Randell just couldn’t resist gloating about the events center passing, he acts like it was some kind of miracle;
Not only did Huether and the Build it Now forces defy logic and tradition by rallying voters to approve the largest bond issue in city history, they did it by engaging the young adults that we boomers like to complain are generally disconnected from local issues.
They did it by spending over a $250,000 dollars on a misleading ad campaign that only showed one side of the Events Center while the opponents spent virtually nothing. This money was funneled to a group of lazy greedy cheerleaders called our local media who gladly promoted the EC any chance they could (as long as those ad dollars kept coming in). STORMLAND TV was the worst, even allowing the Mayor to use air time to give his presentation. The opposition was literally Bambi.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u99n-F1QP7E&feature=fvst[/youtube]
The local media also continues to sell the lie about NO TAXES.
Likewise, in Sioux Falls, people who are more focused on the future than the past — remember those young adults — studied the mayor’s no-tax plan for building an events center, recalled their last visit to that 50-year-old barn we call the Arena, and concluded that voting yes was a no-brainer.
The mayor was clear on our podcast about that. There is nothing stopping future councils from raises fees (which are taxes) on other services to help pay for the EC. He said he ‘can’t tie the hands of future administrations’
Randell also is branding opponents of the Events Center as ‘negative’. Because I guess voting for a piss-poor funding option, location and plan is a positive thing for our community. I would have to disagree. But it didn’t stop him from painting councilor Jamison as anti-progress;
In that vein, the most illuminating moment in the media coverage of the election might have been KELO-TV’s interview late Tuesday night with City Councilor Greg Jamison as it became obvious that the measure was passing by a large margin.
If anybody can ever resemble a deer caught in the headlights it was Jamison, as he sought valiantly — but unsuccessfully — to spin his own strident opposition in a way that didn’t obliterate his chances to run for mayor in a couple of years. If you looked closely, you could see a softball-sized lump in his throat.
During the next year, it will be fun watching him try to parlay his “not-now†role on the events center into that of vigilant watchdog of the public purse. Maybe he hopes that will resonate with all those families out west.
First off, Greg always looks like that on camera, and I didn’t think he acted like he failed at anything. Greg has told me in the past that he doesn’t like doing interviews with the TV stations because of their creative editing. And who can blame him after reading this slasher job by Beck? At least Greg was willing to put himself out there unlike the star of BIN’s TV ad campaign, Nicki Ellerbroek who was ‘at home sick’ the night of the election and unavailable for comment. Kind of sounds like Jamison wasn’t the only one who thought this would fail.
All this election showed us was the ignorance of younger voters when educating themselves on an issue.
BTW Randell, there were 16,803 citizens that agreed with Greg Jamison (four out of every ten voters). I wonder how many of them live in the Southwest District?
I won’t be so quick to predict Jamison’s “political demise.” I actually give him credit for standing up for what he believed in!
With four Council seats up for grabs next April, there could be some interesting new alliances formed!!
It is going to be intriguing to watch this vote play out over the next 22 years! Now it is time for all those that made the PROMISES to DELIVER!!
Especially when all the cost overruns start rolling in.
Terrible, terrible column…even worse than last week’s…which was even worse than the week before…etc.
No new taxes?!? Then what do you call the “parking fee” added to ticket prices that Diamond Jim and MMM have advocated?
Interesting to note that Memorial and Discovery precincts on the west side, which voted YES by a 70/30 margin, also elected Lora Hubbel to the state legislature last year. These SHEEPLE are consistent in casting an uninformed vote, if nothing else.
Right on target – “All this election showed us was the ignorance of younger voters when educating themselves on an issue.” That feeling will haunt me for years. I’m not going to be able to shake the idea that most of my peers simply were inundated with advertising about all of the upside with none of the downsides, and most probably did nothing proactive to try to seek out what the downsides or risks were. But this is nothing surprising, nor new.
“Interesting to note that Memorial and Discovery precincts on the west side, which voted YES by a 70/30 margin, also elected Lora Hubbel to the state legislature last year.”
LOL! The same Lora Hubbel that found nothing wrong with putting the Minnehaha County Republican’s office in Lincoln county?
Greg – Money talks, unfortunately it isn’t always coherent.
Mike Sullivan’s first quote on Inside Keloland last night was, “Voters made and informed choice.”
http://www.keloland.com/videoarchive/index.cfm?VideoFile=111113ik
They did it by spending over a $250,000 dollars on a misleading ad campaign that only showed one side of the Events Center while the opponents spent virtually nothing. This money was funneled to a group of lazy greedy cheerleaders called our local media who gladly promoted the EC any chance they could (as long as those ad dollars kept coming in).
