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SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
August 30, 2018
Sullivan’s Salvos 9/4/18
In this edition:
*Lone Tree Reporter
*Boards and Commissions
*A Remarkable Statistic
*Reynolds’ Record
*Did You Know?
*Lone Tree Reporter
We have a crisis of democracy in Lone Tree. A year or two ago, the Kalona News took over the Lone Tree Reporter. They said nothing would change. Instead, they put a quarter page or half page of Lone Tree news in the Kalona News.
Well, fast forward two years, and the Kalona News has fired their only Lone Tree reporter. No one is scheduled to cover the Lone Tree School Board, and no one is scheduled to cover the Lone Tree City Council. So how are residents of Lone Tree supposed to know what is going on?
This is serious, folks. The only way government works is if the voting public is informed. There is a crisis brewing in Lone Tree. I hope they can find a way to get through this.
*Boards and Commissions
The Johnson County Board of Supervisors is seeking volunteers to serve on various County boards and commissions. Board and commission members serve in an advisory role to help direct policy by making suggestions and recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and County staff.
Vacancies are available on the following Johnson County boards and commissions:
- Board of Health
- Compensation Commission
- Conservation Board
- Historic Preservation Commission
- Planning and Zoning Commission
- Zoning Board of Adjustment
Information about specific boards and commissions, vacancies and application forms are available on the Committee/Board Openings webpage of the Johnson County website at www.johnson-county.com/vacancies <http://www.johnson-county.com/vacancies> and in the office of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, second floor of the Johnson County Administration Building, 913 S. Dubuque Street, Iowa City.
Completed applications must be returned to the Board of Supervisors Office by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 26, 2018.
*A Remarkable Statistic
I just heard a remarkable statistic: 51 US Senators now represent 18% of the US population. Due to demographic changes, an undemocratic institution becomes even more undemocratic.
*Reynolds’ Record
Governor Reynolds’ website lists 4 campaign goals. Let’s review how she has fared in each area. (Remember – Reynolds has enjoyed the “trifecta” in State Government. She has chosen not to negotiate with Democrats on anything – she owns all of this.)
1. Create good paying jobs.While unemployment remains low, regular Iowans are not seeing gains. Governor Reynolds has actually taken several concrete steps designed to keep Iowa’s wages low. She repealed the minimum wages that had already passed in 5 Iowa Counties. She decimated collective bargaining rights. She has overseen a huge cut in State government jobs. Add it all up, and Governor Reynolds has actually made it harder for working Iowans to get ahead. Wage growth in Iowa lags behind all our neighboring states. Job growth is almost exclusively in low wage occupations. Her policies are serving to keep Iowa a low wage state. Grade: Doing the exact opposite of what she claims. F.
2. Cut taxes.This is the most honest plank in the Governor’s platform. She has cut taxes, and wants to cut more. Unfortunately, her tax cuts have only benefitted wealthy Iowans, while leaving average Iowans with the tab.
The report, “The Increasingly Unequal States of America,” found that while Iowa’s top 1 percent gained almost 40 percent in income from 2009 to 2012, incomes of the bottom 99 percent grew only 2.8 percent.That trend continues. Business tax credits have increased $100 million over the past decade, but Iowans do not have higher wages to show for it. Instead, our state budget is a mess. Grade: At least she is honest here. But tax cuts have hurt, not helped. F.
3. Invest in schools.For FY2018, lawmakers set the SSA percentage at its second-lowest level in 15 years: 1.11 percent. SSA is on a downward trend — from 4 percent from FY2006-10 to a 1.8 percent average over the last eight years. Funding for Iowa’s schools is not keeping up with inflation. Iowa’s schools are headed the wrong direction, and Kim Reynolds has led us there. Reynolds likes to twist some numbers to pretend Iowa’s investment in education is significant. It is not. The SSA percentage tells you all you need to know. Grade: It could be worse. But not much. D.
4. Increase opportunity in all of Iowa.The really concerning areas of Iowa are our “micropolitan” regions. These are cities of less than 50,000 that still serve as centers for health care, education, retail, and employment. And in Iowa, our micropolitan areas are struggling mightily!
Ottumwa, Mason City, Clinton, Fort Dodge, Burlington… you know the places we are talking about. These are places that supported the agriculture of the region, and provided lots of good paying union jobs. This was the home to the American Dream for almost 40 years.
