rodsullivan.org
SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
May 29, 2015
Sullivan’s
Salvos 6/2/15
In this edition:
*Iowa City Council Procedures
*Representing Iowa City
*Quality of Life Event
*THINK Before You Speak!
*Did You Know?
*Iowa City Council Procedures
I
wrote a while ago about the Charter Review process happening right now in Iowa
City. The Charter Review Commission recommended some changes to the structure
of Iowa City government. But nothing earth shattering. (In the interest of full
disclosure, I applied to serve on the Charter Review Commission in ’94, ’04,
and ’14. I have received zero votes so far. I plan on applying in ’24 as well.)
That should not deter supporters of improved governance, however.
There are several other ways of doing business that need a change, and do not
require a commission. Following are just a few:
1.) Hold informal meetings immediately
after formal meetings. The way things work now, informal meetings are held
immediately prior to formal meetings. Informal meetings are critical – this is
where city staff make their recommendations, 99% of which are followed. So
under the current system, items are introduced and voted upon on the same
evening. If a council member wanted to do her own research, there is no
opportunity. If the public wanted to weigh in, there is no opportunity. By
reversing this order, the public gets two weeks to weigh in, and the council
gets two weeks to hear from folks. This CAN be done; Johnson County does it
now.
2.) Broadcast informal meetings. We
already noted that these meetings are really where information is shared and
decisions are made. This process SHOULD be as public as possible. So why not
put it on TV for all to see? The only reason I’ve ever been given is that
councilors will not want to appear uninformed, so they won’t ask questions. That
may be the single worst reason I have ever been given for any policy, but there
you go. Again, this CAN be done; Johnson County does it now.
3.) Allow public discussion at informal
meetings. Contrary to what council members and staff would have you believe,
there is no legal prohibition on public comment at these meetings. The council
can set any parameters on public comment it wishes. The council can determine
the number of speakers, length of time each speaks, total comment time – it can
do anything it wishes. The law allows many different approaches. You CAN allow
public comment. Again, this CAN be done; Johnson County does it now.
There
is no compelling reason for the way Iowa City currently handles these matters.
All three of these procedures are the classic “that is the way we’ve always
done it.” That is not a good enough reason for skirting democracy.
Each of these simple changes is cheap, efficient, and friendlier
toward democracy. None would require anything beyond a vote of the council.
I am hoping to introduce these ideas into the 2015 Iowa City
Council election; I hope you will assist me. Let’s get every candidate to
pledge to make these changes, and open up Iowa City government.
*Representing Iowa City
I
have gotten a bit of feedback from folks who get indignant that I would comment
on anything related to Iowa City government. “You don’t represent Iowa City,” I
was told. Obviously, I disagree with this for several reasons:
First,
I can comment because our Constitution affords me freedom of speech. Secondly,
I live in Iowa City. Thirdly, even if I didn’t live there, how Iowa City
operates has a big impact on my job. Fourthly, I actually DO – literally -
represent “Iowa City”.
That
got me thinking, so I did some quick research. I have run for office 6 times –
3 Democratic Primaries, and 3 General Elections. I added up the Iowa City vote
totals for those elections, and it totals just a touch above 85,000.
A
heavy turnout election in an Iowa City Council Election will see the winner get
5,000 votes. In other words, the Iowa City officials who think I “don’t
represent Iowa City” would need to run and win 17 elections to get the same
number of votes from Iowa City residents.
So
while it is true I routinely get few votes from Iowa City Council members, the
rest of the people of Iowa City seem to feel differently.
*Quality of Life Event
The
Johnson County Board of Supervisors cordially invites you to its third annual
event: “Enhancing Quality of Life in Johnson County: A Celebration of Community
Partners” Monday, June 8 at the Johnson County Health and Human Services
Building. A reception with light refreshments starts at 4:30 pm with a short
program at 5:00.
Please
join the Johnson County Board of Supervisors in recognizing and thanking the
organizations that receive a grant of county funds. The impact those
organizations make on the people of Johnson County is a significant contributor
to our community’s quality of life.
