SULLIVAN'S SALVOS

July 28, 2022

Sullivan’s Salvos 8/2/22

In this edition:

*Happy Anniversary!

*August Leases

*Congratulations, Randy!

*Congratulations, David and Peter!

*Boards and Commissions

*Carbon Capture Pipelines

*Did You Know?

*Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary on August 1 to my wonderful wife, Dr. 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! I hope we celebrate many more!

*August Leases

The August leases have begun, and people are pouring into our community. There are now lots of drivers, bikers, and pedestrians who are not completely certain where they are headed.

Please allow a little more time and a little more space. The newbies will figure things out in due time!

*Congratulations, Randy!

Congratulations to Randy Hausler upon retiring after over 37 years as the Youth Ministries Director at Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church. During that time, Randy has joked and played around, but also accomplished the very serious work of trying to help generations of young people to get on the path of leading a moral life.

The Hauslers were very welcoming to our family when we arrived at St. Andrew over 20 years ago, and have maintained that warm, welcoming attitude ever since. With sincere gratitude and appreciation, thank you Randy for your service!

*Congratulations, David and Peter!

Thinking back upon my years as a Supervisor, I feel as though we have won some important victories. There are many policy decisions that have greatly improved the quality of life in Johnson County. These include our Sensitive Areas Ordinance, Conservation Bond, fighting for better TIFs, and raising the minimum wage, just to name a few. And in pretty much every case, the Iowa Policy Project was an important ally in these victories.

Very few elected officials have the background to do extensive research on environmental or economic policy. And even if they had the background, they don’t have the time. The other side has dozens of think tanks spewing out crap, and you simply cannot go into those arguments without some facts.

So elected officials require a source of solid information to which they can turn. We have always had that in the Iowa Policy Project (now Common Good Iowa). As two of the key players retire from that organization, I want to acknowledge their work.

First, David Osterberg. David founded the Iowa Policy Project in 2001 precisely because well-intentioned elected officials needed help. His background in all things environmental plus his service in the Iowa Legislature gave the organization instant credibility.

Then there is Peter Fisher. I cannot count the number of times I called him, flustered by a talking point from the other side, only to have Peter calmly talk me down. I really truly spent hundreds of hours in my career going through materials Peter provided.

These two did not just provide me with information. They helped teach me how to think about the policy issues that affect Johnson County. They made me, and many others, better public servants. If you like the policy direction of your local elected officials, you can probably thank these two men.

Congratulations, David and Peter! Enjoy your retirement!

*Boards and Commissions

Johnson County government consists of over 550 employees, 10 elected officials, and approximately 30 Boards and Commissions. I know I don’t talk enough about the tremendous contributions of our many Boards and Commissions!

From setting the value of your home, to cleaning up streams, to local foods, to historic preservation, to assisting veterans, seniors, children, and people with disabilities – Johnson County has a Board or Commission on almost every topic imaginable.

These many topics are tackled by scores of Johnson County residents, who bring their considerable talents, knowledge, and opinions to the table. Each one volunteers her/his time to make Johnson County a better place to live, learn, work, and play.

If you are NOT currently a member, please take a look at our list of Boards and Commissions on the County website. We’d love to have you join us!

*Carbon Capture Pipelines

I have written about this a couple of times previously, but I remain adamantly opposed to the three “carbon capture” pipelines that are proposed to cut across Iowa. There are many reasons to oppose these schemes, but they fall into 3 broad categories:

1. Safety. Iowa is crisscrossed by pipelines. But these are different. Liquid carbon dioxide is much more dangerous that what flows through other pipelines. This stuff is highly pressurized. Want to see what happens when a pipeline carrying liquid CO2 explodes? Take a look at this: https://www.dnv.com/oilgas/laboratories-test-sites/dense-phase-spadeadam-video.html. The public should not be exposed to this level of risk.

2. Private Property Rights. Eminent Domain exists so that governments can take pieces of private property, but *ONLY* when the taking is “in the public interest.” These pipelines are *NOT* in the public interest! We must not allow ourselves to live in a country where big companies can take your land just because they want to earn a profit!
Even if the process DID work (and it doesn’t), there is no benefit to local people. There is no “public interest,” only private profit.

