SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
January 25, 2026
Sullivan’s Salvos 1/29/26
In this edition:
*Black History Month
*Groundhog Day
*ICE Funding
*ICE at Home
*Hold Enablers Accountable!
*Free Tax Help!
*Gary Smith
*Did You Know?
*Black History Month
February is Black History Month. I often wish that there was no need for a Black History Month – instead, black history would be a robust part of the history that is already taught in our schools.
The fact is, we all need a reminder of the amazing history of African Americans. I am planning on doing some reading on Little Rock Central and Brown versus the Board of Education. I may try to sneak in a visit to my daughter in Memphis. What will you be doing?
*Groundhog Day
Happy Groundhog Day! Hey, we need to celebrate anything we can, right? By the way – the 1993 movie “Groundhog Day” really is a classic, isn’t it? OK. Enough small talk. I wish you six less weeks of winter!
*ICE Funding
The whole system of immigration enforcement is *so* broken – I really believe it all needs to go. We need to simply end ICE – it is too broken to fix.
There is some talk of closing down the federal government once the debt ceiling deadline hits. The idea is refusing to fund ICE until operational changes can be made. The problem with this approach, as I understand it, is the President can just keep funding ICE through other sources.
I do not know what the answer is here; I truly don’t. But I do not know how anyone could possibly vote to fund this agency at this time.
*ICE at Home
I heard a poignant story on the radio recently. The commentators were quoting Fraz Kafka’s diary from 1914. In it, he wrote:
“Germany invaded Russia today. Going swimming this afternoon.”
So perfectly, simply put. Even 112 years ago, Kafka noted that wars are remote events for many of us. If you live in the Twin Cities right now, you are being terrorized. But if you live in Monticello, Iowa, life is pretty much going on as usual. Heck, you could go swimming!
Yes, Iowa City had a high-profile ICE raid that impacted many lives here in Johnson County. But it is still safe to say that many of us have been largely unscathed by the terror. This can lead to a strange take on the world. It reminds me of white privilege; when white people are not subjected to racism, they sometimes fail to recognize it. Similarly, when the terror is not omnipresent, we can forget it is happening to others.
There is another side of the coin, too. We are all familiar with the Dr. King quote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Great quote. On the mark. So what do we do in this situation?
I know people who have gone to Minnesota to join the protests. Frankly, I find that foolish. These folks (all white, btw) think there is something heroic in going there. But they have not been invited, and they have no plan. I think they run the risk of putting more black and brown people in danger.
Similarly, I know people who want to start bigger and more violent protests locally. OK – why? How will that help any immigrant? How do your actions make life better for the people you claim to want to help? Does breaking the window of a downtown business achieve anything? More importantly, do these actions make life worse for the people you claim to want to help? This needs to be considered.
I have heard people say our (School Board/City Council/Board of Supervisors) needs to do something. Trust me, I get it. I am as frustrated as everyone else. But what would you have us do that would make things better and not worse? I really do want to know.
Similarly, one of my friends who headed to Minnesota says, “The rest of you do not care enough.” My daughter cares. She literally gets physically ill when things like this happen. But what is she supposed to do? She has a job she cannot leave. She has an 8-year-old and an infant. She has no car, and not much money. So because she is not in Minnesota, she does not care? That is bullshit. And it is targeting an ally.
Times are tough, folks. Our fellow Americans are under siege. We need to help. We need to oppose this regime. But we also need to be smart and strategic. We must not take actions that harm the people we want to help.
*Hold Enablers Accountable!
I want to make a point. Many of you already know this. Some of us need a reminder.
Virtually every bad thing Donald Trump does could be stopped by the House and/or Senate. Everything!
ICE raids. War crimes. Capturing Maduro. Tariffs. The dismantling of Federal agencies. Federal firings. Greenland. The Epstein files. Tax cuts for the rich, service cuts for the rest of us. The list goes on, and on, and on.
Marianette Miller Meeks could vote to stop all of this. She has not. She wants to represent us in Congress once again. I say NO! Ashley Hinson could vote to stop all of this. She has not. She wants to represent us in the US Senate. I say NO!
They could stop him. They will not. So we need to elect people who will! It is up to us!
*Free Tax Help!
Tax season just got easier for qualifying households in Johnson County. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides free tax preparation services for low- to moderate-income residents, thanks to trained volunteers from the Johnson County Social Services Department. These services will be available Jan. 31, 2026, through April 8, 2026.
The VITA program offers two convenient options for tax preparation assistance. Taxpayers with an income of $69,000 or less in 2025 can have their returns completed and filed by an IRS-certified tax preparer at no cost. Appointments are required. Additionally, taxpayers with an adjusted gross income under $89,000 in 2025 can access free software to prepare and file their taxes on their own. Support is available from trained volunteers. For more information on these services, visit www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/vita.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) estimates that 20% of American workers do not claim the refundable tax credits for which they are eligible, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). EITC is a special benefit for working people with an annual household income of less than $69,000. Workers who qualify for the EITC and file a federal tax return may be eligible for a portion or all the federal income tax taken out of their pay during the year. They may also receive additional cash back from the IRS. Even workers whose earnings were too small to owe income tax may be eligible for the EITC.
IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers help ensure that eligible taxpayers claim the EITC and any other qualifying tax credits, maximizing potential refunds.
Electronic filing is provided so that taxpayers can receive their tax refunds quickly. Taxpayers using VITA volunteers, or the free file software, to help file taxes are not charged for tax preparation or for receiving their refunds.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/vita. Translation services can be made in advance by calling Johnson County Social Services at 319-356-6090.
VITA is a partnership among Johnson County Social Services, the Iowa City Public Library, and the Iowa Center for Economic Success and sponsorship from GreenState Credit Union.
*Gary Smith
As you know, I am running for reelection, even though I was just elected a year ago. But this election will be different for me, and I need to explain why.
I have had the immense good fortune of having my friend Gary Smith serve as my campaign Treasurer from day one. In case you are not aware, serving as the Treasurer for a campaign can be a lot of work. You have to track every expenditure and every bit of income, paper and electronic, down to the literal penny. Mistakes can be met with fines, and if egregious enough, prison time! So it is serious business! It requires a person with a great eye for detail and patience with bureaucracy. That description fits Gary to a “T”!
Gary and I go back to somewhere in the early 1990s, when I met Gary, his wife Sarah Swisher, and their children, Sally and Riley. Gary, Sarah, Sally, and I worked on many, many campaigns together, and Riley became friends with my children.
We fought some good fights. We helped elect 3 Democratic Presidents (maybe even 4?). We helped elect Senator Harkin 4 times. We helped elect the first Democratic Governor in 24 years, then helped elect his replacement. We helped elect a Democratic majority in the Iowa House and Senate. We helped elect lots of progressive local candidates. We passed a huge school bond that built Tate High, Northwest Junior High, and Van Allen Elementary. And, we helped win the election that brought SEIU 199 and bargaining rights to nurses and other staff at the UI. It has been a great run!
Besides the politics, Gary has been such a good friend. He is smart, funny, and reliable. I really enjoy him!
I have such tremendous appreciation for all Gary has done for me over the past 21+ years - and frankly, way before that. He has been a great Treasurer and an even better friend. Thanks, Gary!
*DID YOU KNOW? Groundhog Day falls on the 2nd of February for a reason. It’s what’s known as a “cross-quarter” day, meaning it falls at the midpoint between one season and another. In the case of February 2nd, it’s the cross-quarter day that falls between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, making it the ideal time to consider whether or not spring will arrive early.
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---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 5:32 PM
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