SULLIVAN'S SALVOS

October 26, 2022

Sullivan’s Salvos 11/1/22

In this edition:

*Now is the Time!

*You Have Another Job!

*Homecoming Week

*Remembering November 1, 1991

*Kudos to Todd Dorman!

*Underground Economies

*Did You Know?

*Now is the Time!

Are you worried about the future of democracy in the US? (You should be!) Worried about a woman’s right to choose? (You should be!) Worried about the future of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid? (You should be!) Worried that the rich will just keep on getting richer and the middle class will keep getting screwed? (You should be!)

If you care about these issues or any others, now is the time to get to work. Voters are casting ballots as we speak. Volunteers are needed. Can you find some time to volunteer? If not now, when?

*You Have Another Job!

This appeared in Salvos last week, but it bears repeating:

We just talked about voting early. That is great, but it is NOT going to be enough! If you really care about this election, you NEED to put in the extra effort to ensure at least one extra person votes.

Here is my advice: Don’t assume people are voting, especially young people. Also, don’t assume they have a workable plan. Talk to them NOW to get a voting plan in place. I am doing this now with a former foster daughter and her husband. It is a long and complicated process. So get started!

*Homecoming Week

It is Homecoming Week at the University of Iowa. I am a very sentimental guy… probably too sentimental! With that in mind, you can understand why I love Homecoming!

I hope you all get an opportunity to take in some of the pomp and circumstance surrounding the game!

*Remembering November 1^st, 1991

Thirty-one years ago today, a UI post-graduate student named Gang Liu killed four faculty members, a student, and himself.

Faculty members Christoph Goertz, Dwight Nicholson, Robert Smith, T. Anne Cleary, and Linhua Shan were all slain. Student Miya Rodolfo-Sioson was shot and survived but was left paralyzed from the neck down.

If you ask longtime residents of Johnson County, most can tell you where they were that fateful day. (I was working my second job - a Friday night shift in a Systems Unlimited group home.)

I wish I could say that in the decades that passed, something good had come from this horror. Frankly, I simply do not see it. Even bigger mass killings have occurred on other campuses across the nation. Our mental health system is no better, and our gun laws are even worse. The killings make no more sense today than they did twenty years ago.

If you want to learn more about that awful day in Iowa City history, here are a couple of remembrances: https://littlevillagemag.com/cowboy-justice-a-first-hand-account-of-the-deadly-1991-ui-campus-shooting-30-years-later/

https://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/2021/10/31/former-iowa-city-police-officer-revisits-mass-shooting-university-of-iowa-30-years-later/6133791001/

I hope you will take a moment to reflect upon one of the saddest days in Johnson County history, and pray for the many survivors whose lives were touched by the people we lost that day.

*Kudos to Todd Dorman!

We all know what has happened to local journalism. It is sad. More importantly, it is having a profound impact on our Democracy. Things are NOT in good shape folks!

But every so often, there is a shining light that gives us hope. Among the brightest of those lights is Editorial Columnist Todd Dorman at the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Dorman hits all the right notes. He calls out lies, he points out hypocrisies, and he calls it as he sees it. Meanwhile, he punches up, not down, and defends those with little voice in our decision making.

Some will simply write him off as a partisan hack. That is not true. He has taken some friends of mine – Democrats – to task on a few occasions, and he did not pull any punches. And you know what? They deserved what he wrote about them. Dorman will criticize lies and hypocrisies wherever he sees them; it’s just that he can’t keep up with the current GOP.

I know GOP bigwigs like Jeff Kaufmann have tried to get Dorman fired. They got it done with Lyz Lenz. I hope the Gazette does not fold! To their credit, they still did endorsements, even though most Republican candidates refused to participate. Kudos to the Gazette, who stood up for what is right. (Unlike the Register, which will no longer do endorsements.)

Things are bleak, but there is still some really excellent journalism out there. If you are not reading Todd Dorman’s columns in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, you are missing out!

*Underground Economies

As a Board, we are often asked to make decisions based upon what will be good for our economy. That all sounds well and good, but there are widely varying views as to what is actually good for our economy.

