SULLIVAN'S SALVOS

February 25, 2021

Sullivan’s Salvos 3/2/21

In this edition:

*Correction Re: African American Electeds

*The COVID Blues

*Night of 1000 Dinners

*Are Dems Moving?

*Did You Know?

*Correction Re: African American Electeds

I wrote last week about the African Americans who have served in elected office in Johnson County. I mentioned that there was no central database, so there was a chance we were missing someone.

Well, guess what? I missed someone! I had written that Orville Townsend was the first African American to serve on the ICCSD Board. As a matter of fact, that honor goes to Dr. Classie Hoyle, who was elected to the ICCSD Board in 1980.

It appears Dr. Hoyle only served a couple years, choosing not to seek reelection when the ICCSD Board changed the way they do elections. So she was off the Board just as I was getting to town. But I deeply regret the error.

For those that do not know, Dr. Classie Hoyle ran the UI Office of Affirmative Action in the 70s and 80s, and still has many admirers in the community. I see that she just decided to step down (at age 77) from the Annapolis, MD City Council, where she has served for 12 years.

Again, I regret the mistake!

*The COVID Blues

Please allow me to get the qualifiers out right up front. Compared to many people, COVID has not really affected my family. (Knock on wood!) While I have had a couple of friends die, I have been very lucky. Not only have I not gotten sick, but Melissa and I have maintained our employment throughout. We have maintained our health insurance throughout. We are very lucky.

OK. Now that I have acknowledged our privilege, you get to hear me complain. I am SO depressed right now! I am an extrovert, and I am simply not getting enough contact with other people. I am sure there are a lot of people out there just like me. Please reach out to them. Give them a call, and let them hear your voice. It has already been a long winter. Help your friends to get through it.

*Night of 1000 Dinners

The Johnson County UNA invites you to Night of 1000 Dinners 2021, a virtual community celebration of International Women's Day on Wednesday, March 10 at 6:00 p.m.

We will honor organizations founded by, led by, and/or serving women: The Domestic Violence Interventional Program, Houses into Homes, and Sankofa Outreach Connection.

The program will feature performances by the Oakdale Community Choir, International Academy of Russian Music, Art, and Culture, the UI International Writing Program, and a dance performance by Iowa Andhi.

Proceeds will benefit the UN World Food Programme, CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank, Coralville Community Food Pantry, and North Liberty Community Pantry.

Tickets: $25 per household for community members; $10 for students or those hard hit by the pandemic. Order online at Eventbrite.com (enter "Night of 1000 Dinners" in search box at upper left corner of screen) OR mail a check payable to JCUNA to JCUNA, 308 E. Burlington St. #245, Iowa City, IA 52240. Can't attend? Donations gratefully accepted!

Ticket purchasers and donors will receive a link for the event and be entered into a drawing for $50 gift cards purchased from local ethnic restaurants. See you there!

*Are Dems Moving?

I ran the following in mid-January, urging Democrats in the Federal government to work quickly. Let’s check in and see how they are doing:

Lost in the tragic events of the past couple of weeks is the fact that Democrats have a trifecta, with the Presidency, Senate, and House. So what comes next? What do they take on first?

Before we get into that, let’s review the playing field. The Democrats have control, but by the slimmest possible margins. I talked last week about the way in which Mitch McConnell has broken the Senate, and therefore broken our democracy. God forbid something happens to one Democratic Senator – if so, McConnell stops EVERYTHING. So everything is urgent, and everything hangs by a thread.

Even if things get passed, they will run into a hostile Supreme Court. It does not matter what the law is, if it was passed by Democrats, Alieto and Thomas want it repealed. Kavanaugh and Gorsuch might be a bit better, but not much. Coney Barrett’s reputation precedes her. And Roberts is a longtime advocate of voter suppression, among other things. So it will not be easy getting ANYTHING done.

So what should get done first? Here are my suggestions, in the form of a top ten list. And yes, these are in order, as far as I am concerned:

1. Justice Steven Breyer needs to retire, and Biden needs to replace him.
Breyer is 82 years old. We have seen this before. One thing happens to Sherrod Brown, Jon Tester, Joe Manchin, etc. and this becomes yet another GOP appointment. This needs to be done within hours of Biden being sworn in, and I am not kidding!