Please
contact Mickey Miller, grants and communications specialist, at 319-356-6000 or
mmiller@co.johnson.ia.us if you have any questions. We look forward to
seeing you!
*THINK Before You Speak!
I
found the following on Facebook a while ago, and I really like it. I have
reposted it there, and I thought I’d share it here:
"Remember T.H.I.N.K. before you speak. Is it true? Is it
helpful? Is it inspiring? Is it necessary? Is it kind?"
Unfortunately, lots
of people I deal with do not observe these rules. I cannot control what they
do, but I promise to try to do better myself.
*DID YOU KNOW?
Johnson County contributes over $1.2 million in block grants each year.
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
May 22, 2015
Sullivan’s
Salvos 5/26/15
In this edition:
*Bernie Sanders in Iowa City
*Cameras
*Juvenile Justice Youth Development
*Public Health Survey
*”Knowing What We Know Now”
*Did You Know?
*Bernie Sanders in Iowa City
Vermont
Senator and Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders will be making an appearance
in Iowa City!
Senator
Sanders will appear at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center in Iowa City on
Saturday, May 30 at 10 AM. The event is free and open to the public, but
seating will be limited.
I
am going to have the honor of introducing Senator Sanders. I am excited to hear
what he has to say! I hope you are, too!
*Cameras
The
Board of Supervisors and Sheriff’s Office have had some discussions recently
about the use of cameras. Some have advocated for speed cameras. Some Sups have
advocated for cameras that monitor the Admin Building. Some want new cameras in
the Courthouse and Jail. We have cameras that monitor ballots. We have
dashboard cameras in squad cars, and cameras in SEATS busses. Personally, I am
excited about the proposition of body cameras on our officers.
So
is one use of cameras good, and all others bad? That seems to be the opinion of
some folks, but I tend to disagree. In each case, people out in the public are
being filmed. One may argue that this is all good or all bad, but I fail to see
how one set of cameras is morally superior to another. Everybody hates having
the camera on them, and everybody loves the camera when it catches the person
who harmed them. As a public, and often as individuals, we are pretty
inconsistent in our feelings on surveillance.
In
my mind, the key to all of this is good policies. We need to take feedback from
experts, users, privacy advocates, unions, the public, etc. and incorporate
that feedback into our policies. And we need to be willing to revisit the
policies if something is not working.
Trust
me, coming up with policies will not be easy. Say an officer gets video of a
man sexually abusing a woman. Is that video now public record? Does the victim
get any say?
What
if an officer does not turn the camera on? Should she be disciplined? How long
must video be maintained? Who gets access to review it? Can it be copied? Who
gets to edit it? And how much will all this cost? All these questions deserve
careful consideration.
Now
is the time. Some cameras are already in use. Others are on the way. Let’s get
this right.
*Juvenile Justice Youth Development
Johnson
County has a long tradition of supporting Juvenile Justice and Youth
Development (JJYD). It all began roughly 20 years ago when Jim Swaim, then the
Director of UAY, secured a large federal grant that required a local match of
$200,000. Johnson County set up an advisory group, and provided the match for
the duration of the grant. The federal money disappeared about ten years ago,
but the advisory group lives on, and Johnson County has continued to provide
$200,000 annually toward JJYD programming.
I
happen to believe this $200,000 investment makes a lot of sense. If a child
ends up in detention services, the county is on the hook for about $275 per
day. I would much rather spend money attempting to prevent a child from getting
to detention.
Additionally,
there is quite a bit of evidence that shows these investments work. Johnson
County has much lower rates of detention use than other counties our size, and
juvenile crime rates are better as well. I believe at least part of this is our
JJYD investment.
Recently,
local child service providers, community members, County staff, and County
Supervisors came together to discuss the ways in which this $200,000 ought to
be spent. Obviously, reasonable people can disagree.
I
just hope that we choose to go down a path that values the input of child
service providers. These folks are our partners. They are also experts. If we
need to make a decision on a car, we tend to ask mechanics for advice. If we
need to make a decision on our health, we go to a doctor for advice. Legal
question? Consult a lawyer. I would like to see our partner child service
agencies viewed as possessing this same level of expertise. Because they do.
