SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
February 13, 2024
Sullivan’s Salvos 2/15/24
In this edition:
*Iowa City Federation of Labor Annual Chili Supper
*Bowl For Kids Sake
*Sullivan for Supervisor Fundraiser
*Open Letter to Governor Reynolds
*Problems in Local Politics
*Platforms
*Did You Know?
*Iowa City Federation of Labor Annual Chili Supper
It's chili supper time!
WHEN: 6-8 pm, Thursday, February 15th
WHERE: Scott Boulevard Recycling Center, Iowa City
WHO: Open to all local union members and friends of labor
WHAT: Food, friends, music, and solidarity! Delicious chili provided (meat and veggie options); bring a side dish if you like
WHY: Celebrate worker victories from the past year, honor contributions of local labor leaders, (re)connect with labor siblings, and prepare for the struggles ahead.
Featuring music from local musicians Pigs and Clover (Jamie and Matt Kearney).
Help spread the word to union members and friends!
*Bowl For Kids Sake
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 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.
Please contribute to the Sullivan for Supervisor team at:
https://bbbsjc.bbbsfundraise.org/bfks2023/myhq
*Sullivan for Supervisor Fundraiser
Please join us for the Sullivan for Supervisor Campaign Kick Off!
The event will be held Thursday, February 22 at The Green House, 505 E. Washington St. in Iowa City.
The event will run from 5:00 - 6:30 pm, with remarks at 5:40.
Please join Rod Sullivan as he kicks off his 2024 County Supervisor reelection campaign. There will be food, cash bar, and lots of great conversation!
Can’t make it but still want to contribute? Please send a check to:
Sullivan for Supervisor
514 N. Linn St.
Iowa City, IA 52245
or visit the website at: rodsullivanforsupervisor.com.
*Open Letter to Governor Reynolds
My friend Jim Walters just wrote the following. I felt it needed to be repeated!
Dear Governor Reynolds:
I don't see CHUTZPAH or HYPOCRISY on your list of message subjects, so 'm forced to choose OTHER.
Tonight, on television news, they said you're seeking federal disaster assistance regarding our January snow events. Really? Didn't you grow up in Iowa, where we buck up and face the weather?
After diverting tax dollars to send the Iowa Highway Patrol to the U.S. border, after squandering tax dollars on your "school choice" boondoggle, and after bragging, loudly and repeatedly, about the $2 billion budget surplus you've created . . . you have to go begging for federal help?
You are truly unbelievable.
Sincerely,
Jim Walters
*Problems in Local Politics
A friend made a comment to me about our current political situation in Johnson County, and I found it quite disconcerting. My friend said they were very concerned about how to bridge the real and perceived political divisions that exist in Johnson County.
They noted that small acts can make it appear that you are “choosing sides.” If they hug Pauline Taylor, does that mean they don’t like Laura Bergus? If they hug Laura Bergus, does that mean they don’t like Pauline Taylor? Can they have a laugh with Royceann Porter and Rachel Zimmermann Smith, or will that anger Jon Green? Can they share a laugh with Jon Green, or will that anger Royceann Porter and Rachel Zimmermann Smith?
I said I was sorry they felt that way, but I understood it. I also think my friend should feel free to hug or laugh with any person they damn well please. Elected Officials should avoid putting people in a position of, “You are either with me or against me.”
I am confident that the 5 people I mentioned will not fall victim to this type of pettiness. But it is your job as citizens to hold ALL of us accountable. My friend should be able to talk to whoever they want without fear of retribution.
Unfortunately, their fears reminded me of a story. We had a foster son for two full years back in the mid-2000s. He was (and is) a wonderful young man who returned to his mother’s care. They moved back to Chicago, where they were originally from, but we have stayed in touch.
Anyway, when our foster son was in elementary school, he moved a lot. He also typically lived with his brother and three cousins. So the big group of 5 walked to school together every day. Unfortunately, in one of the places they lived, the Latin Kings controlled one side of the street, while the Vice Lords controlled the other. The children were told in no uncertain terms that once they picked one side of the street, they were unwelcome on the other.
Obviously, this created a real hardship for the kids, who tried to navigate their way to school in the middle of a busy street. Luckily, a former gang member was using his post-prison time to try to negotiate truces in these sorts of situations. The City of Chicago and the Chicago Public School District enlisted his help. He was able to negotiate a truce that allowed all kids to make their ways to and from school. But dang!
Sometimes it is important for folks to take one side or another. But neither of these examples rise to that level. Let’s be better than that. We must be better than that!
*Platforms
The Democratic Party has a platform at the County, State, and National levels. This platform is a statement of values of party members. While not everyone agrees with every word of the platform, it is a democratically constructed representation of who we are.
The Republican Party no longer has a platform. They decided back in 2020 that their platform should be, “Whatever Donald Trump thinks.” You think I am joking? Here is GOP platform in its’ entirety:
WHEREAS, The Republican National Committee (RNC) has significantly scaled back the size and scope of the 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte due to strict restrictions on gatherings and meetings, and out of concern for the safety of convention attendees and our hosts;
WHEREAS, The RNC has unanimously voted to forego the Convention Committee on Platform, in appreciation of the fact that it did not want a small contingent of delegates formulating a new platform without the breadth of perspectives within the ever-growing Republican movement;
WHEREAS, All platforms are snapshots of the historical contexts in which they are born, and parties abide by their policy priorities, rather than their political rhetoric;
WHEREAS, The RNC, had the Platform Committee been able to convene in 2020, would have undoubtedly unanimously agreed to reassert the Party’s strong support for President Donald Trump and his Administration;
WHEREAS, The media has outrageously misrepresented the implications of the RNC not adopting a new platform in 2020 and continues to engage in misleading advocacy for the failed policies of the Obama-Biden Administration, rather than providing the public with unbiased reporting of facts; and
WHEREAS, The RNC enthusiastically supports President Trump and continues to reject the policy positions of the Obama-Biden Administration, as well as those espoused by the Democratic National Committee today; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Republican Party has and will continue to enthusiastically support the President’s America-first agenda;
RESOVLVED, That the 2020 Republican National Convention will adjourn without adopting a new platform until the 2024 Republican National Convention;
RESOLVED, That the 2020 Republican National Convention calls on the media to engage in accurate and unbiased reporting, especially as it relates to the strong support of the RNC for President Trump and his Administration; and
RESOLVED, That any motion to amend the 2016 Platform or to adopt a new platform, including any motion to suspend the procedures that will allow doing so, will be ruled out of order.
Whatever Trump wants. Sickening. They have chosen to stand for NOTHING.
*DID YOU KNOW? There are basically four types of unions in the US: Craft-Based Unions: Daily wage earners of varied professions form this union as it gives them immense bargaining power to safeguard their rights and interests.
Industrial Unions: Manual labor, semi-skilled, highly-skilled workers from any one industry, for example, electricity or steel industry, form this union. They form it at the industry or regional level.
General-Union: All types of unions, like craft and industrial unions, have one central body. An example includes the national labor union congress. This central union has high power to negotiate for the employees’ rights.
Federation: Many small or localized unions come together to form a federation. It also acts like a political entity with the characteristics of a union.
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.
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As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 9:22 PM
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