rodsullivan.org
SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
September 30, 2016
Sullivan’s
Salvos 10/4/16
In this edition:
*Flooding Update
*Comparing Trump and Clinton
*Volunteer!
*Did You Know?
*Flooding Update
Floods are ripping through Eastern Iowa once again, just 8 years
after the massive ’08 floods. While Linn County and Cedar Rapids are taking a
beating, the flood is affecting the Cedar River much more than the Iowa River.
That means Johnson County does not have many residents that are
affected, as the Cedar cuts through a mostly-rural area in the far NE corner of
the County. That corner, of course, is where I grew up, so I have a deep
concern for the people that live and farm there.
And farming is probably the most affected thing. Lots of farmers
were forced to combine a very wet crop much earlier than they wanted. Some of
it could not be harvested at all, and it is very unlikely that they have
storage options for what they could manage to harvest.
There are only a few homes in Johnson County that are affected, as
most sit up on the bluff side of the river. From what I could discern on my weekend
visits to the area, the few homes that sit below the bluff were getting things
moved to higher ground.
Then there is the Sutliff Bridge. Conservation employees and
volunteers from the Sutliff Bridge Authority removed the panels from the side
of the bridge, which should allow water (and more importantly, debris) to flow
across the structure. That meant shutting the bridge down to the public
Saturday afternoon.
As I noted, most of the problems were in Linn County. And I am
incredibly proud of the way in which Johnson County stepped up to assist our
neighbors!
Our Secondary Roads trucks ran 12-hour days on Friday and Sunday,
and 14 hours on Saturday, hauling in materials to build berms and levees. These
guys had other things to do. They had their own jobs at Johnson County. They
missed a weekend with their families to bust their butts helping our neighbors.
Kudos!
There are many other stories: Our Emergency Management folks
dedicated all our resources, people and otherwise. Johnson County became the
dispatch center for both Linn and Blackhawk Counties. Our Facilities crew
helped Linn County empty out their Administration Building. Our Auditor’s
Office helped Linn County move all their voting equipment. Our Sheriff’s Office
deployed people and resources. Mickey Miller, who does Grants and
Communications for Johnson County, jumped in to assist at the Linn County EOC.
Heck, even Supervisor Lisa Green Douglass and I were moving things for Linn
County! I am SO very proud of the willingness of Johnson County folks to lend a
hand!
A
few more things about this flooding: First, when are we going to recognize that
climate change is real and man made? When I was a kid, there was no such thing
as a 5-inch rain. Now we have 12-inch rains like those that fell in the Cedar
River basin. We simply must act!
Secondly,
Republicans in Congress have blocked the aid Cedar Rapids requested following
the ’08 floods. There would be much better protection in place had the GOP
allowed CR the money they need.
Thirdly,
because the federal money was not forthcoming, locals voted on doing some
things themselves. A one cent sales tax that would have provided the funding
Congress SHOULD have provided failed, 49-51%. Wow. How many people would like a
do-over on that vote?
Rather
than focus on these topics, I want to end with a shout out to the many Johnson
County folks who pitched in to help. Thank you all!
*Comparing Trump and Clinton
I
have some friends who are adamantly opposed to Hilary Clinton. When I ask them
why, they most frequently refer to questions of honesty and business dealings.
A few mention Bill Clinton.
Frankly,
these are not the issues that matter most to me. My top issues are social
justice, the Supreme Court, and climate change. But this is not about my
interests. Let’s compare the candidates based upon the issues my friends have
chosen:
Lying: Politifact tested the accuracy of 257
public statements made by Donald Trump. 180 were rated mostly false (44), false
(89), or Pants on Fire (47). 70% of all his statements were lies!
Politifact checked 255 statements by Hilary Clinton during the
same time frame. They found 70 to be mostly false (37), false (27), and Pants
on Fire (6). That means 27% of her statements were lies.
If you purport
to care about honesty in a candidate, how can you possibly vote for Trump?
Ill-gotten gains: My friends seem to be concerned over
the income the Clintons have earned since leaving the White House. Most of it
has come from books and speeches. What’s more, the Clinton’s have produced
every tax return they have filed going back decades.
