SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
May 31, 2018
Sullivan’s Salvos 6/5/18
In this edition:
*VOTE!
*Catch?
*Register Poll
*Nate Boulton and #metoo
*Think Minimum Wage!
*Supporting Mazahir
*Did You Know?
*VOTE!
Tuesday, June 5this Primary Election Day. Your participation is critical! Please get out and vote!
*Catch?
Want to play some catch? It is really fun! Just email me! I have both baseballs and softballs, and a couple extra gloves. I can meet you wherever you like. Let’s do this!
*Register Poll
Des Moines Register polls are known for their accuracy. I do not question that. But I am adamantly opposed to the Register polling elections just a week or two prior to the vote. I firmly believe this moves them from covering news into influencing the news, and that is very wrong.
It is really pretty simple; if the Register poll says your candidate is way behind, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. People get discouraged, and choose not to vote. If the Register poll says your candidate is winning, suddenly she/he can raise more money.
Plus, the Register could put these resources into actually covering news. It costs a lot to do a poll – that money could be spent on news coverage.
I have expressed my frustration with this before, but no one at the Register seemed to care. If you agree with me that there should be no election-related Register polls within six weeks of an election? Please let the Register know!
*Nate Boulton and #metoo
The big news last week was, unfortunately, much like the big news of every other week: a high profile man is accused of sexual assault.
I did not vote for Nate; as I have written here previously, I support John Norris. But there is no sense of victory here. I have met Nate and spoken to him several times. He seemed like a great guy. I am deeply disappointed.
I am also really sad. Sad first for his victims. Sad also for his family and friends. Sad for all my friends who believed in Boulton and put time and money into his campaign. Sad for all the Iowans who deserve better.
We simply must do better. Holding perpetrators accountable is a proper step in the right direction. We need to be certain that we hold them accountable regardless of their politics or artistic or athletic abilities.
One last thing: If you voted for Trump and are gloating over the revelations about Nate Boulton? You are just not a good person. It is simply NOT OK to say, “He may be a sexual predator, but he’s our sexual predator.” No. Just no. Hold them ALL accountable!
*Think Minimum Wage!
Planning an event? After work get together? Beers with friends? Before you choose where to go, please consider whether or not that business supports the Johnson County minimum wage.
Several businesses went out on a limb, and took a stand for the low wage workers of our community. If you care about this, you need to reward the businesses that have done the right thing.
So before your next after work beer, please ask the establishment if they observe the Johnson County minimum wage. If not, go elsewhere. Where you buy matters!
*Supporting Mazahir
I was very involved in the last election for Iowa City Council. I spent quite a bit of time and effort helping my friend Mazahir Salih. Obviously, things turned out well, as Mazahir is now a Councilor.
It is interesting to me, however, to watch Iowa City’s reaction to its newest Councilor.
The majority of the public seems happy to have elected a woman. The majority of the public seems happy to have elected a person of color. The majority of the public seems happy to have elected a Muslim. The majority of the public seems happy to have elected a person whose first language is Arabic. The majority of the public seems happy to have elected the very first Sudanese American to ever hold office in the US.
But that is where it ends. The people of Iowa City want to pat themselves on the back for electing Mazahir, but are they willing to hear what she has to say? So far, I would say the answer is a resounding “no”.
Mazahir is a big proponent of economic justice. She helped to lead the fight for the increase to the minimum wage, and has led the effort to persuade local businesses to keep paying it. There are several other areas of labor and economic justice – such as what Iowa City pays part time, temporary employees – that she wants to address.
But I think it is safe to say that Mazahir is not feeling the love. Some Council Members, some staff, and some members of the public stand opposed to her efforts at economic justice. They like the idea of her being elected; they just don’t like the reality of her advocacy.
For at least 44 of the past 50 years, a small neoliberal cabal has run Iowa City. The unwritten compact is they don’t care if you are gay, so long as their developer/landlord buddies get everything they want. When it comes to social and economic justice issues, well, there just isn’t enough money in the budget. This needed to change, and it has changed. Those folks knew Mazahir was a force, so they claimed to “support” her. Which is interesting, because I did a lot of work on Mazahir’s campaign, and I never saw any of them!
Now Mazahir is hitting them where it hurts. As her supporters, we need to rally behind her and make sure she has visible support!
It reminds me of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior. After years of struggle, many Americans began to agree with him that Civil Rights were important. But the Poor People’s Campaign? That will get you killed.
What can you do? If you voted for Mazahir because you care about those issues, offer her tangible support. Write letters. Speak at meetings. Let the other decision makers know that Mazahir is only a part of a much bigger movement!
*DID YOU KNOW? The first minimum wage law was enacted in 1894 in New Zealand. With the passage of The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA), the U.S. minimum wage was initially set at $0.25 per hour for covered workers. Since then, it has been raised 22 separate times–most recently, in July 2009, to $7.25 an hour.
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.
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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 @ 1:24 PM
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