SULLIVAN'S SALVOS

December 30, 2024

Sullivan’s Salvos 1/2/25

In this edition:

*RIP Steve Miller

*RIP Jimmy Carter

*Welcome to 2025!

*Serving As Chair

*Committee Assignments

*January 6

*Media Failure

*Leaning In

*Did You Know?

*RIP Steve Miller

I was sad to hear that Steve Miller of Iowa City passed last week. Steve was a Union brother, serving for a time as President of AFSCME Local 186. Steve worked for IC Transit, and was a very well-liked individual. RIP.

*RIP Jimmy Carter

Former President Jimmy Carter recently passed away at 100 years old. I must admit, I was not a huge fan of Carter’s politics. I wish he had been more labor friendly and less enamored of fiscal austerity. He should have never appointed Paul Volcker as the Fed Chair. And with a Democratic trifecta in place, he blew up Ted Kennedy’s Universal Healthcare proposal. On the other hand, he achieved peace in the Middle East, pushed through the SALT 2 Treaty, and made energy conservation a thing.

More importantly, Jimmy Carter is perhaps the most decent human being ever to hold the Office of the Presidency. Even if you did not care for his policy choices, you cannot argue with his intelligence, honesty, integrity, kindness, and compassion. It would be great to see more of that in the White House. And Carter must have had the best post-Presidency of the past 90 years or so, serving as an inspiration to many with all his good works.

RIP, Mr. President!

*Welcome to 2025!

Happy New Year! Here’s to a better and brighter year ahead! I have never been big on New Year’s resolutions – you can see that by my weight! But I certainly welcome the “fresh start” feel of the New Year. I hope 2025 is good to you and yours!

*Serving As Chair

I am done serving as the Board Chair for 2024. It was an eventful year!

People are often under the misconception that the Board Chair has some special powers. They really don’t. The role is largely ceremonial. It is true that the Chair and Vice Chair help set the agendas, but if the process is working as it should, no Board member ever feels shut out.

To me, the two biggest jobs of the Chair are 1) managing what gets on the agendas and when, and 2) ensuring that meetings run smoothly. The public deserves efficiency and effectiveness. A well-run meeting can also save hours of staff time – and that means money!

Supervisor Jon Green was Vice Chair in 2024, and I expect him to be elected Chair in 2025. Jon and I worked together very well (IMHO), and I appreciate his willingness to dive in and work hard. I am sure he will do well as Chair. Congrats to him!

*Committee Assignments

The Board of Supervisors tries to rotate the committees upon which its members serve. We typically serve on any given committee for 2-4 years, then move on. This ensures that all members get a certain amount of exposure to everything we do. It also ensures that a fresh set of eyes gets involved every so often. Sometimes it is more complicated than this, but that is generally how things work.

We have not been rotating much lately. Unfortunately, there are a few committees no one really wants to serve on, and others that everyone would like to do. In trying to negotiate this, nothing changes. I hope we can figure out a way forward.

This rotation (if it happens) takes place in January every year, so we are all taking on some new and different challenges. I will be serving in the following roles for 2025:

I will continue serving on the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) of Johnson County Board and the East Central Mental Health Region (ECR). I will serve as a liaison to our Veteran’s Affairs Commission, the Think IC Board of Directors, and the Better Together 2030 Board. I am looking forward to working with each of those groups.

There are many, many other boards, committees, and commissions of which I am a part. But this gives you a sense of a couple of my assignments.

*January 6

January 6 marks the 4th anniversary of one of the lowest points in US history. The defeated former President riled up a bunch of insurrectionists who then broke into the US Capitol, killing cops along the way. It remains the only coup attempt in American history (unless you include succession.) January 6 is the most shameful day in American history.

Has there been any accountability? Some. Hundreds of people have been charged, and 378 individuals have been convicted thus far. But no one has been sentenced harshly. None of the US Congresspeople nor US Senators who conspired have been charged. And most importantly, Trump himself has thus far avoided all accountability.

