SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
February 26, 2020
Sullivan’s Salvos 3/3/20
In this edition:
*RIP Paul Stebral
*RIP Bill Sueppel
*CommUnity Pancake Breakfast
*Pentacrest Gardens
*Budget Priorities Part 1
*Budget Priorities Part 2
*Did You Know?
*RIP Paul Stebral
I met Solon area farmer Paul Stebral during the fight over Newport Road. Unlike most people, Paul did not have an extremely strong opinion either way. He was a farmer who found it increasingly difficult to farm around suburban neighbors. On the other hand, he understood development pressures. He recognized that his land had great value, but it never seemed to phase him much.
What I will always remember about Mr. Stebral is that throughout the heated discussions he was always kind, fair, and honest. Unfortunately, those qualities seem to be in short supply right now. I will always remember his decency.
RIP, Paul.
*RIP Bill Sueppel
Johnson County lost a legend this week with the passing of Bill Sueppel of Iowa City. Bill was the “Sueppel” in Meardon, Sueppel, and Downer, one of Eastern Iowa’s most prestigious law firms. Bill did a stint as the Iowa City Attorney, followed by 4 years as Iowa’s Commissioner of Public Safety. His law practice focused on local government, and Bill was actually the author of Iowa’s Home Rule Statute. That law served as a national model until recent GOP attacks on local control. Bill also started the Iowa League of Cities, an important association of local governments.
Bill was also a legend in Democratic politics. He served as a member of the Democratic National Committee, and served as the State Chair of the Presidential campaigns of Robert Kennedy and Jimmy Carter. More importantly, Bill served as a trusted advisor to generations of local elected officials.
My condolences to all of Bill’s many family and friends. RIP, Bill.
*CommUnity Pancake Breakfast
Join CommUnity and Our Redeemer Lutheran Church for the 47th Annual Pancake Breakfast! The event is March 7 from 7:00 am - 1:00 pm. Tickets cost $7 for adults or $3 for children (10 and under) and are available at the door or by pre-sale through Our Redeemer and CommUnity. Breakfast includes all-you-care-to-eat pancakes with toppings and fresh pork sausage. Coffee and condiments are generously provided.
*Pentacrest Gardens
Iowa City recently passed a controversial height bonus for the Pentacrest Gardens project, two large buildings with several hundred units just south of downtown.
I used the word “controversial”, but there was never anything controversial about it to me. This project generates huge tax revenue, $9 million for affordable housing, height instead of sprawl, dense development that costs less to serve, development where cars are not necessary, no TIFs, and good union jobs in the construction. These are all huge positives.
The objections tended to focus on three things: Aesthetics, affordability, and fears over the vacancy rate. I would like to address all 3 objections.
Aesthetics: The problem with aesthetics is that they are completely subjective. One woman’s art is another woman’s eyesore. Governments should tread carefully in this arena.
Affordability: True, many students will be unable to afford the buildings in question. But some will. And after people have moved out of South Johnson and into this building, South Johnson will have some vacancies. Perhaps the landlords on South Johnson hold their rents down to attract new renters. Now some of the literally hundreds of couch surfers in Iowa City find that they can afford South Johnson. If you don’t approve the project, things get worse. No $9 million in affordable housing money. If you do approve it, things can only get better.
Vacancy rates: There is some irony in seeing Iowa City landlords complaining about new people doing what they have been doing for decades. Landlords want zero regulations – until they feel threatened. Then they want the city to regulate their competition.
Vacancy rates have not been a problem in Iowa City since at least WWII. It is a made-up problem! Seriously – fear of too much vacancy in Iowa City is akin to me worrying about losing too much weight. It has not been a problem yet, and it probably won’t be a problem tomorrow!
If it does become a “problem”, what is the solution? Lower rents, perhaps? Why should landlords be guaranteed a certain return? If you invest in stocks, bonds, farmland, or gold – you do not get a guaranteed return. Why do landlords feel they deserve a guaranteed return?
I am very glad that the Iowa City Council majority ignored the fear mongering and approved the height bonus.
*Budget Priorities Part 1
I have never been a Joe Biden supporter. (Though I would certainly support him were he to become the Democratic Party nominee.) But I will give Joe credit for a very good line a few years ago: “Don't tell me what you value, show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value.”
This is very true. People in politics like to talk about their values, but the bottom line is what goes into the budget. And that is why we need to pay particular attention to budgets at all levels of government.
President Trump recently submitted a budget. Did you hear? It contains cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, SNAP (Food Stamps), childcare, medical research, and much more.
He has shown his cards. He has shown us his budget. He has shown us what he values. It is shameful, and we must not allow it to pass.
YOU should be outraged. WE should be outraged. This President simply must go. And you are going to have to actually work to make that happen!
*Budget Priorities Part 2
Johnson County has also proposed a budget. As I have mentioned several times, a budget is a collaborative piece of work. There are some things I really wanted to see in this budget, and I got them. There are a couple of capital projects and a couple of personnel items that I really dislike that got three votes. That is how the process works – give and take throughout.
If you are so inclined, you can go through the audio of all of our budget meetings. You can review all our budget documents. You can access pretty much everything financial at the County website, www.johnson-county.com.
*DID YOU KNOW? The Johnson County FY21 Budget Public Hearing is Tuesday, March 9 at 5:30 PM in the Boardroom.
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 @ 3:13 PM
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