The Argus Endorser’s publisher’s column today was all over the map. I don’t even know where to begin. Let’s just sum up this hot mess really quickly;
1) Beck supported a downtown events center, but not now, because old ladies will stop reading his paper.
2) We need an events center because we are tired of talking about it.
3) We need an events center now, but let’s not vote on it now, because people are very poor, and that is not very nice, to people, or poor people (who will never ever use the facility).
4) Stop picking on Mike Huether. We need to support his vision, even if it sucks.
5) We need private donors.
Looks like Beck is becoming a real pushover in his old age.
Yeah, the funniest part was that because KC built some sort of smaller building with nothing but private funds we should be able to do the same thing.
It’s amazing how this has gotten to be such a big stupid issue that it might even cost Huether his job in the end.
We need someone in the Mayor’s office who can build consensus.
It’s not about concensus. We should just let people vote on it already, let the people decide.
Beck is still butthurt about the internets taking all the fun out of the Newpaper business. He claims to be a former downtown supporter, and now that it’s coming down to crunch tim on site selection he advises we all just fall in line behind the Mayor’s plan, so we can just get it built. So when the going gets tough = cave in seems to be his mantra, same brilliance he is using in guiding his paper to profitability no doubt.
I wonder what kind of dirt Huether has on him? This “Let’s just get it done already.” doesn’t seem like the past Beck. I also find it strange that he encourages us to go along with Mike to get it done quicker, but suggests we should not vote on it yet. Huh?
Oddly, I think Beck has found someone he can relate to in Huether. Both have massive egos, coupled with a chip on the shoulder that no one really takes them seriously as big, visionary-type thinkers. Both of them work around a bunch of people who support a downtown site, and both have half-heartedly admitted they know it’s the best place economically speaking. I think both of them are in their respective positions not so much by earning it, but more by timing and circumstance.
Both of them are missing the main point of the project: An Events Center is first and foremost an economic generator and if we don’t maximize the direct and indirect benefits of it than we are doomed to live with that choice and it’s consequences for a very long time.
We have to remember that when things are done in a hurry, something is apt to be done wrong. Just because this event center has been discussed since time immemorial, doesn’t mean that it is time to rush and get it done without being sure it is done properly and without any screw ups.
“Oddly, I think Beck has found someone he can relate to in Huether.”
You hit the nail on the head with that statement.
Maybe Beck just supports the Event Center? Occam’s razor folks.
I find it quite hilarious that they compare the “town” of Sioux Falls to “cities” such as Minneapolis, Chicago, and Kansas City whenever they argue for an events center. Who are they kidding? Do they even travel? It is always a poor comparison based on population numbers alone since Sioux Falls is still a tiny town. Beck needs to stick to reporting the news and not give his opinion on every matter. I am also sick of the coverage concerning “Spill Canvas,” every time I read the paper. Just report the damn news and quit trying to convince us that we need a public funded sports center for “private” groups and that Spill Canvas is somewhat a great band just because your son is one of the band members.
You are right about the comparison. There is aproximately 250,000 in the metro area, and I think if you go out a 100 mile radius you only top out at 400,000. Not quite the numbers needed in justifying a 15,000 seat EC. On top of that, when this EC argument started 5 years ago (?) I asked then, and still ask today. If this thing is needed we should be selling out the Arena every single event they have.
I tried to read his article. I really did. I kept it because it’s hard for me to go to sleep sometimes. What planet is he from?
Beck is acting more and more like a beaten man.