Does
this mean I feel we should do whatever the child service providers want? Of
course not. Our job is to provide oversight, and I’ll do that. But I think it
would be a huge mistake to ignore the expertise available in our community.
These folks care deeply for our children – I want to know what they think!
Most
importantly, I am extremely pleased that we decided to not only maintain but
increase the $200,000 commitment going forward. As Supervisor Rettig pointed
out, we can demonstrate that the program is saving money. Why not roll some of
those savings into a larger investment? I think JJYD has been a positive
investment on your behalf, and I think a larger investment will be even better.
*Public Health Survey
Johnson
County Public Health is involved in a Community Health Needs Assessment. This information
will be used to help Johnson County Public Health to identify and address the
health needs of our community.
Please
take a moment to fill out the online questionnaire, and please feel free to
forward it to others. The link is below:
http://tinyurl.com/JoCoEspanolEcuesta
*”Knowing What We Know Now”
As
GOP Presidential candidates discuss the Iraq War, we continue to hear the
phrase, “Knowing what we know now…”
Let
me be clear – a LOT of us – MILLIONS of us – knew the Iraq War was a bad idea
AT THAT TIME. There is no need for revisionist history. Many, many people
disagreed with President Bush at that time, including President Obama.
We
should have NEVER gone into Iraq. And we knew that at the time. GOP
Presidential candidates will never acknowledge this fact, but those of us who
opposed the war were right.
*DID YOU KNOW?
The first elected office Bernie Sanders held was Mayor of Burlington,
Vermont. Sanders won that first race by ten votes.
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
May 14, 2015
Sullivan’s
Salvos 5/19/15
In this edition:
*Congratulations, BJ!
*Teachers
*ICCSD Issues
*RIP Betty Sedlacek
*Did You Know?
*Congratulations, BJ!
My
son BJ graduates from City High on Memorial Day weekend.
All graduations are special occasions. And I am a big softie –
Pomp and Circumstance alone can bring a tear to my eye! But I am particularly
moved by this event. Please allow me to take a moment to explain why this
moment means so much to me.
In
case you did not know, BJ was adopted. He first came to our house when he had
just turned 3 – but those first 3 years were eventful. He dealt with problems
that most of us can never dream of.
Our
time together has not always been easy. BJ has had to work, and work hard. We
have been through a lot. He has become a very sensitive, caring, kind, hard
working young man! He really cares about those who are less fortunate. He is outspoken
– maybe too much! But at his core, he is a really good human being.
BJ has had a great career at City High. He has served as a manager
for Show Choir; President of the Interact Club; yearbook staff; and he has done
publicity for various City High events. He spent some time in track, cross
country, choir, and show choir. He also works three jobs!
Next year he will move on to DMACC in Des Moines, where he will
study nursing and perhaps mortuary science.
We
fight – sometimes loud and long! But I cannot imagine loving someone more. And
I admire him – so deeply. I am so very proud. I really don’t have the words.
It is really neat to be able to say that the person I admire the
most is my own son. I am a very lucky man!
Congratulations
on your graduation, Buddy! I love you!
*Teachers
BJ
is our baby. Within a few months, we will be empty nesters. It has not sunk in
yet, but we are almost finished with our long run in the ICCSD.
I
cannot allow this milestone to pass without acknowledging the amazing, AMAZING
teachers that have helped our children along the way!
I
estimate that the kids probably had ~ 100 teachers between the three of them.
Then there are the teachers we met throughout the District through serving as
foster parents. So we saw a little bit of things everywhere, and a LOT at
Hoover, SEJH, and City High.
Not EVERY teacher was excellent – over the years, there were
probably 2-3 people who needed to leave the profession. But oh, the other 98%!
You were smart, patient, kind, firm, fair, hard working, and you really, truly
cared for my kids.
OK, now I am tearing up. It seems almost unfair to name anyone,
because I will be leaving others out. But I just cannot help it. So, with
apologies to all those wonderful people who also deserve to be mentioned, my
greatest appreciation to:
*Ann Allaire: They were so little, so hurt, and so scared. You taught
them that school was safe and fun.
