SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
September 22, 2025
Sullivan’s Salvos 9/25/25
In this edition:
*Happy Homecoming!
*Yom Kippur
*Freedom of Speech Includes Irony, I Guess?
*Free Speech Event
*Joint Law Enforcement Project
*Congratulations Geoff!
*Questioning Science?
*Did You Know?
*Happy Homecoming!
The UI celebrates Homecoming the weekend of September 26 & 27. Happy Homecoming to all the Hawkeyes out there! I love the traditions of Homecoming; the parade, the pomp and circumstance, alumni returning from afar. Homecoming is one of the real benefits of living in a university town. Be bold in your black and gold… but be safe, too! Go Hawks!
*Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Wednesday, October 1, and ends at nightfall on Thursday, October 2. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year, a day of fasting, prayer, and seeking forgiveness. G'mar chatima tovah.
*Freedom of Speech Includes Irony, I Guess?
It is interesting to hear how many people celebrate Charlie Kirk as an advocate for Freedom of Speech, yet celebrate the firings of people who call out Kirk’s bigotry. It calls to mind a quote from the immortal Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means".
The Board of Supervisors had a very interesting meeting on Thursday, September 18. I thought there were some amazing examples of Free Speech occurring right at that moment. I was particularly proud of the statement read by County Recorder Kim Painter.
If you want to see some really good examples of Free Speech, I urge you to view the first 30 minutes of that meeting. It is under Board Meetings and Agendas at the very top of the County webpage.
*Free Speech Event
There will be a Free Speech Rally Wednesday, October 1 at 5:30 pm at the Weatherdance Fountain Stage on the Iowa City Ped Mall.
Please come out and listen to local free speech advocates, and learn what you need to know to fight back. Please stop by, and please spread the word!
For more info, please contact Rod Sullivan at 319-354-7199 or rodsullivan29@gmail.com.
*Joint Law Enforcement Project
As of this writing, Sheriff Brad Kunkel decided that he no longer supports working with the City of Iowa City on a new Joint Law Enforcement Center. I agree with Sheriff Kunkel 100%.
I have no idea how my colleagues on the Board feel, but think Johnson County needs to move forward alone. (The Board will be discussing this matter Wednesday, September 24 at 1:30 pm. So depending upon when you read this, a decision may already have been made.)
I am really disappointed that this is the case. I pay taxes to both Iowa City and Johnson County. I think there were multiple, really good reasons for working together. Here are some below:
- A joint facility is cheaper in several different ways.
First, there are many financial savings. The architects projected a $10.25 million savings.
Secondly, if there is no joint facility, County expenses will go up even more, because we will need to purchase land. That is likely a $5 million additional cost to taxpayers, depending upon what is available and where.
Thirdly, operational expenses (and therefore taxpayer costs) for the Sheriff’s Office will go up if a facility is not near the Courthouse.
Fourthly, operational expenses (and therefore taxpayer costs) for the ICPD will be lessened if the jail is adjacent to their office.
Fifthly, in my experience, moving Public Health, Mental Health, and Social Services together back in 2010 created a number of cost-saving efficiencies we did not anticipate at the time. I would guess we will see some of that here. - Members of the public often show up at one agency needing the other. Staff in both offices will tell you this is a common occurrence. Sharing a space means if you go to the wrong window, you do not need to get in your car and go across town. Instead, you just go across the lobby. We have seen this in action for decades with the co-location of the City and County Assessors.
- I think a shared facility opens up opportunities for greater adoption of best practices. Simply asking things such as, “Why do you do it like that?” may open up all sorts of internal improvements.
- In the case of major catastrophes or concerns, such as floods or other events, coordination will be easier when co-located.
- This is the right thing to do environmentally. It is infill development, whereas a new building further out (which might be required otherwise) will only create sprawl. This location also makes a potential jail accessible by bus and by foot.
- This could lead to other intergovernmental cooperation, which in times of shrinking revenues and greater needs may be very important.
- Finally – the threshold for voter approval (50% plus one versus 60% plus one) is also a motivating factor.
The problem is, all of these benefits only accrue if you have willing partners. It was clear to me after the last Iowa City Council Meeting that there are three Council Members who are dedicated to undermining any type of jail project. (That would be Councilors Salih, Bergus, and Weilein.)
It is fine if they want to oppose a new jail – that is their right as voters. But we cannot have them sabotaging the process from the inside, and that is precisely what they were going to do.
I do want to thank the Iowa City Manager, the Iowa City Police Chief, and the Councilors who supported the initiative. I am sorry that your work went for naught.
We still need a new jail. It is a human rights issue. But in my opinion, we are going to have to do it without the involvement of the Iowa City Council.
*Congratulations Geoff!
My good friend Geoff Lauer was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Brain Injury Association of Iowa. Geoff served as CEO and Executive Director of that organization for an extraordinary 23 years. Under his stewardship, the organization flourished into a vital resource for thousands of Iowans affected by brain injury.
From their press release:
As a founding member of the United States Brain Injury Alliance (USBIA), Geoff played a crucial role in establishing a national framework for brain injury support and advocacy.
What truly distinguishes Geoff's career is not just the impressive list of accomplishments and accolades, but the countless lives he has touched and transformed in the brain injury community. Through his unwavering advocacy, thousands of individuals with brain injuries have gained access to better care, stronger support systems, and policies that honor their dignity and potential.
As we present this Lifetime Achievement Award, we celebrate not just a career of remarkable accomplishments, but a life dedicated to ensuring that those affected by brain injury are seen, heard, and served with excellence and compassion. Thank you Geoff for your exceptional leadership in the field of Brain Injury Rehabilitation.
I could not agree more. Geoff Lauer and I worked together almost 40 years ago, and he has been a friend and mentor to me ever since. I love him and I am proud to see him get this award. Nice work, my friend!
*Questioning Science?
When I say, “Questioning Science,” do you think I am talking about Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Junior and his rejection of vaccine science? Nope. Think I am talking about President Trump and his rejection of climate science? Nope. Think I am talking about Governor Reynolds and her rejection of water quality science? Nope again.
I am talking about local Elected Officials who dismiss the scientific polling the University of Iowa Center for Social Science Innovation (CSSI) did for Johnson County.
Granted, polling is not exact science. But these data scientists from the UI – each highly regarded in their field – prepared a report for Johnson County that said around 75% of the voters in Johnson County would support a new jail facility. (The report is available on the County website.)
The report – being a work of science – controls for variables such as age, gender, race, geography, political party, income, education, and life experiences. They know how to do this. *I* do not know how to do it. That is why we hired them. They are experts.
I have heard people say, “But their findings do not match what people said at the Council Meeting.” That is because the people who attend any given Council Meeting is not a scientific sampling of the community. Trust the scientists.
You cannot just support the science that fits your world view. That is not how science works. I am glad CSSI is here at the UI. I am glad they were willing to help us. I respect their expertise and their work. And I am sad to see local Elected Officials question science in the same manner as RFK Jr., Trump, and Reynolds.
*DID YOU KNOW? Los Angeles County in California is the most populous county in the US with over 10 million residents. Cook County, Illinois is second with about 5.5 million. (Source: US Census Bureau.)
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 @ 9:37 AM
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