One thing that we do not talk much about is the large underground economy that exists here. This is not unique to Johnson County. People have always desired goods and services not available to them in the traditional economy. And they have always been willing to pay for them. It goes back to the beginning of time.

What types of things fall into the category of underground economy? Things that are illegal, for one. Drugs and prostitution have usually been part of the underground economy. In the ‘20s, alcohol was the biggest piece. Societies change their views, and the economy changes with it.

Right now, a lot of goods and services are underground because of the regulatory state. Braiding and cutting hair, doing nails, preparing food, in-home childcare, home repairs, and car repairs are just a few of the many services that have gone underground because providers either cannot or will not comply with the rules that are in place.

I am torn on a bunch of these. Hairstyling, braiding, and nails are a racket. We charge young people – primarily women - $30,000 for an “education”, teaching them how to cut hair. Most of this is funded by the young women taking out expensive, high interest loans. They get done, and you know what the average pay is for a hairstylist in Iowa? $27,000. That works out to $13.50 per hour. And they get no benefits.

Why pay $30,000 for a job that pays $27,000? Because the styling “schools” buy off Republican Legislators and keep things as they are. If Iowa changed the requirements to say, “Stylists need a 60-hour class to cut hair,” the price of the instruction would plummet. People who now provide these services as part of the underground economy could leave the shadows. And pay taxes to boot.

In other cases, the state makes rules that cause me significant concern. Republicans in the Iowa Legislature recently increased the number of children for which a single childcare provider can care. They also lowered the age for people to work in childcare settings. Both of these changes might impact what happens in the underground economy. But I don’t see either change being good for children.

A young person I know has been getting her car worked on by a guy who is moonlighting. He works 9-5 at an auto repair shop, then does some repair at home on the side. He often looks at the vehicle, writes up what part he needs, and sends his customers to pick up the necessary materials at an auto parts store. They bring it back, and he does the fix – typically for about half what other shops charge.

I am not necessarily sure how I feel about this. Obviously, poor people have a dilemma – do I take a chance on this guy who is neither bonded nor insured? Or do I try to risk going longer without the repair? It is a difficult situation.

It is difficult on the other end as well. I can appreciate the auto mechanic’s entrepreneurial efforts, but is it really fair that licensed shops pay taxes while he does not?

The County cannot do much about the underground economy; Republicans in the Legislature have eliminated most of our regulatory ability. But we can continue to make noise, and hope that regulations address the things that are really important, while ignoring things that are largely unimportant. That would be better for our economy, and better for our people!

*DID YOU KNOW? Dia de las Muertos, or Day of the Dead, has Mexican origins. But there are arguments as to whether it is pre-Columbian, a spin on Catholicism, or some combination.

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

October 19, 2022

I ran this in Salvos last week. But it is important enough that it bears repeating:

Wednesday, October 19 is the first day you can vote early in Johnson County. I am of the opinion that voting early is really important. Here is why:

First, your party is spending resources to ensure that you get out and vote. The day after you vote, those resources begin to be utilized elsewhere. That only helps your party.

Secondly, if you somehow made some sort of mistake – for example, forgetting to sign your name – there is time for the Auditor’s Office to contact you so that you may correct it.

Finally, it reduces the odds of big lines at the polling places on Election Day, which can serve as a disincentive to some voters.

Here is my advice: Don’t assume people are voting, especially young people. Also, don’t assume they have a workable plan. Talk to them NOW to get the voting plan in place. I am doing this now with a former foster daughter and her husband. It is a long and complicated process. So get started!

I was sad to learn of the passing of Mary Fisher of Iowa City. Mary devoted her career to helping others. She owned and operated Fisher Counseling and Therapy in Iowa City for over 20 years. Mary specialized in an underserved population and was a fierce advocate for her clients. RIP, Mary!

Halloween is Monday the 31^st. I have been amazed in recent years by the amount of effort (and money) that goes into decorating homes for the season. When I was young, few homes displayed anything other than carved pumpkins. Now, there are huge blow-up characters, lights, and much more.