Trump,
on the other hand, refuses to release his tax returns. Trump is being
investigated for shady dealings related to Trump University. Trump has been
bankrupt three times. He has been sued literally hundreds of times by businesses
and people who claim he has failed to pay his debts. If you purport to care
about ill-gotten gains by a candidate, how can you possibly vote for Trump?
Charitable Foundations: There have been well-documented
questions about the donors to the Clinton Foundation. While the Clinton family
has clearly given millions of person money to their Foundation, and the
Foundation has clearly done a lot of good, questions remain about some foreign
donors.
The
Trump Foundation, on the other hand, has given out very little money. What has
been given came from people other than Trump himself. Trump’s own personal
giving appears to be unbelievably low – it is hard to know for certain, because
he refuses to release his taxes. And the Trump Foundation made illegal political
contributions, then tried to cover it up. If you purport to care about the
dealings of a candidate’s Foundation, how can you possibly vote for Trump?
Infidelity: Trump has admitted publically to
cheating on two of his three wives. Clinton was the victim of her husband’s
infidelity, but appears to have never been unfaithful herself. If you purport
to care about infidelity in a candidate, how can you possibly vote for Trump?
I
am afraid that the bottom line is, my friends just don’t care about these
facts.
*Volunteer!
This
election is critical. And I am not about to wake up on November 9th
and think to myself, “What if I had done just a bit more?” No! I’m going to
fight! And I hope you will, too.
There
are many, many volunteer opportunities available every day of the week. Melissa
and I have been door knocking every weekend. It is not that hard. Please join
us. Our future depends on it!
*DID YOU KNOW?
While the recent flooding is the second worst in Cedar Rapids’ history,
it is nearly 10 feet below the 2008 record.
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
September 22, 2016
Sullivan’s
Salvos 9/27/16
In this edition:
*Supervisor Campaign
*Harvest
*Book Festival
*Just Showing Up
*CWJ Gala Fundraiser
*Did You Know?
*Supervisor Campaign
I had a couple people
ask about signs... in previous years, those of us who emerged from the
Democratic Primary have not put up signs for the General Election.
I still feel strongly
that way. I don't need your yard space; HRC, Patty Judge, and others do. Please
don't feel obligated to put up my sign. Similarly, please do not send me any
financial contributions! If you have extra money, please send it to State
Senator Chris Brase down in Muscatine! If you have extra time, contact the
local Coordinated Campaign!
The
Supervisor election was decided when no Republicans filed. It is time to focus
on other races. Money or time spent on me is money or time needed desperately
elsewhere! Thanks for asking, and thanks for your support!
*Harvest
Fall
in Iowa means the harvesting of crops, and that means large machinery is out in
the roadways. Please exercise caution as you navigate our roads!
*Book Festival
The seventh Iowa
City Book Festival schedule will feature bestsellers, Pulitzer Prize winners,
strong ties to Iowa, and authors from around the world. In addition, strong
partnerships with area groups will bring programs on topics that include
environmentalism, sustainability, global politics, and end-of-life care. The
festival will be held Oct. 4-9, 2016.
Highlights
of those evening events include the unveiling of the latest YA novel from
bestselling author Rick Riordan, who will
present his forthcoming novel, The Hammer of Thor. That ticketed event will be
held at the Englert Theatre at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 7, and is presented by
the festival and Prairie Lights. Tickets are $24, and attendees receive an
autographed copy of the new book.
Other
headliners include Suki Kim discussing her New
York Times bestselling book of investigative literary nonfiction about her
time teaching English in North Korea, Without You, There is No Us.
Kim is this year’s
selection for the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights’ One Community One
Book project. As in the past, the Book Festival is partnering with the UICHR to
bring the program author to Iowa City.
Other highlights include:
Angelo Volandes, author of
The Conversation: A Revolutionary Plan for End-of-Life Care, will appear on
Tuesday, Oct. 4, in conjunction with Iowa City Hospice/Honoring Your Wishes;
Andrea Wulf will discuss
The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New World, on Thursday, Oct.