Please – do not treat January 6 as yesterday’s news! We still can and must demand accountability! Traitors attempted to overthrow the US government on that day. They killed cops. We must not let this go! Acknowledge what happened this January 6 and every January 6 until the end of time!

*Media Failure

There are many examples of the media failing in the Age of Trump. Here is one that I find particularly galling:

Did you catch Trump recently saying that, “Well, you know, it is really hard to bring prices down…” Ya think? Of *course* it is really hard to bring prices down! Otherwise every President would do it!

The problem is not that Trump said this in late December. The problem is that during the campaign he made *ridiculous* statements about how he was going to lower prices. And the media, knowing full well those statements were bullshit, just let him do it.

The media should have simply agreed to say, “And how are you going to do that?” When he doesn’t answer, you just keep asking that same question. And you continue to write and broadcast that he did not answer the question.

To tie this to the above article – I fully expect the media to tell “both sides” of the January 6 insurrection. As though there are two sides! It is like saying there are “two sides” to the stories of Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer!

When historians write about this period, the complete and utter failure of the media is going to be one of the biggest issues.

*”Leaning In”

(This ran in Salvos in January of 2019. Unfortunately, it still feels relevant in 2025.)

I was one of many people who celebrated when Michelle Obama called out the idea of “Leaning In”. By now we are all familiar with Lean In, the book written by Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg. Lean In (according to Sandberg herself) “means to be assertive, to move toward a leading, rather than a following, role.”

There is nothing wrong on the face of that message. I’m sure that for many women and girls, it is good advice. Michelle Obama’s criticism is not that. Obama’s criticism is that the whole idea behind Lean In is that individual success is completely up to each individual woman, who just needs to pull herself up by her bootstraps. It is putting lipstick on a pig – in this case, the old American myth of rugged individualism. And that is crap.

We live in a world where literally billions of women are second class citizens. They do not enjoy the rights that men enjoy, and various combinations of government, religion, and big business are comfortable keeping them subjugated.

Things are better in the global West, but only when in comparison to the rest of the world. In America, women still only make about 80 cents for every dollar a man makes. We still have policies that punish motherhood. And wealthy white women like Sandberg pile on by blaming women themselves for their lack of “achievement”.

When Johnson County raised the minimum wage in 2015, I was struck by the fact that it affected many more women than men, and that many of those women were mothers. Why are we blaming these women for that situation?

When the Iowa Legislature convenes in a couple of weeks, you will hear all kinds of stuff from leaders in businesses, education, and politics about how Iowa needs to do more to train its workforce. While I am certainly not against training, that is NOT the issue!

I would love someone to stand up at one of those meetings and say, “Want workers to do better? Why don’t we raise the minimum wage? Why don’t we mandate paid sick leave? Why don’t we offer free Community College? Why don’t we ensure that every Iowan has adequate health care? Why don’t we address our childcare crisis? Why don’t we do more to promote public housing and public transit? Why do we continue to blame all our problems on a lack of training?”

Women didn’t cause our problems. The men who run big businesses and the mostly-male politicians who grovel at their feet caused these problems. They should be held to account.

Unfortunately, Sheryl Sandberg joined her fellow big business partners in blaming women workers for our current state of affairs. Fortunately, Michelle Obama keenly noted that women workers are not the problem!

*DID YOU KNOW? Within 36 hours of January 6, 2021 five people died: one was shot by Capitol Police; another died of a drug overdose; and three died of natural causes including a police officer who died of natural causes a day after being assaulted by rioters. Many people were injured, including 174 police officers. Four officers who responded to the attack died of suicide within seven months. Damage caused by attackers exceeded $2.7 million. (Source: Wikipedia.)

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

December 23, 2024

Happy New Year to all Salvos readers! I hope you and your loved ones enjoy a wonderful 2025!

(This ran two years ago in January of 2023. Most of it remains relevant today. The biggest takeaway? No other country does this! Why does the US? Let’s end this stupid practice!)

The fight over the Debt Ceiling is about to begin once again. Here are just a few things you should know:

1.) This is *NOT* about spending! That is done during the budget. This is about simply paying bills you have already accrued. If you feel spending is too great, address it at budget time.