Fast forward to today, and the ag industry has mechanized. A family farm used to be 160 acres, and provided a living for 2-3 generations at once. Now a small farm is over 1000 acres, and that really isn’t enough to support a single farmer. As those farm jobs have left, so have the people.
Things are even worse for the folks who held the union jobs. Those jobs are gone – some replaced by $9/hour service jobs, others not replaced at all. The retail jobs followed suit – shoppers chose to abandon the town square for the big boxes on the edge of town. Downtowns shriveled, and now Amazon has emptied out the big boxes. It is a grim scenario, and the people of Iowa’s micropolitan areas have lived it. These areas suffer from a $4.16/hour gap in wages between them and our metro areas. Grade: This is bad and getting worse under Reynolds. Grade: F.
That is three Fs and a D. And remember - we focused on the issues Governor Reynolds WANTS to discuss. It is also important to note the things Governor Reynolds does NOT want to discuss: health care, mental health care, women’s health care, Medicaid privatization, water quality, the budget, and all the scandals of her administration. To top it off, the press is giving her a free pass on the sordid affairs of her past.
Even if you grade the Governor on the topics of her own choice, she gets a failing grade.
*DID YOU KNOW? Governor Reynolds’ “Apple Deal” gave the richest company in the world $20 million in tax credits for only 50 permanent jobs.
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
August 23, 2018
Sullivan’s Salvos 8/28/18
In this edition:
*Labor Day
*Labor Day Picnic
*ICCSD Facilities Master Plan
*Gazette Columns and Johnson County
*Did You Know?
*Labor Day
Happy Labor Day next Monday! I love Labor Day. Every Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day we set aside time to recall the folks whose service has given us our freedom. I have long felt we need to treat Labor Day in a similar fashion.
Please take a moment this Labor Day to remember the people who fought (and often died) to give us child labor laws, 40 hour weeks, weekends, overtime, vacations, the minimum wage, sick leave, parental leave, OSHA, employment nondiscrimination, pensions, Social Security, health insurance, and so much more.
Do not be fooled! Benevolent corporations did not GIVE these benefits to workers! They were earned by workers who sacrificed! It is a shame that so many average Janes and Joes have chosen to support our corporate masters versus supporting those whose efforts really benefit the masses.
Unions continue to provide the best protections working people can have. I feel as though I have accomplished some good things as a member of the Board of Supervisors. One of the accomplishments of which I am most proud is starting an employee appreciation lunch every year the week of Labor Day. Johnson County employees deserve much more, but this is one extra opportunity to say thank you.
Trust me – the average person has nothing to fear from unions. We all benefit when folks have safe and healthy workplaces. We all benefit when workers get adequate rest. We all benefit when workers receive good training. We all benefit when folks earn a living wage and have health insurance. Unions help improve the quality of life for all of us.
One example of a way in which unions benefit everyone: much is made of the automobile industry expanding into the southern US. While these are not union plants, workers still have good wages and benefits. Some see this as an indictment of unions. It is precisely the opposite.
Do not think for a minute that these companies pay $22 per hour because they WANT to. They would be much happier to pay $4 per hour. And, when China’s workforce improves in quality to the point that they can do automotive work, the companies will move there.
Understand – large corporations exist for one reason, and that is to earn a profit. If the laws allowed slavery, some companies would use it. Because it is cheaper.
So why do they pay $22 in the southern US? Because of the threat of the United Auto Workers (UAW). If the wages or benefits ever sink too low, UAW could unionize those workers. The car companies don’t want that, so they pay the lowest possible acceptable wage.
See? The UAW does not represent the workers at those plants. But they have driven up the wages and benefits for the workers there all the same.
Labor has been hit hard, but not everything is doom and gloom. Look at the recent public employee recertification elections. 436 out of 468 public-sector bargaining units voted to recertify their organizations. Voter participation was 88 percent.
I am proud to be a member of Local 716 of the American Federation of Teachers, an affiliate of the Iowa City Federation of Labor. Happy Labor Day!
*Labor Day Picnic
The Iowa City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, will host its annual Labor Day picnic on Monday, September 3, starting at 12 PM at Lower City Park, shelter 6. Burgers, brats, veggie options and beverages provided. Please bring a dish to share. Political speeches and a good time guaranteed. Free and open to all Friends of Labor.