6, in a partnership with the University of Iowa Office of Sustainability;
University of Iowa
Writers’ Workshop graduate Leslie Jamison will discuss her essay collection,
The Empathy Exams, on Friday, Oct. 7, in partnership with the Examined Life
conference.
The
festival traditionally has a strong selection of fiction represented on its
schedule, and this year will be no different. Highlights include:
Puliter Prize winner and
UI alum Robert Olen Butler, who will read from his new novel, Perfume River,
which examines family ties and the legacy of the Vietnam War through the
portrait of a single North Florida family.
John Domini of Des Moines,
who will read from his acclaimed new collection of short stories, Movieola.
Former northeast Iowa
deputy sheriff Donald Harstad, who returns with November Rain, the latest in
his beloved Carl Houseman mystery series.
F. Paul Wilson, author of
the wildly popular “Repairman Jack” series, will discuss his new stand-alone
medical thriller, Panacea.
Former Gazette news
reporter Nathan Hill returns to Iowa City with The Nix, his highly touted debut
novel.
These are just a few of
the authors scheduled to appear!
Other
than the Riordan event, all festival events are free and open to the public. Most
events will be held on Saturday, Oct. 8. The full schedule will be released
closer to the event. For specific times and locations for festival events, or
to learn more about programs and authors, please visit
www.iowacitybookfestival.org.
Iowa
City was named a UNESCO City of Literature in 2008 in recognition of its rich
literary heritage culture. It is one of only 20 Cities of Literature worldwide,
and the only one in the United States, to hold this honor.
*Just Showing Up…
I
have long been a believer in the adage that, “Half the battle is just showing
up.” But it is worth noting that it is only HALF. In my opinion, too many
politicians are only putting in half the necessary effort.
Granted,
our current situation is better than it was in the past. Not so long ago,
elected officials couldn’t even be bothered to show up at community meetings
and events. That has changed in some (but not all) cases. So we are definitely
in a better place. But 50% is not enough.
It
is not good enough to show up, sign the guest book, make certain people saw
you, then leave. If you want to have credibility, you need to invest. Invest
your head, your heart, and perhaps your money.
Obviously,
no one cares equally about every issue. We all only have so much physical and
emotional energy. That is why I dislike seeing people fake it. It is important
to be genuine.
Public
– this is up to you. Hold your elected officials to very high standards. In the
best-case scenario, elected officials step up. If not, you know whom to trust.
*CWJ Gala Fundraiser
The
Center for Worker Justice (CWJ) is holding a gala fundraiser! Join us for an
evening of good food, rousing music, inspiring speakers, and grassroots
fundraising to fuel local campaigns for economic justice in the months ahead.
All proceeds support CWJ.
The
event is Friday, October 14 at 6pm at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Iowa
City. Call 319-594-7593 for more information.
*DID YOU KNOW?
Farmers produced 13.6 billion bushels of corn in 2015, a number that
will likely be dwarfed in 2016. Farmers produced almost 4 billion bushels of
soybeans in 2015, which was a record.
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
September 15, 2016
Sullivan’s
Salvos 9/20/16
In this edition:
*Wilson’s Apple Orchard
*Cyclo-Cross World Cup
*Marketing Hawkeye Football?
*Did You Know?
*Wilson’s Apple Orchard
Fall
is upon us, and fall in Johnson County would not be complete without a trip or
two to Wilson’s Orchard.
Located just off
Highway One at 4823 Dingleberry Road, Wilson’s is part nature park, part
orchard. Surrounded by old oak forest, the farm occupies both sides of a valley
with Rapid Creek winding through the land. Joyce and Robert ‘Chug’ Wilson first
fell in love with this ground in 1980 and set to work building an orchard of
apples that tasted like apples should. They planted over 120 varieties over the
years, all chosen based on one simple criterion: great taste.
At Wilson’s you will find all
kinds of apples – big ones, small ones, green ones, yellow ones, and purple
ones – each with its own flavor and texture. The varieties ripen from the
beginning of August through October. In October you can find a variety of
pumpkins as well!
Wilson’s Orchard is a great
family place. On weekends, take a tractor ride out to do your picking and
strolling. At the barn you’ll find apple turnovers, hot out of the oven. Fresh
apple cider is on offer as well as dried fruit and plenty of other cool stuff.
