rodsullivan.org
SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
July 30, 2020
Sullivan’s Salvos 8/4/20 In this edition: *Congratulations Jan at Deli Mart! *Trouble Ahead *Personal Struggles *Hypocrisy on County Spending *Did You Know? *Congratulations Jan at Deli Mart! A special shout out to Jan Johnson, who is retiring after many years at the Deli Mart on East Benton Street. Because that Deli Mart is just a few steps away from county buildings, Jan is a familiar face to county employees. And for several years, she has served as counselor, psychiatrist, comedian, financial advisor, and friend to many of us. Interestingly, Jan grew up in a house full of sisters just two blocks from where she ended up working all these years. I, for one, am glad she ended up at Deli Mart! Walking into a convenience store and coming out with a couple items does not seem like a big deal. But Jan is such a witty and fun person that those short interactions really brighten my day. And I know I am not alone. I have heard people say, only half-jokingly, that if Jan ran for a County Office she would win in a landslide. Others have noted that Jan is the Johnson for whom the county should be named! Thanks, Jan, for brightening all of our days. Congratulations on your retirement. We will miss you very much! *Trouble Ahead We are five months into the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, I do not see things getting better any time soon. As a matter of fact, I think we will face more and bigger challenges in upcoming months. Here are just a few of my concerns: Public health: The virus is no more “under control” than when it first arrived. There is community spread, particularly amongst younger adults. Perhaps most alarmingly, I am hearing a larger and larger number of people beginning to say things like, “Well, it is really only killing older people.” Really? Imagine for a moment that every nursing home in Iowa had a rogue nurse who murdered two people. Would we be OK with that? For the record, I would not be OK with that amount of death. Yet that is almost exactly where our numbers are. The measure of a society is how it protects its’ most vulnerable. This is our test. Schools: I have tremendous sympathy for parents, who are stuck in an impossible conundrum. They need to work in order to pay the bills. If the kids can’t be at school, the parents cannot work. Even if you are lucky enough to be able to work from home, you cannot hope to both do your job and adequately teach your kids. Teachers and staff are nervous, too, and I get it! Meanwhile, the people elected to make such decisions get sidelined by the Governor. Higher education: Much of the instruction is moving online. Given that, will students risk moving to Iowa City? What happens when they do not come? The UI is already making deep cuts. Expect more to come. Economy: I have already laid out a number of critical issues that cannot be solved by the market. The Federal government is going to need to step up in a very big way! State and Local governments: Local governments are largely funded by property taxes. Big businesses already fight paying property taxes with an unmatched zeal. Small businesses were already hanging by a thread due to Amazon and other online retailers. COVID-19 is going to shutter some businesses that never reopen. In addition to job loss, that will affect the tax base. Housing still seems strong in Johnson County. But if the federal unemployment changes, renters are screwed. They will have nowhere to go. What do we do then? And if the UI cuts go deeper, and the Federal government fails to act, we will see people in Johnson County unable to pay the mortgage. And it is a vicious cycle – less revenue because people are hurting means less revenue available to help folks that are hurting. Environment: I don’t know enough about this to speak with any expertise, but I know the amount of plastic being used now is through the roof. Plus my family and I used to use 100% post-consumer toilet paper and a few other products that seem to be no longer available. And this is all COVID related. I am not even talking about the unmarked Federal troops hurting protesters in Portland, or the fact that we still have children in cages on the southern border. My intent here is not to be Debbie Downer, but rather to urge readers to be aware of just how precarious our situation is right now. I see six major things we can do:
1. Take the appropriate health precautions. 2. Push our Federal and State governments to act. 3. Work to vote the GOP out in November! 4. If you pray to some sort of God, pray for a cure! 5. If you have the resources, shop local. 6. Be kind, patient, and calm. *Personal Struggles The COVID world we live in has me quite depressed. I have written about this previously, but I guess I feel the need to go there again. I feel like a cell phone. When people are around, I am charging. When I am not around people, my battery runs dry. That makes this time very difficult for me personally. Yes, I understand that I am blessed. I don’t have the disease. I don’t really know anyone who has died from it. I have health care insurance, and I am working. My wife has the same arrangement. We have enough money. I get it, I am lucky. But depression doesn’t care. I miss my kids. I miss my friends. Work sucks. The US has become a much crueler place. Things are not exactly fun. So, if you ever want to stop by for a socially-distanced, masked-up conversation, I am your guy! Just let me know! *Hypocrisy on County Spending As I mentioned in previous Salvos, all the