These letters to the editor offer some different opinions. First, Mr. Alvine;
So why does anyone who doesn’t own a house in the neighborhood really care if Walmart builds there? Doesn’t affect me, right? Wrong. There is an equitable principal that “you don’t get to bring a nuisance to your neighbors.†The best well-known example of this doctrine is a person doesn’t get to bring their stinky pig farm to a quiet, family-friendly neighborhood that has been enjoying fresh air for years. These houses were built at that location for a reason, to create a quiet, family-friendly neighborhood. This neighborhood is and has been well established before Walmart chose to purchase the land next door. Thus, a simple principle of fairness and justice dictates that Walmart has no right to destroy the safety and peacefulness these neighbors have created. They were there first, after all.
Then there is this letter from someone who aspired to be appointed to the city council, Marlin D. Thompson;
The group’s spokeswoman, Dana Palmer, rails about Walmart’s promotional campaign to advance the company’s desires to build at 85th and Minnesota. And SYN’s “news release†(that’s a stretch) provides Sioux Falls citizens with this: “If the city allows Walmart to buy zoning to allow it to build a commercial development … .†The group continues “… our neighborhoods are not for sale to the highest bidder, and zoning in this city cannot be bought.†Wow. Pay no mind the City Council voted 7-1 to allow the project to move forward; however, SYN knows best. The ballot measure will be decided by the voters of Sioux Falls. Thank goodness.
LOL! The ‘RUBBERSTAMP’ council, the one that Marlin wishes he would have been appointed to. But he seems to have a change of heart since 2011. DOC: CouncilorThompson;
I don’t live in SF but when I googled the map of the proposed site it didn’t seem that there were too many houses that would be right up against a store there. Is the problem that it’s pretty close to Prairie Tree and Prairie Green golf course? Seems to me that a Walmart in that neighborhood halfway between SF shopping to the north and Harrisburg to the south would be a good location. My daughter didn’t want a Walmart built near them in Rapid City either, until it was built and she loves the convenience. Just my thoughts.
i will vote against the council of 7.
What a dip!! He would have been just as useless as the rest of the rubber stamps currently on the council….ha!
The new South side Walmart will take a lot of pressure off of 41st and Louise traffic.
I love how even Kermit is being called a rubber-stamper only because he didn’t vote the way some of you would have. Classic.
Did it ever occur to anyone that the council might just be voting the way their constituents would want them to? Nah… must be something much more sinister.
It’s well known the Argus prints only letters approved by the city. Because of legal notices, the city and political ads is their biggest customer. There’s never much of a counterpoint. I’ve sent a dozen letters to the Argus. None were printed. Our newspaper has become their media not unlike Channel 16 propaganda.
There are other locations for Walmart but city politicians would not get bribes. 7 to 1 is no surprise. What surprises me is that Walmart hasn’t come away from Sioux Falls where there’s I-29 convenience nearer southern growth.
The AL has printed EVERY letter I’ve ever sent them. None of them have been flattering to either the city or to state politicians.
Dan they can’t print your letters because they don’t want to get sued for printing libel. You can’t just run around accusing someone of taking a bribe or making millions from back alley deals etc. and actually expect them to print your accusations.
Meanwhile, have you seen some of the letters they actually do print? They love letters from religious fanatics, prisoners, and anyone who can display their utter disdain for the opposing political party in 200 words or less.
The fact they aren’t printing your letters, but are printing some of the wisdom they do select might make you stop and reflect upon why that might be.
Either that or you need to start writing about abortion, gay marriage, or how much you hate Obama. Write about all three in one letter and you are destined for publication.
Alvine’s comparing human beings to stinky pigs hits it on the head for you? It will ruin your neighborhood? Really, you will still have your beautiful house. You will still have your neighbors. