SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
August 4, 2025
Sullivan’s Salvos 8/7/25
In this edition:
*RIP Cari Malone
*RIP Al Murphy
*Happy Anniversary!
*Salvos Effort
*August Leases
*Neighbors Know Best?
*Interested in Epstein? Here is an Idea!
*Great Quote!
*Did You Know?
*RIP Cari Malone
I was sad to hear of the passing of Cari Malone of Iowa City. I met Cari as a young person getting started in local politics, and I learned a great deal from her. Cari was smart and hardworking, but also had a great sense of humor.
After I became a Supervisor Cari would occasionally ask me about various issues, and I always enjoyed those conversations. We used to live near each other, and walking my dog past her house often led to an interesting discussion. I know Cari was a big supporter of the arts, and will be missed by many. RIP, Cari.
*RIP Al Murphy
It gets said a lot, and I think we risk it being a cliché, but Johnson County has a truly phenomenal music scene. The quality of artists we have in our area is virtually unmatched by any area our size in this country. It is a unique situation, and we are truly blessed to have it.
Sometimes we need to step back and appreciate the musical giants that walk among us. That is particularly important when the community loses a legend like Al Murphy.
An Iowa City native, Al Murphy was the local Godfather of artists who play stringed instruments. He played for over 60 years, including over 40 years with his wife Aleta, with local legends like Bob Black, and with world-renowned artists like Bill Monroe.
I cannot say I knew Al Murphy – I heard him play dozens of times, but I’m not sure we ever met. I do know that we all owe him a debt of gratitude for bringing so many good times to so many people over the years. RIP, Al.
*Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary on August 1 to my wonderful wife, Dr. Melissa Fath. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but I know I got a great deal here! Melissa is the best wife and mother a person could ever hope for!
Happy Anniversary, Honey! It has been a great ride! I hope we celebrate many more!
*Salvos Effort
I hope you did not suffer too much during your two-week break from Salvos! This was the first time in 21 years of writing Salvos that I had ever taken two weeks off, and you know what? I’m very proud of my writing record!
It takes a substantial effort to churn out 1500-2000 words every week. To the best of my knowledge, I am the only elected official in memory who has consistently done so. (Some efforts predictably pop up in advance of the campaign season, but rarely last more than a few weeks.)
Additionally, I am proud of the content. I could just list every meeting I attended, but I’m not sure that would pique your interest in county government. And while I obviously do not always stick to county government, I feel that Salvos is a pretty good vehicle for letting the public be aware of what one Supervisor thinks you ought to know.
You get some facts, you get some opinions, and occasionally you get some personal stuff. I make a lot of mistakes – there are no writers or editors; it is just me here. So please bear with me when I get something wrong. I typically run corrections if people point out things that were factually incorrect.
I apologize for bragging. I know it is not a good look. But darn it, I am proud of the effort I have made in this arena! I think it has helped the public to know just a bit more, and that is a good thing!
*August Leases
The August leases have begun, and people are pouring into our community. There are now lots of drivers, bikers, and pedestrians who are not completely certain where they are headed.
Please allow a little more time and a little more space. Careful on the one-way streets. The newbies will figure things out in due time!
*Neighbors Know Best?
When it comes to planning and zoning matters, we often say that “neighbors know best.” I am here today to challenge that assumption.
We hear plenty of horror stories of the big, bad government imposing its’ will, while the concerns of neighbors are ignored. And I will be the first to admit, sometimes, that happens. I do not think it happens nearly as frequently as folks believe it does, but it does happen. A good recent example is the Iowa Legislature’s fight over eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines. The neighbors were correct, the state was wrong, and I’m glad some GOP Legislators joined Democrats in listening.
We do not talk enough about the other side of the coin. Local governments are constantly dealing with folks who do not want something to happen near them. There is even an acronym – NIMBY – which stands for “Not In My Back Yard.” In my opinion, within Johnson County especially, we have much more NIMBY than we do governmental overreach.
The easiest thing for an elected official is to just say, “I support the neighbors on this.” Let’s be honest for a minute – if elected officials care only about getting reelected, they will *always* come down on the side of the neighbors. It is just a numbers game. If you care only about reelection, it is stupid to fight the numbers. (As a matter of fact, some will say writing this was stupid on my part. I undoubtedly lost a few votes by doing so.) You want to be popular. So why not side with a large, motivated group?
I’ll tell you why. Because more often than not, the neighbors are wrong. And your duty as an elected official is to do what is right, not what is popular.
Miriam Axel-Lute writes: “NIMBYism is often driven, more or less openly, by racism and classism. But the concerns more commonly voiced are about increased crime, traffic congestion, strain on sewers, overcrowded schools, and lowered property values and “quality of life.” When developments are built, however, these fears rarely come to pass.” She then cited 6-7 studies that show the fears mentioned by neighbors almost never actually come true.
Here is the worst example I can think of in terms of over-empowering the neighbors to make decisions: Iowa City’s 2023 rules around keeping urban chickens.
In Iowa City, you must get all adjacent property owners to sign off before you are allowed to have urban chickens. While I completely understand why neighbors might object, I believe this is the worst possible way to do government. It opens Iowa City up to all sorts of discriminatory practices.
Imagine I do not like my neighbors simply because they are part of the LGBTQ+ community. No chickens. Imagine I do not like my neighbors simply because they are black. No chickens. Imagine I do not like my neighbors simply because they speak Spanish. No chickens. Imagine I do not like my neighbors simply because they are Muslim. No chickens. Imagine I do not like my neighbors simply because they belong to a different political party. No chickens. Heck, even if the neighbors are loud assholes who trash their place! Those folks still deserve to have chickens if they follow the rules.
It does not seem to have caused many problems yet, but I was deeply disappointed with Iowa City on that ordinance. Governments should have a clear set of rules with which anyone can comply. If they meet the standards, they can have the chickens. Neighbors should have zero say in the matter.
Elected officials must listen. Neighborhood feedback is critical. But it is only one of many considerations that local governments must use when making decisions.
*Interested in Epstein? Here is an Idea!
Want to really know what happened in the case of Jeffrey Epstein, Ghirline Maxwell, and all the wealthy johns? It is not that difficult to find out what happened. Listen to the victims in the case! There are at least 150 victims who have come forward so far; perhaps many more. Let’s get them some justice!
*Great Quote!
“Jesus prepared a meal for the multitudes to remind us that we feed people not because we believe they deserve it, but because they are hungry.”
-Jon Pavlovitz
*DID YOU KNOW? 80 years ago this week the US dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. A good discussion of that fateful decision can be found here: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/atomic-bombings-ian-w-toll.
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 @ 5:30 PM
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