craziness of 2020 has caused some unbudgeted spending at the County. Unfortunately, one Supervisor has been quite critical (and hypocritical). I want to set the record straight. The Board has been met with approximately $1.2 million in possible additional spending in FY21, with about $425,000 of that ongoing expenses. (Send me an email if you wish to see a breakdown.) Four Supervisors (Porter, Heiden, Green Douglass, and Sullivan) have voted to approve $300,000 of that, with $75,000 ongoing annually. Supervisor Rettig – who is the one complaining – has voted to approve $1.125 million of that, with $350,000 ongoing annually. In addition, she wants to pay for a lawsuit that ALL of our legal advisors assure us we cannot win. Supervisor Rettig was the ONLY Supervisor who wanted to spend a great deal of money to do TSA-style security at the Admin Building. Curiously, she was also the ONLY Supervisor to vote against the Public Health request for an additional Disease Prevention Specialist. Any person educated in public health will tell you that this position is critical to fighting COVID-19. The Board of Supervisors is more than happy to discuss any spending decisions with the public. But the public does not listen to meetings. They read snippets on Twitter and Facebook. Those are often poor representations of reality. Don’t believe my version of events? Check with Supervisors Porter, Green Douglass, or Heiden. Seriously. Reach out and ask what they think. Do we have more pressing issues? Of course. But one Supervisor started this campaign of misinformation. At some point, the rest deserve to be able to defend ourselves. *DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County has nine unincorporated villages: Cosgrove, Windham, Frytown, Joetown, Sharon Center, River Junction, Morse, Oasis, and Sutliff. Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website- www.johnson-county.com. "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
July 22, 2020
Sullivan’s Salvos 7/28/20
In this edition:
*Happy Anniversary!
*RIP John Lewis
*Guns in County Buildings
*Did You Know?
*Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary to my wonderful wife, Melissa Fath. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but I know I got a great deal here! Melissa is the best wife and mother a person could ever hope for! Happy Anniversary, Honey! It has been a great ride!
*RIP John Lewis
I had the honor of meeting John Lewis once. The Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce (Now Iowa City Business Partnership) used to take an annual lobbying trip to DC. I went along in 2009. A group of perhaps 5 of us were walking near the Capitol, and there he was.
I was walking alongside Mitch Gross. He leaned over to me, and said, “Is that John Lewis?” I agreed it was, so we approached him. Mitch did the majority of the talking and did it very well, basically just saying he taught about Lewis in class, and that it was an honor to meet Lewis in person. I walked right beside Lewis for part of the way, and our eyes met several times. Congressman Lewis was kind and humble, and we walked the same direction for quite a distance.
Amazingly, every other person in our group said some version of, “Who was that guy?” Mitch and I were incredulous. So Mitch spent what time we had giving the group a very abridged history of the Civil Rights Movement.
The next day, we all had about three hours of tourist time before flying out. I chose to go to the Newseum, the now-shuttered museum honoring the news. I went up to the second floor, and entered a room where life-sized black and white images were projected on the wall. And before I knew it, I was standing right in front of John Lewis once again. He was being clubbed in Selma, Alabama. And he looked into my eyes just like he had 24 hours earlier. And I started to cry. And I could not stop crying. That is my John Lewis story. RIP, Congressman.
*Guns in County Buildings
In the 2020 Legislative Session a bill was passed (HF2502) that dramatically changed the amount of local control regarding guns. Previously, cities and counties could create local ordinances to govern whether or not firearms were allowed in municipal buildings. As of July 1, that power went away.
There is even more at stake here. The new law expressly creates an easy course of civil action for people with weapons who were denied access to a public building. It is specifically crafted to cost local governments a LOT of money if they fail to comply. So it would be incredibly irresponsible to say we are going to ignore the law. The expenses will start mounting immediately.
Given that, cities and counties have two choices:
1. Allow firearms per state law; or
2. Create a single entry checkpoint operated by armed law enforcement officers.
That is it. Those are the only two realistic options we have. I HATE these two choices. I think most elected officials do. We would prefer to make local rules that reflect the desires of our constituents rather than having everything come from Governor Reynolds. But no matter how much I hate it, I have to deal with it. And they only gave us two choices.
Supervisor Rettig brought up a third option – suing the state. According to our County Attorney, her Assistant County Attorneys, the City Attorneys of every city in Johnson County, and every individual attorney with whom I have spoken, such a lawsuit would be unsuccessful. So, we can also ignore all legal advice and charge forward with a lawsuit. (And pay the cost of everything when we lose.) We’ll refer to that as a third option, for now.
