Rod Sullivan, Supervisor, Johnson County, Iowa

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SULLIVAN'S SALVOS

December 26, 2014

Sullivan’s Salvos     12/30/14




In this edition:


*Happy New Year!
*RIP Don Saxton
*No Room At The Inn?
*Salvos Salutes!
*Did You Know?




*Happy New Year!
         Happy New Year to all Salvos readers! I hope you and your loved ones enjoy a wonderful 2015!




*RIP Don Saxton
         Former Oxford Mayor Don Saxton recently passed away after a sudden illness.

         Don was honored with a Salvos Salute in 2013, at which time I wrote the following:

         Four generations of Oxford residents know Don as Mr. Mayor. He did it all – from stray dogs to natural disasters and everything in between. No Mayor volunteered more time on Boards and Commissions. Don decided to hang it up after 44 years, and he leaves a small city as well managed as any in the County.

         Don Saxton was truly a wonderful man. My condolences to his family and friends.




*No Room At The Inn?
This past Tuesday Johnson County voted 5-0 to approve $16,000 toward the new Shelter House-led effort to create a temporary "wet shelter" in Iowa City.

I am very proud of this long-overdue effort. We have needed such a space for decades. Now we need to ensure the long-term existence of such a shelter into the future.

While I certainly recognize that not all who read this are Christians, I cannot help but find a parallel between those objecting to this shelter and the folks who told Joseph and Mary there was no room at the inn.

"That which you do to the least among us, you do to me. " - Matthew 25.




*Salvos Salutes!
2014 is coming to a close, and it is time for honoring a few select Johnson County residents with that most treasured of honors, the Salvos Salute. A few observations:

* This is the ninth annual set of awards, and there are always more people who deserve awards than there are awards to give. We live in a great County!

* The focus is on Johnson County. It is certainly worth noting the heroism of someone like Malala Yousafzai, or Ebola healthcare providers. But we have everyday heroes right here in Johnson County that deserve a shout out.

* There are some people out there that could win every year. I am trying to honor different folks, but repeat winners are not out of the question.

* Salvos Salutes do not have specific criteria, but you can bet that in general, most of the winners are courageous, advocate for peace and justice, have good ideas, speak truth to power, avoid hypocrisy, and look out for the less fortunate.

Without further adieu, your 2014 Salvos Salutes go to:


Karla Miller: The retired Director of the Rape Victim Advocacy Program (RVAP), Karla has spent a lifetime serving victims. Her calm demeanor can fool you; Karla is a fierce advocate! Public understanding of rape has come a long way since the 1980s, and while we have a long way to go, pioneers like Karla have led the change.


Robin Hepker: Look at the brochures, logos, and other materials for any local nonprofit. Odds are good the work was done at no or low cost by Robyn Hepker. As the principal in an award-winning local design firm, Robyn could earn a lot more for her valuable time. But she chooses to donate this huge amount of work because she cares deeply about our community.


Joyce Berg: Johnson County has a magnificent partnership with the UI Tippe College of Business that enlists students as volunteers to do taxes for low-income residents. The program brings over $1.5 million to our poorest residents each year, but it would not happen without the commitment of Joyce Berg. Each year obstacles crop up, and each year Joyce sees to it that those obstacles are overcome.


Bob Downer: Iowa City attorney Bob Downer achieves the rarest of honors, earning his second Salvos Salute. This award is specifically for Bob’s work on the Iowa Board of Regents. In an environment that has become very reactive, Bob continues to advocate for calm, well-reasoned, data driven decisions. The next couple decades of the UI are at stake, and we need leaders to get us through the storm! We are very fortunate to have Bob on the Board at this time!


Royceann Porter: A black kid got in trouble at West High? Call Royceann. A black woman had a problem with a store in Coralville? Call Royceann. No matter the issue, Royceann Porter has become the “go-to” person for the local African American community. The community is too large and diverse to have a single spokesperson, but Royceann is widely respected as a problem solver. Understand – this is a tremendous weight to place on one woman’s shoulders! But Royceann has proven herself to be up to the task.


