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SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
October 30, 2015
Sullivan’s
Salvos 11/3/15
In this edition:
*VOTE!
*Happy Birthday Rachel!
*Human Rights Awards
*The Rich Get Incentives. The Poor Get Rules.
*The Price We Pay
*Did You Know?
*VOTE!
Most
of you will be getting this just before Election Day. It is not enough that you
vote. You need to convince a couple additional people to vote. The fate of your
city hangs in the balance!
In
all seriousness, this is the most important election in my memory. Please urge
everyone you know to vote!
*Happy Birthday Rachel!
My oldest daughter Rachel turns 24 on November 6th.
Rachel has always been fun to be around; her smile can light up a room. I am
proud of the fact that she is maturing and really starting to figure things
out.
Happy
Birthday, Honey! I love you!
*Human Rights Awards
Iowa
City has a long tradition of recognizing achievements in human rights. The
annual Human Rights Awards were given earlier this week to:
Raquishia
Harrington, Charlie Eastham, Sally Scott, Stephanie Van Housen, Eli Shepherd,
and posthumously to Heather Shank.
I
know all of these people. They are all great, and all deserving. (Heck, 3 have
been honored with Salvos Salutes!) Congratulations, all!
*The Rich Get Incentives. The Poor Get Sanctions.
Federal,
state, and local governments spend a great deal of time attempting to influence
individual behavior. My Libertarian friends think that is a terrible thing. While
I agree with them in some cases, I think it makes sense in many others.
Government
exists to allow us to do collectively what we cannot do alone. To accomplish
these collective actions, we need the public to buy in to certain behaviors.
Locally,
there is a huge need for affordable housing, especially for our poorer residents.
The affected players in this scenario include wealthy landlords and poor
renters. The difference in the way we try to influence the behaviors of these
two groups is striking.
When
talking about wealthy landlords, we always hear, “They will not do anything
different without incentives.” OK… then why don’t we apply incentives when it
comes to poor people? If incentives are the only things that work for the rich,
shouldn’t they work for the poor?
When
policymakers address the poor, the line is always, “We need sanctions for
noncompliance.” OK… then why don’t we apply sanctions when it comes to rich
people? If sanctions are the only things that work for the poor, shouldn’t they
work for the rich?
Carrots
and sticks. Inclusionary zoning has been discussed in Iowa City since the early
90s, if not before. The City Council is STILL waiting, 25 years later, for the
private sector to improve things without resorting to a stick. And things have
gotten progressively worse. Council after council has failed to improve things,
because they refuse to use sticks.
Compare
this to a couple fights between young African Americans. Seven weeks after
these fights, Iowa City has a curfew in place. No carrots were ever discussed.
Straight to sticks, in just 7 weeks. By my calculations, developers were given
175 TIMES as much time (and counting) as the young African Americans in our
community. The rich get incentives. The poor get rules.
It
is all pretty simple… rich people and poor people play by different rules. And
that is not just at the federal level – I mean locally!
*The Price We Pay
In
a great meeting of the minds, I recently found myself in a conversation with
Iowa City Councilor Rick Dobyns and Iowa City gadfly Yale Cohn. (Yes, the three
of us are an interesting group.)
We
spoke about a lot of things, but the most interesting part of the discussion
was when the topic turned to the price we pay to live in the city we love.
You
can “pay the price” in many, many ways. Some people like the fact that Iowa
City is beautiful. How do we “pay the price” for this? Well, the City employs
some folks who clean and maintain public areas. So we pay through our taxes.
There are hundreds of people who volunteer and contribute to Project Green. So
we pay through volunteering our time and talents. There are community norms, in
some cases enforced by code, but in some cases enforced simply by the pressure
to “fit in” to the neighborhood. So we pay through our own sweat equity.
The
common theme is that a beautiful Iowa City does not just happen. If you want a
beautiful city, you have to pay a price. You may pay it in different ways. You
may complain about the cost. And yes, there will always be a group of people
who do not pay their fair share. But this is the price we pay.
If we choose not to pay this price – and many cities do – the city
will NOT be beautiful. Because it doesn’t just happen. There are no free
lunches.
