Let’s get this party started!
l3wis 
March 2009
Reflections on the legislative session
I did this one back in August of 2006 – Still a classic
Imagine that, the Sioux Falls MSM ignores the consulting fee story
So I will give you an update (watch video here).
As I predicted, Dave was absent from the meeting (go figure) must have been working on his deposition for the Red Light Camera lawsuit.
It all started with Councilor Staggers wondering why this mysterious memo about the audit never reached him- then a circus of finger pointing started, the only thing that was missing was a seltzer bottle, monkeys and a roaring lion. They really need to install a popcorn and roasted peanut machine at Carnegie Hall.
Staggers asks the auditor what process is used to pick consultants and professional services, he says “They don’t always use a request for proposal” In other words, some of them are just handpicked by the mayor or department heads. Now that’s fiscal responsibility and accountability, isn’t it?
Towards the end, Vernon Brown rears his head and points out that consulting fees only are .2% of the total budget this year. (but fails to mention they have doubled in 3 years. Yeah, Vernon, What’s the diff if they cost us $500,000 or $1 million? It’s only .2% of the total budget.
It’s important to note that the total amount of professional services is over 12% of the total budget ($34 million). I guess Vernon forgot to bring that up in the meeting.
The War on drugs; is it futile? Cafferty thinks so
I don’t always agree with Jack, but sometimes he states the obvious;
Someone described insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result each time. That’s a perfect description of the war on drugs.
So why does Obama think legalizing Mary Jane is a bad thing? Because the more things CHANGE the more they stay the same in Washington.
Sioux Falls City News (from reliable sources)
It seems we are rolling in the dough;
Sales tax revenues in Sioux Falls were up 2 percent in February over the same month in 2008, a welcome change after revenues decreased by 1.9 percent the month before.
And the entertainment tax revenue was up to, and everyone’s favorite rule-skirter chimed in;
Kant said he hasn’t seen a slump yet.
“I really think that sometimes in a down economy, people are looking to go out and have a good time, a bite to eat or have a drink,” he said. “People refuse to hole up in the house. Sioux Falls has always been a resilient city.”
And they all come down to my place and smoke $15 dollar cigars and have a glass of $9 scotch then spill douche all over themselves. Come down and join the fun.
But the jobless rate jumped in Sioux Falls – So who is spending this money? Probably people going to Kant’s bar.
Sioux Falls’ unemployment rate breached 5 percent in February, surprising more than a few area economists.
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Heading into March, there were 4,470 people in the city looking for work out of a labor force of 88,050, according to the state Labor Department.
But what are the underemployed numbers? Would be nice to know.
That’s a 5.1 percent unemployment rate – up dramatically from the 2.8 percent rate a year ago.
“To go over 5 percent for the city, at least this quickly, I’m a little surprised,” said Ralph Brown, professor emeritus of economics at the University of South Dakota.
And Michael Keller, dean of the Beacom School of Business at USD, added: “Absolutely … that’s very significant.”
Unemployment numbers typically rise in the winter months as construction and road projects wind down, Brown said. But there’s no ignoring the jump from February 2008 to the same month in 2009, he said.
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“That does indicate a real problem,” he said.
Hmmm, wonder if anyone is listening at city hall. As long as everyone keeps going out to eat, smoking cigars and drinking scotch, everything is fine and dandy. It seems whenever problems arise in Sioux Falls that affects actual citizens, like unemployment, the city leaders smoke screen the problems by talking about the positives, like the tax revenue increase. Instead of holding economic forums that focus on how we can raise retail taxes to build an events center and give developers a tax break they should be focusing on new jobs. The trickle down philosophy obviously isn’t working anymore (giving those at the top tax breaks in hopes they will supply jobs to the rest of us working stiffs) – it’s time to focus on the citizens and employment, not playgrounds and tax breaks for the rich.
Now, more than two years later, the mayor of Sioux Falls has been ordered to testify in I.L. Wiedermann’s lawsuit over the city’s red-light cameras.
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Despite his attempts to stay out of court, Mayor Dave Munson must provide sworn testimony in the form of a deposition, Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Caldwell ruled Monday.
Munson’s lawyer doesn’t think he should have to testify, even though Dave’s John Hancock are on those contracts;
Rapid City lawyer Aaron Eiesland, who represents Wiedermann, said he wants to know what the mayor knows about the Redflex contract. He says that Munson has been an important part of the negotiations with the camera system company.
“Mr. Munson signed contracts in October 2003 and November 2006,” Eiesland said. “That indicates he has knowledge of the subject matter.”
Maybe.