Yesterday I was made aware that the city code enforcement department was trying to squelch free speech. A Staggers and Stehly supporter purchased and has been displaying these signs in his yard. A couple of days ago, code enforcement took them down and said he was violating ordinance. Not true, so he put them back up. After a discussion with the enforcement office he explained to them that as long as his signs did not exeed 1,296 square inches (they are 1,230 square inches) they are legal to display, according to city ordinance. The real reason they were removed was because of ‘several complaints’ the code enforcement office finally admitted. Really, is that how we enforce code now in Sioux Falls, if someone complains loud enough, the code enforcement office just makes up something? The signs are staying up for now.
I also wanted to add that the property owner actually pasted the ordinance on the back of the signs when he put them back up. He also wrote the dimensions on them and also taped his violation on the back of the signs. The enforcement officer wasn’t to happy about that. Oh, and PG, guess who the officer was . . .
I love this story.
I guess the officer was out there with a tape measure trying to do the math that his dysfunctional department created. Funny stuff.
The location of the signs is the issue. His yard is on the end of a dead end street next to a middle school. Hundreds of parents and kids have to see these signs everyday and one of Costello’s kids goes to the school.
The goon (you say officer) will be getting his full day hearing before the city council once a certain court case gets a verdict. Next step for this neanderthal is repeated mailed citations and conspiring with neighbors. My neighbor got an immediate permit without a hearing for a permanent building on the property line. I got 4 years of hearings for a 5′ concrete strip when pouring concrete does not require a permit. I hope this property owner doesn’t have to endure the physical threats and drive-by pistol pointing characteristic for this city tough guy.
Like every department and person at city hall, I’m sure he’s acting on his own. Even this brain dead individual must realize he’s history if Staggers and Stehly are elected.
“Even this brain dead individual must realize he’s history if Staggers and Stehly are elected.”
The fact is that other mayoral candidates have hinted also that this department will be dismantled and revamped because it is so dysfunctional. If I were them I would be going on job interviews instead of harassing citizens.
Last election, my neighbor had Tornow signs all over his yard with the shared property line a fence line. A week after the election, I called code enforcement to complain. It must have been a month and numerous neighbor complaints before the signs were removed.
I grew up at 19 after a year in Vietnam. Code Enforcement and the Assistant City Attorney are still playing with snowballs.
“The only way to deal with a tyrannical dictatorship is with civil disobedience and an organized resistance.” Plaintiff Guy
My yard would be full of signs but I’m planning on pouring concrete in the entire front. I’m painting it florescent pink to match the city circles painted on my sidewalk (only) for zit-like cracks.
I’m really surprised this code officer is still around. He threatened and charged at me at a public hearing when he was no part of the hearing. He can’t control himself and will hurt someone. He’ll end up in prison. They love ex-cops and he’ll make someone a very nice girlfriend.
If he threatened you and pointed a gun at you, you should have called the cops. Get a police report for the incident so it’s on the record.
Certainly some local newsy would want to cover a story like this.
Police are the city. They follow orders from the Fuhrer. This is not democracy. I’m sure they want to help and have agreed with me but are restrained like the rest of us. Soon, a real officer will refuse to do the mayor’s bidding and get fired. He’ll become a valuable member of the resistance.
They completely ignore legal precedures and constitutional rights. Recently (twice), city employees trespassed on private property and stole personal property. They did not have a court order. Their interpretation: they were removing trash.
This topic, they’re denying free speech when in fact city codes were adhered to. They are the ones who ignore the law, their law. If there’s a violation, proper procedure would be to formally issue a citation, not trespass and steal signs that are personal property.
It’s so bad, I advise citizens arm themselves. In Colorado there’s the ‘Make My Day’ law. Anyone (doesn’t matter who) entering your property without permission or a court order can be shot. There’s a similar law here but make sure you drag them inside and make it look like there was a struggle.
“The only way to deal with a tyrannical dictatorship is with civil disobedience and an organized resistance.â€
The guy has 2 signs in his yard. What happens in the fall when I have a pres, gov, senate house and local signs in my yard? Am I going to jail? Munson commits fraud with the Philips to the falls money and he get re-elected!
Not only that but during certain election cycles I have driven past property on the paratransit buses where there is sign after sign in rows. Even along Louise Ave., between the sidewalk and curb of the apartment complex that I live in. Wonder of wonders the apartment management company is Lloyds. They treat me good, so I’m not complaining, but I don’t really think it is right. It’s kind of like one pizza chain in town lost my business a few years ago, because they had signs in their store windows proclaiming their pro-life stance. If the signs had been out by the street, it would have been different because the pro-life people wouldn’t have needed permission to put them there, whereas to put them in the windows they did need permission.
Police are the city. They follow orders from the Fuhrer. This is not democracy. I’m sure they want to help and have agreed with me but are restrained like the rest of us.
If you call the cops, they have to take a police report. The cop has to account for his time on a call. Then you have a record of the activity. I believe you can get a copy of the report too.
Otherwise, you just sound like another disgruntled, tin-foil-hat-wearing nut with an axe to grind throwing out wild accusations.
I sure see a lot of Costello signs at the big apartment complexes, strip malls, and mixed retail developments these days.
Anything assocaited with Stencil Corp has a LOT of Costello signs, and they are popping up all over town.
I have to be honest – if all the developers have this big of a desire to have Costello in the mayor’s office it scares me a little. What are their true motives? What don’t we know?
What are their true motives? What don’t we know?
It seems obvious to me. They wnat their guy in office to keep up the sweetheart deals so they can create more surplus office and apartment space on the far edges of town and get tax breaks for it.
Costner, God nailed it. He is bought and paid for, look at his donor list.