Rod Sullivan, Supervisor, Johnson County, Iowa

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SULLIVAN'S SALVOS

May 26, 2016

Sullivan’s Salvos     5/31/16



In this edition:

*Sullivan for Supervisor Supporters!
*Memorial Day
*Graduations
*Solon Fire Breakfast
*Congratulations, Nancy!
*Did You Know?



*Sullivan for Supervisor Supporters!
Harry Truman once said, “If you want a friend in politics, get a dog.” Truman knew what he was talking about! The hardest thing about running for office is navigating the personal relationships.

It never fails: on the positive side, there are always a couple people you barely know who send you nice notes telling you that they admire your work. That is always unexpected, and serves as a wonderful surprise!

Unfortunately, those instances are overshadowed by the instances where old friends or longtime allies support other candidates. Nothing hurts worse than putting in years of work alongside someone, ostensibly with the same goals, only to have that person decide to support someone else.

This happens every election cycle, and it makes you appreciate all the more those who continued to believe in you as a person, as a candidate, and as a friend.

At the risk of offending everyone else, here are just a few of the folks who have decided to support me this time around: State Senator Joe Bolkcom, State Senator Kevin Kinney, Tom Larkin and Joyce Bernardy, Royceann Porter, Dave Leshtz, Bill Hanes, Orville and Billie Townsend, Nick Johnson and Mary Vasey, Iowa City Mayor Jim Throgmorton, Mike Cilek, Barbara Beaumont, Karen Kubby, Nancy Porter, Rebecca Reiter, Jae Retz and Roberta Till-Retz, Peter and Eileen Fisher, Jim Walters, David Tingwald, and Iowa City Councilor Pauline Taylor.

         There are many, many others, and I apologize for failing to give a shout out to everyone. But thanks to these folks. There are some Democratic Party giants on that list! I am really proud to have earned your trust! Your support means the world to me!



*Memorial Day
Monday, May 30 is Memorial Day. I hope you have a wonderful holiday, and I hope you spend at least a part of it remembering those who have died while serving our Country. Happy Memorial Day to all!



*Graduations
         Memorial Day Weekend means graduations. Congratulations to all our graduating seniors! Commencement has already taken place at the UI and Kirkwood, and the local high schools are graduating as we speak.

         I know that Melissa (and others) accuse me of being overly sentimental when it comes to these types of things. That may be true. But graduation really is a milestone.

Certainly, what graduates do in the future is much more important than what they have done to date. But the fact is, they have accomplished something important. Let’s reflect upon it, and celebrate it! Congrats again to all the graduates!



*Solon Fire Breakfast
The Solon Firefighters will host the 53rd Annual Solon Firefighter's Breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 29 at the Solon Fire Station, 131 N. Iowa St.

The breakfast is all you can eat and the menu includes: pancakes, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, patty sausage, sliced ham, milk and coffee. Cost is free for preschool children, $4 for children 12 and younger and $6 for adults. For more information, call 624-2386.



*Congratulations, Nancy!
         Congratulations to Nancy Quellhorst, who is stepping down as President and CEO of the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce.

         Some folks know this, and others do not: the Iowa City Area Chamber is not affiliated with the US Chamber of Commerce. And that is a good thing! The US Chamber is an absolutely awful organization; they stand against almost every principle I hold dear. I can say with some certainty that the US Chamber is in conflict with the beliefs of over 80% of Johnson County residents. So again – it is good that the IC Area Chamber has not been affiliated. If they ever did, I would do everything I could to ensure Johnson County did not belong.

Despite the fact that the IC Area Chamber does not belong to the larger group, I have had some deep and significant differences with the IC Area Chamber over the years. I think that there has been a long running lack of understanding within Chamber leaders that the biggest industry in Johnson County is government. They can pretend all they want, but government drives our local economy. The local Chamber says they support funding for K-12 schools and funding for the UI, but instead argue for austerity at the State level. These anti-government initiatives several Chamber members push every year are actually very bad for our local economy. I wish more of them would understand this.

Many of our local Democrats spend a bunch of time kissing up to the Chamber, even as those same Chamber members do everything in their power to knock the same Dems out of office. Lately, some elected Dems have even decided to adopt Republicans over Democrats as their candidates of choice! The relationship has always been completely one sided. I have never quite understood that dynamic!

I do not expect the IC Area Chamber to change any time soon. And they probably shouldn’t hold their breath waiting for me to change, either.

