe Race
*Invasive Species
*Did You Know?
*Happy Father’s Day
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. My own father has been gone a long time now, and I still miss him very much. I am SO lucky, because I can honestly say my Dad was my best friend. If your dad is still around, please spend some additional quality time. You won’t regret it.
*Speaking of Fatherhood…
My oldest daughter recently moved into her own apartment. It feels weird. Even weirder? Several of the apartments in Johnson County advertise that the kitchen and bathroom are professionally cleaned!
My daughter is paying her own rent. While I can see situations where parents might pay some rent for an adult child, I just cannot imagine paying for someone to clean a kid’s bathroom.
I knew this was going to make me feel old. I just didn’t realize why! I am becoming a grumpy old man!
*Primaries
Both Democrats and Republicans have primaries today. On the Democratic side, voters will choose a candidate for US Senate; no other races are being contested in Johnson County.
GOP voters will choose nominees for the Second Congressional District and Governor; local slates will likely be filled out by convention prior to the fall.
Whatever your party – get out and vote! (In a tip of the hat to early voting, I voted a month ago!)
*North Liberty Fun Days
North Liberty will be hopping this weekend as the annual Fun Days celebration takes place. For more info, look for “North Liberty Fun Days” on Facebook.
*No Government – Unless We Need It!
The tragic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a disaster of epic proportions. It also points out why we need a strong federal government.
For starters, had we not completely capitulated to the oil industry over the past 100 years, our government might actually say no to risky and unproven drilling techniques. Technologies such as blowout protectors would be tested prior to being put into use.
Secondly, a strong federal government would have already shut down BP’s operations due to an abysmal safety record.
I have to shake my head when I hear Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal criticize the federal government for inaction. Jindal does not WANT a strong federal government; he believes the private sector can do things better! Well, Governor – the private sector has failed your state. Blaming Washington does not change the fact that you put all your eggs in the private sector basket. Now the chickens have come home to roost, and Jindal runs crying to the federal government.
I have had the pleasure of visiting Louisiana several times, and it pains me to know what is happening there. I certainly hope the state and federal governments can work with BP to limit the damage to this important area.
*Great Iowa River Canoe Race
Register now for the Great Iowa River Canoe Race on Saturday, June 26. The 9.25 - mile race goes from Sturgis Ferry Park in Iowa City to the Hills Access. There are 16 different divisions – something for everyone! For more info, see www.ivrcd.org.
*Invasive Species
The Hawkeye Cooperative Weed Management Area will be hosting an Invasive Species Field Day on Thursday, June 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Monsanto Recreation Building south of Muscatine.
The event will highlight issues regarding invasive plant and insect species effecting land owners and land managers in Iowa. Each year billions of dollars are spent controlling these invaders. You may have some of these plants and/or insects sneaking onto your property right now! Attend this free educational event to learn more!
A lunch will be provided, but attendees must register prior to June 4 to ensure availability. Register by calling 645-1011 and providing your name and phone number or by sending the same information to: bfreidhof@co.johnson.ia.us. Learn how you can be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Register today!
*DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County is spending about $1.4 million each year to house prisoners in other counties. (That includes the cost of transportation.)
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 6/1/10
In this edition:
*Goodbye to Great Teachers!
*Sutliff Bridge, Act 2
*Fishing at Kent Park
*ICARE Pancake Breakfast
*UAY Festival of Flowers
*Did You Know?
*Goodbye to Great Teachers!
I have long felt teaching is the most important and most undervalued of all occupations. The ICCSD is losing some outstanding veteran teachers to retirement this year. While I will clearly be leaving some wonderful educators out, a special thanks to a few special folks:
Hani Elkadi has served the at-risk students in the ICCSD for many years. In addition to being a great teacher, Hani has served the kids as an advocate, mentor, and friend.
Dr. Perry Ross is a first rate gentleman who has served the ICCSD in several capacities. His leadership will be missed!
Pamela Fitzgerald is one of the most kind and tenderhearted people I have ever met, and having her at Hoover helped my children through some challenging transitions. I will never forget her!