2.) This is the fault of Republicans in the House of Representatives. No one else – just House Republicans. Democrats stand ready to pay our bills. Republicans are trying to tank the economy.

3.) What do these Republicans want? Cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

4.) There are two additional people you can be angry with – Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. If they would have agreed to end the filibuster JUST FOR THIS MATTER, Democrats could have taken the issue off the table permanently. So whatever economic damage is done, they have blood on their hands.

Let’s hope the standoff ends quickly, with minimal damage. But please understand, this is *NOT* a political negotiation. It is akin to hostage taking.

One more thing about the federal debt? One quarter of the federal debt – from 1776 until 2021 – was accumulated during the first Trump administration. 25%!

2024 is coming to a close, and it is time for honoring a few select Johnson County residents with that most treasured of honors, the Salvos Salute. A few observations:

* This is the nineteenth annual set of awards, and there are always more people who deserve awards than there are awards to give. We live in a great County!

* The focus is on Johnson County. It is certainly worth noting the daily heroism of someone like our firefighters, police, and paramedics. There are also examples that garner international attention. But we have everyday heroes right here in Johnson County that deserve a shout out.

* There are some people out there that could win every year. I am trying to honor different folks, but repeat winners are not out of the question.

* Salvos Salutes do not have specific criteria, but you can bet that in general, most of the winners are courageous, advocate for peace and justice, have good ideas, speak truth to power, avoid hypocrisy, exercise common sense, and look out for the less fortunate.

Sue Campney: General Assistance is a county program that supports our poorest residents by helping with rent, utilities, and other expenses. Every day dozens of our neighbors, down on their luck, feeling there is nowhere else to turn, come to the county. And for over 30 years, Sue Campney was the compassionate person across the desk, making referrals and helping folks to get by. It is quiet, unsung work. But it makes life better for SO many people. Sue retired earlier in 2024. Thank you, Sue, for your years of assisting our most vulnerable residents.

Fiona Johnson: Johnson County Ambulance is pretty much unparalleled in Iowa. You will not find a more responsive, committed, innovative, better-trained, more thoughtful group. That all starts with Ambulance Director Fiona Johnson, one of the most amazing individuals I have ever met! Fiona is one of the finest employees and leaders you could possibly find. The Ambulance Service works 24/7/365, and literally saves lives almost every day. Trust me – we are all incredibly fortunate to live in a county where Fiona is in charge of this vital service!

Brad Friedhoff: Johnson County Conservation has been through a very emotional year. Longtime Director Larry Gullett passed away due to cancer. Another longtime employee was suspended. A group of county residents took up the cause of passing another Conservation Bond, which happened on November 6. Through it all, Conservation has been led by the steady hand of Interim Director Brad Friedhoff of Coralville. Brad is hard working, smart, and one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. His leadership this year – and every year - has been amazing. Thank you, Brad!

Lindsey Jones: Johnson County suffered quite a blow when our former HR Director passed away. She was the only person who had ever held the job, and we were scrambling. Luckily, we were able to hire Lindsey Jones of North Liberty into the position! Lindsey has been absolutely fantastic, stepping in and learning everything she needed to learn while also putting fresh eyes on things. She has many positive changes, and really won folks over with her smarts, ethics, and hard work. Thank you, Lindsey! We are so glad you are here!

Jason Grimm: The Johnson County Historic Poor Farm is a really neat place. In addition to maintaining and interpreting our history, we have been able to put this public land to work sustainably growing food for people in need. Nobody deserves more credit for this than Jason Grimm of Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development. I remember when I first heard Jason’s name. Supervisor Sally Stutsman told me there was a young man at Iowa State from next door in Iowa County, and that he was a superstar! Sally suggested we work with him however we could. Sally was right on! Jason Grimm is a superstar, and we are extremely lucky to have had him and his team involved in the Historic Poor Farm! Jason founded Grow Johnson County, and has done amazing work in every way. Keep up the great work, Jason!

