SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
December 3, 2024
Sullivan’s Salvos 12/5/24
In this edition:
*Christmas Music
*Sheriff Contracts with Towns
*More on Affordable Housing
*Biden Pardon
*Did You Know?
*Christmas Music
I know that as many of you are driving around with Xmas music filling the airwaves, you are thinking, “Who wants this stuff from Thanksgiving to New Year’s?”
The answer? I do! I LOVE Xmas music! Carols, standards, silly songs – I love almost every one. And yes, I can listen for a whole month! So I am the guy you hate!
*Sheriff Contracts with Towns
The Board recently voted 4-1 (with Supervisor Fixmer Oraiz in the negative) to approve law enforcement contracts with the small cities in Johnson County. I want to discuss this, but first a bit of background:
Every incorporated city in Iowa is required by law to provide some type of law enforcement protection for their citizens. I happen to believe this is a good law. If people are going to pay municipal taxes, they deserve commensurate services.
Communities have two ways to fulfil this obligation: they can operate a municipal police force, or they can contract with the County for Sheriff’s services. In Johnson County, Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, and University Heights employ their own police forces. Tiffin, Solon, Swisher, Shueyville, Hills, Oxford, and Lone Tree contract with the Sheriff’s Office.
You will note that I did not mention Sutliff, Sharon Center, or any of our other “villages.” Because they are unincorporated, they automatically fall under the Sheriff. It is also possible to do both; while they were getting a police department started, North Liberty had both police and a contract with the county.
These contracts are usually perfunctory, but we have had some disputes in the past. These have typically been because some small town feels the hourly rates are too high. And they are high! It is expensive to pay for the salary and benefits of a veteran officer. Throw in the costs of a vehicle, equipment, etc. and the hourly rate is not cheap. Frankly, this is what prevents most cities from starting police departments – they are prohibitively expensive!
But here is the dirty little secret – the hourly rates we charge the small towns have never quite kept up with inflation. So the small towns are actually getting a very good deal.
The Sheriff and the cities negotiate these contracts, and as you might imagine, there are many considerations. Tiffin, with over 6,000 residents, several schools, lots of businesses, and proximity to two interstate highways, utilizes the Sheriff’s Office 24/7/365. Some of the smaller cities only contract for 15-20 hours per week of coverage. (Obviously, the Sheriff’s Office responds to all calls regardless of the contracted hours.)
So – while imperfect, the system works pretty well. That is why I was disappointed that Supervisor Fixmer Oraiz voted against all these contracts. The people in these communities have stated that this is what they want. Who are we to substitute our judgement for theirs?
It just feels hypocritical to me. The State of Iowa prevents Johnson County from doing all kinds of things we want to do. We argue and argue for local control. Then, when we have an opportunity to offer local control to our small towns, they vote against it? It is not a good look.
I know that Supervisor Fixmer Oraiz argues that there can be responses other than law enforcement. In some cases, that is true. We also already have that capability – if it is determined that a social worker would be a better respondent, we can do that. But the bottom line is those situations make up a tiny percentage of calls.
I wholeheartedly support our law enforcement contracts with the small towns. Residents there should have the right to decide for themselves. I’m also happy to discuss the issue with any interested parties.
*More on Affordable Housing
I got a lot of feedback on the affordable housing piece I wrote last week. I often talk about there being two ways to create affordable housing – carrots and sticks. People understand the “carrots” piece; that is when governments incentivize affordable housing. But several folks have asked about the “sticks.” How can we force developers to create affordable housing?
That is a great question. There are only certain circumstances where the “sticks” work. First the city must have something the developers want. (That is often some type of zoning/building approval.) That thing must also not be readily (cheaply) available nearby. Finally, the political subdivision needs to have the political courage to pass such a law.
Iowa City has been good about this. When property is annexed into Iowa City, 10% of all housing units in the new development must be affordable. In the River Crossings District, 10% of all new development must be affordable. While these efforts have not solved our affordability crisis, they have made a dent!
I REALLY wish Coralville, North Liberty, Tiffin, and Solon would follow suit. Passing such a law puts the cost on the developers rather than the local taxpayers. It forces those benefitting from high housing prices to contribute to solving the problem. And it has not stopped development from occurring.
Again, inclusionary zoning will not solve the problem, but it should play an important part. Iowa City has modeled this well. What are your thoughts?
*Biden Pardon
President Biden caused quite a stir recently when he issued a broad pardon for his son Hunter. This has been a source of outrage on both sides of the political spectrum. Me? I think they all doth protest too much.
Let’s begin with the whole idea of pardon power. What is the point? Why should any President be given such power? George Mason, a Constitutional Convention delegate, warned that a future president might “make dangerous use of it” by pardoning crimes in which he might be a co-conspirator. Quite prescient, Mr. Mason!
Sure, there are some cases that the public would probably largely support – for example, President Obama pardoned a number of felons who had already served long sentences for violating drug possession laws no longer on the books. But look at all the problems pardons have caused over the years – Andrew Johnson pardoned Dr. Samuel Mudd, a John Wilkes Booth conspirator. Ford’s pardon of Nixon. George HW Bush pardoned Caspar Weinberger, and shut down the Iran-Contra investigation. His son pardoned Scooter Libby. Clinton pardoned his brother and numerous cronies. Trump pardoned some really bad actors.
Why should the American people accept this? It is a terrible policy as it stands. It serves no purpose but to subvert justice.
As for the political responses? They are all ridiculous. Wrong is wrong – it does not matter what other Presidents have done. Republicans have now thrice supported the worst human being ever to run for the Office of the President. They don’t have any room to complain about any morality issues. And Democrats worried that this takes away some “moral high ground”? That was not a difference-maker in the last election. You need to worry about finding a way to connect to people!
Biden certainly could have made things easier on himself by simply not saying he would never pardon his son. People are not so angry that he did it – they are angry that he lied.
Here is the other side of the coin: there are awful people out there who want to do harm to Biden’s son. I wouldn’t put anything past them. I have a son. If I knew people were out to get him, and I had the ability to protect him? You are damn right I’d use that power! What father wouldn’t?
So let’s quit pretending pardons are a good thing, and work to remove this ridiculous power from our Constitution.
*DID YOU KNOW? The December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor 83 years ago resulted in 2,403 American deaths and 1,178 Americans wounded. Within 24 hours, Congress had declared war. Within 30 days, the US had enlisted an additional 134,000 soldiers and sailors.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
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---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 7:59 AM
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