Another
example we got into was new and used bookstores. Iowa City has a bounty of
excellent new and used bookstores. We all felt this was one of the things that
make Iowa City great.
But
new and used bookstores do not come free. There is a price we must pay if we
want these places to exist. I know you can probably find a used book online
cheaper than at a local retailer. I know you can get that new book delivered
right to your house. You want to do that, fine. But understand – you are NOT
paying the price required to keep local bookstores in business. If you like
local bookstores, you must be prepared to pay the price. (I for one, feel the
little bit extra I might expend is a very small price to pay for these
amenities.)
What
kind of city… what kind of world – do you want to live in? It can be yours – if
you are willing to pay the price!
*DID YOU KNOW?
In 1933, Johnson County voters went to the polls to weigh in on the Ratification of 21st Amendment to United States
Constitution. (Otherwise known as the repeal of 18th Amendment – Prohibition.)
The Yes votes carried the day, 5918 (70.5%) to 2475 No votes (29.5%).
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
October 22, 2015
Sullivan’s
Salvos 10/27/15
In this edition:
*VOTE!
*More On The Minimum Wage
*Civility In Local Politics
*Missing W?
*Fall Prevention
*Did You Know?
*VOTE!
As
many of you know, Melissa and I went on an amazing medical mission to Haiti.
Unfortunately, for the first time ever, the upcoming Haiti trip has to be
cancelled.
Why?
Political unrest. The people of Haiti were promised elections, and the
elections have not occurred. So the people are in the streets, demanding their
right to vote.
Meanwhile,
in Iowa City, we have very important elections coming up. If we get 20%
turnout, we will pat ourselves on the backs. 30% would be record setting.
I
have already voted. And I dedicate my vote to the friends I made in Haiti, who
are risking everything to do what we take for granted. Please vote!
*More On The Minimum Wage
I
continue to get questions on the impact of the minimum wage, and I continue to
tell people I believe it will be a good thing for the local economy. But I am
already seeing several logical fallacies emerging in the arguments I get from
opponents.
Because many folks clearly do not understand the difference
between anecdotes and data, I’ll clear it up ahead of time. Let’s begin with
this example: Some claim an increase in the wage will cost jobs. There are lots
of studies out there that show this is NOT true. (But they will keep repeating
the lies.) Here is what will happen:
The
minimum wage has not yet changed. Yet some businesses are closing, while others
are opening. The same thing will happen after the minimum wage is increased. It
is part of the normal churn of our economy. But THEN opponents will have a
bogeyman – they can blame the wage increase! In reality, the anecdote of what
happens in one business is just that – an anecdote. We will need to review the
whole sample before we know if there was an effect on overall employment.
(Again, studies show little effect.)
Similarly,
increased wages result in increased consumer demand, which leads to increased
economic activity, which leads to increased hiring. So you’ll probably see ten
North Liberty businesses hire two extra people each, and ten businesses hire
one person each. Then a business will close, and 15 jobs will be lost. Critics
will blame the wage increase. But what critics will not say is that there has been
a net increase of 15 new jobs in town. Trust me – this line of attack will be
starting soon.
*Civility In Local Politics
There
has recently been another call for greater civility in local politics. This
comes around every few years, typically when the powers that be feel
threatened.
While civility is a noble goal, I worry that it can be used as a
red herring. Those in power have always used “civility” as a cudgel to beat
back the opinions of those without such power. Civility can be a guise that stifles
unpopular speech.
If the choice
is between civility and honesty, I choose the latter.
If the choice
is between civility and transparency, I choose the latter.
If the choice
is between civility and the poor, I choose the latter.
If the choice
is between civility and the homeless, I choose the latter.
If the choice
is between civility and the addicted, I choose the latter.
If the choice
is between civility and African Americans, I choose the latter.
If the choice
is between civility and immigrants, I choose the latter.
If the choice
is between civility and LGBTQ rights, I choose the latter.
If the choice
is between civility and the elderly, I choose the latter.
If the choice
is between civility and historic preservation, I choose the latter.
If the choice
is between civility and calling out tax schemes that benefit the rich, I choose
the latter.
If the choice
is between civility and affordable housing, I choose the latter.