Tracy Mulcahey: North Liberty is bursting at the seams with children, many of whom are poor and lack transportation. As people fretted over how these kids would spend the summer, Assistant City Manager Tracy Mulcahey simply took the bull by the horns and created a free summer lunch program. At virtually zero cost to local taxpayers, hundreds of meals got served. And Tracy did it all, from securing donations to cooking chicken to washing dishes.


Ginny Naso: After retiring from United Action for Youth (UAY) after many years, Scoop should have some time on her hands. My guess is that she spends much of it the same way she always has - advocating for children in need. Thanks for all your good work, Ginny!


Chris Buresh: UIHC Physician and Coralville resident Chris Buresh cofounded Community Health Initiatives (CHI) Haiti, and has led dozens of trips to the country. Dr. Buresh combines public health best practices with dogged determination to accomplish amazing things. Even more importantly, he leads CHI with deep respect and compassion for the Haitian people. This is NOT “charity” as you know it; this is an organization actually empowering the poorest people in the Western Hemisphere. Chris – there are no words. You, sir, are a true hero!


Warren McKenna: Where would you find THE leader in solar energy in the Midwest? Look no farther than Farmers Rural Electric Coop in Frytown, Iowa! General Manager Warren McKenna has added Iowa’s largest solar array to go with all kinds of wind and conservation efforts. We have seen the future of energy, and it is in Frytown!


Amy Nielsen: The former Mayor of North Liberty insulted Amy by telling her she was “completely unqualified” to serve on the City Council. So she ran for Mayor and beat him. North Liberty is full of young families, who now have a voice on the city council. And make no mistake – Amy is not only qualified; she is good!


Chris Taylor: Another new Mayor, the young Mr. Taylor took the reigns in Swisher after both the Mayor and Clerk resigned. Chris stepped in and righted the ship, and never looked back. He has demonstrated a sharp mind and a caring heart, and it appears Swisher is in good hands for years to come.


Sally Scott: There is greater momentum for affordable housing than at any time in my memory, and much of the credit for this is due to Sally Scott. She led the charge in creating the Affordable Homes Coalition, which is appropriately asking elected officials to step up in our most critical area of need. A calm and thoughtful leader, I expect big things in the future from Ms. Scott!


John Etheredge: See last week’s Salvos for a longer write up on my friend and colleague John.


Tom Larkin: While Senator Harkin has rightfully received many accolades for his years of service, kudos are also due to his loyal staff person Tom Larkin. Coralville resident Larkin has been the local face of the Senator for years, assisting Johnson County residents with federal issues. Tom is a great guy, and he will be missed!


BJ Sullivan: This one is my favorite ever! Like every high school senior, his relationship with his Dad can be strained at times. No time for family dinners, lots of eye rolling – you know the drill. But BJ has had to overcome a lot in a short life – more than most of us can even dream about. He is a survivor and a champion. And when I see my son in the community - working multiple jobs, standing up for the rights of others, volunteering at local nonprofits, organizing fundraisers, taking mission trips, working with elementary students, caring for senior citizens…damn, I’m proud! I love you, BJ! Now clean your room!


Congratulations to all our winners! I look forward to all the great things you’ll accomplish in 2015!




*DID YOU KNOW?  117 individuals/groups have received a Salvos Salute since they were started in 2006.



Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-

"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






December 19, 2014

Sullivan’s Salvos     12/23/14




In this edition:


*Merry Christmas!
*Holiday Office Schedule
*Salvos Salutes Next Week!
*Iowa City Charter
*John Etheredge
*Did You Know?




*Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate it. I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday!




*Holiday Office Schedule
         A quick note on the Johnson County schedule for the holidays – administrative offices will be open on Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve), but then closed on Thursday the 25th (Christmas) and Friday the 26th.

         Offices will be open on Wednesday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve), closed Thursday, January 1st (New Year’s Day), and open again on Friday, January 2nd.

         As always, the Sheriff’s Office, 911 dispatch, Medical Examiner’s Office, and Ambulance service will be running 24/7/365.




*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!




Iowa City Charter
The Iowa City Charter Review Commission has been appointed by the City Council to review the Iowa City Charter. Pursuant to the existing Charter, amendments recommended by the Commission must either be adopted by the City Council or placed on a ballot for consideration by Iowa City voters. A community discussion on potential Charter amendments will be held Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, at 6 p.m., in Room A of the Iowa City Public Library (123 S. Linn St.).