Given this acrimonious history, you might be surprised to find out that I really like, admire, and respect Nancy Quellhorst. Nancy has always been honest, kind, thoughtful, and fair. She is smart, thorough, and does high quality work. She is a good listener and has a good heart. Nancy is just a good person.

Frankly, I wish she had worked somewhere else these many years. Nancy had to do her best to defend some positions that were nearly indefensible. But she was a trooper! I know the IC Area Chamber was darn lucky to have her!

         I wish Nancy all the best as she moves to the next phase of her life! Congratulations, Nancy!



*DID YOU KNOW? Memorial Day originated as Decoration Day after the American Civil War in 1868, when the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans founded in Decatur, Illinois, established it as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers.



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 20, 2016

Sullivan’s Salvos     5/24/16



In this edition:


*Vote Sullivan!
*What is This Campaign About?
*Bathroom Politics
*Middle Class
*Don’t Mow the Ditch!
*Did You Know?



*Vote Sullivan for Supervisor!
         Like getting Salvos every week? If you want to keep them coming, you need to vote Sullivan for Supervisor on or before June 7! I would sincerely appreciate your vote!



*What is This Campaign About?
         This Supervisor campaign has, unfortunately, been light on substance. I wish we could have robust debates about where County Government should be going.

         We have all had the opportunity to tell you where we grew up. That is great, but it is not enough.

         One thing you can do: go to City Channel 4 (citychannelfour.com) and take a look at our forums. There have been five, and four can be found there: League of Women Voters, Task Force on Aging, Environmental groups, and Social and Economic Justice. The Farm Bureau also held a forum, but it was not recorded.

         What issues do you want to see discussed in the campaign for the Johnson County Board of Supervisors?

Personally, I want to discuss issues of justice: social, racial, economic, environmental, legal, criminal...I'm happy to engage my fellow candidates on these (or any other) issues.



*Bathroom Politics
         From the New York Times: “The Obama administration made its stance on transgender rights clear to public schools across the country, sending a letter telling districts to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms that match their gender identity. The directive isn’t a law, but the threat of lawsuits or loss of federal aid is implicit. The move came at the end of a week that also saw the Justice Department and North Carolina sue one another over access to public restrooms.”

Hooray for President Obama and Attorney General Loretta Lynch! I am so pleased to see them standing strong behind our transgender sisters and brothers! Let’s face it – this is a small and relatively powerless community. That is why it is especially important to stand up with and for them!

         So what are the real world impacts of this decision? For virtually all of us, there will be no impacts whatsoever! Newsflash! Transgender folks have always used bathrooms! I can honestly say that I have no idea how many times I have shared a restroom with someone who was transgender. And if you are honest, you’ll admit that you have no idea, either.

         Let’s be very clear – there are ZERO cases of boys claiming to be transgender just to gain access to the girl’s locker room. Pretending you are transgender is not worth it. That is because the REAL issue is that transgender individuals are bullied and attacked at higher rates than any other group of people. If there is one group in need of extra protections, it is our transgender sisters and brothers.

         North Carolina Republicans should be ashamed. Picking on one of the most defenseless groups in our society. Thanks to President Obama for standing up to the bullies!



*Middle Class
         Is it tougher to make a go of it in today’s America? The answer is definitely YES!

A 2014 Bankrate survey found that only 38 percent of Americans could cover a $500 emergency-room visit or car repair with money they’d saved. A report published last year by the Pew Charitable Trusts found that 55 percent of households didn’t have enough liquid savings to replace a month’s worth of lost income.

Before you go blaming this on the “bad choices” made by Americans today, consider this: median net worth has declined steeply in the past generation—down 85.3 percent from 1983 to 2013 for the bottom income quintile, down 63.5 percent for the second-lowest quintile, and down 25.8 percent for the third, or middle, quintile.

         People are living on the edge because they simply are not making enough money! Income inequality – behind climate change, the foremost issue facing America today!

         We have seen this first hand with Foster Children. Most of us have a place we could stay for two weeks if need be. Most of us could get someone to let us use a printer. Many of us could get a ride if we needed one. Many of us could borrow a bit of money if necessary. Some of us have someone we could call to help change a tire. Some of us have a person that would bail us out of jail.

         For a whole bunch of Americans, this is not true. And when you lack these things, you lose jobs. Lose jobs, and you lose housing. And the downward spiral begins…We have created a society full of people living on the edge. It simply has to change!



*Don’t Mow the Ditch!
The County’s Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management (IRVM) program reminds residents that Iowa law prohibits the mowing of ditches along county secondary roads and state primary and interstate highways each year prior to July 15. The no-mow order allows time for hatching and development of ground-nesting birds and pollinators.