*Lorraine Whittington: It is amazing what a young person can do if
you challenge them!
*Jeff Kosier: The bark was always worse than the bite! J
*Pete Muir: Nobody does it better, my friend. You are a legend!
*Jill Harper: My daughter graduated because of you, plain and
simple. You made such a monumental difference in her life. Thanks.
*Terry Coleman and Bill McTaggart: Great coaches and better men. What
more could a parent want? It was a fun ride!
*Ali Borger-German and Robin Fields: The kids know you care, and
they appreciate it. They don’t always show it, but they appreciate it! Keep
pushing!
*Carrie Watson: The Pete Muir “Force” lives on, and it lives on in
you. Carry that torch! J
And it was not just teachers. We had great custodians, support
staff, and food service workers. We even had Bob Cowell, the legendary hugging
crossing guard.
Administrators? Principals Marilyn Wirtz, Deb Wretman, and John
Bacon make up ¾ of a Mount Rushmore of Principals. It simply does not get
better!
I should not have named people. Because I could have named so many
more. But my goodness, you folks have helped my family! How does a person
adequately say “thank you” for that? I feel as though I should break into “To
Sir With Love”! But I will spare you that.
I
simply do not have the words to express the gratitude I owe these people. It is
a debt that can never be repaid. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I love
you all! And I love the ICCSD!
*ICCSD Issues
I
have been pretty involved in ICCSD issues over the years. And I’ll be honest –
I am growing tired. The political machinations in this District are wearing me
out.
So,
a final plea – as I depart my role as ICCSD parent and become just an ICCSD
taxpayer:
Let
the poor families win a few. It is just that simple. Let the poor families win
a few. Just once, inconvenience the wealthy families. Look at the data, and see
what helps poor kids the most. Then do that. Just a couple times.
It
may not be the easiest thing to do, but it is the right thing. You WILL get
criticized. So what? You get criticized now. Let the poor families win a few.
*RIP Betty Sedlacek
BETTY
SEDLACEK OF RURAL IOWA CITY PASSED AWAY EARLIER THIS WEEK. WE GOT TO KNOW EACH
OTHER DURING THE DEBATES OVER NEWPORT ROAD. BETTY HAD EMAILED ME FAITHFULLY
ONCE A WEEK FOR OVER 11 YEARS. EVERY EMAIL WAS IN ALL CAPS. AND IF YOU KNEW
BETTY, YOU KNOW SHE WAS A BOLD AND OPINIONATED PERSON. SHE PRETTY MUCH LIVED
HER LIFE IN ALL CAPS. SO I SALUTE YOU TODAY, BETTY – IN ALL CAPS. RIP, MY
FRIEND.
*DID YOU KNOW?
Iowa City West is the 4th largest school in Iowa. City High
is #20, Clear Creek Amana #70, and Solon #98.
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
May 8, 2015
Sullivan’s
Salvos 5/12/15
In this edition:
*Dane County
*Politicians?
*The American Electorate
*Democratic Party Hall of Fame
*Did You Know?
*Dane County
A
large group of Johnson County representatives traveled to Dane County,
Wisconsin on May 4 and 5 for a series of tours and discussions. Our entourage
included 14 Johnson County employees, 3 Iowa City employees, and two citizens
who paid their own expenses. I will write about this in greater detail later.
For now, here are a few thoughts:
*The governments
of Dane County and City of Madison were wonderful hosts. They were all very
helpful and personable.
*We have
EXACTLY the same problems! I read their equivalents of the local paper, the
University paper, and the alternative weekly. If I didn’t know better, I would
have thought I was reading the papers from home.
*Dane County
and Madison do not have all the answers, but there are certainly things we can
learn from visiting with them.
*Troy Gardens
is a fabulous model for the future development of the County Poor Farm!
We
spent time on jail overcrowding, disproportionate minority contact, racial
equity, affordable housing, tiny houses, local foods, and more. All in all,
this was probably the best trip I have ever taken as a Johnson County
Supervisor.
Thanks
to the staff and elected officials in Dane County for the fine hospitality, and
thanks to our own Andy Johnson for all his hard work in arranging this
wonderful trip!