“Civility”
is often in the eye of the beholder. Any challenge to those in power comes
across as uncivil. Any questioning of professional staff can be seen as
incivility. I mean, how dare you question authority? How dare you demand to be
heard? Don’t you know your place?
Look,
I know that I have not always been as civil as I should have been. I know I
have work to do in this area. But most of our elected officials are very civil.
A lack of civility is not what ails us. The call for greater civility is the
wrong diagnosis. For the most part, we have civility. What we lack is real compassion
for those who lack power. And given a choice between civility and compassion in
my politicians, I will always choose compassion.
*Missing W?
I never thought I would find myself saying this... but I wish
George W. Bush would return to the public stage. You see, George W. Bush was
always careful to note that Islam is not evil, and that our Muslim brothers and
sisters have a place in this country.
Yes, Obama says the exact same thing. But there is a large group
of Americans who refuse to give Obama the respect he deserves. W is now out of
the spotlight, and our country has really regressed on this issue.
*Fall Prevention
The
Johnson County Livable Community just celebrated Fall Prevention Week with a
reminder about their Sure Steps program.
Many people are surprised to learn that falls are the leading cause
of death among older Iowans. The Board of Supervisors was recently presented
with a whole slew of remarkable statistics regarding falls:
One in three Iowans over 65 fall each year. 3,737 Johnson County
seniors will fall this year. 84% of injury-related hospitalizations of seniors
are due to falls. The average cost of that hospitalization and the related
rehab is $37,000.
For
more info on what you can do to prevent falls, see: http://www.livablecommunity.org.
*DID YOU KNOW?
Over 10,000 Johnson County residents will benefit from an increased
minimum wage. 56% are female. 42% work full time; 40% work close to full time.
79% are over 20 years old. 20% have an AA degree or higher. (Source: Iowa
Policy Project.)
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
October 16, 2015
Sullivan’s
Salvos 10/20/15
In this edition:
*Iowa City Council Procedures
*Iowa City Council History
*Iowa City Council Endorsements
*Did You Know?
*Iowa City Council Procedures
(This
article first appeared in Salvos on February 3 of 2015. It is particularly
relevant NOW.)
I wrote a while ago about the Charter Review process happening
right now in Iowa City. The Charter Review Commission could recommend some
major changes to the structure of Iowa City government. But they won’t. (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.
*Iowa City Council History
(Yes,
this piece just ran. But it is SO important!)
Iowa City is an interesting place. The very words “Iowa City”
conjure up images for everyone in the state. If I had to pick the single most
common misperception about Iowa City, it would be the idea that the Iowa City
Council is a progressive institution.
I
was speaking with a few old timers recently, and we were debating how many
times Iowa City has had a progressive majority on the Council. There was
arguably a progressive majority for two years in the mid-to-late ‘70s, but they
never really came together around a progressive agenda. In theory, there was
what should have been a progressive majority in ’08 and ’09. But that group
lacked cohesion and leadership, and was dealt the bad hand of dealing with the
flood.
That
is pretty much it. Progressives have been in charge just 4 years out of the
past 40. So much for Iowa City being this “liberal enclave.” In reality, the
candidates backed by the Chamber of Commerce win 90% of the time. NINETY
PERCENT!
So
why is this? For one thing, turnout is terrible. Almost 11,000 people voted in
2013, and folks were raving about the great turnout. That “great” turnout was
23%. (Turnout was 14% in ’11, and 10% in ’09, so relatively speaking, it was
up.)
Why
is turnout so low? I see several reasons: First, the University community tends
to be quite myopic. These are people with advanced degrees who are used to
specializing. They have grants to get and papers to publish. While these folks
lean a bit to the liberal side, they cannot be bothered with local politics. UI
faculty and staff are often conversant on national politics but cannot name the
Mayor of Iowa City.
Secondly,
almost everyone in Iowa City is “from” somewhere else. Heck, I voted absentee
back home for several years before finally registering in Iowa City. This is
not uncommon. People see Iowa City as a temporary stopping place, and they do
not bother to get invested in local politics.
Thirdly, the Democrats that get elected to State and County
offices tend to take a VERY hands-off approach when it comes to City politics.
