I am pretty excited, the Washington Pavilion is proposing a retrospective show of all the local artists who have displayed at the Pavilion, over 70! I agreed to participate. It think this show is going to be fantastic and am very excited about it.
Now I have to paint something.
Here is some links to my show there:
http://www.25dp.com/blog/?p=221
http://www.25dp.com/blog/?p=268
http://www.25dp.com/blog/?p=260
I’m watching Munson right now discuss the economy in regards to Sioux Falls.
Munson mentions “You don’t want to get into deficit spending.” in regards to the reserves.
Really? So please explain the city debt growing almost $210 million dollars during your two terms. All during decent growth and economic times. Isn’t that ‘Deficit Spending’?
Munson brags about the ‘diverse’ jobs available in Sioux Falls and brings up the hospitals.
In reality there is only 6 major industries in Sioux Falls. Healthcare, credit card industry, meat packing, city government, construction and the restaurant industry. Guess which one pays the best? None of them. Sadly the best wages are in government, why? They are union and have no accountability to the bottom line.
Munson is talking about the stimulus package and how important it is to get the levees done in 2 years instead of 8 years. He also mentions the 1600 properties affected.
Rumor has it that the only reason FEMA came in and claimed we were in a floodplain was because the guy in the city government who staved off FEMA for 15 years retired, so FEMA pounced. In other words, there is no ‘imminent threat’ of flooding. As I mentioned in a post about a week ago, climate studies have shown we are NOT going to flood in Eastern SD anytime soon. Also, during the city council debate, not one single property owner came to the council to beg them to vote for the levees. Why? I think because Munson already promised them he would get it done. Most of the property is retail and apartment buildings, not homeowners. This is more catering to big business. I also think that the property owners agree with me, there is NO threat of flooding anytime soon.
Munson is talking about the RR relocation project.
Something I support totally. I think it is 10 years past due. I disagree with how it is being paid for though. I don’t think taxpayers should foot the entire bill. I think the RR companies could have been forced into paying for it through condemnation while the taxpayers pay for the land given up. But of course government only screws with regular citizines in condemnation, not private industry.
Munson is talking about the Event Center and saying how a new Event Center will help our city and he is lobbying the legislature next year to raise money for it (taxing us more.) Munson lies about how ‘Not much money is being spent’ on exploring the EC. bologna, give us a figure. He talks about ‘Educating the citizens’ on how it is important to have a EC. Jon Wilson brings up he thinks this is ‘old against young debate’. Munson agrees and says this will only help the young people and doesn’t really help the older generation. Munson skirts the pricetag question and doesn’t answer it. Munson hints at tearing down Howard Wood.
Typical. No dollar amounts are presented on exploring or building the facility. He also doesn’t talk about how the city would like to tax us additionally on retail items (the plan they are proposing), instead of a bed and booze tax which was initially recommended. Also no mention of corporate sponsorship, which I think is the best route.
Munson talks about working with a ‘great council’
I will give Dave credit for one thing, never any sour grapes. And why should there be any, he runs right over the council, time and time again.
Munson talks about the pay raises and blames the 3 Unions and their contracts for the raises. Says we “can afford it” because we are in good financial shape.
Munson fails to mention that the highest pay raises go to NON-Union members.
Munson talks about how he is retiring from politics after he is done being mayor, but never really gives a straight answer.
Gawd, we can only hope.
Looks like the Democrats are once again at the feeding trough
This is what Republicans think of the recently passed stimulus package (H/T – Pity Pat Powers).
– $75 million for smoking cessation programs
Gosh Darn it! Where do these libs get off saving people money on health care costs!
– $50 million for arts funding
Educating our youth about culture!? What’s next?! FREE math, reading and science classes in our public schools!
– $335 million for treatment of STD’s
Larry Craig could have used this program, a few times.
– $1 Billion for Advanced Battery Loan Guarantee Program
Global Warming is myth, just ask Jay Trobec. Green energy just encourages hippies and pot smoking.
– $150 million for Smithsonian maintenance
Employing museum employees to learn us about American history is unacceptable! What you need to know about American history can be taught in a couple of paragraphs.
– $600 Million for cars for government employees
What! Another bailout for the American Car companies!? Pretty soon they are going to ask us for a $750 billion dollar bailout with no oversight, or a $1.4 trillion dollar tax cut for companies that send jobs overseas or a $750 billion dollar endless war in the Mideast. Geeeeezzz, the nerve of the Democrats!
UPDATE: Last night I was at Nutty’s North and asked about the drug dogs, rumor has it (yup more rumors – sorry) that the SFPD retrieved a phone from a hippie kid who died and found all kinds of messages and texts about drug trafficking at hippie concerts, so the cops have been sitting out on the sidewalk by the club during those kind of shows busting people. Mind you, they have legal authority to do that, because it is public property, but I would think they would have better things to do then bust young people for a couple of joints. The prudent, and intelligent thing to do is to investigate who is the ‘Kingpin’ in the operation instead swatting the flys. But hey, I’m no detective, so what do I know.
I heard a rumor yesterday that police brought drug dogs in Nutty’s North during a concert. Not sure if it is true, just wondering if anyone out their can verify?
This is disenhearting for several reasons. First off it is a clear violation of 4th Amendment rights, which of course is unconstitutional. The police either need a warrant or the establishment owner calling 911 and telling them they suspect drugs on the premise and want an investigation. Drug dogs can only legally search public property otherwise. I heard the search was random.
It is also disappointing beacuse all we ever hear about 24/7 from our city leaders is how we need a fricking Event Center to bring in top entertainment. Well guess what, Nutty’s brings in TOP ENTERTAINMENT, and then you turn drug dogs loose on them?
Until Sioux Falls pulls the conservative corncob out of our asses we will NEVER compete in entertainment with anyone in the region.
I saw this author on Bill Moyers Journal last night, and found his interview about his book interesting. He pretty much talks about how lobbyists and lobbying has destroyed politics and politicians. Can you say – Duh? He did get a plug in about publicly funded elections in states like Arizona and there positive effects, Moyers probably could have done a entire show about that. I could not agree more, if we are ever going to clean up politics, that is the way to go.
The startling story of the monumental growth of lobbying in Washington, D.C., and how it undermines effective government and pollutes our politics.
A true insider, Robert G. Kaiser has monitored American politics for The Washington Post for nearly half a century. In this sometimes shocking and always riveting book, he explains how and why, over the last four decades, Washington became a dysfunctional capital. At the heart of his story is money—money made by special interests using campaign contributions and lobbyists to influence government decisions, and money demanded by congressional candidates to pay for their increasingly expensive campaigns, which can cost a staggering sum. In 1974, the average winning campaign for the Senate cost $437,000; by 2006, that number had grown to $7.92 million. The cost of winning House campaigns grew comparably: $56,500 in 1974, $1.3 million in 2006.
l3wis