3. Environmental impact. First, despite the claims of the pipeline companies, the whole process is environmentally unsustainable. The real answer is not to “capture” carbon, which they cannot successfully do, but rather to not produce it in the first place. Solar and wind are both carbon free energy sources.
Secondly, this “captured carbon” will be used to assist in fracking. No thank you! Again, wind and solar are the answers!

Thirdly, this simply continues the bad ag practices driven by an overreliance on growing corn. Our air, water, and land are all suffering from too much corn. Take ethanol out of the picture. Assist farmers in moving to other crops. Move to electric vehicles. This will help tremendously, unlike these pipelines.

These are but a few of the reasons everyone should oppose “carbon capture” pipelines.

*DID YOU KNOW? The following poem was written in response to the Lawrence, MA textile worker’s strike in 1912 – it was very much about women’s rights in the labor market. It still rings true today:

“As we go marching, marching, we bring the greater days,

The rising of the women means the rising of the race.

No more the drudge and idler, ten that toil where one reposes,

But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses, bread and roses.

Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;

Hearts starve as well as bodies; bread and roses, bread and roses.”

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 rodsullivan29@gmail.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

July 21, 2022

Happy Anniversary, Honey! It has been a great ride! I hope we celebrate many more!

Fun Days in Swisher runs Friday, July 30 and Saturday, July 31. If you have never visited Johnson County’s northwest corner, give it a try!

For event details, see: https://swisher-fun-days.square.site/fbclid=IwAR3zfe7qrTZOtiZQIwdqahkMK4MqQjfmHhMEMtTBkSS4v0Fxrx01o3-GIV8

A member or two of the ICCSD Board is questioning whether or not the ICCSD should invest in a new Hills Elementary. I think the decision is easy, and the answer is yes!

I was on the committee that helped to pass the bond. We told people in Hills we were going to build them a new school. Heck, I LITERALLY went in front of a group of 30 people at the Hills Community Center and told them that! Securing their support, then changing the plan would be the worst possible type of bait and switch.

I understand that Board Members are not going to always agree. And there is nothing wrong with asking questions. But in this case, a promise was made to a couple thousand residents of Hills and the surrounding area. The ICCSD should keep that promise.

And it is not like this is a bad investment. Hills is ten minutes from UIHC. The town is growing at a brisk clip. Iowa City continues to grow to the south. And just like the people who argued for neighborhood schools like Lincoln, Mann, Longfellow, and Coralville Central, the folks in Hills have a neighborhood school. Let’s support them!

Democrats in the US House have passed some great legislation. Are you aware of that?

Since January of 2020, the US House of Representatives has passed bills doing the following: Codifying the right to vote, codifying Roe v. Wade, passing sensible restrictions on guns, passing protections for trans people, raising the minimum wage, extending healthcare benefits, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, increasing renewable energy, passing net neutrality, protecting Dreamers, improving the lives of Indigenous people, implementing child tax credits, passing the Pro Act, adopting an infrastructure bill, and much more.

All of these bills have been passed with zero Republican support. Zero. Democrats have tried to do all these things; Republicans have fought them at every step.

All of these bills have moved on to the US Senate. Where they get filibustered and die. The filibuster stops every single bit of good legislation. Again, all of these bills have zero Republican support. Zero. Democrats have tried to do all these things; Republicans have fought them at every step.

President Biden would sign these bills. But they cannot reach him because of the filibuster. Everything gets stopped because of the filibuster.

What can you do? Vote for Democrats! We simply need a couple more Democrats in the House and Senate, and all these great things can happen. It is that simple. A couple more Democrats in the US Senate, and the filibuster goes away.

People who defend the filibuster as some honorable Senate tradition are full of crap. The filibuster is and has always been a tool to prevent civil rights. “It’s been a tool used overwhelmingly by racists,” says Kevin Kruse, a historian of race and American politics at Princeton University. To learn more, see: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2021/3/25/22348308/filibuster-racism-jim-crow-mitch-mcconnell

This first appeared in Salvos way back in July 2012. (That will explain a few outdated references.) But the issue is still much the same today.

Policy versus politics. Supervisors deal with a similar issue when they engage in certain activities in the community.