*ICCSD Facilities Master Plan
Regular Salvos readers may recall that I served on the ICCSD Facilities Master Plan (FMP) Committee, and later the One Community. One Bond committee that helped to pass the FMP. So I have been quite invested in this.
That is why it was great to hear the report from the ICCSD that the FMP is largely on time and on budget up to this point. There were a lot of naysayers who swore neither of those things would happen. It was actually a major talking point for the opposition. So it feels really good to see that result! Keep up the great work, ICCSD!
*Gazette Columns and Johnson County
I have written about this topic before, but I think it deserves more discussion. The Cedar Rapids Gazette does some coverage of Johnson County and its cities. In addition, a couple times per week, they run an opinion column from Adam Sullivan.
Sullivan (no relation, as far as I know) is a talented writer who was born and raised in Iowa City. He is a staunch Libertarian, and almost always writes from this perspective.
Let me be clear: I think the Libertarian viewpoint is important. I also think Adam is a really good writer and a fair and honest man. But by having ONLY Adam comment on Johnson County issues, the Gazette is doing a great disservice to its readers.
Libertarians are perhaps 2% of the people in Johnson County. Yet they get 100% of the commentary on Johnson County. This is completely unrepresentative of the people of Johnson County.
Imagine for a minute that the Gazette changed their sports coverage so that all sports commentary focused only on Cornell College. No Hawkeyes, Cyclones, or Panthers; not even rival Coe. The only commentary is on Cornell athletics. How well do you think that would go over? How well would that be received? That is exactly the equivalent of what Johnson County folks get when it comes to news commentary.
There might be 1% of Linn County residents that could be considered blatant racists. Would the Gazette allow an avowed racist to be the only voice in Linn County news commentary? Probably not.
The Gazette could probably find a Wiccan to do all their coverage of religion. They could probably hire a vegan to do every restaurant review. And I am sure they would be fine writers. But is that viewpoint representative? So why continue to subject Johnson County readers to one similarly unrepresentative viewpoint?
I am not suggesting that the Gazette take Adam away. I like his columns. His views deserve to be heard. He has an important perspective. But so do the other 98% of Johnson County residents. Right now, the Gazette is doing them a disservice.
Please, Gazette – give the people of Johnson County the news commentary they deserve!
*DID YOU KNOW? One of the first labor injunctions used in the United States was issued in Boone County, Iowa, in 1885, to prevent picketing by striking coal miners. Iowa Governors called out the state militia whenever large numbers of working people went out on strike.
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
August 16, 2018
Sullivan’s Salvos 8/21/18
In this edition:
*Goodbye Tracey!
*Senator Dvorsky Retirement
*Lone Tree Fall Festival
*Did You Know?
*Goodbye Tracey!
Unfortunately, we must say goodbye to Tracey Achenbach, who has spent the past ten years as the Executive Director of the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County.
Tracey accepted a job with the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) in Cedar Rapids, a group of which Johnson County is a member. Tracey will continue to live in Iowa City, so at least we have that!
Tracey is an absolute joy, and I will really miss her. It is also important to recognize all of her many accomplishments! The attitudes on affordable housing have changed dramatically over the past decade. We have made great strides, and Tracey deserves much of the credit.
*Senator Dvorsky Retirement
Note: To really get the full flavor of this piece, please put “To Sir With Love” on repeat in the background. OK.
As you all know, Senator Dvorsky is retiring from the Iowa Senate after 38 years in public office. He announced this almost a year ago, so I have been putting off writing this piece for quite some time.
For one, I thought, “I’ll avoid the glut of people honoring him in May.” Check. For two, I thought, “He is still a Senator until Zach is sworn in.” True. But as you can see, I am running out of ways to put this off.
I think this is hard because it is personal and it runs deep. I first met Bob in the late 80s, and he had already been elected to the Iowa House. (A friend of mine worked for Rich Varn and brought me to a few things.) So I never knew Bob when he wasn’t in the Iowa Legislature. Remember, this was the late 80s – 30 years ago! For my whole involvement in Johnson County politics – and it is a long one now – Bob has been front and center.
And I guess that is the thing. So much has changed over 30 years… I was a recent college grad when I met Bob. Now I am a grandfather. Literally dozens of Legislators have come and gone. We have had scores of County Supervisors and School Board members. City Councilors? Hundreds. But through it all, there is Bob.
