Message from Lynn Heuss (Formerly Message from Ed Fallon)

By Lynn Heuss, I'M for Iowa

I’d like to introduce myself, Lynn Heuss, and tell you why I’m involved with I’M for Iowa.

I met Ed three years ago while serving as director of a free meal program for the homeless, low-income and working poor in downtown Des Moines.  He was one of a handful of “dignitaries” that attended the event and the only state elected official.  I was a political cynic at the time, but because Ed showed up, I thought it earned him the right to question my cynicism …which he promptly did!  We had a spirited conversation that eventually (over a period of several months) led to my own re-engagement with the political system because he convinced me that it wasn’t the system that didn’t work, but it was the people in it that created the problems.  

My greatest cause of frustration was the seeming lack of compassion and concern by those in politics for the well-being of the poor.  I had, up until my conversation with Ed, simply believed that one could work more effectively for justice through religion.  Naively, I didn’t anticipate the level of politics involved in our religious institutions.  That, then, is what led me to jump back into governmental politics with both feet, including working on Ed’s gubernatorial campaign, as his clerk for the 2006 session, and now in I’M for Iowa.  If it takes getting involved with the system to change it – I decided I wanted to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.  

ACT!

VOICE (Voter Owned Iowa Clean Elections) legislation is currently is the early phases of consideration and even though it is overwhelmingly supported by most Iowans, your legislators need to hear from you.  In order to get this bill passed out of the House State Government committee, it needs at least 11 votes out of 21.  We are currently unsure of how Rep. Dawn Pettengill (District 39 – Benton, Iowa counties), Rep. Brian Quirk (District 15 – Chickasaw, Howard, Winneshiek counties) and Rep. Paul Shomshor (District 100 – Pottawattamie county) will vote.  If you live in any of these counties, please write or call your legislator and ask them to support VOICE.  

Local control is another issue that is currently up for discussion.  There are two Senate Study Bills (1140 and 1165) that present some possibility for local control, but they don’t yet offer real opportunity for a vehicle through which local authorities can deny permits and construction of CAFOS (confined animal feeding operations).  Again, if this is an issue that concerns you (and we hope it does!), please contact your local Representative or Senator.  Even if they have been supportive in the past, they need to hear from you now to assure them you still feel it is important.  

If you’ve never written or called your elected official, or if you don’t know who your elected official is, you can go to: www.legis.state.ia.us to get that information.      

Finally, one of the guiding principles of I'M for Iowa is the following: “Through supporting local businesses and Iowa farmers, and through using more community- and environmentally-friendly technologies, set personal examples of the many ways in which individuals can lead lives that are more sustainable and truly independent.” 

Yesterday we traveled to Iowa City to participate in the Johnson County Local Food Summit.  A diverse crowd of about 75 people, including educators, farmers, local restaurant and business owners, listened to a sobering but still hopeful presentation by Ken Meter called, “Finding Food in Farm Country.”  In it he shared facts that indicate subsidies aren’t nearly as helpful as they appear to be (33% of farms still reported losses in 2002) and consumers spend well over 80% of their food budget on items that come from outside Iowa. 

On a positive note he did, however, report there has been a significant increase in direct sales from farmers to consumers and there are 402 organic farms in the state selling $13 million in products.  BUT, the WallStreet Journal reported in 2004 that the United States has become a net food importer.  We have incredible potential to make many positive changes by supporting local food systems: promoting food choices that lead to healthy eating, opportunities for meaningful livelihoods and for many more food and farm workers, food security by knowing where, how and by whom our food is produced, and a reduction of petroleum use with reduced need for transportation.  

We broke into small groups to discuss ideas about what could be done in order to encourage a sustainable, vibrant local food system. There were many suggestions specific to the Iowa City group, but several that we think would be valuable for you to consider: buy a share in a Community Supported Agriculture farm, shop at your local farmer’s markets, start your own garden and support restaurants and grocers who buy local.  These are just a few suggestions – if you have others, please let us know.    
You can learn more about their group and the summit yesterday at: www.jclfa.org.  In addition there is an article today, February 8, in the Iowa City newspaper today The Press Citizen.  Two other organizations that are working to be part of the solution are a new publication, edible Iowa River Valley, which can be ordered by visiting their website at www.EdibleIowaRiverValley.com and Local Foods Connection (www.localfoodsconnection.org), a group of Iowa City community activists who donate fresh produce to low income families in southeast Iowa.  

We truly believe that at least one of the most prohibitive factors to shopping locally or supporting local businesses may be because you simply don't know where they are or what they offer.  Our new website is nearly completed and we are considering having a link with a statewide list (broken down by counties) of businesses that support local economy or are themselves a locally owned business.  If you think this would be helpful, we’ll need your help.  Please send us the information for such businesses (not just related to food), and we’ll work to make it available as soon as possible.  

Sorry this update is longer than usual, but there’s a lot of information to be shared and much to be done!  

Lynn Heuss

ATTEND!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, February 12, 6:00 p.m.
Linn and Johnson County DFA Meeting
Unitarian Universalist Church
600 3rd Ave. SE
Cedar Rapids
Contact: Dick Stater  (319) 361-5629

Tuesday, February 13, noon
Edwards for President Office Opening with Elizabeth Edwards
712 E. 2nd St.
Des Moines
Everyone is welcome to come and meet Elizabeth

Tuesday, February 13, late afternoon
Elizabeth Edwards in Sioux City
For details see: www.johnedwards.com

Thursday, February 15, 7:00 p.m.
Lecture: Join photographer Peter Feldstein and writer Steven Bloom as they discuss their work on the internationally acclaimed exhibition, The Oxford Project.
Des Moines Art Center Levitt Auditorium
4700 Grand Ave.
Des Moines
No charge, reservations requested by not required  (515) 277-4405

Saturday, February 17, 1:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Chinese New Year Celebration
Ed will be presenting awards at 3:00 p.m.
Northview Middle School
1010 NW Prairie Ridge Dr.
Ankeny
For more information go to: www.iowaasianalliance.com/news_events.php

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