In the first part of the meeting the specific issues to be discussed include:

(1) Election of Mayor - The Mayor is currently selected for a two-year term by a majority vote of the City Council members. Assuming the Mayor's powers and responsibilities remain largely the same, should the Mayor instead be directly elected for a four-year term by a majority vote of the citizens? This would require one of the at-large council positions to be designated as the Mayor's slot.

(2) District Representation - Currently there are three district Council Members and four at-large Council Members. In a primary election, only voters from within that district participate. In the general election for those district seats all Iowa City voters may participate. Should the district Council Members be elected only by the voters within the applicable district?

(3) Initiative/Referendum - requirement for qualified versus eligible. The City Charter allows individuals to submit initiative and referendum petitions to the City Council. When presented to Council those petitions must either be adopted by Council or submitted to the voters for consideration. Currently individuals are required to be "qualified electors" (registered to voter) to sign such petitions. Should the Charter be amended to allow "eligible electors" (persons eligible to register to vote) to sign such petitions?

(4) Council Compensation - Currently the Charter requires that Council set its compensation by ordinance, and the present annual salary for the Mayor is $8,070 and Council Members $7,072. Some have argued that this salary discourages some people from running for City Council. Should the Charter require a higher level of compensation for Council Members and the Mayor to better reflect the time required to serve in those positions?

In the second part of the meeting the public may raise any other issues relevant to the Charter. The Charter Review Commission invites everyone to be a part of this public discussion. Additional information can be found on the City website at www.icgov.org/citycharter.




*John Etheredge
         December 31st marks the last day in office for Supervisor John Etheredge, and I wanted to take a few moments to share my thoughts on my colleague.

         As you probably know, John was the first Republican elected to the Board since 1958. He had run for the Board as an independent in 2012, but the campaign was pretty amateurish. I overheard media folks wondering if John was even a real person, because they couldn’t reach him! I never even met him during the course of the campaign, which was a first for me.

John decided to run again, this time as a Republican, for the opening created by Sally Stutsman’s election to the Iowa House. Most observers noted that his March 5, 2013 election was literally and figuratively a “perfect storm” – voters were worn out from the 2012 Presidential election; local Democrats were complacent, while the local GOP worked very hard; and 6 inches of snow the night before the election closed every school in the county, dramatically driving down turnout (to about 6%). Add all those factors together, and John squeaked past Democrat Terry Dahms by just 193 votes.

         No one knew quite what to expect when John took office – particularly John! I think he would agree that he was quite naïve at first. For people who had been accustomed to Supervisor Stutsman’s mastery of all things county, this was a BIG change!

         Then there were some early votes. John had campaigned on property rights, but voted against Sharon Dooley’s property rights. He voted against resolutions supporting Earth Day and LGBTQ Pride Month. Followers of county government were expecting 18 months of fireworks.

         But that never materialized. I think there are several reasons for this. First, John was never well connected to the local Republican Party. (Remember, he had run as an independent in ’12.) I was shocked to learn that after a full year in office, he had never even met some of the real stalwarts of the local GOP. Letters to the editor often quickly demonstrated that the writer did not know John. John was never really engaged in the party, so he never really engaged in party politics. He had plenty of opportunities, but he never did so.

         Here is an example: if one were a calloused political player, they would have advised John to vote against the budget no matter what. Just sit back and claim the other Supervisors are “tax and spend liberals.” But John never did that. In fact, he supported GREATER spending in some areas than I did! More importantly, he recognized that the whole budget process had been a series of compromises, and to vote “no” after securing those compromises would have been dirty pool. John refused to play that game.

         Secondly, John worked incredibly hard to get up to speed. He is bright, and picks things up quickly. He asked a lot of questions, and did a lot of studying. I am impressed by the strides he made in just a few months.

         John was also much more open-minded than I had anticipated him being. (That was clearly my error!) He would listen to both sides, and he often came around to what would be considered the “progressive” view of a given issue. When he didn’t, he usually had his reasons.