Any laws that passed over the last 30 years, good and bad alike, you discussed them with Bob. Whatever you wanted to have funded, you discussed it with Bob. From November 1, 1991, to the ’93 floods, to 9/11/01, to the ’08 floods… Bob was there as each one was discussed.
That is on the elected side of things. On the political side, turnover is even greater. Johnson County is by nature a transient place, and people come and go. You get volunteers who throw themselves into local politics for 3-4 years, then leave, never to be seen again. It is VERY uncommon for someone to be around 30 years. Those who do so are Hall of Famers! And through it all, there is Bob.
From Harkin for President in ’92, to Vilsack for Governor in ’98, to Obama in ’08 and ‘12… Bob was always there. We weren’t always on the same side in primaries and caucuses – but we were always on the same side in the end.
And that is why the greatness of Bob Dvorsky is difficult to sum up. It is simple, cumulative, and subtle. You cannot judge Michelangelo on one day’s work. It just wouldn’t look like much. You need to stand back, and realize that over several years, he has created a masterpiece.
It is like going to a ballgame, seeing a batter go 1-3, and saying, “Yeah, that is OK, I guess.” Then you realize that same batter does that every night, all year long. And does that year after year for decades. Suddenly you wake up one day and realize that guy has over 3000 hits.
I could go on with the analogies, but you get the idea. There are doors to knock, and Bob will knock them. The teachers have an issue, and Bob visits the school. People have problems with Medicaid, and Bob will listen. He just methodically does the work. And this perseverance gets results.
I suppose there is a lesson in there for us all, but it is not what we want to hear. There is no silver bullet. There is no magic pill. You just need to work very hard for a very long time.
It is not just longevity, though. Bob is truly a good person. I am a social worker by trade. And I can usually tell if a person genuinely cares about something or is simply patronizing you. Honestly – Bob always cared. At his core, he is for the little guy. It almost seems there is a part of him that never fully realized he was a powerful State Senator; he was just a kid from Coralville and University High.
Another thing – and this may not sound like much, so bear with me – In all these years, I can never recall Bob telling a lie. Face it – we all change our stories over the years. We all remember things differently. And in some cases, people just lie. And yes, politicians might do it a bit more than the rest of the population. But not Bob. He has always been honest with me, even when I didn’t want to hear it. Bob is an honest man, plain and simple.
Bob also has an amazing brain. I cannot believe the amount of knowledge he has, and the things he retains. This is obviously critical when it comes to discussing legislation, especially Appropriations. You can go to Bob with the most obscure questions – “Who was Don Avenson’s Press Secretary when he ran for Governor?” “What was in that spot before West Music?” “Who was Iowa’s quarterback in 1963?” Bob can answer every question of that sort. It is a gift, and it has served him well.
Then there is his sense of humor. No matter the setting, Bob will always point out something funny. Sometimes it is even a little inappropriate. Let’s face it – for 4 years of his Legislative career, things were great. For 24 years, they were OK, but it was a struggle. For 4 years, it was horrible. You have to have a sense of humor to survive circumstances like that!
It is hard for me to imagine Bob not being around. He has always been there. I probably see Bob three times per week or more at various community events. The idea of him not being there will require some adjustments.
Congratulations on your retirement, Senator. Thank you for all you have done over the years. You have been a friend and a role model. I have learned a lot from you, and you have my never-ending respect and admiration. To Sir With Love. Best wishes.
*Lone Tree Fall Festival
The Lone Tree Fall Festival is August 24 - 25 in Lone Tree. This event is a great opportunity to share some good times with the fine folks of Johnson County’s “panhandle”!
*DID YOU KNOW? Lone Tree derives its name from a giant elmthat grew nearby in the pioneer era and served as a prairie landmark. This elm stood on a slight hill south of town. Local legend has it that the tree was so large, walruses grazed under its expansive branches. It escaped prairie fires because of the lack of grass around the tree. The tree succumbed to the Dutch Elm disease of the 1960s, although valiant efforts were made to save it. The wood from the tree was used to make a sign denoting the tree's home on the hill southeast of the city limits.
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
August 9, 2018
Sullivan’s Salvos 8/14/18
In this edition:
*Happy Birthday Melissa!
*Happy Birthday BJ!