A perfect example: Minnette Doderer was perhaps the most liberal individual
ever elected to the Iowa Legislature. Yet she routinely supported Republican
businesspeople as City Council candidates. (Minnette’s husband Fred had been
the Mayor of Iowa City in the early ‘60s. I always got a sense that she felt
Council politics were his area, not hers.) I wish folks who hold other offices
would work for progressive Council candidates, but they just don’t. It is not
in their own political best interests, so they pretty much stay out of it.
Fourthly,
organized labor, people of color, and other traditionally Democratic groups
have not been very involved in local politics. The one exception has been the
local LGBTQ community, who were extremely politically active in the 70s and
beyond. Look what you have as a result – one of the most gay-friendly cities in
the US. Other groups could have a similar impact if they organized and voted.
So,
you have the strange situation where Iowa City has over 80% voter turnout in
Presidential elections, and elects very progressive folks to office. Then local
elections roll around, 15% of the voters turn out, and conservatives control
the Council.
The
typical Iowa City Council of the past 40 years consists primarily of registered
Democrats who bear little resemblance to the Democrats that Iowa City voters
send to the Statehouse. City Councilors could not tell you the first thing
about the Democratic Party platform. If you were to ask them about it, they
would simply say those “aren’t local issues.” In fact, ALL issues are local
issues.
Obviously,
not all progressive Councilors have been good, and not all conservative
Councilors have been bad. But most folks easily slip into the agenda that has
been set for them by the staff. This agenda is fine for the local Chamber, but
does not reflect the desires of the community as a whole.
These
Councils have had basically the same agenda for 40 years: defer to landlords;
support developers; and maintain a police force whose focus is keeping students
and people of color in their respective places. Most importantly, do what the
staff says. Throw some money at SOTA events and the library, and you have adequate
bread and circuses to distract the masses.
Since 2009, the Iowa City agenda has changed. Since ’09 Iowa City
has been laser focused on Coralville. Imagine the University of Iowa spending
all its time worrying about Kirkwood, or Hy-Vee spending all its time worrying
about New Pi. But that is how Iowa City has decided to spend the past 6 years.
Look, things aren’t bad in Iowa City… so long as you are older,
wealthier, and white. But we can do so much better. We need to do so much
better.
I
wish the Iowa City Council reflected the people of Iowa City. We have yet
another opportunity this fall. I hope you will do your part!
*Iowa City Council Endorsements
(Yes,
this piece just ran. But it is SO important!)
We just talked about the history of the Iowa City Council. But
what about this year? Elections are November 3, and early voting begins Monday,
October 5!
Below
are my endorsements in this year’s Council races:
District A:
Incumbent Rick Dobbyns is a very nice man. I like him a lot. But his opponent
Pauline Taylor is a legend in local progressive circles. Pauline was one of the
leaders of the SEIU campaign to organize nurses at UIHC, which has improved
patient outcomes at that institution. Pauline has been involved in many
progressive causes over the years. She is campaigning on affordable housing,
historic preservation, and being a more welcoming city. Most importantly, she
is willing to question staff. We have a male doctor versus a female nurse. I’m
voting for Pauline.
District C:
Scott McDonough is a local contractor and affordable housing advocate. I have
only known Scott about two years, but he has completely won me over. He is a
great guy! That said, I have known John Thomas longer. John has an amazing
record as a neighborhood organizer. His accomplishments in the Mann area are
impressive. John’s whole career prepared him for a seat on Council. And the
current Council threw him off the P&Z Commission. What better
recommendation can you get? While I firmly believe you cannot go wrong with either
choice, I’m voting for John.
At Large: I
watch Council meetings, and I often feel Jim Throgmorton is the only person
asking the right questions. Jim has been a steady progressive voice, often in
the face of harsh criticism. I know Jim pretty well, and I can assure you he is
honest, ethical, smart, thoughtful, compassionate, kind, and caring. If you
cast only one vote, Jim deserves it.
My other vote
will be for Rockne Cole. A local attorney, Rockne is bright, passionate, and
full of new ideas. Rockne will not sit back and allow staff to keep the same
agenda in place. He will also give the Council a dose of energy it badly needs.
Vote Rockne!
Now
get out there and cast your ballot!
*DID YOU KNOW?