Erin Sullivan: Erin started as an intern at Johnson County several years ago, and we knew she was going to do great things. She has done exactly that, serving as the Director of Programs at Shelter House. Everyone knows that affordable housing is a huge crisis in Johnson County. But Erin is working toward solutions! She is at the forefront of helping to house some of our most vulnerable residents. And Erin never passes up an opportunity to educate someone who is short on the facts about housing and homelessness. Thank you, Erin, for tirelessly doing such important work!

Jessica Andino: Let’s stick with housing for a while. I was one of a number of people who helped Sally Scott, Mark Patton, Scott McDonough, and others to form the Affordable Housing Coalition almost a decade ago. Since that time, the AHC has really taken off, and that is due to the hard work and incredible energy of Executive Director Jessica Andino. This young lady has a motor, and it is always running! I do not know many people who squeeze more into a day than Jessica. She is also a wife, mother, business owner, Ph.D. candidate, soccer player – I could go on. I am so glad that Jessica is part of the fight to expand affordable housing in Johnson County!

Ellen McCabe: I said affordable housing was important, right? So we are also honoring Ellen McCabe, Executive Director of the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County. Ellen does a wonderful job of getting affordable housing projects across the finish line. The funding for affordable housing is often a complex mishmash of tax credits, local funding, and other sources. Ellen helps applicants to navigate the maze, and to get units built! (Ellen gets a double shout out because she knew me over 40 years ago and is still willing to work with me!)

Monika Jindahl: Dr. Jindahl of Tiffin is a highly decorated physician at the University of Iowa. She serves as Clinical Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine; Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Program Director; Family and Community Medicine Psychiatry Residency Medical Director; and Medical Director of the GuideLink Behavioral Access Center. It is through her work at the GuideLink Center that I have come to know and appreciate Monika. She brings compassion and thoughtfulness to every interaction, and her guidance and hard work have made the GuideLink Center a huge success. Thank you, Monika! We are so lucky to have you!

Shelly Maherry: Shelly has done a wonderful job in her role as President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Johnson County. Despite the fact that she has been in her position a while now, I have really only gotten to know her in the last 3 years or so. I was actually quite involved when the Community Foundation was just forming – Dick Schwab kindly asked for me to participate, and I did so for several years. It is amazing how far they have come and how many lives they touch! Shelly is clearly a great leader, and it has been a pleasure getting to know her better.

Cady Gerlach: Better Together 2030 is an awesome set of goals for Johnson County. But the goals are bold, and will not be achieved without leadership. That is where Cady Gerlach comes in. Cady was the perfect choice to lead BT2030. She is smart, compassionate, and a great connector of people. Better Together 2030 has already accomplished a lot. There is much more to come! Look for Cady’s name to be at the center of it all.

Bijou Maliabo: I don’t know too many people who are involved in more things in this community! I have known Bijou’s mother for a long time. She once told me, “No one works harder than my daughter. The problem is, she doesn’t get paid for it!” I agree 100% with the first part of that statement. Second part? It’s called being one of the best volunteers I know! Thank you, Bijou, for your willingness to volunteer your time, and for giving it to so many good causes!

Wendy Zimmermann: The owner and operator of Get Fresh on Iowa Avenue, Wendy was determined to bring healthy food options to downtown Iowa City. She not only succeeded there, but has been a mainstay at the Iowa City Farmer’s Market for years. To top it off, Wendy has served an important function as President of the Iowa City Downtown District. It is a challenge to balance the needs of students, townies, businesses, governments, and all the other parties interested in downtown. It takes some skill, diplomacy, hard work, and perseverance. Wendy, of rural Solon, has done a great job, and earned herself a salute!

Seth Zimmermann: I don’t know if I have ever given a married couple separate awards before. But why not? Wendy’s husband Seth is a wonderful human being and hard-working community volunteer. In addition to Get Fresh and volunteering for environmental and Democratic Party causes, Seth works in Air Quality at Linn County Public Health. The more I watch Seth in action, the more amazed I am with all he accomplishes. Thank you, Seth!

*DID YOU KNOW? 272 individuals/groups have received a Salvos Salute since they were started in 2006.