*RIP Mark Zollo
*Cosgrove Pork Day
*Think Minimum Wage!
*Smoke Free Iowa*Parental Responsibility Ordinances
*Did You Know?
*Happy Birthday, Melissa!
My wife Melissa celebrates her birthday on August 17th. Those of you who know her know that I am a very lucky man! Happy Birthday, Honey! I love you!
*Happy Birthday BJ!
Son BJ has his Golden Birthday this year - turning 22 on August 22. I am very proud of him! Happy Birthday, BJ! I love you!
*RIP Mark Zollo
Yet another friend passes away…I met Mark in the mid-80s through mutual friends. We had a shared love of beer and Hawkeye sports, and hit it off right away! He was a smart and funny man, and I always enjoyed being in his company. I will miss him. My prayers are with his family and friends.
*Cosgrove Pork Day
Sunday, August 19 marks the annual St. Peter’s Catholic Church Pork Day in Cosgrove. There is a Polka Mass at 11; pork dinners served 11-2; events for kids, bingo, a beer tent, raffles, and much more!
*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!
*Smoke Free Iowa
The Iowa Smokefree Air Act turns 10 years old July 1, 2018. Iowa is one of 25 states that have enacted comprehensive smoke-free laws addressing secondhand smoke exposure in workplaces, restaurants and bars.
Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed the Smokefree Air Act into law in 2008. On the Act’s five-year anniversary, a poll by the American Cancer Society Action Network found 82 percent of registered Iowa voters indicated their support of the law banning workplace smoking and said it had made Iowa a better place to live. “The Smoke Free Air Act was the catalyst for many tobacco-free initiatives,” said Susan Vileta, Health Educator at Johnson County Public Health. “Iowans are now protected from second hand smoke not only in the workplace, but also in smoke-free apartments, and in hundreds of parks and outdoor entertainment areas.”
For more information about the Smoke Free Air Act, including frequently asked questions about the law, visit https://smokefreeair.iowa.gov/. To access the Smoke Free Homes Registry, go to https://smokefreehomes.iowa.gov/ and if you are ready to quit tobacco, call Quitline Iowa at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), or visit www.quitlineiowa.org.
*Parental Responsibility Ordinances
I have once again heard stirrings that some in Iowa City are calling for a so-called “parental responsibility” ordinance. The idea here is that if a minor child is charged with a crime, parent(s) may also be charged.
I think people who support this ought to volunteer to be foster parents. Until they are willing to step up and take that on, they should shut their mouths.
Passage of this type of ordinance would kill foster care. Why would anyone risk prosecution to care for someone else’s child?
I have had more than my share of experience with troubled youth. This is not as simple as ordinance supporters make it sound. Sure, most parents can keep a rambunctious 6 year old in his room. (And 99.99% DO.) But what is that same parent to do when that child grows to be a 16 year old, 200-pound young man?
I have personally seen dozens of situations where the parent would give almost anything to have the assistance of the police. They want their child to do the right thing; they cannot do much with an out-of-control teen.
We are severely lacking in services for troubled teens. Parents have almost no support. 25 years ago, the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) funded services for families in this situation. Not any more. In many cases, the only way a parent can get any help for a child is to hope she gets arrested!
In addition, there are already laws in place to punish teens that commit crimes. Why do we need “extra” punishments? Crime isn’t even up in Johnson County; it is down significantly!
Another factor is mental illness. The onset of most types of mental illness tends to take place during the mid-late teens. These children have done nothing wrong. They are ILL. Their parents face a LIFELONG, daunting challenge to provide for, support, and advocate for their kids. Meanwhile, some smug SOB thinks that parent, who has experienced suffering they will never know, should get a fine. Makes me so angry I could scream!
Finally, there are significant civil liberties concerns in play. How can you charge someone with a crime who has done nothing wrong? The ACLU is fighting these ordinances across the country, and having great success. I hope they continue to do so!
Supporters of this type of ordinance have lived in a bubble, and they are lucky that they have been so blessed! A more appropriate response would be a call for more and better services for families in need. Meanwhile, supporters of punishing parents should heed the old adage: there but for the Grace of God go I.
*DID YOU KNOW? An estimated 1,600 Iowa children are on a waitlist for services through the Children’s Mental Health Waiverprogram. Wait times average 21 months.
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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