SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
January 19, 2017
Sullivan’s
Salvos 1/24/17
In this edition:
*Summer of the Arts
*Looking Back on Obama
*Free Tax Help!
*Did You Know?
*Summer of the Arts
I
have recently joined the Board of Directors for the Summer of the Arts (SOTA).
I am extremely honored to join this group!
You
are undoubtedly familiar with Arts Fest, Jazz Fest, Soul Fest, the Outdoor Movie
Series, and the Friday Night Concert Series. These are SOTA’s flagship events.
They also happen to be some of my favorite things about living in Iowa City!
According
to the SOTA website: “The mission of Summer of the Arts is
to build community by bringing people together in the heart of Iowa City to
experience, learn about, and enjoy free arts and cultural programs.”
“Summer of the Arts brings people
together to experience the arts, out loud, in the heart of Iowa City. Since
2005, Summer of the Arts has hosted summertime, family-friendly, arts and
cultural festivals. We create synergy with marketing, fundraising, and operations
while maintaining the unique identity of each of our five events. Our generous
sponsors and donors ensure we are able to offer free, family-friendly, high
quality entertainment every summer for our community to enjoy.”
I
hope you will continue to attend Summer of the Arts events, but also to support
SOTA with your time and talent! For more info, see: www.summerofthearts.org.
*Looking Back on Obama
The
Presidency of Barack Obama is coming to an end, and I decided to take a look
back at the past decade.
I
say decade, because I was a very early Obama supporter. The only local person I
know who was committed before me was former Iowa City Mayor Ross Wilburn. Ross
and I recruited many of the movers and shakers who joined onto the campaign
later. It may sound completely over the top and egotistical, and perhaps it is,
but I honestly believe Ross and I made a big difference in the election of the
44th President! Given where we live and how early we committed, I
really believe that!
Barack
Obama burst onto the national scene with his speech at the 2004 Democratic
National Convention. But he appeared on the local scene on Monday, November 6,
2006. That night Obama headlined a rally on the Iowa City Ped Mall that drew a
crowd unlike anything seen there before or since. I was one of the lucky folks
who got to stand alongside then-Senator, not-yet-candidate Obama on the stage,
and it remains one of the coolest moments of my life!
Over
the next few months, I met the staff people as they arrived. I helped them
locate an office. I introduced the Obama staff to the glories of UI Surplus,
and spent a few hundred dollars of my own money on getting the Obama office off
the ground. I went through lists of hundreds of people in an attempt to identify
future supporters. It was a lot of work! Slowly but surely, others signed on,
and momentum grew.
The staff people were special, too. Chris Liddell-Westefeld,
Simeon Talley, and many other young people carved out a special place in my
heart. Wise beyond their years, I learned a lot more from them than they ever
learned from me.
It had been a long time since I was in so early on a candidate… I
had just finished serving 4 years as the Chair of the Johnson County Democrats,
and though I supported a candidate in each race (Bradley, then Dean) I had to
walk a fine line as Party Chair. Prior to that, I had not particularly cared
for Bill Clinton. So Obama was my first opportunity in quite some time to go
all in on a candidate, and I made the most of it!
Caucus
night 2008 was another amazing moment. Given what has happened politically
since then, I think that night may go down as the greatest night in the history
of Iowa politics. The combination of the turnout, the young people, the “upset”
– I do not think it will ever be topped! Candidate Obama returned to Iowa
several times after that, as did President Obama. But Caucus night ’08 remains
special.
So,
we elected the first African American President. We elected the first President
of my generation. We set records for turnout. We elected President Obama twice.
So
what was accomplished during the Obama Presidency? The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
provided health insurance to 20 million people who were previously without. It required
coverage for preexisting conditions, and allowed children to stay on their
parent’s insurance until age 26. I wish he had gone further, but he lacked
support in the Congress. The Stimulus Program saved our economy, and Dodd Frank
and other Wall Street reforms reduced the risk of another financial
catastrophe. Again, I wish he had gone further, but he lacked support in the
Congress. He brought troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan; again, I wish he
had gone further. He brought Osama bin Laden to justice. He saved US auto
industry (and their suppliers!) He ended “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. He ended the Bush
torture policies. He removed banks from student loan process. He increased fuel
efficiency standards. He passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. He appointed
two progressive Supreme Court Justices. He protected over 2 million acres of public
land. He invested heavily in renewable energy. He helped legalize same sex
marriage. He opened up relations with Cuba. He signed the Iran Nuclear deal. He
signed the Paris Climate Accords. That is a VERY consequential record! And he did
it all with no scandals, and facing more opposition than any President since Andrew
Johnson.
I
was proud to Caucus for him twice, and proud to vote for him twice. Seeing my
name on the ballot with his is another thing I will never forget!
I
remain a fan of President Obama. Yes, I wanted more. But don’t we always? I
really believe in 50 years he will be viewed as a great President. And I feel
blessed to have played a small part in the whole thing!
Ross,
my friend… we have had our political differences, but we both got this one
right! The Country may have just taken a step backwards, but the arc of history
still bends toward justice. The future is bright. YES WE CAN!
*Free Tax Help!
Don’t
pay a fee to get your refund! The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Program provides trained volunteers that will help you file your taxes. This
service is available FOR FREE to people who earned less than $55,000 in 2016. E-filing
is available, and interpretation services are available at many sites or by
appointment.
“You Earned It. Now Claim
It!”
Sites
are the Iowa City Public Library, SEJH in Iowa City, NWJH in Coralville, and
Garner Elementary in North Liberty. Services are available Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday – see http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_soc_ser.aspx?id=247
for
the complete schedule.
Spanish
interpreters are available; interpreters for other languages can be scheduled
by calling 356-6090.
*DID YOU KNOW?
Some Obama firsts: First
African American President. First President born outside of the 48 contiguous states and
first born in Hawaii. First President to
publicly endorse same-sex marriage. First
President to appoint multiple women to the Supreme Court (Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan). First President to visit a federal prison. First President to visit Hiroshima. First sitting President to publish a scientific paper. First sitting President to visit
Trinidad and Tobago, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
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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
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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 @ 1:58 PM
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