Ann Allaire is retiring from Hoover Elementary, where she had my kids in 1st and 2nd grades. My kids got off to a good start because of her gentle hand. Thank you, Ann! You were wonderful!
Nancy Porter is retiring from Hills Elementary. Nancy tutored my son, which has paid dividends to this day. There is no finer person out there, teacher or otherwise, than Nancy Porter!
Sue Dvorsky is retiring from Southeast Junior High. Until you have spent a day in a special education classroom, you can never fully appreciate the amazing work Sue has done. It is very hard work, done on behalf of our neediest citizens. I am awed just thinking about it. Sue – I salute you!
New teachers – you have some BIG shoes to fill! Meanwhile, congratulations to these fantastic folks!
*Sutliff Bridge, Act 2
The issue of the Sutliff Bridge has come up once again, and I feel the need to set the record straight.
The federal government decided the Sutliff Bridge was a historic site, not Johnson County. The federal government decided to fund its rebuilding, not Johnson County. There will be ZERO county tax dollars going into the restoration.
So, when folks say, “we should use the money on gravel”… Why? It is not our money to spend! It was designated for the bridge. If it is not going to be used on bridge restoration, it should be returned to DC! Using the money for something else is unethical.
Lots of companies (for profit and not for profit) do business with Johnson County. We expect them to use our funding the way it was intended. If they took County money, then did something else, we would be irate. Why should Johnson County get to behave differently?
I hear from people calling themselves “fiscal conservatives” who think the bridge money should be spent elsewhere. A real fiscal conservative would demand that the money not be spent at all! This reminds me of all the people who decry “pork” in Congress. When it gets spent in our hometown: it is about time we got something from the feds! When it is spent in your hometown: it is pork!
I think the fact that the bridge is being repaired is great. I think it is good for the historic and cultural well being of Johnson County. It is good for local tourism and good for the local economy. I have already made those arguments. Folks can argue that that I am wrong.
But the “Johnson County is wasting money” argument is a bunch of bull. There are only two legitimate choices – fix the bridge, or do not fix the bridge. Other projects are just red herrings.
*Fishing at Kent Park
Across the State of Iowa June 4-6, anglers will be taking part in Iowa’s annual Free Fishing Weekend. During Free Fishing Weekend, residents across the state are not required to have a fishing license, although all other laws and regulations are still in effect.
The Johnson County Conservation Board (JCCB )will be celebrating Free Fishing Weekend with a fishing clinic for the entire family on June 5th from 3-6 p.m. at Kent Park.
Bait, tackle and a limited number of rods and reels will be available for participants to use. The JCCB also manages a beautiful campground at Kent Park that residents are encouraged to use. Electrical sites are available for $15 a night and non-electrical for $10.
Kent Park is home to a 27-acre lake stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish and three 1-2 acre ponds in the easterly valley. For more information contact the Johnson County Conservation Department office, at 645-2315 or the Conservation Education Center at 645-1011.
*ICARE Pancake Breakfast
ICARE will host its 23rd Annual New Pioneer/ ICARE Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, June 6, 2010 in the Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp (SE Corner of Gilbert & E. Washington Streets in Iowa City). We'll be there rain or shine!
A gourmet breakfast of pancakes, sausage, fruit, fresh squeezed orange juice and Starbucks coffee will be served from 8 a.m. -1 p.m. during the Iowa Arts Festival. All proceeds will support ICARE's mission to enrich the quality of life for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Come enjoy the sweet sound of local entertainment and the best breakfast in town!
We are in need of 80-90 volunteers to help set up, squeeze orange juice, serve food and beverages and tear down. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Ericka Pullen at epullen@meccaia.com or call 319-351-4357.
Don't miss this fun and exciting Iowa City tradition...a great opportunity to support a local cause!
*UAY Festival of Flowers
United Action for Youth is holding its annual Festival of Flowers Thursday, June 3 from 5:30-8 PM at Brown Deer Country Club in Coralville.
Admission is $25; see www.unitedactionforyouth.org for more information.
*DID YOU KNOW? It is estimated that we need another 13 million acres of farmland growing fruits and vegetables just for Americans to meet the minimum daily requirement of fruits and vegetables set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Source: American Farmland Trust.)
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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