Personally, I feel the only prudent course of action is to rescind the ban on weapons in county buildings. Here is why:
First, I do not believe the people of Johnson County want to go through invasive screening to access their public buildings. Unlike some, I go to work every day. I watch people in line. I speak to people in line. I talk with our staff that serve the people in line. The public HATES our current arrangement. They are willing to put up with it temporarily, because most understand the severity of the COVID threat. But assuming we ever get back to “normal,” I do not think the public wants to be searched before coming into a county building for which THEY paid.
Secondly, I wonder if the presence of armed Sheriff’s Deputies at the entrance to buildings will discourage people from seeking the assistance they need. A couple armed Deputies might be enough to discourage a person with a mental health condition from seeking service. A couple armed Deputies might be enough to discourage a person with any type of criminal history from accessing the many services available through Johnson County Social Services and/or the Iowa Department of Human Services. A couple armed Deputies might be enough to discourage a person of color from coming in the building at all.
Thirdly, Iowa City, when facing the exact same scenario, reluctantly voted to rescind their ban on firearms. Not because they are bad people. Not because they “don’t care about safety.” Not because they “want to see people die.” No, people who are elected to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public were forced into a lousy set of choices. It is not that they “don’t care.” In fact, they care so much they feel forced to alienate a whole bunch of people who used to consider them friends and now see them as enemies. It sucks.
Fourthly, we could take the screening option, but at what cost? At the Courthouse, where we have put in just this type of security, we were required to build an addition. It is difficult to imagine doing anything different at the Admin Building. So plan on at least a half million in construction costs, perhaps a lot more.
Then you need to purchase and maintain the screening equipment. Expect $25,000 up front, plus ongoing annual maintenance.
It requires a bit over three FTEs to operate the Courthouse screening. A Sheriff’s Deputy at $80,000 annually, plus $30,000 worth of benefits, is $110,000. Times three, and we are at a minimum of $330,000 annually. Probably $350,000.
Folks, if we are going to spend another $350,000 annually, I would much rather spend it on things people need rather than TSA-style screening. How does this fit with the “defund the police” efforts? $350,000 every year could build a lot of affordable housing.
Finally, unless Democrats flip the House in November, having a security checkpoint might not end this discussion. Look at the Iowa State Capitol. It has had a security checkpoint for years. But for the last few years, concealed carry is allowed. So even though you empty your pockets and go through a metal detector, there are still an unknown number of people in the building who are armed. It really defeats the purpose of screening.
There is no doubt in my mind that if the GOP holds the Iowa House in November, such Legislation would be on the way for local governments. So, now we have spent money to build an annex, purchased scanning equipment, hired screeners, and we STILL have guns in the buildings.
I hate the fact that the Legislature passed this. I hate the fact that they continue to erode local control. But I am elected to do a job. That job requires me to deal with our day-to-day realities. I have to figure out how to do the things that need to be done. It is called governing, and not every Supervisor is actually committed to it.
I wish I had better news. I don’t. So I will be advocating for Johnson County to follow the lead of Iowa City and rescind our ban on weapons in public buildings. Then I am going to urge everyone once again to vote in November!
*DID YOU KNOW?
There are over 3,000 vehicles bought/sold in Johnson County each month. (Source: Johnson County Treasurer.)
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
July 16, 2020
Sullivan’s Salvos 7/21/20
In this edition:
*ICCSD COVID Decisions
*Taxpayer Protections
*Alabama GOP Senate Candidates
*Did You Know?
*ICCSD COVID Decisions
The ICCSD Board of Directors made a difficult decision on Tuesday, choosing to begin the 2020-21 school year online. The vote was a unanimous 7-0.
I have a lot I feel I need to say about this. For starters, this is difficult. No matter what the Board decided, there were going to be significant downsides. It is truly a lose-lose situation.
So, if you like the decision they made? Don’t celebrate too hard. If you are happy about this, you are likely one of the most privileged people in the District. (Remember, the average household income in Johnson County is $56,000 annually. And that is pre-COVID.) We need to recognize that this decision is devastating for a lot of families in our community.
Don’t like the decision? Don’t complain too loudly. The Board made a decision based upon what they thought would save the most lives. That is pretty heady stuff. Most of us do not ever once in our lives make life and death decisions for 100,000 people. In this case, the ICCSD Board felt that was what they were doing.