The Free Medical Clinic had 5,323 clinic visits from 1834 patients
during FY15. While the Affordable Care Act has changed the role of Free Med, it
has not eliminated the need for such a clinic.
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
October 8, 2015
Sullivan’s
Salvos 10/13/15
In this edition:
*RIP Art Small
*Congratulations, Val!
*Domestic Violence Awareness Month
*A Mink In My Yard!
*Community Rights Workshop
*Did You Know?
*RIP Art Small
Johnson
County lost a true giant recently with the passing of my friend Art Small. (It
is difficult to avoid the “size” puns here – but if you knew Art, you’d know
that is just fine. Remember – he came up with “Think Big. Vote Small!”)
Art
Small represented Johnson County in the Iowa Legislature from 1970-1986. He was
a progressive stalwart, and a fierce advocate for the U of I.
Art was a brilliant man with a fantastic sense of humor. I got to
know Art and Mary Jo quite well in the 1990s, and they were kind enough to
share their vast knowledge and experience with an upstart young politico.
Art
also deserves our thanks for coming out of retirement to run for the US Senate
against Chuck Grassley in 2004. While Art got waxed in a poor year for
Democrats, he fought the good fight and raised many important issues on the
campaign trail.
What
I found most interesting about that campaign was the relationship between Art
and Senator Grassley. Apparently, they ate lunch together almost every day when
both served in the Iowa Legislature. Art often referred to good times the two
had shared in the past. It was striking to see how Grassley dealt with it. More
than once, I saw/heard him say something to the effect of, “It just isn’t like
that anymore, Art.” Grassley looked really sad. You could see that both men
longed for a past that was more civil, more bipartisan, and more fun.
As
I remember Art, it is that sense of humor that stands out. Art never took
himself or anything else too seriously. He lived a fun-filled life, and brought
great joy to all who knew him. RIP, Art Small.
*Congratulations, Val!
Valerie
Kemp is retiring this week from the Department of Corrections. Val does this job
extremely well – so well, in fact, that a couple of years ago, she was named
the National Corrections Officer of the Year.
So
yes, she is excellent at her job. But that just doesn’t sum up the impact she
has had on myself and many others.
Most
people in Johnson County share a pretty similar worldview. We want to live in a
safe community, where everyone is healthy, successful, happy, and treated
fairly. Who can argue with that?
Thing
is, achieving such a community takes work. Lots of work. People have to do
their parts, and they have to call out injustice when they see it. That
requires a certain courage most folks lack.
Valerie
Kemp does not lack courage. She has always challenged me to do more and to do
better. She has been fair but firm. She has held me accountable to the things I
say I believe.
So
she talks it. More importantly, she walks it.
Working
hard. Going above and beyond. Volunteering. Showing up when needed. She has
absolutely walked the walk. Valerie Kemp has always been a person that inspires
me with her work.
I
guess I’ll just have to sum it up by saying Valerie Kemp is a hero. An
honest-to-gosh hero in our midst. Unsung, but a hero. I honor her, and I wish
her all the best in her retirement.
*Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October
is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and I want to take this opportunity to
share some statistics with you.
The
Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) has been serving Johnson County
since 1979. Services include emergency shelter, 24-hour crisis line, support
and advocacy services, youth services, and community education. DVIP served
1,933 people in FY15, including 133 children. 1,217 were Johnson County
residents.
The
State of Iowa mandated some consolidations two years ago, and DVIP now serves 8
counties for most services, and 13 counties with their 24 hour crisis line.
Johnson County sources make up about 25% of DVIP’s funding, but 60% of their
clients come from Johnson County. They serve about 350 individuals in the
shelter each year; 80% of them are Johnson County residents. Another 60 or so
people annually are served through contracts with hotels. The average shelter
stay is about 45 days.
There are many events scheduled for October; to see the whole list
and/or to learn more about the Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP),
visit dvipiowa.org.
*A Mink In My Yard!
On
the morning of September 30, I looked out into my backyard, and I saw the
craziest thing – a dark reddish creature about a foot long, with a foot long
tail. Snub-nosed, and very muscular, I first thought it was a cat. But upon
closer inspection, I realized it was a weasel-type animal!