*Politicians?
I
am not offended by being called a “politician”. In my book, anyone who chooses
to run for elective office is a politician by definition. According to Merriam
Webster, I am pretty close. They define politician as: a person who is professionally involved in politics, especially
as a holder of or a candidate for an elected office.
Yet
many elected officials are very put off by the term “politician”. They prefer
“elected official”, “”public official”, “public servant”, etc.
Three
things: First, when did the word politician become a dirty word? If you don’t
like being called that, don’t run for office! Secondly, you will never get to
control what folks call you. Like George Costanza, you cannot pick your own
nickname! Finally, I get called many worse things! If it gets no worse than
“politician”, I’ll take it!
*The American Electorate
We
are reaching the time of year where pundits spend a lot of time describing voters
and voter behavior. I happen to believe they are usually wrong. Here, then, is
my take on the American Electorate:
I
think the American Electorate breaks into 7 groups: Republicans, Democrats,
Independents, Other Parties, Average Folks, Don’t Care, and People with
Barriers. Let’s take a look at all 7 groups:
About
20% of the US electorate are Republicans.
These folks are going to vote virtually 100% of the time, and will almost never
cross party lines.
About
18% of the US electorate are Democrats.
These folks are very likely to vote (though not quite as likely as Republicans)
and will almost never cross party lines (though they are slightly more likely
to do so than Republicans).
Those
two groups are pretty easy to understand. The press seems to misunderstand the
others.
About
10% of the US electorate are Independents.
(No Party is the actual registration status in Iowa.) This group watches the
news, and votes regularly, though not in the percentages as those affiliated
with political parties. These are the folks who vote for Barack Obama and a
conservative City Council. They routinely voted for both Karen Kubby and Jim
Leach. They might lean a bit left of center on more issues than not, but will
never admit it. They HATE talking politics; the topic is uncomfortable. The
majority (but not all) of these folks supported the GOP in ’68, ’72, ’80, ’84,
and ’00. The majority (but not all) of these folks supported Democrats in ’64,
’76, ’92, ’96, ’08, and ’12. This is essentially the group over which hundreds
of millions of dollars are spent every two years.
About
2% of the US electorate belong to Other Parties,
or pretend they do. This group includes Libertarians, Greens, Socialists, etc.
This group spends a lot of time complaining (and rightfully so) about our two
party system. In exchange for their frustration, they like to drive the two
major parties crazy. They know that every percentage point matters, so this
small group is able to punch well above its’ weight.
The
group I am calling Average Folks
makes up about 30% of the electorate. These people do not follow politics much,
and are unlikely to vote except in a Presidential election, if then. While it
might be fair to characterize this group as low information voters, they are
not stupid. They are just busy. They are working longer and harder for less.
They are likely to have second jobs. They have kids and elderly parents for
whom they need to care. It is a struggle to maintain housing and
transportation. Life is hard, and these folks are fighting the good fight. With
the possible exception of Obamacare, they have not seen either party do much
for them since 1964. They have not completely said “screw it” like our next
group, but they see little reason to vote.
The
sixth group I am calling Don’t Care,
and they make up about 10% of the electorate. This group has decided to throw
in the towel. This group believes all politicians are crooks. They see no
reason to vote, and mentions of politics bring out hostility. These are the
people who slam doors in the faces of canvassers.
The final group I am calling People
with Barriers. This amounts to about 10% of the electorate. These folks
have not necessarily thrown in the towel, but voting just ain’t happening. This
includes people in prison and jail; people who have criminal records; very
elderly people; people with disabilities; eligible immigrants; basically people
for whom the barriers to voting are just too high.
What
do you think? Have I characterized things correctly, or not?
*Democratic Party Hall of Fame
Save
the date! The Johnson County Democratic Party is holding our Annual Hall of
Fame Awards event on Saturday, May 16 at 7pm at the Coralville Marriott.
Please
join us for coffee, desserts, and plenty of old war stories! A cash bar will be
available. Parking is available for a small fee on either end of the building.