Fruit, family and fun – they all come together at Wilson’s Orchard.
Best of all, your
support of Wilson’s Orchard is support for local food and a strong local economy.
They are proud of the food they grow and happy that every customer can come see
how (and why) they do it. Their farming and marketing involve low inputs, low
food miles and low carbon emissions, which is way good for our community. Plus they
have the apple turnovers…
Wilson’s
is open 10-6 every day from the first of August until the end of October. You
still have plenty of time to stop by this wonderful Johnson County landmark!
*Cyclo-Cross World Cup
Johnson
County and the City of Iowa City are thrilled to host the Telenet UCI
Cylco-Cross World Cup & Volkswagen Jingle Cross Cyclocross Festival. Our
community and state are deeply passionate about cycling and couldn’t be more
excited for the opportunity to host some of the world’s greatest cyclists. This
website serves as a showcase for all activities and experiences associated with
the World Cup visit to Iowa City.
Schedule
of events:
Thursday, September 22
Friday, September 23
Full day of racing, food,
drink and music. cyclo-cross racing begins leading up to the World Cup events
on Saturday. Deschutes Brewery will be featured at all beverage stations on the
North Pole, Whoville Village, and the infamous Mt. Krumpit summit. Friday’s
events will include racing under the Musco lights, and the deejay and party on
Mt. Krumpit that fans have grown to love.
Saturday, September 24
The Northside Oktoberfest
benefiting Iowa City area non-profits showcases the Bohemian nature of the
Northside Marketplace with great craft beers, neighborhood food, beer games,
Iowa football and much more! Join us on Saturday, September 24th, as we take
over the streets of the Northside, just blocks north of downtown Iowa City! New
for 2016! As an added perk for 2016, your Oktoberfest ticket provides
you with one complimentary ticket to the 2016 Telenet UCI Cyclo-Cross World
Cup. The City of Iowa City will provide complimentary parking garage access for
the entire day! Complimentary shuttles to and from the fairgrounds.
“Christmas Comes Early” at
the Johnson County Fairgrounds, Iowa City. Site Map for location of
activities.
Included in Whoville
Village:
Grinch’s Kid’s Zone
Strider bike course and kids races for the little
ones age 18 months all the way up to 10 years old to take place Saturday
afternoon before the big World Cup event! Several races for kids of all ages to
race the Infamous Grinch!
Bouncy House, Face
Painting, Games, and Push bike race course for the little kids.
*Marketing Hawkeye Football?
As
you know, I am a huge fan of Hawkeye sports. As I sit in Kinnick Stadium, I am
noticing a disturbing trend. It strikes me that the UI is marketing Hawkeye
football in ways that border on exploitative.
My
first example: each home game there is a “Kid’s Captain” who is a patient of
the Children’s Hospital. This young person stands out at midfield, while the
announcer explains what he/she has been through. Then the crowd roars.
I
am torn by this. When I was that same age, I would have probably loved being the
“Kid’s Captain.” I certainly think it is nice that they take the kid to the
game. And it calls attention to the outstanding Children’s Hospital right
across the street. So I understand why they do it.
I
just can’t help feeling that there is something exploitative there. Don’t get
me wrong; I’m sure no kid is coerced into being the Captain. I wonder more
about the hundreds of kids who are not selected. Would a kid be selected whose
parents were not current on payments? I also worry about the UI using some
kid’s illness to make football fans feel good about the institution. It seems
to walk a fine line. And do you want to be the one person in the stadium who
does not stand and clap during this? Good luck!
I
am also concerned about the militarization of Hawkeye games. Sure, there has
always been a color guard, and we always sing the Star Spangled Banner. But it
just keeps growing. There is a “Military Hero” honored every game. Through the
magic of technology, Nile Kinnick speaks to us while we see him in his Navy
uniform. There are whole games that serve as “salutes” to our military – ironically,
these “salutes” always feature aberrations of the US flag as part of the team
uniform.