Check in: Get moving, Breyer!

2. Send $2000 COVID relief checks.
Democrats pushed for this; they should follow through.

Check in: This has moved far too slowly.

3. Do all the other COVID relief that needs to be done.
There are many common sense COVID relief measures that McConnell refused to entertain. We should get them done.

Check in: This, also, has moved far too slowly.

4. Improve vaccine distribution; perhaps with Defense Production Act.
The best way to save lives and fix our economy is to improve vaccine distribution. The Biden Administration can do this.

Check in: This has actually been fairly successful, especially considering the mess they inherited.

5. Confirm Biden’s cabinet selections.
No need to worry about McConnell blocking anyone.

Check in: This has moved along pretty nicely.

6. Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
The House will pass it. Some Republican will filibuster it. Democrats should make them do this as long as the law allows, then hold them to account. So while I don’t see this passing, at least Democrats will have given it a go.

Check in: This is a desperate need. This is the issue to challenge the filibuster. States like Arizona, North Carolina, and Iowa are already passing radical voter suppression laws. The only way to fight back is at the federal level. It must happen now!

7. Fill vacant judicial openings.
There are no longer filibusters on judicial nominations. So Biden should fill every single vacancy as fast as humanly possible. First up? Merrick Garland’s old seat on the CD Circuit.

Check in: This, too, needs to move more quickly.

8. Reverse the Trump tax cuts for the wealthy.
This should be brought to a vote in the Senate – again, make them filibuster it. Then pass it through budget reconciliation.

Check in: This needs to happen, but it is not as urgent as some of the other things on the list.

9. Reverse all Trump’s Executive Orders.
Trump has done tremendous damage to the environment, labor, civil rights, and other areas. Just as it was done by the stroke of a pen, it can be undone.

Check in: This is happening at a pretty good pace!

10. Forgive most student loan debt.
Like several previous issues, this should be brought to a vote in the Senate – again, make them filibuster it. Then pass it through budget reconciliation. This is TREMENDOUS economic stimulus, and good politics, too!

Check in: Biden’s decision to only go up to $10,000 makes no sense politically or economically. The only acceptable response to the GOP is do nothing. Janet Yellin and other experts assure him $10,000 is good, but $25,000 or more would be better. Why voluntarily take half a loaf? Still, $10,000 will be better than nothing. I hope Biden acts soon!

All in all, I give them a mixed score. Let’s call it a C-. They have accomplished a lot under difficult conditions, but the moment calls for much more. Remember, one small thing happens to one of a group of about 5 Senators, and poof! All is lost. We simply must move more quickly.

*DID YOU KNOW? Actor Rob Lowe was playing in a PGA Pro-Am celebrity golf tournament in West Des Moines when a golf ball he had just hit struck and killed a goldfinch in mid-flight. Actuaries actually calculated the odds of him going to Iowa and killing the state bird with a golf ball: 1 in 747 million.

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-

www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov.

"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 rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

February 18, 2021

Linn County Planning and Zoning Director Les Beck is retiring immediately, after 20 years in Linn County and several years in Story County.

It may seem odd for Supervisors in one county to know staff in a different county. It probably is fairly unique. But Les Beck is fairly unique himself!

Beck has been an acknowledged expert and leader among people in the field of Planning, Zoning, and Urban and Regional Planning. He also put this expertise to work as an adjunct professor at the UI.

Les is smart, funny, and willing to think outside of the box. He has long been willing to try new things. I have had the pleasure of consulting with Les on several projects in both counties, and I learned a great deal from him.

My State Representative Christina Bohannan is new to the Iowa Legislature. But she has not allowed her rookie status to keep her from creating an excellent newsletter! Seriously, this is really well done. You should subscribe even if you do not live in House District 85! Here is the link:

The Sullivan for Supervisor team is once again raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County by Bowling For Kids’ Sake.

BBBS is trying several different things to get bowlers to participate: You can bowl in person (like normal) but masked and distanced; you can get a rain check and bowl later in the year; you can bowl virtually using an app; or you can compete in an online trivia contest.

I am not going in person this year. That is sad, because it breaks a streak of about 20 consecutive years. (ironically, BFKS was one of the last things we did in 2020 before COVID hit.)