Johnson County Roadside Vegetation Manager Chris Henze said that in 2010, legislation changed the date from July 1 to July 15. “Studies have shown a significant increase in nesting success, with more nestlings ready to fledge, given this extra time,” Henze explained. The law also expanded the restrictions to include county roads, thereby protecting an additional 500,000 acres of vegetated right-of-way statewide.

“The two-week extension also allows refugia—a suitable habitat—for pollinators during these peak flowering times for many native plants,” Henze said.

Exceptions to the law allow for maintaining sightlines and for controlling weeds. Cutting for hay is not among the exceptions. The law reads:

Mowing roadside vegetation on the rights-of-way or medians on any primary highway, interstate highway, or secondary road prior to July 15 is prohibited, except as follows:
 
  • Within 200 yards of an inhabited dwelling
  • On rights-of-way within one mile of the corporate limits of a city
  • To promote native species of vegetation or other long-lived and adaptable vegetation
  • To establish control of damaging insect populations, noxious weeds, and invasive plant species
  • For visibility and safety reasons
  • Within rest areas, weigh stations, and wayside parks
  • Within 50 feet of a drainage tile or tile intake
  • For access to a mailbox or for other accessibility purposes
  • On rights-of-way adjacent to agricultural demonstration or research plots

“In an agricultural state like Iowa, the law serves as a reminder to mow only the shoulder and leave the rest for the birds,” Henze said. “Aggressive mowing weakens vegetation along slopes, which allows erosion and soil loss. That can also create openings for weeds.”

Visit the Secondary Roads page at www.johnson-county.com/roads and click on Roadside Vegetation Management for more information on the County’s IRVM program.



*DID YOU KNOW?  Johnson County’s IRVM policy was awarded the 2011 Achievement Award for Roadside Vegetation Management for our Native Plant Community Policy. The award was presented at the annual conference of the National Association of Counties, a national organization representing county government with a membership of about 75 percent of US counties.



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 13, 2016

Sullivan’s Salvos     5/17/16



In this edition:


*Sullivan for Supervisor!
*IDP Caucus Review
*Minimum Wage Economics
*Iowa Shares
*Did You Know?



*Sullivan for Supervisor!
         As you (hopefully) know, I am running for reelection. Early voting has already begun for the June 7 Democratic Party Primary; I thought I should take a moment to make my case to Salvos readers!

I grew up on a Heritage farm (150 years in the same family) near Sutliff, and attended K-12 in the Lisbon school system. I attended the University of Iowa, earning a BA in 1988. I have held several positions in the field of human services, including 6 years with the Department of Human Services and 6 years as Executive Director of the Arc of Johnson County.

I am married to Dr. Melissa Fath, a Research Scientist at the UI and a volunteer Pharmacist at the Free Medical Clinic. We have 3 adult children-Rachel, Jordan, and BJ, and have served as foster parents for another 40+ children.

I have been active in many local organizations, including volunteering for the Shelter Overflow, Furniture Project, United Way, Community Foundation of Johnson County, Affordable Homes Coalition, Coalition for Racial Justice, UI Center for Disabilities and Development, Hoover PTA, City High Little Hawks Club, Yes for Kids Steering Committee, and the Batterer’s Education Program.

I am a member of several community organizations, including: St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Iowa Foster & Adoptive Parent Association, Sierra Club, Burr Oak Land Trust, Johnson County Historical Society, Johnson County Ag Association, Center for Worker Justice, ACLU Hawkeye Chapter, AFT Local 716, and NAMI. I also served 4 years as Chair of the Johnson County Democratic Party.

Some of the accomplishments of which I am proud:

Leadership during ’08 floods.
Human Rights Ordinance.
Sensitive Areas Ordinance.
Conservation Bond Initiative.
Started 1105 Project with gift of old Public Health building.
Saved Sutliff Bridge.
Trails funding.
Community ID.
Free Tax Help project.
Livable Community Successful Aging.
Outdoor warning sirens to unincorporated Johnson County.
Local Foods Policy Council.
“A” in local government transparency from Sunshine Institute.
Heritage AAA Outstanding Elected Official – 2009.
Raising the minimum wage.

         I respectfully request your vote on or before June 7. Thanks!



*IDP Caucus Review
         The Iowa Democratic Party has me steaming mad! They CLAIM to be doing a “Caucus Review”. One does not need to be Sherlock Holmes to note that Iowa Republicans handle their Caucuses differently than Iowa Democrats.