An example: about seven weeks ago, I volunteered at the ICARE Pancake Breakfast. I have volunteered for this breakfast for quite some time – longer than I have served as a Supervisor.

So, was I working? It hardly strikes me as work – it is a volunteer gig. Yet I know some Supervisors would consider it work.

Was I campaigning? I suppose a cynic would say that every public appearance by a Supervisor is campaigning. But it did not feel like campaigning to me.

I feel as though I was volunteering. (I also bought a ticket, even though volunteers ate free.) That makes it my personal time. I think that is the way the public would want it. But it is not always so clear.

Let’s use another example: I attended the Solon Firefighters Pancake Breakfast. While I did not volunteer, I did purchase a ticket, which helps the cause.

Working? That would be a tough case to make! Volunteering? Only if you consider eating volunteer work! Campaigning? I would say yes.

Another scenario: while at Hy-Vee, three different people each stop a Sup and take ten minutes discussing work-related items. Is that work? If not, what is it? Volunteering? Can you volunteer at your job? (Union rules often strictly prohibit this so no abuses can take place.)

Is a Sup working when reading work related materials at home? Is it work to attend a Chamber luncheon? Is it work to just drive some gravel roads?

While this might be an interesting exercise for an elected official, it is only important to the public in one way: does the elected official put in enough work? Does she/he get results? Do they accomplish what needs to be accomplished? If you work enough, then it really does not matter if some of your time is spent campaigning and volunteering.

Much gets made of the fact that Supervisor is considered a ¾ time position. I have done my own time studies, and while there is no such thing as a “regular” week, I almost always work right around 80 hours every two weeks.

While this is more than ¾ time, there are other factors that should be taken into consideration. Supervisors do not punch a clock, so the hours get worked largely when each Sup wants. Some hours are at the office, some are in the community, and some are at home. The flexibility is amazing, and that is worth something.

As we all know, there are people who can work 80 hours every two weeks and get nothing done. There are folks who can work less and accomplish more. There are folks who you WISH would work less, because they tend to screw things up. There are those who just go through the motions.

Personally, I think anyone who complains about the hours and or the pay should quit whining and take another job. Nobody forces you to run for office.

So, what are your thoughts? Maintain the status quo? Make Sups full time and pay them more? Reduce the expectations of time spent for the office? Or do you have another suggestion altogether?

*DID YOU KNOW? On November 20, 2008, UNESCO designated Iowa City, Iowa, the world’s third City of Literature, making the community part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Iowa City joined Edinburgh, Scotland and Melbourne, Australia to become the third UNESCO City of Literature.

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 rodsullivan29@gmail.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!

July 15, 2022

The Johnson County Fair runs from Sunday, July 24 through Wednesday, July 27. This is a great opportunity for the whole family to take a step back toward our agricultural roots!

I enjoy the fair. I am particularly fond of the fact that there is never an entry fee, and parking is free. In many counties, you would pay $10 to park and $5/head admission, if not more. That is $30 minimum for a family of four before you have even done anything!

Yes, it is typically hot out there. But that is why they sell ice cream! So, please stop out and enjoy the Fair. You’ll be glad you did!

For the full daily lineup of events, see: http://www.johnsoncofair.com/entertainment.html

I had my second bout of COVID last week. My whole family got it in early January of ’22. Everyone BUT me got it in early May of ’22. And now JUST me has it in mid-July. I have had 4 shots – the series of two, plus two boosters. I have no doubt that my family and I would have been much worse had we not been vaccinated.

As for this bout - I had a runny nose, took a test, and it came back positive. Thankfully, I could do most of my work from home, including Zooming into a couple of meetings. The symptoms never really got worse than that runny nose. This takes me back to a conversation I had a couple years ago with a friend who is a counselor.

I was not seeing her professionally, but we ran into each other downtown. We began talking about COVID, and I started to throw out all the usual qualifiers: I know I am lucky. Lots of people lost loved ones. Lots of people have long COVID. Lots of people lost jobs. I know that in the big picture, my problems do not amount to a hill of beans.

My counselor friend diagnosed me on the spot. She said, “It is great that you realize many people have it worse than you. That is true. But you still have a right to your feelings. You have every right to be angry, sad, or whatever else you are feeling.”