But we are still going to raise money! Because BBBS is REALLY important! Statistics show that having a trusted adult mentor makes an unbelievable difference in the life of a child. Kids with BBBS matches do better academically, are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, and are less likely to be involved in the criminal justice system. This simple idea WORKS.

The Johnson County Auditor’s Office decided to honor all of the African Americans who have held office in Johnson County. There was only one problem… no one kept a list!

I got called in to help. While we did not engage any professionals, I think we came up with the full list. Here is the history of African American Elected Officials in Johnson County:

*Bill Hargrave was the first African American Elected Official, serving as a member of the Iowa House in the 1970s. Hargrave was a Sheriff’s Deputy and a progressive Democrat. Hargrave remains the only African American legislator we have ever elected.

*The first African American to win office in a local school district was Orville “Speedy” Townsend, who served on the ICCSD Board in the mid-80s. Townsend also filled an unexpired term on the Board in the late ‘10s.

*George Strait was the first African American elected to the Iowa City Council. A member of the UI Faculty, Strait served most of the decade of the ‘80s.

*Royceann Porter is the first and only African American elected to countywide office. Porter won a Special Election in ’18 to fill an unexpired term, and was subsequently elected to a full term in 2020.

*Zadok Nampala was elected to the University Heights Council in ’15, becoming the first African American Elected Official to live outside of Iowa City. His term in office was very brief, however, as job responsibilities caused him to leave town shortly after assuming office. RaQuishia Harrington was elected to the North Liberty City Council in ’19, becoming the second non-Iowa Citian African American Elected Official.

*Strait was followed on the Iowa City Council by Ross Wilburn, who became Iowa City’s first African American Mayor. They were followed by Kingsley Botchway, current Councilor Mazahir Salih, and current Mayor Bruce Teague.

*Townsend was followed on the ICCSD Board by LaTasha DeLoach, Michael Shaw, current Director Ruthina Malone, and current Director Dromi Etsey.

No other city or school district in Johnson County has ever elected an African American.

I am disappointed but not surprised to see the mainstream media holding the Biden Administration to a radically different set of standards than the previous administration.

I understand that the Trump Presidency is going to end up being viewed by scholars as the worst Presidency in American history. But that does not mean the media is supposed to grade on a curve!

Look at the issue of bipartisanship. President Biden is taking all sorts of flack for failing to work with Republicans. This, despite the fact that he hosted Republican Senators at the White House for several hours in an attempt to negotiate. More to the point – where was the media when it came to demanding cooperation from Trump and GOP Senators? On what issues did they compromise? Why didn’t the press ask these same 10 Senators why they refused to reach out to Democrats before Democrats took the House? Why is bipartisanship only mentioned when Democrats take charge?

Trump told an average of 50 lies every day while in office. But you couldn’t get many folks in the media to actually call them lies. Right now, they are piling on Biden, claiming that he said he would try to work in a bipartisan manner. Well, he has tried. The GOP will not rise up to meet the challenges of the day. Biden also promised COVID relief; isn’t that more important?

Media: stop worrying about whether or not something is bipartisan. Instead, ask, “Is this what is best for the country?” Yes, you can always find a hack “expert” who will deny climate change. Your job is to find ten experts, or if you are a big media group, find 100. Do 75% of them feel the same way? 85%? 95%? You have an obligation to the public *NOT* to describe an 85% issue as, “experts disagree.” No, 5% of any group is contrarian. And 10% were bought.

There is a strain of, “We were constantly reporting bad things about Trump, so we have to be fair.” The difference? Trump was constantly DOING bad things. He literally had a Watergate-sized scandal every two months. There is no equivalent now, and the press should not pretend there is.

*DID YOU KNOW? 14 African Americans have served in elected office in Johnson County.

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 rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you!

February 11, 2021

Johnson County lost a real original with the passing of Louise Young. I got to know Louise through Democratic Party politics in the late ‘80s through about 2012. Louise and her husband Culver were Party regulars, rarely missing a meeting.

I will be honest – Louise did not make my life easy! I served as Party Chair for 4 years, and Louise presented me with more than a few challenges. I would kvetch about it at the time, but in hindsight, I grew to understand: Louise was not there to serve me. I was there to serve her.