         Finally, and most importantly, John is a wonderful human being. We do not agree on all the political issues of the day; we may not even agree on half. But give me a colleague who is honest, trustworthy, loyal, sincere, kind, considerate, thoughtful, and modest ANY DAY! I found working with John to be a real pleasure, and I am going to miss him!

         Our potlucks will definitely go downhill; John is a GREAT cook, and makes an amazing cheesecake! It was also fun working with someone so young (John is only 30), and who has such a great sense of humor. And it was touching to watch John become a new father. I am really glad I got to be around for that.

         If you are reading this and have some kind of a job opening – I honestly don’t know how you could do better than hiring John Etheredge. He is one of the finest young men I know. Please give him due consideration – he would be a real asset to any organization!

         Meanwhile, good luck, John, on your future endeavors. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to serve with you!




*DID YOU KNOW?  Elected at age 29, John Etherege is believed to have been the youngest Supervisor in Johnson County history.



Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-

"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     12/16/14




In this edition:


*Hard Times
*Diversity Policy
*Free Speech Issues, Part 1
*Free Speech Issues, Part 2
*Income Tax Cuts
*Did You Know?




*Hard Times
         Do you feel it? I do. The world feels as though it is spinning out of control. Everyone is on edge. No one feels good about things.

         The easy thing to do is blame President Obama. (I happen to believe that is wrong.) The hard thing to do is for each of us to look at our own behaviors. What do we do (or fail to do) that might be contributing to the angst that we all feel? Can each of us be a little better? Can each of us do a little more?

         I am going to try. I hope you will join me.




*Diversity Policy
         The ICCSD Diversity Policy (DP) has been quite the story. Written and passed through unusual circumstances, undermined at every turn – the DP has shone a light on the ICCSD. Unfortunately, what we see in that light is quite unflattering.

         Now the US Department of Agriculture has determined that the ICCSD may not use free and reduced lunch (FRL) rates as a measure in the DP. This despite the fact that many other districts do so, State law expressly allows such an action, and the ICCSD’s own attorney felt the policy complied with all applicable laws.

         So where do we go from here? Proponents of the DP are crying foul. Opponents of the DP are clicking their wine glasses. Neither reaction helps the poorest kids in our District.

         I ask every ICCSD Board member and every ICCSD administrator – what action do you suggest we take? I do not care what you oppose. I want to know what you are FOR. I do not accept doing nothing. It is time to act! The poorest kids in our District deserve action!




*Free Speech Issues, Part 1:
         A local artist created a piece of work that used old newspaper reports of racial wrongdoing, and fashioned it into a life-sized replica of a hooded KKK member. This piece of art was then displayed on the Pentacrest (without UI permission) and later removed.

         Let me be clear – this “artist” clearly doesn’t get it. He says he was well intentioned, and there is no reason to doubt him. But his piece traumatized many people. This was dumb, dumb, dumb. Then he exacerbated the situation by claiming HIS “feelings were hurt.” There are no words to describe the lack of awareness demonstrated by this guy!

         My biggest problem, however, was with the response of the UI. The UI removed the installation, noting that the artist lacked a permit. That is fine; the UI has the right to set those terms. But the response gave the impression that the UI would have otherwise censored the piece based on content. I have trouble with that.

         As for the head of the Journalism School endorsing laws that prohibit “offensive” speech? Well, he succeeded in offending me deeply! His comments trouble me greatly, and cause me to fear for the young people educated at my alma mater.

         It is not that far a stretch to the place where all protests are banned on the UI campus because they lack permits. Did you realize that is ALREADY the case in the Iowa City Ped Mall? You heard that correctly! You need a “permit” to peaceably gather in the Ped Mall! That should give us all pause.

         If you read Salvos, you know that I recently received a piece of hate mail. I recognize that my own feelings do not even begin to compare to those of an African American young person confronted by the KKK image. I can only speak for myself – a white guy who benefits from white privilege. But you know what? I would hate to see the guy that wrote to me lose his right to speak.

         Don’t get me wrong – I think the anonymous letter writer is an ass. And there is a part of me that wants to punch him in the nose. But the world would be a worse place if his speech were muzzled. I would much rather win the battle in the marketplace of free ideas.