I don’t know Lisa Williams very well. We have spoken maybe four times. I have enjoyed those conversations. She seems to be a nice person. And from watching and reading about Board business, I can tell that she is smart and committed.
I did not know Ruthina Malone, Shawn Eyestone, Paul Roessler, or Janet Godwin until they were candidates for the Board. In the time since, I have gotten to know all four pretty well. And you know what? All four are wonderful. They are smart, caring, hardworking people who really want what is best for our School District. These are four truly committed public servants. I have voted for every one of them, and I would be proud to do so again.
To top it off, Ruthina has received racist emails, even though all 7 voted the same way. I have a whole folder of racist emails if you want to compare notes, Ruthina. I am serious here! Sorry this happened. You deserve SO much better!
I have known JP Claussen and Charlie Eastham longer than the rest. These two men are not just excellent Board members. These are two of the finest people I have ever known. Period.
Since becoming a functioning adult, I have tried pretty hard to live my life by Matthew 25: “That which you have done to the least among us, you have done to me.” I would be hard pressed to name two people who exemplify this more than Charlie Eastham and JP Claussen. I truly do not know two people who fight harder for those with less. These guys walk the walk. There is literally NO ONE I would rather have making this difficult decision.
The Board has made its’ decision. Now it is up to all of us – supportive or not – to help them as we move forward. Offer your time, talents, and money. Offer your suggestions. And yes, hold them accountable. That is the only way we get through this.
*Taxpayer Protections
The Board recently made a couple grants to a couple of organizations who are trying to help others through the COVID crisis. One group – Better Together – is helping locally-owned small businesses. The other -Center for Worker Justice – is assisting families who are ineligible for other relief programs.
I was happy to support both efforts. While both requests were not accounted for in our budget, the COVID crisis is putting all of us in some difficult positions. We will hope the Federal government comes through; if not, we have some reserves.
So I am pleased that the Board voted unanimously to assist these organizations. We have not always had unanimity when it comes to fighting COVID. We recently approved hiring an additional Disease Prevention Specialist, a position critical to fighting the pandemic. But one Supervisor voted against that because it was not budgeted. (Seven months ago the Director could have asked for a new position “just in case we are struck with the biggest pandemic since 1918.” I wonder how that request would have been viewed? But I digress.) So again, I was pleased to see these two requests pass unanimously.
I am, however, a bit disappointed in some of the allies of these two organizations. I had four people I like and respect, two supporting each project, who felt the Board was being “difficult” and should just hand over the money. There were too many “strings”, in their opinions.
I have never been one for red tape. So I take such criticisms seriously. But this made me angry. The Board is spending public money. The taxpayers deserve to know when a discussion is held, to listen to it, and to participate, if they wish. The public should expect that the County has done due diligence, and that safeguards exist in case of fraud, abuse, or other problems. The public deserves to know how the money was spent, and judge the outcomes of the spending.
Face it – if Donald Trump was giving grants to two organizations that he liked, you would expect a thorough set of checks and balances. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. The public deserves transparency and security as much as the organizations deserve the funding.
Interestingly, at almost exactly the same time, State Auditor Rob Sand came out with a warning for local governments on exactly this topic. He warned about best practices for granting money to nonprofit organizations. While our processes are pretty good in that regard and should comply, it still served as a good reminder.
*Alabama GOP Senate Candidates
There was a time when I thought my LEAST favorite US Senator was Jeff Sessions. Bad in almost every conceivable way, plus smug about it. I did not think the Alabama GOP (or the Country) could do worse.
But then the Alabama GOP said, “Hold my beer!” They nominated a pedophile and disgraced former judge named Roy Moore to be their nominee. While this was still OK with the Alabama GOP, the Democratic and non-party voters in Alabama said no thanks, electing Democrat Doug Jones instead.
Now the Alabama GOP has had another go at it, and former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville is their nominee. While he is not the train wreck the Moore is, I actually think this man is worse than Sessions. Tuberville is quite a piece of work.
Unfortunately, I expect Tuberville to beat Jones in November. That means, in effect, Democrats do not need 3 seats to control the US Senate – they need four. I think winning an additional four-plus seats is very possible! I just want folks to understand the math.
*DID YOU KNOW? From Historian Ed Hartig: The 2020 baseball schedule does *not* include a Cubs-Braves game... for the first time since 1873. That ends the longest non-interrupted series in American sports history after 146 seasons.
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
|