Don’t
get me wrong – I support our troops. I support our veterans! But sitting in Kinnick
Stadium, I feel manipulated. I showed up for a football game, and I got a
Veteran’s Day Parade instead. The UI is purposely trying to associate itself
with our troops. Again, I worry about the UI using our veterans to make
football fans feel good about the institution. It seems to walk a fine line.
And again - do you want to be the one person in the stadium who does not stand
and clap during this? Good luck!
This
is especially troubling in light of the Colin Kaepernick issue. My buddy Ted
Cruz just introduced legislation calling for a “boycott of athletes that
disrespect our flag.” See, UI? You are one step closer to Ted Cruz’ world. And
that is a scary place!
Even
writing this opens me up to criticism. By questioning the UI’s role in the race
to be more military, I will be criticized for hating our troops. It is not
true, but that demonstrates the danger of continuing down this path.
The
messages are so mixed: On one hand, we hear the UI saying, “Look at us – we
know football is not the most important thing.” But every other action they
take indicates that football is the most important thing.
Perhaps
I’m just a grumpy old man. But I’d rather see the Hawkeyes just line up and
play football. Spare me the attempts at using veterans and sick children to
manipulate my feelings.
*DID YOU KNOW?
Wilson’s now makes hard apple cider. Although they do not sell the hard cider at the orchard, it is
available on tap and in bottles through a variety of area restaurants and
retailers.
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
September 9, 2016
Sullivan’s
Salvos 9/13/16
In this edition:
*Linn County Conservation Bond
*Linn County Supervisors – 3 or 5?
*Linn County Minimum Wage
*Aesthetics
*Did You Know?
*Linn County Conservation Bond
In
November voters in Linn County will have the opportunity to follow Johnson
County’s lead, and pass a Conservation Bond initiative.
Johnson
County voters passed this in 2008 by a whisker, just more than the required
60%. (Note – we were in the midst of an economic collapse at the time!) The
Johnson County effort was $20 million dollars, but the overall investment is
much greater, as we have leveraged other dollars at a rate of almost 2:1.
Linn
is shooting for $40 million, and I wish them luck! I was extremely glad to see
that Linn County is working with the Trust for Public Land (TPL). The TPL
assisted us, too, and we would never have gotten our bond passed without their
help!
Unfortunately,
Linn County has a fight on its’ hands. Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett showed
his hypocrisy. Corbett has long argued against the Des Moines Waterworks suit,
claiming locals could figure out solutions to our water quality problems. Well,
the Linn Supervisors have put forth the ultimate local solution, and Corbett refuses
to endorse it. Voters – REMEMBER that!
It
is also sad, frankly, to see so many other “leaders” in Linn County who only
want to criticize the plan. Ummm… that is NOT leadership! What Linn County is
doing IS leadership. You had your chance to do this, and punted. Now it is time
to get on board, or get out of the way!
One
frequent criticism is, “I want to know specifically what land might be
purchased.” This criticism is pure foolishness. First, the bond lasts 20 years.
Who could possibly know what might be for sale 18 years from now? Secondly, if
people know the County is looking at land, it throws off the market. That is
why governments are allowed to discuss the purchase and sale prices of land in
closed sessions. Wanna spend way too much on Conservation properties? Force
them to list them all now!
The Conservation Bond has been a great thing for Johnson County; I
think every county ought to do it! Best of luck to our friends in Linn County!
*Linn County Supervisors – 3 or 5?
Linn
County voters have another issue on the November ballot. Voters there will also
decide whether or not to stay with 5 Supervisors or switch back to 3. (Linn
County switched from 3 to 5 in 2006.)
To
be honest? This vote is stupid. Linn County has over 200,000 residents. That
calls for more than 3 representatives. They need the extra two sets of eyes,
ears, and minds.
Proponents
of cutting down to three Supervisors claim it will save money. Well, it MIGHT…
but let’s put this in perspective. Linn Supervisors make about $100,000
annually. We’ll throw in a generous benefit package, and call it $125,000.
Times two positions is $250,000. The Linn County budget is well over $100
million annually. If money is the issue, Linn County could cut less than one
quarter of one percent anywhere in the budget and get a better result.
The
bigger issue, in my mind, is that I honestly believe a three person Board is
incapable of following Iowa’s Open Meetings Law. According to the law, any time
a quorum of the Board talks any County business, the meeting must be noticed
and minutes must be kept.