         Yes, inequities in power exist. How are those inequities best addressed? Through freedom of speech! If oppressed groups do not have free speech, they cannot fight back. There is NO more important tool for marginalized groups!

I take freedom of speech seriously. We all should. If you expect it to be there when you need it, you must fight for it every day.




*Free Speech Issues, Part 2:
         You may recall that back in 2007, members of the Westboro Baptist Church trampled, burned, and spat upon American flags as part of demonstrations at the funerals of two Iowa soldiers.

A federal judge in Des Moines recently upheld the right of the church members to do these things, noting the actions were protected free speech. State Representative Bobby Kauffman has stated that he plans to lead the charge for a state law to prohibit this act.

         Kauffman notes that, “the magnitude of disgust and anger I feel about this cannot be put into words.” I am in 100% agreement with Representative Kauffman’s feelings. And I could not disagree more with his proposal.

         The First Amendment protects flag desecration. Many courts have ruled on this many times. It does not matter that we find the behavior abhorrent; it is protected.

         I am not an “absolutist”. For one, I have found that being an absolutist on ANY issue is typically unwise. But more importantly, I recognize that there are rare instances where words can do very real harm. Protests of this type have never been viewed as rising to this level of harm. And maintaining that standard of harm is important…if the government decides one type of protest is illegal, but not harmful, what about the next type of protest? What about YOUR type of protest?

         Representative Kauffman noted that “100%” of his constituents who had corresponded with him on the issue felt a change to the law was in order. To me, that only serves to reinforce the First Amendment. We do not decide what speech is legal based upon popularity.

         And I know I am losing the political battle. Using your weekly newsletter to defend the KKK and flag burners is not a winning political strategy. But this is not about politics. It is about the Constitution.

         Representative Kauffman and I agree on many things; we disagree on several others. I know I would not like having anyone deciding what I can say or do. My guess is that he would not appreciate it, either.




*Income Tax Cuts
Less than a year after selling out local governments by supporting the biggest property tax cut in Iowa history, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal has told the Iowa Taxpayers Association that he favors cuts to Iowa’s income taxes.

This man MUST go! Democrats statewide heard a lot about the importance of keeping the Senate in Democratic hands. Why? So Gronstal can gut state government?

K-12 schools need money. The court system needs money. Medicaid needs money. Human Services needs money. Our universities and community colleges need money. Public safety needs money. Public health needs money. The mental health system needs money. State government is in jeopardy of failing its citizens – particularly its most vulnerable citizens. Iowa cannot afford greater disinvestment in government!

As commodity prices have slipped, farm incomes are down. The state is not going to meet its projected income targets. And if you make this cut, it WILL BE PERMANENT! No future Legislature will ever be able to raise taxes to make it up.

There is no way to support this cut AND support the UI. There is no way to support this cut AND support AFSCME. There is no way to support this cut AND support better mental health care. This proposal HURTS IOWANS!

Mike Gronstal has chosen to put his personal love of “deal making” ahead of the needs of Iowans. He has forgotten that government is not the enemy. He has forgotten about the most vulnerable Iowans. It is time for new leadership! Gronstal must go!




*DID YOU KNOW?  The text of the First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.



Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-

"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






December 5, 2014

Sullivan’s Salvos     12/9/14




In this edition:


*Reader Feedback
*White Privilege
*City of Literature
*Did You Know?




*Reader Feedback
         I write Salvos every week. There is really no such thing as a “typical” week, but I probably average 5-10 responses per edition. Sometimes readers agree with me, and sometimes they disagree. Then there are these…

         I got a handwritten response in the mail on Tuesday, December 2nd, and I felt it was worth sharing. I have copied it in quotes verbatim below, including any errors in capitalization, spelling or punctuation.

         “Hello- read you Sullivan’s Salvos a while ago. You obviously have no idea what is going on in IC. People like you are turning IC into ghetto.
If you think we need a new jail, put a fence around broadway. Move some of this black trash into your house, or Karen Kubbys.
Do you know the caseys in SE Iowa City was robbed before it was even open?
         Wait until they break into your house.”

