I was checking the minutes and agenda of the civil service board for the city, and record keeping is kind of sparse. But there is a meeting next Wednesday. Hopefully the agenda will be posted before then.
My questions still remain. Is his termination final or is he still collecting a paycheck?
Old Man Winters and Pat Morita share a hand (screenshot KELO-TV)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWbFWHrJ0CU[/youtube]
Just back from the special session on redistricting. Lots of polite listening, but in the end the committee report was adopted on a party-line vote. As a result, several more legislative districts become virtually impossible for Democrats or Independents to win. Yes, the lines could’ve been drawn even worse. That was sorta the argument for supporting the plan. One reporter called it a “chicken and egg” dilemma: most South Dakotans know that more balance in the legislature would be good, but it keeps getting tougher and tougher for Democrats — due to financial resources and the way districts are drawn.
I was going to wait until Monday to post my prediction in case of new developments this week in sponsorships, but I think even if something like that surfaces, it will only make a small dent in the vote.
The more people I talk to about the Events Center, the less positive things I hear. And I think this last push by BIN is too little, too late.
I have said all along we don’t really need a new EC.
I think councilor Jamison’s PLAN ‘B’ as he calls it, would be the best option for the city right now. Which includes refurbishing the Arena, turning the CC into a rec center that ties into Howard Wood field and building a new CC downtown next to Cherapa. It would cost us millions less and would accomplish the needs of the city right now.
As for the EC vote, there has been a part of me that believed it had a good chance of passing, but that is slowly withering. While I voted NO, there is still a part of me that would just like to see the damn thing pass so we don’t have another 12 months of debate before next November’s election. Huether vowed not to drop the issue if it fails next Tuesday, and I believe him.
I think that the ‘NO’ people need to offer an alternative and I hope councilor Jamison leads that charge right out of the gate if this fails. We have a lot of brilliant people in this city that have great ideas and they should offer alternatives if this fails. Because like I said above, failure will only result in another year of wrangling.
Why do I think the Events Center will fail? There is a myriad of small reasons why people will vote against the EC; Location, funding, need, insufficient airport, inadequate lodging. But what is the biggest reason?
The economy, stupid.
It is in the tank, and will be for a long time. Taxpayers are frustrated that a part of their tax dollars that are supposed to go towards roads and sewers and other non glamourous things is being spent making bond investors rich for an entertainment facility we don’t need and one that most likely won’t be visited by most of our residents.
I think voter turnout will be high I predict between 19,000 – 23,000 votes
I still think the vote will be close, but I am going to give the edge to the NO vote, this will fail by 52%.
There are paintings on the wall where I am.
There are paintings in the mind of where you are.
They are not on the wall yet.
You will work on them so they can be.
I will wait for their mystery.
Charles Luden • 10-23-11 at Black Sheep Coffee
l3wis