That really helped me at the time, and it really helps me today. You see, I simply cannot function without people. I need to be around people. Sure, I like a little bit of alone time. But not much. My mental health is really dependent upon being with other people. And COVID makes that a real struggle.

Look at Saturday the 9^th. It was a BEAUTIFUL day! Perfect weather! And two really good friends were both having parties that day. But I could not go. And I honestly feel as though something of great value was stolen from me. I feel wronged, like I am the victim of a crime. I feel completely forsaken. I need this to end.

I know others may read this, and think, “What hyperbole.” But this is who I am. Taking people from me is the worst thing that can happen to me. Not everyone feels this way, but I do.

Again, I get it. I’m amongst the lucky ones. I just felt like keeping this inside was doing me no good, so I’m sharing it. I hope you and yours stay safe and healthy.

Campaigns for all the various offices are going strong. I just wanted to take a moment to share my admiration for 1^st District Congressional Candidate Christina Bohannan.

When I met Christina, it was immediately evident that she was friendly, warm, and unbelievably intelligent. Those qualities alone can serve a person quite well in elective office. But Christina has gone on to impress me in many additional ways.

Christina is an incredibly hard worker. She doggedly researches topics, she talks to everyone who might be affected, and she is willing to work across the aisle. I am aware of one situation where Republicans in the House were ready to ram home legislation, and Democrats felt helpless. But Christina intervened, and almost singlehandedly made the bill less bad. I am really impressed by her work in the Iowa Legislature!

Christina puts that same hard work into constituent services. I know many people who have been pleasantly surprised by her follow through. Unfortunately, many of us do not expect a lot from our elected officials. Christina has proven otherwise. If she says she is going to do something, it gets done, it gets done quickly, and it gets done well.

Finally, and I cannot emphasize this enough – Christina really cares. She truly wants to improve the lives of Iowans. She did not have it easy growing up. Christina lived in a trailer, and her dad worked construction until emphysema (and a lack of good health insurance) made work impossible. Christina has never forgotten these roots. All of her votes have those who are less powerful in mind.

I am going to be enthusiastically campaigning for Christina Bohannan this election season. I am proud to knock doors on her behalf! I hope you will join me!

(This originally appeared in Salvos way back in 2010, hence some of the dated references. That said, it still rings pretty true today.)

Imagine young local politician, trying to build a grassroots movement. Here are some of the things he is saying:

While most politicians resist attacking the rich (because they want to avoid “class warfare”), this guy rips the rich constantly. He even tells them they are going to Hell!

While most politicians run from the term “socialist”, this guy literally advocates taking from the rich and giving to the poor.

While elected officials in Iowa City “pile on” the Southeast side, this guy moves there.

Instead of voting to restrict panhandling, this guy hangs out with the beggars in the Ped Mall.

Rather than supporting the arming of the UI Police, this guy stages a sit-in at Jessup Hall.

This guy helps to organize workers into unions, and argues for better wages for working people.

While most local politicians ran away from the Land Water Future bond initiative, this guy spoke out firmly for the environment.

Instead of throwing tax incentives at businesses, this guy advocates for a huge increase in human services funding.

This guy loudly promotes “Obamacare”… though he thinks it does not go nearly far enough. He prefers free healthcare for all.

Don’t think for a minute that this guy is a fan of Obama, however. He is extremely anti-war, and protests the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan every single day.

Could this guy get elected in Iowa City? Not in a million years! He would be labeled a Socialist, Communist, and a Liberal. He would be pilloried on the Press Citizen message boards. They would call his policies “job killing welfare”. Glen Beck fans would write letters attacking the socialist.

Sure, Jesus was not a politician. That is not the point. The behaviors I mentioned above come right out of the New Testament; I simply changed the time and location.

Ironically, the actions I listed probably wouldn’t even be the topic of conversation. People would instead be criticizing the length of his hair.

But what DOES this mean? Most people in Johnson County claim to be Christians. Many wear it on their sleeves. Is there a log in our collective eye? To use a popular phrase, “What Would Jesus Do?”

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 rodsullivan29@gmail.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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