I
was only 30 feet away, so I got a very good look. After checking with Brad
Friedhoff at Johnson County Conservation and spending some time on an internet
search, I believe the creature I saw was a mink!
I
am always amazed by the amount of wildlife that strays through our yard - deer,
coon, possums, rabbits, squirrels, and more birds than I could ever count. Yet
we are very much in the east central part of Iowa City. We do have a creek that
runs through our yard; I think this serves as a wildlife corridor.
I
spent a lot of time in the woods and in the creeks as a kid, and I’ve seen all
kinds of critters. But I don’t believe I have ever seen a mink in the wild –
until now!
There
is so much habitat loss nowadays; that is likely what pushes these animals into
my yard. But it is great to see them adapting!
*Community Rights
Workshop
The 100grannies are sponsoring a “Community Rights
Workshop” with national leader Paul Cienfuegos, Saturday, Oct. 17, Coralville
Public Library, Schwab Auditorium.
You
will learn:
·
Why counties and communities can’t keep out harmful activities like
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), pipelines, and big box stores.
PLUS: The dirty secret about regulatory agencies.
·
Why corporations are "people," with more rights than human beings and
nature is an exploited commodity.
·
Find out how we can change the system so that community rights take precedence
over corporate rights, and future generations and the rights of nature can be
protected.
·
How 200 communities in nine states have already passed legally binding, locally
enforceable laws that ban harmful corporate activities and rein in the
"rights" of corporations; and we can do it too!
Registration:
8:45 a.m. Program: 9:00 till noon. Admission is free.
“We
the People Are More Powerful Than We Dare Believe”
See
video at http://100grannies.org/committees/community-rights/resources/
*DID YOU KNOW?
When asked about the biggest
challenges their clients face, the DVIP staff responded with affordable
housing, transportation, and access to mental health care.
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
October 1, 2015
Sullivan’s
Salvos 10/6/15
In this edition:
*Happy Homecoming!
*Iowa City Council History
*Iowa City Council Endorsements
*Did You Know?
*Happy Homecoming!
Happy
Homecoming! I love the traditions of Homecoming; the parade, the pomp and
circumstance, alumni returning from afar. Homecoming is one of the real
benefits of living in a University town.
I
hope you enjoy Homecoming as much as I do. Either way, have a great week and Go
Hawks!
*Iowa City Council History
Iowa
City is an interesting place. The very words “Iowa City” conjure up images for
everyone in the state. If I had to pick the single most common misperception
about Iowa City, it would be the idea that the Iowa City Council is a
progressive institution.
I
was speaking with a few old timers recently, and we were debating how many
times Iowa City has had a progressive majority on the Council. There was arguably
a progressive majority for two years in the mid-to-late ‘70s, but they never
really came together around a progressive agenda. In theory, there was what
should have been a progressive majority in ’08 and ’09. But that group lacked
cohesion and leadership, and was dealt the bad hand of dealing with the flood.
That
is pretty much it. Progressives have been in charge just 4 years out of the
past 40. So much for Iowa City being this “liberal enclave.” In reality, the
candidates backed by the Chamber of Commerce win 90% of the time. NINETY
PERCENT!
So
why is this? For one thing, turnout is terrible. Almost 11,000 people voted in
2013, and folks were raving about the great turnout. That “great” turnout was
23%. (Turnout was 14% in ’11, and 10% in ’09, so relatively speaking, it was
up.)
Why
is turnout so low? I see several reasons: First, the University community tends
to be quite myopic. These are people with advanced degrees who are used to
specializing. They have grants to get and papers to publish. While these folks
lean a bit to the liberal side, they cannot be bothered with local politics. UI
faculty and staff are often conversant on national politics but cannot name the
Mayor of Iowa City.
Secondly,
almost everyone in Iowa City is “from” somewhere else. Heck, I voted absentee
back home for several years before finally registering in Iowa City. This is
not uncommon. People see Iowa City as a temporary stopping place, and they do
not bother to get invested in local politics.
Thirdly, the Democrats that get elected to State and County
offices tend to take a VERY hands-off approach when it comes to City politics.