In 2022, consumers in the United States expected to spend an all-time high of 10.6 billion U.S. dollars for the Halloween season. Compared to 2021, this is an increase of about half a billion U.S. dollars. The average American spends $100 on Halloween!

Regardless of how you view Halloween, we need to remember a few key things: First, be careful! One thing that has not changed is an abundance of young children in dark costumes excitedly crossing streets. Secondly, you may want to temporarily take down your campaign yard signs. Despite annual accusations to the contrary, I still think most signs that disappear are teen pranks. Finally, have fun! Halloween offers all of us an opportunity to be young again.

I hope you watched the Gubernatorial debate on Monday, 10/17. I thought Democrat Deirdre DeJear really did a nice job against Governor Kim Reynolds.

I was extremely frustrated by the way in which the moderators rolled over and let Reynolds bully them. Reynolds almost always spoke twice as long as DeJear, and when a question went to Reynolds first, she would answer, DeJear would speak, and then Reynolds would speak again. Reynolds also rudely interrupted on several occasions.

Why do I mention this? Because Reynolds showed her true colors. She is a bully. She thinks the rules do not apply to her. Those are very bad qualities in a President (see Nixon and Trump) and they are very bad qualities in a Governor.

Reynolds continues to break the law with impunity, every single day. What laws? Laws regarding public information. Laws regarding appointments to various Boards and Commissions. Laws regarding how certain funds can be spent. The list goes on and on.

Why does she do it? Because the people of Iowa continue to let her get away with it. It is shameful. We should be calling this out, and calling on it to end. Let’s all vote for Deirdre DeJear!

DeJear is smart, compassionate, respectful, and thoughtful. We NEED those qualities in our Governor! Please join me in voting Deirdre DeJear for Governor!

You have undoubtedly noticed the move toward roundabouts (sometimes known as “traffic circles”) in the Johnson County area. Johnson County has played a small part in roundabouts on Sycamore, Dubuque Street and North Liberty Road, and is 100% responsible for the one at Highway 382 and Ely Road. (I am probably forgetting others.) I expect to see even more of them in the future.

The era of modern roundabouts began in the United Kingdom in 1956 with the construction of the first "yield-at-entry" roundabouts. In 1966, a nationwide yield-at-entry rule launched the modern roundabout revolution. Australia and most other British-influenced countries soon built modern roundabouts. Locally, the trend that started in Coralville in the ‘90s, and now shows up at all sorts of traffic intersections in the area.

Some people detest roundabouts. It caused the defeat of City Councilors in Mount Vernon, where the jury remains out on whether or not they are a good thing. On the other hand, traffic control experts love roundabouts. Here is why:

First, safety. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, roundabouts have been shown to significantly decrease the number of crashes, particularly those with serious injuries. Every study shows the same thing- roundabouts result in less accidents.

Second, also safety. The collisions that do occur tend to be minor. Roundabouts make violent and deadly collisions unlikely. So not only do you have less accidents, but they occur at lower speeds. Additionally, the deadliest accidents are head on. Those are eliminated in roundabouts. T-bone accidents are also very dangerous; these, too, are made less likely.

Third, the environment. By reducing idling, ten circular intersections in Virginia were found to save 200,000 gallons of gas each year. You can sit for a long time at a stop sign or stoplight. In theory, if a roundabout is being navigated properly, you will not stop at all.

Fourth, efficiency. You actually get through roundabouts more quickly, as you never actually stop moving. In addition, there is no need to wait when no other vehicles are near the intersection. Studies show that commute times are reduced when roundabouts replace other traffic control measures.

I understand that change can be hard. But our charge as Supervisors is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Johnson County. I think roundabouts accomplish this. I also believe in making decisions based upon data. And in this case, the data is overwhelming.

So, if our engineers come to us urging an additional traffic circle, expect me to be in favor.

*DID YOU KNOW? The direct cost of the Civil War was about $6.7 billion in 1860 dollars,which would be $139 billion today. However, some economic historians believe the indirect cost (such as disruption of the economy) would measure approximately $46 trillion in current money.