         (In short, Iowa Republicans walk in, vote, and then most leave. This allows for MUCH smaller caucus sites!)

         I am one of many people who has asked aloud why Democrats in Iowa do not simply do what Republicans do. The argument you hear from the IDP is, “New Hampshire won’t allow it.”

         But that is a blatant lie! New Hampshire allows the Iowa GOP to do it! The real story is that the IDP refuses to ask!

         I am so fed up with the IDP, I don’t really give a damn what they do. I just wish they would stop lying!



*Minimum Wage Economics
In discussing the increase in the minimum wage, I continue to come across the same argument: “So you raise the minimum wage. Then businesses raise prices. No one gains anything.”

This argument is incorrect. But in order to explain it, I think we need an illustration.

Needless to say, in any business, there are lots and lots of variables at work at any given time. But for the sake of simplicity and clarity, let’s focus on the example below:

A woman owns a coffee shop. She is open 10 hours per day, and she has 2 FTEs working that whole time. So she is paying for 20 hours per day.

She is forced to raise the wage from $8 to $10. That means she is paying staff $40 more each day.

The business owner could address this several ways: she could take $40/day less profit. She probably doesn’t want to do that. She could cut staff, but then she could not meet customer demand. So she decides to increase prices.

The shop sells 20 coffees per hour. Each coffee costs $2.50. That amounts to $500/day in revenues. The owner needs $540/day in revenues in order to stay profitable.

To get to $540/day, coffees need to increase 20 cents each – from $2.50 to $2.70. That gets the owner to $540/day.

Obviously, there are some assumptions here: primarily, we are assuming coffee sales remain the same. I believe that is a reasonable assumption.

Divide the coffee purchasing public into quintiles. The poorest quintile cannot afford $2.50 coffee. They are not customers. The second quintile really cannot afford the $2.50 coffee, but will treat themselves a few times per year. The third quintile buys coffee here, but irregularly. They may gripe about the price, but they buy. The fourth quintile buys coffee here regularly. The wealthiest quintile also buys here regularly.

So we raised the price from $2.50 to $2.70. The three wealthiest quintiles are still buying coffee; their purchasing behavior does not change. The people in the second quintile may buy a bit less, but they do not buy much, anyway. They still treat themselves occasionally. The poorest quintile? They make a couple thousand dollars per year more. They may now be able to buy coffee on occasion!

The point is this – the increase in prices is borne by ALL the customers, not just the poorest customers. So low-income workers come out ahead. Yes, they pay a bit more, but because we ALL pay a bit more, their incomes go farther.

I hope this helps people to see how an increase in the minimum wage can be covered by a small increase in prices.



*Iowa Shares
         I often write in support of the United Way, which is a favorite charity of mine. But I would be remiss to ignore our friends at Iowa Shares!

Iowa Shares is a coalition of social change, environmental and cultural nonprofit organizations throughout the state of Iowa. We make a direct impact on our communities through research, education, advocacy and direct service.

You can be a part of supporting Iowa Shares through workplace giving and direct support. Your gifts, no matter what size, will make it possible for our members to support the arts within our community, educating the public on threats to our air and water, protect animals, fight for equality and human rights, and so much more!

For much more information, visit: Iowashares.org.



*DID YOU KNOW?  Since 1938, the federal minimum wage has been increased 22 times. For more than 75 years, real GDP per capita has steadily increased, even when the minimum wage has been raised. (Source: US Department of Labor.)



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 6, 2016

Sullivan’s Salvos     5/10/16



In this edition:


*Congratulations, Jordan!
*Farmer’s Markets
*UI and the Minimum Wage
*Bike to Work Week
*Did You Know?



*Congratulations, Jordan!
         I am always a proud papa, but that is particularly true this week. My daughter Jordan graduates Saturday from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois with a BA in Psychology.

         Jordan graduated in 4 years with a GPA of right at 3.0 while competing in NCAA Division I track and field and the GLAM Club.

         I have said it before, but it bears repeating – my daughter is one of my heroes. Never in her life did she allow difficult circumstances to stop her from achieving her goals. Unless you know the whole story, you can never appreciate the courage this young woman has. She is truly remarkable. And she is mine!  J

         Congratulations, Honey! I love you and I am proud of you!



*Farmer’s Markets
It is May, and that means it is time for our local Farmer’s Markets! Pork from Lois Pavelka, bread from Cephus Yoder, Marv Hotz’ sweet corn, the Miller’s beets… my mouth is watering!