The
Hall of Fame inductees for 2015 are: Gary Sanders, Ro Foege, Pat Ikan, and
Dennis and Robin Roseman. We hope you can join us in recognizing this
remarkable group!
Tickets
are available for a $25 suggested donation. People who cannot afford that
amount should still feel welcome, but please call 354-7199 so we can get a
count.
Sponsorships are available
at the following levels:
$100 includes
two tickets
$250 includes
4 tickets
$500 includes
a whole table (8 tickets)
Checks can be mailed to:
Johnson County Democrats
PO Box 1773
Iowa City, IA 52244
If
you have any questions, please contact Rod Sullivan at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. We hope you will join us for a fun evening, and
lend your voice to those who are honoring these very deserving people. We look
forward to seeing you!
*DID YOU KNOW?
Voter turnout in US Presidential elections peaked at 82% in 1876. Since 1968,
voter turnout has ranged between 49% and 59%.
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
May 1, 2015
Sullivan’s
Salvos 5/5/15
In this edition:
*RIP Flash!
*Congrats BJ!
*Bike To Work Week
*Ready For Hillary?
*Some Punditry
*This Is My Brave
*Did You Know?
*RIP Flash!
You
may have read about the passing of Austin “Flash” Schroeder a few days ago. It
is truly remarkable what an impact this 15 year old has made upon our
community.
I
played softball with Austin’s Dad (Craig) from 3-4 years before Austin was born
until Austin was about 6 or 7. As a matter of fact, Craig hung up his own spikes
in order to coach Austin’s teams. We then sort of went our separate ways – my family
on the east side and the Schroeders on the north.
Craig and his wife Stacy are great people, and they obviously
raised a great son. Rather than being a victim, Austin served as an
inspiration. It is a great legacy. RIP, Flash!
*Congrats BJ!
Congratulations
to my son BJ, who has been named a winner of an Iowa City Human Rights Youth
Award for the second consecutive year!
I
know I’m biased, but you know what? He deserves it! BJ is an amazing young man,
who is as kind as any kid I’ve ever met. I am very proud!
Great
job, BJ! I love you!
*Bike To Work Week
Whether
you’re an old hand on two wheels or are looking to join a community of joyful
cyclists, there’s something for everyone during Bike to Work Week 2015,
celebrated from May 3-8.
The
cities of Iowa City, Coralville, University Heights, Johnson County, Think
Bicycles of Johnson County, the University of Iowa, and local businesses and
organizations will host a series of meals, rides, and events to celebrate and
encourage residents to park their cars and enjoy our towns on two wheels.
Sunday, May 3: Family
Ride—No rider left behind!
10 am, Lower City Park
start. Meeting at Riverside Shakespeare Theatre in Lower City Park, ride south
along Riverside Drive, and pick up additional riders at the Johnson County
Administration Parking lot by 10:30 am. Then it is on to Terry Trueblood
Recreation Area. This is an 8 mile round trip—10 miles if you ride around Sand
Lake. The County Building start is 4 miles round trip; 6 miles around the lake.
Riders will cross at controlled intersections at Burlington and Benton streets,
but are otherwise on trails and wide sidewalks. Children must be accompanied by
an adult and riders must wear a helmet.
Monday, May 4: Bike
Commuter Breakfast
7:30-10 a.m., 312 E.
Prentiss St.
Bus/Bike/Car Race: Meet
11:15 am at Coralville Public Library. Participants Jim Throgmorton, City of
Iowa City; Tom Gill, City of Coralville; and Virginia Miller, City of
University Heights, drive, bus, and ride in a race to the Iowa City Public
Library.
Wheely Fun Bike Basics: 6-7:30
pm, Iowa City Public Library, Room A
Sponsored by the Iowa City
Public Library and Iowa City Bike Library. Learning the nuts and bolts of bike
maintenance in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.
Full Moon Ride: 7:30 pm
start Iowa City Public Library. Enjoy a group ride under the stars with the
Iowa City Full Moon Cruisers.
Tuesday, May 5: Commuter
breakfast, 630 Iowa Ave., 7:30-9:30 am.