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!

October 12, 2022

Wednesday, October 19 is the first day you can vote early in Johnson County. I am of the opinion that voting early is really important. Here is why:

First, your party is spending resources to ensure that you get out and vote. The day after you vote, those resources begin to be utilized elsewhere. That only helps your party.

Secondly, if you somehow made some sort of mistake – for example, forgetting to sign your name – there is time for the Auditor’s Office to contact you so that you may correct it.

Finally, it reduces the odds of big lines at the polling places on Election Day, which can serve as a disincentive to some voters.

Johnson County recently won an 8^th consecutive Government Finance Officer’s Association (GFOA) Award for Budget Presentation. The honor recognizes Johnson County for having a budget process and product that are transparent and accessible. This is a prestigious award, with only three counties in Iowa achieving the feat.

One on the candidates running for Supervisor would have you believe the County budget lacks transparency. This is one of many data points proving him wrong.

Congratulations to our Finance Director Dana Aschenbrenner and the Finance Department for this wonderful achievement!

Did you notice how the Republican candidates for House Districts 91 and 92 and Senate District 46 failed to show up at the League of Women Voters forum?

Take note. They don’t care about the people of Johnson County now, and they will care even less if they are elected.

Normally, you could assume you knew the answers to these questions. But we do not live in normal times! So it is truly critical that GOP candidates at every level be asked some very basic things.

As you get the opportunity to question GOP candidates for office over the next couple of weeks, please consider asking these very real questions:

It DOES NOT MATTER what office the candidate is running for! The answers to these questions will tell you what you need to know!

As you may know, local high school football teams are once again having outstanding seasons. City, West, and Regina will likely all make the playoffs. Solon is having another fine year, as is West Branch. Mid-Prairie, Lone Tree and Clear Creek may also be playoff bound.

This incredible success led a friend of mine from the Des Moines area to comment, “You sure do have some tough kids in Johnson County!” I think he is absolutely correct. But I think it is a different group of kids who should be praised for being tough.

Kids who do not get three daily meals? Those are tough kids. Kids who absorb the slings and arrows from peers who tease them about their sexual and/or gender identities? Those are tough kids. Kids whose parents beat them? Those are tough kids. Kids whose families are homeless, going from place to place? Those are tough kids. Kids whose parents struggle with drugs or alcohol? Those are tough kids. Kids whose families have been disrupted, and now live in foster care? Those are tough kids. Kids who deal with disabilities? Those are tough kids. Kids whose parents struggle with mental illness? Those are tough kids. Kids who have to work to support their families? Those are tough kids. Kids with cancer? Those are tough kids!

Yes, we have great high school football teams in Johnson County. I am proud of the efforts of those kids. I am even MORE proud of the efforts of the many kids in Johnson County who struggle against incredible odds. They will not be getting any pep rallies in their honor, but they are our real heroes.

“Can you believe my neighbor had the nerve to knock on my door at 3am? Luckily, I was still up playing the bagpipes.” – Steven Wright

We all know that neighbors can make your life great, miserable, and everything in between. I have been very lucky when it comes to neighbors. I grew up down the road from my grandparents. I bought my first house from my next-door neighbor at the time. The Dalys were our neighbors in our old house for 21 years, and they are wonderful people and great friends. I know not everyone is so lucky.

I have been thinking for a while about this, and I have come to realize that a big part of my job as a County Supervisor revolves around the relationships between neighbors.

When I look back at my time on the Board, many of our fights have been over someone wanting to do something, and the reaction of the neighbors to that something.

Junk yards. GuideLink Center. Hog confinements. Compost facility. Muslim Youth Camp. Gun range. Parks. Fences. Event centers. New roads. Pesticide and herbicide applications. Affordable housing. Dogs. Group homes. Mobile homes. Loud parties. Open burning. Wildlife. Subdivisions. Nuisance properties. Churches. Bright lights. Construction. Cemeteries. Mining. Trails. Pipelines. Fireworks. Concerts. Local food production. Migrant workers. Hunting. The list goes on and on.