A perfect example: Minnette Doderer was perhaps the most liberal individual
ever elected to the Iowa Legislature. Yet she routinely supported Republican
businesspeople as City Council candidates. (Minnette’s husband Fred had been the
Mayor of Iowa City in the early ‘60s. I always got a sense that she felt
Council politics were his area, not hers.) I wish folks who hold other offices
would work for progressive Council candidates, but they just don’t. It is not
in their own political best interests, so they pretty much stay out of it.
Fourthly,
organized labor, people of color, and other traditionally Democratic groups
have not been very involved in local politics. The one exception has been the
local LGBTQ community, who were extremely politically active in the 70s and
beyond. Look what you have as a result – one of the most gay-friendly cities in
the US. Other groups could have a similar impact if they organized and voted.
So,
you have the strange situation where Iowa City has over 80% voter turnout in
Presidential elections, and elects very progressive folks to office. Then local
elections roll around, 15% of the voters turn out, and conservatives control
the Council.
The
typical Iowa City Council of the past 40 years consists primarily of registered
Democrats who bear little resemblance to the Democrats that Iowa City voters
send to the Statehouse. City Councilors could not tell you the first thing
about the Democratic Party platform. If you were to ask them about it, they
would simply say those “aren’t local issues.” In fact, ALL issues are local
issues.
Obviously,
not all progressive Councilors have been good, and not all conservative
Councilors have been bad. But most folks easily slip into the agenda that has
been set for them by the staff. This agenda is fine for the local Chamber, but
does not reflect the desires of the community as a whole.
These
Councils have had basically the same agenda for 40 years: defer to landlords;
support developers; and maintain a police force whose focus is keeping students
and people of color in their respective places. Most importantly, do what the staff
says. Throw some money at SOTA events and the library, and you have adequate
bread and circuses to distract the masses.
Since 2009, the Iowa City agenda has changed. Since ’09 Iowa City has
been laser focused on Coralville. Imagine the University of Iowa spending all
its time worrying about Kirkwood, or Hy-Vee spending all its time worrying
about New Pi. But that is how Iowa City has decided to spend the past 6 years.
Look, things aren’t bad in Iowa City… so long as you are older,
wealthier, and white. But we can do so much better. We need to do so much
better.
I
wish the Iowa City Council reflected the people of Iowa City. We have yet
another opportunity this fall. I hope you will do your part!
*Iowa City Council Endorsements
We
just talked about the history of the Iowa City Council. But what about this
year? Elections are November 3, and early voting begins Monday, October 5!
Below
are my endorsements in this year’s Council races:
District A:
Incumbent Rick Dobbyns is a very nice man. I like him a lot. But his opponent
Pauline Taylor is a legend in local progressive circles. Pauline was one of the
leaders of the SEIU campaign to organize nurses at UIHC, which has improved
patient outcomes at that institution. Pauline has been involved in many
progressive causes over the years. She is campaigning on affordable housing,
historic preservation, and being a more welcoming city. Most importantly, she
is willing to question staff. We have a male doctor versus a female nurse. I’m
voting for Pauline.
District C:
Scott McDonough is a local contractor and affordable housing advocate. I have
only known Scott about two years, but he has completely won me over. He is a
great guy! That said, I have known John Thomas longer. John has an amazing
record as a neighborhood organizer. His accomplishments in the Mann area are
impressive. John’s whole career prepared him for a seat on Council. And the
current Council threw him off the P&Z Commission. What better
recommendation can you get? While I firmly believe you cannot go wrong with
either choice, I’m voting for John.
At Large: I
watch Council meetings, and I often feel Jim Throgmorton is the only person
asking the right questions. Jim has been a steady progressive voice, often in
the face of harsh criticism. I know Jim pretty well, and I can assure you he is
honest, ethical, smart, thoughtful, compassionate, kind, and caring. If you
cast only one vote, Jim deserves it.
My other vote
will be for Rockne Cole. A local attorney, Rockne is bright, passionate, and
full of new ideas. Rockne will not sit back and allow staff to keep the same
agenda in place. He will also give the Council a dose of energy it badly needs.
Vote Rockne!
Now
get out there and cast your ballot!
*DID YOU KNOW?
Former Iowa City Councilor and liberal icon Karen Kubby ran and lost
twice before finally getting elected to the Iowa City Council in 1991.
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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