I
refuse to believe that 3 Supervisors could work in the same office every day
and NEVER ONCE have two of them discuss ANYTHING business related. If you did
it just one time, you broke the law!
Why
mess with this? Linn County is a big, diverse place. The people deserve more
representation, not less.
*Linn County Minimum Wage
I
was very pleased to see Linn County vote to increase the minimum wage in that
jurisdiction. I am particularly proud of Linn County Supervisor Ben Rogers.
When it appeared the increase was on shaky ground, Rogers stepped up into the
leadership role and got it done. Nice work, Ben!
It
is interesting – I have used Linn County as a point of comparison thus far.
Neighboring counties. Same laborshed. Historically, unemployment in Linn County
has been about one percent higher than Johnson County. It was that way for the
year prior to Johnson County raising the wage. And for the ten and a half
months since we raised the wage, the gap has stayed at one percent.
What
does that mean? It means the people who claimed jobs would move elsewhere where
COMPLETELY wrong. Raising the wage has not cost Johnson County jobs.
I
am very glad to see that Linn County will be coming on board. Low-wage workers
there deserve a raise!
*Aesthetics
It
seems there are always a number of issues in Johnson County that center around
aesthetics. How tall should buildings be? What constitutes a “well-maintained”
yard? Does color matter on historic properties? What is the definition of art?
How much is art worth?
Personally,
I have always been very much in the “function over form” camp. If you have ever
seen any clothes or shoes I have worn, haircuts I’ve had, or cars I have
driven, you should easily recognize this. And I’ll be honest; I wear my
“function over form” like a badge of honor. I am pretty certain it saves money
and natural resources. And I do not have to worry about keeping up with the
Jones’.
On
the other hand, I know my proclivity toward function can cross the line into a
fault. I helped the kids duct tape the mirror to our old van. Probably should
have gone another route. Melissa certainly deserves prettier things than I
typically provide. And yes, I can be judgmental when I see people spend what I
consider to be too much on clothes, cars, phones, etc.
I
remember a big civic fight back in the late 1990s that found advocates for
funding for public art pitted against advocates for services for the poor. The
Iowa City Council at that time did a great job of pitting those who wanted
money spent on public art versus those of us who wanted money spent on public
services. In fact, BOTH groups needed to challenge the arguments of the City.
There was enough money for BOTH arts and services; it simply wasn’t a priority
of that City Council.
Over
the years, I have been quite frustrated by people who seem to be too focused on
aesthetics. I would imagine they have also been frustrated by me.
So
what is the right balance? Do we need more emphasis on aesthetics? Less? Or do
we strike a pretty good balance? More importantly, how can we bridge our
differences so that those who would oppose us both are not allowed to divide
us?
*DID YOU KNOW?
Linn County is Iowa’s second most populous county, with 220,000
residents. Johnson County is 4th at about 150,000. (Source: US
Census.)
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
September 1, 2016
Sullivan’s
Salvos 9/6/16
In this edition:
*”Kinnick House”
*LGD and Ph.D.
*More on Education
*Did You Know?
*”Kinnick House”
You
have probably heard about the controversy caused by the “Kinnick House”
proposed for Lusk Avenue in Manville Heights. If not, a quick background: Lusk
Avenue is a one block long street that dead-ends at some majestic, 100+ years
old oaks. The street is just across Highway 6 from the VA Hospital; in other
words, close to UI athletic venues. It is in this spot, on a small residential
lot, that a man from Decorah proposes building his “Kinnick House”.
Yes,
the house is supposed to look like a replica of Kinnick Stadium. The gentleman
who proposes the building claims that he and his wife will visit “several times
a year” but that it will often sit vacant. At over 7,000 square feet with a
commercial kitchen and multiple bathrooms, it is hard to imagine this structure
simply being used as a residential home.
Here
is my take: Iowa City is going to get sued either way. Why not stand up for the
neighborhood? Rather than forcing neighbors to sue, force the guy who wants to
ruin their neighborhood to sue. Make him prove to a jury that this is just a
residence.