Almost everything that has ever happened in Johnson County had some type of impact on neighbors. And then we run into conflicting rights. The owner of a property has certain rights. Neighbors have a right to enjoy their property without interference. Those two sets of rights can and do come into conflict all the time. So how do we balance this?

Sometimes the law is clearly in favor of one party or the other. And largely because of the GOP, sometimes the more egregious the use of the property, the more strongly defended the right. (See hog confinements and carbon pipelines.) But in other situations, the law is vaguer.

When the law is less clear, working with neighbors becomes more individualized. There is no set method. The most obvious is a test of “reasonableness.” Is the property owner being reasonable? Is the neighbor being reasonable? Many times, our job is simply to appeal to their better natures and attempt to negotiate a solution.

This is how we spend our time as Supervisors. Neighbor versus neighbor. How are you going to work it out? I try to be fair, and make the best decision possible. I try to make certain I am not influenced by who is the wealthiest, loudest, or most articulate. Instead, I try to focus on the facts. Sometimes it is easy. Most times, it is not.

It seems funny when you think about it, but a really big part of our jobs is handling disputes between neighbors.

*DID YOU KNOW? The redder the leaf, the more sugar that leaf is storing. That is why Maple trees are so vibrant.

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!

October 5, 2022

Harvest is upon us, and farmers are in the fields. Please be aware as you are driving or biking – farm implements are very large and slow moving. Please take your time and be careful – there are avoidable accidents every year. Take a little extra time and enjoy the scenery – Iowa is beautiful this time of year!

I continue to marvel at the differences between the neighborhood I left on East Court Street in Iowa City, and the neighborhood to which I moved at 514 North Linn Street.

For starters – considering both sides of the street, my block on Court had 6 residential structures, one church, and 13 residents. My current block on Linn has 8 residential structures and about 100 residents.

Court had 7 garage stalls visible from the street. Linn has none. Court had thousands of cars pass by every day on a wide concrete road. Linn has just a couple hundred on a narrow brick street. Court had a stoplight; Linn has a stop sign.

On Court, we had two neighbors on one side, one on the other, who between them were 270 years old. On Linn, we have approximately 6 neighbors on one side, four on the other, and I would be shocked if their ages totaled 260.

Court Street had zero front porches. Linn has 5. Every structure on Court was built after 1960. Only one structure on Linn was built after 1960. Five out of 6 residences on Court were owner occupied; two out of eight on Linn.

I note this not to say one is better than the other; they are definitely different, however. Obviously, different strokes for different folks. I feel as though we have adjusted pretty well, but it is definitely a change!

The Des Moines Register recently ran an article on the State of Iowa’s so-called “budget surplus,” and it read exactly like a campaign ad. The Register clearly sold it’s soul when it allowed Governor Reynolds to push it into no longer doing candidate endorsements. But now they have taken an additional step are simply letting her campaign write their news stories.

The real story on the “budget surplus” is this: Iowa got a tremendous amount of federal money during and after the pandemic. And Governor Reynolds has chosen to not spend it. So children, seniors, people with disabilities, low-income folks – they got very little. Meanwhile, Reynolds sits on this money for a bit, basically launders it, and gives it back to the wealthiest Iowans in the form of income tax cuts. It is shameful.

In the article, Reynolds proudly states that, “We have not listened to the self-appointed experts.” Who are those “self-appointed” experts? Actually, they are just experts. Economists and budget and policy experts from around the US. And the experts agree that Iowa has significant needs. Too bad the Register chose not to speak with any of them for the article!

Reynolds keeps talking about mental health, but never actually puts any new resources into the system. The pay for people who work in that industry is abysmal. Providers are screaming about the lack of resources. But rather than address this, the rich are going to get a check. The exact same thing is happening with our seniors. And teachers are leaving Iowa in droves.

Reynolds continues to choose the wants of the rich over the needs of the poor. And she should be called out on that!