Baseball is beginning spring training. Spring is on the way, and a world full of new hope and possibility presents itself. I hope they mask up and act responsibly; I need baseball! Let’s play ball!

Tuesday, February 16 is Fat Tuesday, the 17^th is Ash Wednesday, and Easter is 40 days away. Sounds like a reason to celebrate! (In a COVID-safe manner, of course!) Laissez les bons temps rouler!

This is an exact repeat of last week, but it needs to be repeated. I know everyone out there is seeking information about vaccinations. Unfortunately, we simply do not have adequate doses of vaccine to handle the demand.

If you want the very latest information, your best bet is the County website: https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov. There you will find all the information we have to share.

I know it is scary. I know it is slow. I know it is frustrating. Please be patient and know that we are doing the best we can. Thanks.

Governor Reynolds ended all COVID restrictions. Yet she continues to keep the many powers she reserved for herself as part of a public health emergency. Which is it? If we don’t require masks, she certainly doesn’t require additional powers!

The Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) is gearing up for our 24th Annual “Souper Bowl.” The event will be held on Thursday, February 25th, 2021.

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 $57,000 in 2020. E-filing is available, and interpretation services are available at many sites or by appointment.

Sites and times are available on the County website – see the Social Services Department for the complete schedule.

Spanish interpreters are available; interpreters for other languages can be scheduled by calling 356-6090.

This appeared in Salvos several times over the years, but it bears repeating as we approach tax season.

*What if I told you we could bring in 60 full-time jobs that would pay $15 per hour?

*What if I told you these jobs could neither be outsourced overseas nor subcontracted?

*What if I told you those jobs would be filled by hard-working low-income people, all of whom are local?

*What if I told you NO bribery (aka “tax incentives”) would be required to land these jobs?

What would happen? Well, the Iowa City Area Business Partnership would put it in their newsletter, and the Ambassadors would do a ribbon cutting. Debi Durham would come over from Des Moines and do a big press event, and the Governor just might join her. ICAD would tweet this success to the world. Mayors would grab gold shovels and pose for a photo. You might get a visit from a US Senator. The Press Citizen and Gazette would both do front page stories. The Corridor Business Journal would write a nice editorial. The region would be hailed for its forward thinking, and folks would talk far and wide about how well we do economic development.

Several years ago, I went to a National Association of Counties (NACo) conference and learned about a program that had started in Cook County, Illinois.

As it turns out, a huge number of low-income workers leave money on the table when it comes to the federal income tax system, particularly the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Cook County created a series of free tax clinics to ensure this money returned to their county.

I did some investigating, and it just so happened that Johnson County had the same problem, though obviously on a much smaller scale.

So Johnson County began a free tax help program. It struck me that we had a potential partner in the Tippe College of Business, and as luck would have it, we could not have had better timing. Dr. Joyce Berg was ready to greatly expand the work her student tax preparers would do. It was a perfect fit.

Former Supervisor Sally Stutsman was very supportive. Amy Correia had just been hired as Johnson County’s first Social Services Director, and Amy took the ball and ran with it, including securing grants to cover all operating costs. The Tippe College, ICCSD, United Way, Iowa City Public Library, and many others have become valued partners. In recent years, current Social Services Director Lynette Jacoby has maintained and improved upon all this success.

What are the results? The Free Tax Help Program brings well over $1.5 million into the local economy every year. It goes to low-income local workers, who spend it locally. And it uses no local tax dollars.

Remember when I said “60 full-time jobs at $15 per hour”? That adds up to a $1.78 million annual impact, just like the Free Tax Help Program. But the Free Tax Help Program is actually even better, because it serves over 1,400 Johnson County tax filers and their families!

Economic Development can take many forms. I happen to believe the Free Tax Help program has contributed a lot of good things to the local economy. We have not had any fancy groundbreakings or ribbon cuttings, but we have accomplished something!

So if you know Lynette Jacoby, thank Lynette Jacoby. She has done great work! If you know Joyce Berg, thank Joyce Berg. Her students have given much more back to this community than they could ever take.

*DID YOU KNOW? DVIP opened in Iowa City in 1977. They now serve all of southeast Iowa.

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 rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you!

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