South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

2010

Gordon Howie governor 2010

The hypocrisy of Gordon Howie

l3wis 15Comments

It’s not like this guy has a snowball chance in Hell of winning anyway, but with stuff like this coming up, makes you wonder;

Sen. Gordon Howie is behind by at least $56,863 in property taxes due for 2008 and 2009. That amount will jump to $86,915 if Howie can’t meet the next payment date by the end of October. And the amount is growing because of interest assessed to unpaid bills.

Then there is this;

Howie is the unofficial tea party candidate, running a campaign against taxes and spending. Last year, he was the prime sponsor of a bill that would have raised the state sales tax from 4 percent to 6 percent. The bill, which failed, called for using the increases in sales taxes to lower property taxes statewide, an effort that some questioned because of Howie’s profession.

It kinda sounds like Gordon is ‘conveniently’ against property taxes because he owes so much, but doesn’t have a problem with raising regressive taxes on the working poor. Some of my teabagger friends have asked me to support Gordon. Sorry, if there is one thing I can’t stand in a politician, it is hypocrisy.

Washington Pavilion

Finally, the Pavilion makes a smart move

l3wis 4Comments

I will have to hand it to the Pavilion on this one. While I was skeptical at first when Larry took over as interim president, I saw he was shaping up the finances rather quickly;

An effort that probably will erase a $300,000 deficit for the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science landed Larry Toll a new job.

The Pavilion announced Tuesday that Toll will become its president, six months after he was named interim president amid the departure of former president Gary Wood and what Pavilion leaders were calling a financial crisis.

Looks like the Pavilion didn’t need someone with an arts background after all, they needed someone who understands math.

Mayor Subprime Mike Huether Mike Huether SF City Council Sioux Falls

Want to address public officials about your concerns? Do it on the record.

l3wis 8Comments

This is the best place to go if you have a gripe about the city.

I have often told friends and associates that if you have a problem or concern about our city, show up to the 7 PM council meetings Monday nights at Carnegie Hall, downtown Sioux Falls. There is a 5 minute ‘gripe’ period before the meeting starts. And while most councilors or even the mayor may not say much, the importance is that your testimony is on record. Meeting with politicians privately usually solves nothing, heck meeting with them publicly doesn’t seem to do much either. But if you have a concern, it is best to let all of the public know and have them as your witness.

Why do I bring this up? A friend called the mayor’s office today to set up a meeting with him to discuss some of her concerns about the city and moving forward in a new administration. The secretary informed her that Mike will not being meeting with anyone from the public privately until after he has FINISHED the 2011 budget, which is August 1. But she was encouraged to go to Whisk and Chop on Saturdays (where Mike is surrounded by mostly his staff) and air her concerns.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

« Previous Page — Next Page »

You Missed

Uncategorized

Mayor TenHaken continues to cut off public inputers

Downtown Sioux Falls Riverline District SF City Council Sioux Falls

Update: More ‘Ramming down our throats’ at 4 PM

Uncategorized

UPDATE: Glad I could be of assistance

Art Sioux Falls

The City of Sioux Falls lacks transparency? Get out!