SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
July 29, 2016
Sullivan’s
Salvos 8/2/16
In this edition:
*Melissa Returns to Haiti
*Community Health Initiatives
*Swisher Fun Days
*Suggestions for Housing Policies
*Did You Know?
*Melissa Returns to Haiti
My
wife Melissa will be travelling with Community Health Initiatives (CHI) to
Haiti in early August. I am so very grateful that we both had the opportunity
to travel to Haiti in April of 2014. It was truly the experience of a lifetime.
And I am SO proud of Melissa for going back!
Since
she is on her way back to Haiti, I thought I’d share a few facts and figures:
Haiti is about one fifth the size of Iowa, and is home to almost 9
million people. Almost 3 million of those people live in and around Port Au
Prince, the capital city. (All those figures are estimates, as there is no
census and very few records.) Haiti is only 50 miles from Cuba, and only 700
miles from Miami.
Haiti is home to the actual spot that Christopher Columbus first
landed in 1492. It is the only nation in the world formed as a result of a
slave revolt; Haiti was founded when the slaves defeated Napoleon’s army in
1804. Since that time, the people of Haiti have suffered under several
dictatorial regimes.
Over 85% of Haitians live below the absolute poverty line; most
get by on less than $2 per day. Two-thirds of the population lack formal
employment. 60% of Haiti’s GDP consists of remittances from former Haitians
living abroad. Only 10% of Haitians have electricity. Fewer than 30% of
Haitians reach 6th grade. Haiti is the poorest country in the
Western Hemisphere, and one of the five poorest countries in the world.
Creole
is the primary language, and while many people consider themselves Christians,
most people also participate in Voodoo. The average temperature in April is 95
degrees.
I
absolutely loved my trip to Haiti! I hope to go again some day!
*Community Health Initiatives
Community
Health Initiatives (CHI) is an amazing organization that does amazing work. And
they need your help! A small donation goes a LONG way in Haiti!
Please
check them out at www.chihaiti.org, or send your donation to CHI, PO Box 5908
Coralville, IA 52241.
*Swisher Fun Days
Fun
Days in Swisher runs Friday, August 5th and Saturday, August 6th. If you have
never visited Johnson County’s northwest corner, give it a try!
I have been attending Fun Days since the late ’80s, and this looks
like the most full schedule of events they have ever had!
See for yourself at: http://swisherfundays.blogspot.com
*Suggestions for Housing Policies
It
has been a monumental time for housing policies in Iowa City! I was in
attendance for most of the June 21 Work Session, and watched the Formal Meeting
from the comfort of my home. These meetings were landmarks for affordable
housing!
First,
I must congratulate the IC Council on passing an Inclusionary Housing ordinance
for the Riverfront Crossings District! This is monumental, and I applaud them!
I have truly been waiting for this for over 25 years! Now I hope other cities
will step up and follow suit.
Secondly,
I must congratulate the IC Council on passing the community service long term
housing ordinance! This ordinance allows developments like the FUSE program,
intended to house some of our chronically homeless neighbors. This, too is
monumental!
While
I am very excited about these two changes, I was disappointed in part of the
discussion. Specifically:
I
thought City Manager Geoff Fruin’s presentation on affordable housing was quite
good, but it had one glaring omission: the role of regulation. Mr. Fruin
minimized the fact that you can REQUIRE developers to do certain things. One of
those things could be requiring affordable housing in every development where
something is requested of the City.
This
is not new. Cities require all kinds of things. Hallways must be certain
widths. Windows have minimum sizes. Certain materials are not allowed. Cities
require all sorts of safety standards be met. Cities require setbacks.
Developers deal with city requirements EVERY time they build anything. Should
they request anything (zoning change, annexation, etc.) cities can absolutely
require affordable housing!
I
agree that all people have a responsibility to do their part in providing
affordable housing. I am fine with my tax dollars being used for affordable
housing. But damn it, why is this SOLELY the role of the taxpayers? The
developers are the ones making the money! Charge them! Cities - you are the
government! You have a role here – you can regulate!
To
his everlasting credit, Geoff Fruin wrote me to address my concerns. He pointed
out, rightly so, that section “364.3(9) of the Iowa
Code prohibits cities from introducing rent controls, which is a central piece
of IH ordinances. The fact developers are voluntarily seeking rezoning gives
the city the opportunity require affordable housing. If they chose to redevelop
their property under the existing zoning, they don't have to provide the
affordable housing. The voluntary action of the developer is key to getting
around the state rent control prohibition.” This is a key point, and I
appreciate Geoff reiterating it. It does not change my argument; but it does
point out that my argument has a few limits.
Moving
on – I hope our cities will consider a displacement ordinance. What Iowa City
tried to do for the Rose Oaks tenants is admirable. But again, why is this
solely the role of taxpayers? REQUIRE the developers to make whole those they
displace! I know it is too late for Rose Oaks, but the next Rose Oaks is
probably a month away. We have simply seen too many instances of people being
displaced by redevelopment efforts. Redevelopment is good, but a cost of that
redevelopment should be making whole the families who are displaced. And this
isn’t just Iowa City; every city needs a policy!
Again,
Geoff was kind enough to engage in dialogue. He pointed out that the City
Attorney felt Iowa City was “limited” in its’ ability to pursue these types of
requirements. Forgive me, but I simply don’t always trust the opinion of the
City Attorney. I understand why Geoff would proceed cautiously given her
advice, but in my experience, her opinions have virtually always protected the
powerful interests. I’m willing to bet we can find examples of other cities
whose attorneys have found such an ordinance permissible. That is typically the
case – other cities do things while Iowa City sits back and claims they are
illegal. I hope the Council will ask staff to look into this.
One
final note: the best way to create more affordable housing? Build more
affordable housing! “Workforce” housing is great, and we need more of it. But
we don’t need it as badly as we need AFFORDABLE housing. So if we are going to
be asked to subsidize one or the other? Let’s subsidize the affordable housing.
Allow the market to work its’ “magic” on the rest.
We
have many, many good things going on. I like where the City Manager is headed. I
like where the Council is headed. I don’t want to minimize what has been
accomplished. But we still need to have the intestinal fortitude to require
those who benefit to foot the bill.
*DID YOU KNOW?
From 1957-1971, President for Life (his
official title) Dr. François Duvalier, M.D. aka "Papa Doc" ruled over
Haiti with an iron fist. Following his death in 1971, his dimwitted son,
Jean-Claude aka “Baby Doc” assumed the position until he was deposed in a 1986
uprising.
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
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 1:56 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home