A friend and I had breakfast together a while back, and we kept running into a common theme: Why Do We Accept This? Why do we, as American citizens, accept certain situations? For example:

Why do we accept the phenomenal volume of gun deaths we have in this country? It is not like this in ANY other country in the world!

Why do we accept that the private sector needs to run healthcare? It is not like this in almost ANY other country in the world!

Why do we accept that voluntary efforts will clean up our water? It is not like this in almost ANY other country in the world!

Why do we accept the incredible wealth disparity in the US? It is not like this in ANY other country in the world!

Why do we accept the stock market as the only measure of the economy? It is not like this in almost ANY other country in the world!

We are told that, “This is how it works.” Except that for 99% of all people, it DOESN’T work! Do not just accept that things must be the way they are. Look around the world. It is eye opening.

My all-time favorite quote comes from Saint Augustine (354-430), who said: “Charity is no substitute for Justice.”

This quote goes straight to one of the root problems of today’s neoliberal thought. Way too many people in this world think that because they give alms, they are doing their part. Perhaps a better analogy for today is, “I posted about it on Facebook, so I did something.” In fact, charity is easy. Justice is hard.

Here are some examples: You donate to the clothing drive at the local “poor school,” but you will not fight for redistricting and rezoning that eliminates the existence of the “poor school.” That is charity, not justice.

You volunteer at a food bank, but you will not support a higher minimum wage. That is charity, not justice.

You donate money to veteran’s groups, but you fail to speak out against unjust wars. That is charity, not justice.

Your City Council sponsors a Juneteenth celebration, but refuses to take seriously issues of disproportionate minority contact. That is charity, not justice.

Charity is generally a good thing. It is critical for individuals in the moment. But we must not lose sight of the march toward justice. We must not allow charitable good works to clear our consciences and pretend we have somehow done our part. Not until justice is served.

*DID YOU KNOW? The number of indigenous people living in the Americas prior to Columbus is widely debated by scientists. Some think there were as many as 112 million (in North, South, and Central America combined); others put that total as low as 10 million. Most land somewhere in the middle. Whatever the case, DNA research done by National Geographic shows a post-Columbus population crash unrivaled in human history.

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!

It would not be fall without a trip to Wilson’s Orchard! Just off Highway 1 between Iowa City and Solon, this beautiful orchard offers you-pick, tractor rides, and much more! And it really is beautiful! Some of the views are breathtaking!

What’s more, when you support local farms like Wilson’s, your dollars circulate through our economy many times over!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and I want to take this opportunity to share some statistics with you.

The Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) has been serving Johnson County since 1979. Services include emergency shelter, 24-hour crisis line, support and advocacy services, youth services, and community education.

The State of Iowa mandated some consolidations a few years ago, and DVIP now serves 8 counties for most services, and 13 counties with their 24-hour crisis line. Johnson County sources make up about 25% of DVIP’s funding, but 60% of their clients come from Johnson County. They serve about 350 individuals in the shelter each year; 80% of them are Johnson County residents. Another 60 or so people annually are served through contracts with hotels. The average shelter stay is about 45 days.

There are many events scheduled for October; to see the whole list and/or to learn more about the Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP), visit dvipiowa.org.

The Johnson County Democratic Party is having its Annual Fall BBQ Sunday, October 9 from 4-7pm at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/470867084629350/?ref=newsfeed for tickets and more information.

This is an important fundraiser that will help Mike Franken, Christina Bohannan, Deirdre DeJear, and all our state and local candidates. Plus there is always great food and great conversation. Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of the party! Please join us!

Imagine spending all day, every day, working with the neediest families and children in our community. All the joy, tragedy, and every emotion in between. People calling you to respond to emergencies in the middle of the night. Parents crying the cry you can only make when you have lost a child. Kids giving you tremendous hope, then suffering huge setbacks. Could you do that for 35 years? Could you do it really, really well for 35 years? Could you do it in such a way that everyone you have ever met has deep respect for you?

Jill Foens has done exactly that. Jill is retiring after a long career with the Iowa Department of Human Services, and she is leaving some really big shoes to fill!