It
is way too easy for the City to say, “There is nothing we can do.” I do not
believe that. This is not simply a matter of aesthetics; this is a clear
attempt to subvert the zoning code. There is a compelling reason to say no. I’d
rather see the Council take a stand for their constituents and lose doing the
right thing.
*LGD and Ph. D.
I
often get questions about Supervisor Lisa Green Douglass, the newest member of
the Board. People always ask how she is doing.
The
answer is she is doing fine! The job of Supervisor requires learning a lot
about a wide variety of topics. No one gets it all immediately. But Lisa is a
quick study.
And
that is one thing that really stands out about Lisa (affectionately becoming
known as LGD) - her intelligence. She is one smart cookie! That actually got me
thinking… is this the first time Johnson County has had a Supervisor with a
Ph.D.? Have we even had a Supervisor with a Master’s Degree?
I
can hear the naysayers already… why does a County Supervisor need a Master’s
Degree? We don’t NEED one. But that is not the point. Johnson County is one of
the most educated counties in the world. (We rank #20 in the US, with 24% of
the population having a Master’s Degree or greater education.) I simply find it
interesting that we have not had many Supervisors with advanced degrees.
State
Senator Joe Bolkcom has a Master’s Degree, and had it when he served as a
County Supervisor in the 1990s. Bolkcom’s former colleague Jonathon Jordahl
actually has multiple Master’s Degrees. Former Supervisor Janet Shipton has led
a remarkable life; I’m not certain if she has an advanced degree or not.
Beyond
that…I cannot find anyone! I think LGD is our first Ph.D.! Please correct me if
you know otherwise.
*More on Education
We
are in the midst of a big political campaign, and Iowa City/Coralville is a
very politically active area. I often hear people in this area make comments
about lower income white voters and their affinity for Donald Trump. “Why?”
they ask.
To
be honest, there are probably 5-6 legitimate answers to the question, “Why?” We
will talk about more as the campaign progresses. But there is one particular
dynamic I want to focus on today, and that is education.
I just wrote
about this in Salvos, but it bears repeating:
“Almost without fail, they will emphasize the need for more
education as a cure for economic inequality.
I
understand this notion. I am certainly pro-education. But statistics prove that
education alone is NOT the answer to economic inequality. Here is why:
The
American workforce has never been better educated. The American workforce has
never been more productive. Yet inequality has never been worse.
In
1940, less than 50% of Americans finished high school. That number has
gradually increased, and while there have been some ups and downs, the rate hit
an all-time high of 82% in 2015.
Similarly,
the percentage of college grads was 4.6% in 1940. It was 7.7% in 1960, 17% in
1980, and 30% in 2010. (Source: US Census Bureau.)
So
– American workers ARE better educated. They are doing what they have been
asked to do. They are getting better educated. They are upholding their end of
the bargain; it is the corporations who have let us down.
I
understand why we are attracted to the myth that education is the key to all
our problems. There are plenty of anecdotal instances of a poor kid using
education to rise to the top. Larry Ellison, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton, and
Barack and Michelle Obama are all examples of poor/middle class kids using
education to better their position. It makes for a great rags-to-riches story.
It also puts all the responsibility on the individual.
But any statistician will tell you –
these high-profile stories are just anecdotes. These are just data points. For
most people, education is hard to attain, especially an elite education. And
even once you have gotten an education, it serves as no guarantee. Just look at
my earlier statistics. The myth sounds good, and feels good – but it is a myth.
We
will not solve inequality by focusing on workers. They are doing what they need
to do. We need to focus on the corporations that have done so much to keep our
workers down.”
The
people of Iowa City and Coralville are extremely well educated. That is a very
good thing! But it must not lead to a viewpoint that education is everything!
Hillary
Clinton and the members of the Democratic Party keep encouraging more and
better education. Again, this is a good thing. But it will not solve all our
problems.
Many
American workers may not have advanced educations, but they are not stupid.
Workers need a lifeline. Trump offers them rhetoric. Democrats need to offer
them something real, not just mountains of student debt.
*DID YOU KNOW? 52% of the population of Johnson County has a Bachelor’s Degree
or higher. That ranks #17 in the US. (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
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