Wednesday, May 6—Bike to
Schools Day
Commuter Breakfast,
6:30-8:30 am, University Heights City Hall, 1004 Melrose Ave. Sponsored by City
of University Heights and Geoff’s Bike and Ski
Old Pi to New Pi Family
Ride: 5:30 pm start Chauncey Swan Park, Washington St. Ride together to Coralville New Pi Co-op.
Thursday, May 7: Commuter
Breakfast, 7-9 am, Johnson County Administration Building, 913 S. Dubuque St. Sponsored
by Johnson County
Books and Bikes Brown Bag:
Noon-1 pm, Iowa City Public Library, Room A. Bike on over, bring your lunch,
and chat about books to take biking, maintaining your bike, bicycling authors,
and more. Sponsored by the Iowa City Public Library.
Friday, May 8: Commuter
Breakfast, 7-9 am, World of Bikes, 723 S. Gilbert St. Sponsored by World of Bikes.
*Ready For Hillary?
In
big news that comes as a surprise to no one, Hillary Rodham Clinton has entered
the Presidential race.
Let
me be clear: I respect Secretary Clinton, and if she is the Democratic Party
nominee, I will support her. But I am not yet ready to make an endorsement.
Here
are a few things I’ll be watching:
1.
Gender
dynamics: I want to see the first female POTUS. But it is more important to me
that we get progressive economic policies. So – will any and all decisions to
support other Democrats be painted as acts of misogyny? If so, we are going to
have serious inter-party problems.
2.
Economic
populism: I am looking for someone to punch Larry Summers in the face.
Literally. And if HRC won’t do that, she needs to demonstrate that her policies
will be driven more by Elizabeth Warren than Goldman Sachs. This cannot be
overstated – we need to make dramatic changes!
3.
Peace,
not war: I think that as a female, HRC has always felt the need to demonstrate
how “tough” she can be. That cost her the Presidency in ’08, and it could
again. I don’t want that kind of tough. We need to spend less on the military,
MUCH less on the CIA, and more on diplomacy. I want butter, not guns. HRC can
accomplish this, too – she has incredible diplomatic experience!
4.
Race
and corrections: No country has more people in jail and prison. Far too many of
these folks are people of color. We need leadership on this from the very top.
While I care deeply about other issues, these are the issues that
are going to motivate me when I choose a candidate. I sincerely hope Secretary
Clinton takes similar positions on these important issues.
*Some Punditry
Will
HRC become our first female POTUS? I think that all depends upon the
opposition.
If
HRC is the nominee, she will beat any candidate from the far right. No matter
what the country feels about HRC, the country is not interested in the policies
of Ted Cruz.
You
might think I’m too confident in this stance. After all, the same thing could
have been said about the Ernst-Braley Senate race last year. And I would agree
that you have a point.
But
while Iowans did not really know Bruce Braley, EVERYONE knows HRC. As a matter
of fact, HRC is among the top 3-5 most well known people on planet Earth. She
has been vetted. There will be no surprises.
In
addition, HRC will fight. Braley’s campaign focused far too much on the Koch
Brothers, who were not running for anything. Experience shows us HRC will not
sit back.
I
also believe HRC will beat Jeb Bush. The issue is really quite simple, and
Barbara Bush (of all people) nailed it some time ago: “We don’t need another
Bush.”
If
HRC is the nominee, she will be guaranteed 45% of the vote. The GOP nominee
will also get 45% of the vote. But that final 10% that might be up for grabs?
They don’t want another Bush.
The
people who scare me are folks like Scott Walker and John Kasich. They are not
crazy, and they are not Bushes. That is the best formula for the GOP in’16.
*This Is My Brave
Stories
of mental health brought into the spotlight by the people who experience them.
The
show is 7pm on May 15 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets
available at thisismybrave.org.
*DID YOU KNOW?
According to national studies,
40 percent of errands are 2 miles or less. Of these, 68 percent are by car. On
average, Americans take 10 trips a week of 2 miles or less by car. Taking just
a few of those trips each week by bike, bus, or on foot will improve health,
cut down on fossil fuel use and pollution, and improve the quality of life for
everyone.
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
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