SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
February 4, 2025
Sullivan’s Salvos 2/6/25
In this edition:
*RIP Jean Lakin
*Wallace Shawn
*Tariffs
*Lights at Intersections
*Addressing Homelessness
*Democracy Docket
*”In Aid to Evil”
*Did You Know?
*RIP Jean Lakin
I was sad to hear of the passing of Jean Lakin of Iowa City. Like many Johnson County residents, Jean had a very distinguished career. She was accomplished as both a nurse and an academic. But that is not the Jean I knew.
The Jean I knew came to *every* meeting of the Board of Supervisors as an “observer” for the Johnson County League of Women Voters. And when I say every meeting, I’m serious! Jean almost never missed a meeting between maybe 2002 and moving out of state briefly in about 2012.
During that time, I not only got to know Jean, but we became friends. She offered great insights, she was whip smart, and she was simply a lovely person. She will be missed. RIP, Jean.
*Wallace Shawn
What can you accomplish in ten minutes? One of my favorite movies is the 1987 classic “The Princess Bride.”
Only onscreen for ten minutes in his role as Vizzini, actor Wallace Shawn is simply unforgettable. Think about that – it is only ten minutes! Perhaps we forget the impact that can be made in just 10 minutes!
Rewatch the movie sometime. And see if you can stop yourself from saying, “Inconceivable!” for the next several weeks!
*Tariffs
I got a heartfelt email over the weekend from a constituent with dual Canadian-US citizenship. In the email, he goes into depth about a few of the many ways in which the recent tariffs will be bad for Iowans.
I decided not to reprint it here for reasons of length. But if you are interested in reading it, just let me know. Thanks.
Meanwhile, there is yet another reason to be upset with the actions of the Trump Administration.
*Lights at Intersections
At a budget meeting the other day, I brought up the idea of adding some overhead lights at certain intersections in the county. This is something I hear about a lot from people. So let’s discuss.
If lights are put up, they would be large LED lights, the type you see in barnyards across the countryside. Johnson County has a downcast lighting ordinance – something for which I pushed very hard. So the lights would need to have a shade on top. We could look into solar power – I am not sure just how feasible that is. I’d like to do it if possible.
The cost of buying and installing such a light is about $4000 (thank you Google). So I’m going to add $2000 for the shade, and just because. So let’s say $6000 apiece. We need about 5, so that is $30,000 upfront.
Then there is the annual cost of the electricity. This is harder to estimate, but it looks like it should be well under $100/month. But we will use that as a high estimate. So that is $1200/year times 5 locations, or $6,000 per year.
The intersections I hear mentioned most frequently are:
· 140th and Ely Road
· 140th and Highway 1
· Oakdale Boulevard and Dubuque Street
· Black Diamond and Highway 1
· Amana Road and 965
So what do you think? Are those locations that should be better lit? Is the cost worth it? $30,000 one-time cost, and $6,000 annually? I would take it out of the Secondary Roads maintenance budget, which is several million dollars annually, but still stretched pretty thin. And people always demand more.
I think this is a reasonable price to give residents something they have been requesting. I’d like to hear your thoughts.
*Addressing Homelessness
I am excited about a new local effort to help address the issue of homelessness in Johnson County. A big thank you to the folks at Shelter House for spearheading this effort!
First, national experts are coming in to help with three key issues:
1. They will do a gaps assessment. In other words, what are the stumbling blocks we have in this community specifically? Once those are identified, we can better focus our work.
2. They will help us to improve our ability to do data collection, and importantly, data sharing. This has always been a big roadblock.
3. They will help us to reframe the situation a bit. One of the real problems I face as I work in this space is the dichotomy of responses. One group of people says, “Why haven’t you solved this problem?” The other says, “The unhoused will always be with us.” Instead of those two extremes, we are looking toward what is called “Functional Zero.” This acknowledges that there will always be some people unhoused at any given time. But the goal is that each month the number of people entering homelessness is lower than the number leaving homelessness. Think of it like unemployment. There will always be some folks unemployed. But hopefully that is a temporary status. When folks are chronically unemployed, we can focus on other things to help. I think this approach deals with being unhoused in a similar way. Functional Zero. I love it!
I will share more as I learn it myself. Congrats again to Shelter House!
*Democracy Docket
A friend recently wrote me about a newsletter called “Democracy Docket.” Here is what they said: “I hope you will consider putting a short blurb promoting Democracy Docket in your weekly newsletter. It’s free, informative and far more instructive than most TV news. More people need to read it.”
I have not yet read it, so I cannot vouch. But I trust the sender. Here is the address, if you are interested: newsletters@democracydocket.com.
*”In Aid to Evil”
I got a Facebook message from my friend (?) David the other day that said this: “I have watched you do many things in this community that felt short-sighted, and in aid to evil.”
According to David, this is because I have endorsed my friend Ross Nusser for the Iowa City Council. So now I am “in aid to evil”?
I thought I’d take a moment to list just a few of the evil (?) things I have accomplished while serving as a Johnson County Supervisor.
Provided leadership during pandemic and flood
Raised Minimum Wage – first in Iowa
Passed a Human Rights Ordinance - first in Iowa
Passed a Sensitive Areas Ordinance – first in Iowa
Passed a Stormwater Ordinance – first in Iowa
Passed the Conservation Bond Initiative -twice – first in Iowa
Created Community ID - first in Iowa
Created GuideLink Center
Ran 2 successful Project Labor Agreements
Labor endorsed in every primary and general election
Increased funding for Affordable Housing
Helped start the Affordable Housing Coalition
Created Free Tax Help project
Instituted Buy Here initiative
Passed Wind and Solar Ordinances
Renamed Johnson County after LuLu Merle Johnson
Passed Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan
Added Rural warning sirens
Created Livable Community Successful Aging
Created Local Foods Policy Council
Started 1105 Project with gift of old Public Health building
Saved the Sutliff Bridge
Led the transition to a Regional system of Mental Health Care
Preserved Poor Farm
Fought to create Trans Advisory Committee
Heritage Area Agency on Aging Outstanding Elected Official 2009
I guess this is what it means to be an “aid to evil” in Iowa City, Iowa in 2025. Unfortunately, David is not alone, either. At last count, 21 people agreed with them. None disagreed.
I wish David would make a list of the accomplishments of the elected officials they do not believe are “in aid to evil.” Because honestly, I don’t think anyone else has a record that can compare to mine. There may be folks who have done more talking, but isn’t it ultimately about getting things done for people?
It is funny, too – Iowa City Councilor Laura Bergus had just told me that she felt we needed to “get away from purity tests.” But when asked about me being an “aid to evil”? Her response was that “both David’s and my feelings are valid.” Such a profile in courage, right?
You aren’t going to see a lot of political courage right now, and I understand why. Anything that is posted online, there is an immediate and intense mobbing. Why subject oneself to that?
Let me be clear. I am not mad at David. They seem to be pretty consistent in their views, and that is ok. They are entitled to those views. And I understand their anger. But I think they are just way off the mark here.
I am angry, too. Hell, almost everyone I know is angry. I just think this anger is misplaced, and probably not helpful. I am afraid that this is indicative of some of the political difficulties we are facing.
*DID YOU KNOW? On this day in 1862, forces under the command of Ulysses S. Grant gave the Union Army its first victory of the war, capturing Fort Henry, Tennessee in the Battle of Fort Henry.
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 @ 8:03 AM
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