SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
December 20, 2013
Sullivan’s
Salvos 12/24/13
In this edition:
*Merry Christmas!
*Salvos Salutes Next Week!
*1105 Project
*Chamber of Commerce
*Did You Know?
*Merry Christmas!
Merry
Christmas to those of you who celebrate it. I hope you all have a safe and
happy holiday!
*Salvos Salutes Next Week!
We
live in a GREAT county! Why? Because of the great people that live here.
Unfortunately, we rarely do enough to acknowledge these wonderful people and
the wonderful things they do.
That
is why I really look forward to Salvos Salutes. It provides an opportunity to
mention just a few of these cool people and the good things they do. I hope you
look forward to it as well!
*1105 Project
Hopefully
all Salvos readers have heard of the 1105 Project. (See Salvos, 2/21/12.) This
cooperative effort between the Crisis Center, DVIP, Free Lunch, and NAMI came
about after Crisis Center Director Becci Reedus asked a couple County
Supervisors for a parking easement. A few meetings later, she had land and a
building valued at $600,000 for only $1.
Now
Coralville has joined the fray, with a generous donation of $10,000 per year
for 5 years. It is great to see Coralville step up; I hope other municipalities
will do the same. Special thanks to Coralville Councilors Mitch Gross and Jill
Dodds, who led the charge.
You
can do your part as an individual donor, too! See http://the1105project.com for
more information.
*Chamber of Commerce
Because
of the huge commercial tax cuts that went into effect last year, Johnson County
is looking for ways to cut the budget. I have a great idea – I think we should
drop our Chamber of Commerce membership.
On
a national level, the US Chamber of Commerce has become one of the most right
wing, anti-tax, anti-worker organizations on the planet. Local leaders
recognized this some time ago, and chose not to “affiliate” with the national
group. The argument has always been that since the local Chamber of Commerce is
not affiliated with the national Chamber of Commerce, we are not like them. But
I fail to see any meaningful differences in the positions they are taking.
The
local Chamber is anti-tax, anti-government, anti-regulation, anti-union,
anti-health care, anti-environment, and anti-poor people. Just like their big
brothers in DC, they are parroting every right wing line. Heck, they even take
stands that hurt businesses when ideology gets in the way!
I
can already hear the response: they will claim I am “spreading lies” about the
Chamber. They need to consult one of their members that is a corporate attorney.
Truth is an absolute defense for slander and libel.
They
will claim they are not anti-poor. Let’s examine the facts. The Chamber takes
credit for fighting inclusionary zoning, which would lead to more affordable
housing. They take credit for fighting “regulations” that would give sick leave
and health insurance to low income workers. They fight an increased minimum
wage. They support local union busting efforts. They want “entitlement reform”.
Oh,
but that is not all. The local Chamber takes FULL credit for last years’
commercial tax cuts, the largest in Iowa’s history. What do these commercial
tax cuts mean?
The
commercial tax cuts mean people that own apartment buildings pay half the taxes
they used to. Has this led to the promised reduction in rents? Of course not –
just like I GUARANTEED you last year! The commercial tax cuts mean people that
own mobile home courts pay half the taxes they used to. Has this led to the
promised reduction in lot rents? Of course not – just like I GUARANTEED you
last year! The commercial tax cuts mean people that own nursing homes pay half
the taxes they used to. Has this led to the promised reduction in fees? Of
course not – just like I GUARANTEED you last year!
The
commercial tax cuts have even deeper effects on the poor. Because the
commercial tax cuts are negatively affecting governmental revenues, local
governments have to cut programs that assist the poor. Recent examples – Iowa
City just cut two housing workers. SEATS services have been cut.
The Crisis Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Free Med, Domestic
Violence Intervention Program, Neighborhood Centers, UAY, and many other
nonprofits now face funding cuts. Brought to you by the local Chamber of
Commerce. (Ironically, I’ll bet a number of those organizations are dues-paying
Chamber members.)
So
yes, the local Chamber has aligned itself squarely against the poor people of
this community. This is not arguable – it is simply fact.
I
understand that the local Chamber is probably struggling to find its niche. The
Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD) does a great job of economic
development. The Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors’ Bureau does
a great job with all things tourism and promotion. The Corridor Business
Journal has filled the small window of opportunity open to the Chamber. (Which
is a bit ironic. It is almost as if the CBJ has privatized the Chamber’s role
as cheerleader for business in the community!)
There are still other reasons to oppose the direction the local
Chamber has taken. Take our primary economic engine, for example. The
University of Iowa drives our local economy. Nothing else comes even close. The
UI is a GOVERNMENTAL institution. The UI is TAX SUPPORTED. That does not stop
this Chamber. They will lobby for positions that harm our economic engine. They
informally recruit and support the candidates who vote AGAINST the UI at every
turn. (I wish the UI would pull their support, but that is just wishful
thinking.)
Sure, the Chamber is going to reply that they do not
endorse/support candidates for elective office. Right. EVERY election you can
identify the “Chamber candidates”. They are typically referred to in the
community as the “Chamber candidates”. They often refer to themselves as
“Chamber candidates”. But they will be shocked – SHOCKED! – that I would say
such a thing!
Similarly,
the local Chamber has an education committee. Why? All the policies and
politicians they support vote against public education. Ask the Chamber how they
feel about helping the ICEA (teacher’s union) do some lobbying for increased
teacher pay. Ain’t gonna happen. Because the local Chamber has decided to
become the enemy of everything that is progressive.
It did not used to be this way. The Chamber has always represented
business interests, but they also represented the community in which they are
located. We used to be able to find areas of agreement, and things we could
work on together. Those days are gone. You now have a local version of the US
Chamber of Commerce hiding behind a train. They are hurting this community, and
they need to look in a mirror. They need to stop.
Despite the archconservative stances being taken by the local
Chamber, I know that very few elected Democrats will publicly agree with me.
This is easily explained – the Chamber staff is friendly, charming, and
intelligent. They are very easy to like. In addition, the Chamber is perceived
as quite powerful, and no one wants to cross them. So the odds are quite good
that I’ll go this one alone. That does not mean I’m wrong.
Similarly, I guarantee you I’ll take more grief over writing this
than the Chamber will for actually DOING the things I about which I write. Most
people would prefer to shoot the messenger than confront the facts. Those folks
simply need to think back to the old United Mine Worker’s anthem, and remember “Which
Side Are You On?”
I cannot in good consciousness support an organization that is so
philosophically opposed to everything I believe. If you happen to share my
feelings, I hope you will join me. And let’s hope that this organization comes
to its’ senses.
*DID YOU KNOW?
93% of Americans say they exchange gifts on Christmas. This occurs
despite the fact that only 75% of Americans describe themselves as Christian.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
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Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief
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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 @ 10:28 PM
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