         The letter was unsigned. The return address area of the envelope read, “no return address for fear of reprisal from heroin crazed negroes”

         Yeah. It is rare, but I have received letters like this before. Sometimes they are more personal – this writer appears to know nothing about my kids.

         So why do I share this? Because the public needs to know what goes on in our county. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. What’s more, people need to understand that silence can be deafening. We must not be afraid to call for diversity in our schools, neighborhoods, and places of employment. If we don’t, the type of fear demonstrated in the letter wins out.

         At last Thursday’s Board meeting, I replaced my nameplate with a sign that said, “Black lives matter!” In the big scheme of things, this action does not amount to much. But it does clearly state my concern.

         If you share my concerns, I urge you to do something this week that demonstrates your feelings. If you feel differently than I, say that. And if you are going to write me with your opinions, please have the guts to sign your name.




*White Privilege
         The verdict in Ferguson, Missouri has resulted in many well-meaning experts explaining the idea of “white privilege” to the masses. This is not working particularly well, and I think I know why.

         First, a bit of background: According to Wikipedia, white privilege is a term for societal privileges that benefit white people beyond what is commonly experienced by non-white people under the same social, political, or economic circumstances. These privileges are unearned and are distributed based on values of the dominant group.

         So for starters, we have a wordy definition. In short, it means whites enjoy certain advantages just for being white. I think examples help.

One major example is that police stop blacks at much higher percentages than whites. (This is often referred to as “driving while black”.) Black people get followed around in stores more frequently than do whites. Black children end up in special ed and “behavioral” classrooms in much higher percentages than whites. Even little things like the color of “flesh colored” band-aids serve to illustrate the point. There are many other examples related to criminal justice, passing wealth through generations, employment, academia, housing, and virtually every other aspect of our lives.

         Yet many people (mostly white) deny that white privilege even exists. Here is where my theory comes into play.

         I think many people are hurting in our world. Instead of sharing in the economic gains of the past 6 years, they rightfully feel they have lost ground. The American Dream – home ownership, two cars, three weeks vacation, free health insurance, putting the kids through college, secure retirement at 65, a little money “just in case” – that life no longer exists for most Americans.

         So try telling these folks they are “privileged”. They certainly do not FEEL privileged – far from it! They live lives full of stress every day. How can that possibly be a life of “privilege”?

         And when we feel this way, we look for someone to blame. Unfortunately, instead of looking toward the 1% that run things, we tend to blame folks who look or speak differently than us.

         Perhaps this very real phenomenon of white privilege needs a new name. Because struggling whites resent being told they are “privileged” – even when it is true.

         I did some searching, and I am not the first person to have these thoughts. Here are a few excellent reads:

*occupywallstreet.net/story/explaining-white-privilege-broke-white-person
*www.theroot.com/articles/white_privilege_extends_to_the_poor.html
*http://www.thenation.com/blog/179989/what-white-privilege-looks-when-youre-poor

         When resources are scarce, people tend to view others as the competition – “we” becomes “us and them.” Obviously, that type of divisiveness works wonders for the 1%. It is a simple, time-honored strategy – divide and conquer. I sincerely hope that we can build a coalition that understands we must all work together to seize power from the 1%.




*City of Literature
         Iowa City was bestowed with an honor in 2008 that does not generate the civic pride it should. In November of that year, Iowa City was designated as a “United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) City of Literature.” Iowa City was only the third city in the world to receive such a designation.

In response to this prestigious award, a 501C.3 nonprofit organization was formed to assist in maintaining and building upon these literary traditions. Known as the City of Literature, this organization has grown to fill an important niche in the cultural affairs of our area. I have had the distinct privilege of serving on the City of Literature Board since its’ inception.

         Unfortunately, I am going off that Board as of January. It has really been cool to be involved in this endeavor. I simply love living in a place where – as local poet Marvin Bell said so well – “words have dirt on their shoes.”

         I urge you to visit the City of Literature website at http://cityofliteratureusa.org. Find something that interests you, and get involved. Thank you, City of Literature – it has been a blast!




*DID YOU KNOW?  Johnson County is about 6% Asian, 6% Hispanic, and 6% African American. (Source: US Census Bureau.)



Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-

"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