         People who know me know that I am a farmer’s market fanatic. I can be found at the Iowa City Farmer’s Market pretty much every Wednesday and Saturday. I love the food, I love the farmers, I love the customers … I love everything about it! See you at the market!



*UI and the Minimum Wage
         About 2700 people on the UI payroll earn under $9.15. Apparently they will CONTINUE to earn under $9.15, as the University of Iowa has decided not to follow the increase in the county minimum wage.

         Spokesperson Rod Lehnertz said, "We do not and are not following the Johnson County (minimum wage), but rather our own market needs to fill any position on campus related to the minimum wage.”

         I love it when the guy who earns $200k lectures low-wage workers on “the market.” He should be ashamed. The whole University should be ashamed.

         I know... you have already read this on Facebook 100 times. But it bears repeating. The UI was holding a "Social Justice" discussion on Monday, May 2nd, to be moderated by President Harrold. I went to ask why 2700 UI students are NOT being paid the minimum wage.

After a lengthy intro, I finally got to ask the question. The response came not from the President, but from a committee member who said, "No one here can answer that. We can put something on the website in a couple weeks."

Upon that response, I said, "Let us know when you ARE ready to talk about it," and walked out.

Unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable. The UI is probably under no legal obligation to raise the wage; I acknowledge that. But they have a moral and ethical obligation to explain how and why the decision was made.

While we are on the topic – certainly not every UI Administrator is overpaid. Most work hard and deserve what they earn. But consider this:
One $200,000 job would cover 100,000 hours of student work at the higher wage. That would buy 5 weeks/year for every student who needs an increase. Two $200,000 jobs would cover 10 weeks/year for every person who needs an increase. That is pretty much a semester. I would gladly take that trade.
Again, my intent is not to vilify the whole UI administration. It is my intent, however, to call out the powerful (some of whom ARE UI administrators) who get rich while the poor suffer.

I am ashamed of my alma mater.



*Bike to Work Week
Whether you’re an old hand at two wheels or are looking to join a community of joyful cyclists, Bike to Work Week offers something for everyone.

Bike to Work Week is supported by the cities of Coralville, Iowa City, and University Heights, Johnson County, and Think Bicycles of Johnson County.


Sunday, May 15
Mayor’s Family Ride with IC Mayor Throgmorton
Meet at Upper City Park in front of the pool
3 pm

Monday, May 16
Breakfast hosted by 30th Century Bike
312 E. Prentiss St.
7-10 am

Bike-Bus-Car Race
Meet 11:15 am at Coralville Public Library
End at Iowa City Public Library

Wheely Fun Bike Basics
Iowa City Public Library, Room A
7-8:30 pm

Tuesday, May 17
Breakfast hosted by Johnson County
Johnson County Administration Building
913 S. Dubuque St.
7-9 am

Legal Cycling presentation by Bikelaw’s Jim Freeman
Iowa City Public Library, Room A
7-8:30 pm

Wednesday, May 18
Breakfast courtesy of University Heights and Geoff’s Bike and Ski
University Heights City Hall, 1004 Melrose Ave.
6:30-8:30 am

Lunch with Local Burrito
The Broken Spoke
757 S. Gilbert St.
Noon-1 pm

Old Pi to New Pi Ride
5:30 pm start Chauncey Swan Park, Washington St., Ride together to Coralville New Pi

Thursday, May 19
Lunch with Griddle Me This!
The Broken Spoke
757 S. Gilbert St.
Noon-1 pm

Rain date: Old Pi to New Pi Ride

Friday, May 20
Breakfast at World of Bikes
723 S. Gilbert St.
7-9 am

End of Week Party at the new Bike Library
701 S. Dubuque St.
5:30-7:30 pm
Portrait with Your Bike, courtesy of photographer Mauro Heck.

Full Moon Ride
Hosted by Kasey Bullerman
Leaves from Bike Library
7:30 pm

May is Bike Month and there’s more fun to be had on two wheels.
Bike and Walk to the Market: get $2 discount coupon to spend at Iowa City’s Farmer’s Market every Saturday in May.
College Street becomes a Bike Boulevard on May 20-21. Come roll with your family and friends and enjoy a car-free life.
Tour de Farm, a tour of the historic Lucas Farms neighborhood, Saturday, May 28, 1-4 pm, ride starts and ends at 1609 DeForest.



*DID YOU KNOW?  52% of the people over age 25 in Johnson County have at least a BA degree. (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