BIN did not need to spend one dime. Think of all the free promotional ink by the argus, and air time by the three networks. Will they change there tune when the cost overruns, empty seats, ignored essential services, and new taxes start rolling in?
I thought it was interesting that Mike Sullivan had suddenly lost some of his “bravado” in that interview.
One of the most telling comments he made……
He said, “that one of the major athletic directors in this country told me the other day, Mike, you call me when your vote is over because we aren’t going to come until you build a new facility. I put in a call to him this morning and I think he AVOIDED MY CALL.”
Time to DELIVER on all those PROMISES you’ve been making the past couple of years!!
Sold our souls to the devil.
I suspect the 3 amigo developers wanted it. They own the city, the media, and the mayor so it happened. The best place for ‘Occupy Sioux Falls’ will be blocking construction at the arena. I like the millions becoming available for punitive damages from constitutional lawsuits.
Let’s see if they can find a brokerage to float the bonds. Per Home Rule Charter, the city can’t be sued. I doubt there will be demand if there’s no legal remedy for default. Code 2-66 might finally become revised and the city will return to democracy or bonds will be rated DDD.
I noticed how the Argus waited until AFTER the election to release that story about how the city has a poor track record when it comes to keeping a project on budget.
Suspect timing to say the least. I can understand why the Argus would want the new EC though… because when it comes in $40M over budget and when it starts bleeding red ink year after year, they will have a series of exposes on the front page.
Hey… if there isn’t anything newsworthy you need to manufacture a controversy right?
Mortenson is the construction manager at risk team. The construction manager at risk concept guarantees that the capital cost of the the EC will not exceed the $115m authorized by the voters.
I believe that Mortenson said that in this 115m there is a built-in contingency fund of 10m. If the project exceeds 115m they “eat” the excess. Since we know that they are not going to let this happen………if nec, they will cut corners on materials used, and on the features of the facility (ex: number of escalators etc.)
So the total CAPITAL costs of the EC are fairly clear-cut:
115m construction costs
10m debt service costs
58m interest costs
For a total of $183m.
Of equal concern are the operating costs, which are unknown and will continue for the “life” of the building.
This is what 23,283 “YES” voters signed us ALL up for!
My question is how many of the 23,283 citizens really understood the true capital and operating costs of this facility!!??
How many understood? I would say less than 10%. They didn’t want to know the negative side. That would have actually required them to engage their brain if they had one. A major component of the yes vote was a “buy now, pay later” mentality – and if you haven’t been educated differently – ie don’t spend what you do not have – you do not know the difference. Welcome to our fully bonded, brand new events center. Yippee!
Where were these stories BEFORE the election?
http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm/What_It_Will_Cost_To_Borrow_Events_Center_Money/?Id=123558
I was going to post the same thing on my FB page – but of course I would have been ATTACKED as a nonprogressive and not willing to support the EC which I am trying desperately to do since 58% of the uneducated morons in this town voted yes.
I for one would suggest the city save money by canceling their subscription to the argus.
Especially for their public notices! They charge over $70,000 a year to do that. I would post them for $700 a year. Of course, there may be some editorializing involved.
“A major component of the yes vote was a “buy now, pay later†mentality – and if you haven’t been educated differently – ie don’t spend what you do not have – you do not know the difference.”
Well, since this is the same mentality that caused the housing and financial crisis, it’s obvious most people haven’t bother to learn anything. My God, Bernie Madoff should have moved here and started a CC company – he probably would be mayor instead of in prison! I wish I had a line on some shady second rate timeshares – I could probably retire by the end of the year!
That is the amazing thing – how could you not change at least a little of your thinking after the last few years? Boggles my mind.
I heard yesterday that the Skyforce are almost for sure not going to play at the new EC and the Stampede has stated they aren’t paying a nickel more than what they are paying now at the arena. Hmmm – what’s the word of the day? SUBSIDIZE! Get ready because it is coming.
I have also heard there was threats made to contractors and businessmen who did not support this venture. Heck, our old buddy Sy even put a bid in on the project.
They would have to use a LOT of curtains for the Skyforce.
The Stampede news is pretty interesting, as Weckworth was one of those chastising anybody who didn’t support the new building. Plus, they’re the one minor league team that could is profitable (it helps they don’t pay players) and also have a real need for a (slightly) better facility.
South Dakota, “The Sunshine State”……………..
In the spirit of “open records,” I want to see the contracts that the Stampede and Storm sign with Sioux Falls taxpayers!!!…………………….
They are probably written with a ballpoint on the back of brown paper towel.