SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
May 27, 2025
Sullivan’s Salvos 5/29/25
In this edition:
*Wise Words!
*Shout Out to Representative Levin!
*Iowa City Budget
*Lyrics to Live By
*Big Beautiful Bill?
*Rededication of the Lorada Cilek Bridge
*Did You Know?
*Wise Words!
We had the thought below in our church bulletin a couple of weeks ago:
“We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.”
―Madeleine L'Engle
How very true! It is not unlike the old saying, “you attract more flies with honey than with vinegar.” I was just thinking about how many groups of which I am a member, and how all of them could stand to remember this lesson.
My church? You bet! The Democratic Party? People don’t want to join us after being told how stupid they are. Iowa fans? Does it attract future student athletes when they can see how people criticize current student athletes online? Labor movement? Are we doing all we can to bring in younger members?
We do not attract others by telling them how wrong they are. We can and must lead by example. Make it fun. Show you care.
*Shout Out to Representative Levin!
The Democrats who represent Johnson County do an incredible job of getting to various community events. Fundraisers, forums, protests, performances, meetings – you name it, and the odds are good that one or more of our Johnson County Legislators is there. It really is impressive.
But I am reserving a special shout out to State Representative Elinor Levin from Iowa’s House District 89. That woman is everywhere! I see her in places that amaze me! Thank you, Representative Levin, for showing up so frequently. It does not go unnoticed!
*Iowa City Budget
Because of the woeful lack of local media coverage, most people with whom I speak do not realize that the Iowa City Council passed the FY26 budget by a 4-3 vote. Councilors Harmsen, Alter, Moe, and Mayor Teague voted yes, while Councilors Bergus, Weilein, and Salih voted no.
Please pay attention to this vote, and unpack what it means. This will have a dramatic influence on the fall elections and the future direction of our city!
*Lyrics to Live By
Sometimes the real poetry of our day ends up in song lyrics. One of my very favorite lyrics ever comes from one of my favorite songs - “Lucky Ball and Chain” by They Might Be Giants in 1990:
“I could shake my tiny fist
And swear I wasn't wrong.
But what's the sense in arguing
When you're all alone?”
Lyrics to live by!
*Big Beautiful Bill?
Republicans in the House just passed the biggest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in US history. Every Republican voted yes.
The rich are the only people who benefit. The top 5% get $120 billion in tax cuts. Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP get cut to pay for it, the biggest cuts to those programs in their history. The cuts will affect at least 50 million people. PLUS the bill increases the deficit by $2.3 trillion.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says the bill cuts at least $715 billion in healthcare spending, mostly from Medicaid, and $300 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, causing more than 2.7 million American households to lose benefits. Because the massive debt increase in the measure triggers a 2010 law requiring offsets, it will cut Medicare, as well, by an estimated $500 billion.
Just to add insult to injury, there is also a piece of the bill that would. restrict the authority of federal courts to hold government officials in contempt. In other words, Trump can do whatever he wants.
I am so distraught. This is the opposite of everything I believe. Frankly, it is in direct opposition to my life’s work. But my work is not done. Get ready. The 2026 elections will be the most important in American history!
*Rededication of the Lorada Cilek Bridge
I am very pleased to announce that on June 6, 2025 – much too late, but better late than never – we are doing a rededication of the Lorada Cilek Bridge just north of Sutliff. The signs are in, and we will unveil them at this time. There will be a small ceremony out at the bridge at 11 am on the 6th, which is open to the public.
Lorada Cilek was the first woman elected to the office of Johnson County Supervisor. She served about ten years on the Board of Supervisors, from the early 70s until the early 80s. She was also part of the first Board that went from 3-5 members. Before being elected, Cilek was the President of the Horace Mann PTA, President of the MECCA Board of Directors, and chaired the County Board of Social Welfare. Her career as a Supervisor was known for her support of programs serving the poor, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. (It does not sound like she would be happy with our national politics today!) Her husband Paul worked in the Iowa City Assessor’s Office, and together they had 8 children.
And interestingly, Lorada Cilek was an important person in my young life!
You see, I grew up near Sutliff. In the 1970s, the state required Johnson County to close the old one lane bridge. There was a great debate over whether to build a new structure. Without a bridge, people in my area would have to drive into Lisbon, over to Mt. Vernon, and down Highway 1 to Solon. It turned a 6-mile drive into an 18-mile drive. This was terrible for area commuters, and would have been tragic for area farmers. It only affected a couple hundred county residents, but it really affected them a lot!
Cilek came to Sutliff and listened, and became the biggest supporter of building a new bridge. (I must admit – as a teenager at the time, I did not pay attention during the meeting. I was outside flirting with girls. But people left the meeting talking positively about Supervisor Cilek!) She convinced two of her peers to go along, and a new bridge passed with a 3-2 vote.
So when the modern concrete structure that now crosses the Cedar River north of the old bridge was completed, the Board of Supervisors decided to name it in her honor: The Lorada Cilek Memorial Bridge. Though the bridge was named, for some reason, no signs were ever erected.
A bit more of the story from my perspective - Mike Cilek was appointed to the Board in mid-June of ’82 following his mother’s death. Mike served until the results of the 1982 election were certified in mid-November. Lorada was replaced by Dick Myers, who served until he left for the Iowa House. Myers was replaced by Joe Bolkcom, who served until he left for the Iowa Senate. Bolkcom was replaced by Carol Thompson, who served one term, then retired. Thompson was replaced by me. So I literally sit in Lorada Cilek’s old seat.
To keep the small world stuff going, Mike Cilek was the Hawkeye quarterback in the late 1960s – and I am a Hawkeye fanatic. Even closer to home, I worked with Mike’s daughter Carrie when I served as the Executive Director of The Arc. Mike also later became my realtor! He and his wife Judy are absolutely wonderful people that I respect deeply.
I am really pleased that we are doing this, and really pleased that the Cilek family gets to enjoy this moment.
*DID YOU KNOW? For sitting US Presidents have been assassinated: Abe Lincoln in 1865; James Garfield in 1881; William McKinley in 1901; and John Kennedy in 1963.
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.
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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 @ 8:32 AM
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