I started working with Jill right after I got out of college in the 80s. I learned more from her than I could ever put on paper. She was and is a role model. In the 90s, Jill trained Melissa and I as we became foster parents. Again, she was patient, professional, and taught us a lot. Then she sent us kids! Lots of kids! And while some workers always left us grumbling, Jill always went above and beyond to make certain we had what we needed. The kids always connected with her and always respected her – including kids who really didn’t respect anyone. The woman was just damn good at a very difficult job, and I respect the hell out of her.

Congratulations, Jill, on your retirement! You earned it! Thank you for your many years of service to our most vulnerable families and children. You made a difference!

We tailgate before all the Iowa Football games. It is a tradition I love. The best part, of course, is talking to old friends. But we make new friends, too. A guy who has been tailgating with us the past few years comes over every Saturday from a small town in western Illinois. He knew I was a County Supervisor, but that is all he knew.

“Which political party are you, Sully?” he asked. “I’m a Democrat,” I replied. “Oh, boy,” he said. “My 401K doesn’t like you! And what about Pritzker letting all these murderers out of prison?”

To be honest, I didn’t necessarily know what he was talking about at the time. And I didn’t feel like having a political discussion. So I just sort of laughed it off and moved on. But I did take a little time the next day to look some things up. Here is the scoop:

First, the 401K. Obviously, I don’t know about his specific 401K. But I went back to 2020 to do a comparison. I decided to pick a date before the election, when there was a reasonable chance that Trump might win a second term. I chose October 1, 2020. On that date, the Dow was at 30,606. It is at 31,135 as I write this. The Nasdaq was at 12,808. As of this writing, it is at 11,919. So the bigger one is up a bit (1.7%), and the smaller one is down a bit (6.3%).

Is that small change to his 401K really what this is about? If so, did he vote twice for Clinton and twice for Obama? Because the stock markets did great under them! Did he vote against a second term for George W. Bush? Because the markets sucked when he was President. What’s more, Democrats are more likely to support getting people in unions, which often have defined benefit pension plans – far better than 401Ks. I have a feeling his 401K is not the political deal breaker he says it is.

Then I moved on to “Pritzker letting murderers out of prison.” Well, that is a pretty extreme interpretation! First of all, Illinois DID recently release a murderer from prison. It is controversial. The Governor didn’t do it – the Parole Board did. You can argue whether or not that was the right thing to do. But it happened under the CURRENT rules. Nothing Pritzker has done changes that.

What did Governor Pritzker and the Legislature do? They ended cash bail. And that is a good thing! An unbelievable number of people are held in jail – not prison, but jail – simply because they cannot afford bail. A large percentage of these people are later acquitted of the crimes with which they were charged. But the damage is already done. They lost their homes and jobs. They are now MORE likely to criminally offend! And they are innocent! We criminalize poverty!

And the law does not prohibit a judge from holding a person who has been charged without bail. If the charge is serious enough, and there is a significant likelihood that the person will hurt someone and/or flee, the judge has every right to hold them. Studies by Loyola University showed similar laws in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere did not lead to any measurable effect on violent crime. A study by the JFA Institute showed bond reforms led to a decrease in people rearrested on charges of violent offenses. The study showed only 3 percent of people released had a new allegation of criminality. These changes will save Illinois counties millions of dollars, too. This is a good, common-sense change to a law that disproportionately affects the poor.

So how did these two issues become my buddy’s talking points? I did some more research, and there is a massive online effort to spread these lies. Why? Because they work. Average Joes and Janes in Illinois read it in their Facebook feeds, then believe it.

Next time I see him, I may tell my friend he was wrong. Or I may not. While I feel a certain duty to correct him, I am also wary of being a political scold. He’s a 60-year-old upper-middle class straight, white man – probably unlikely to change his opinions. And he’s not my constituent. Next home game is coming right up! I guess we’ll see how it goes.

*DID YOU KNOW? Approximately 42 pounds of apples are found in a bushel. All those apples can make about 21 pies, 3 gallons of cider, and 20 quarts of applesauce.

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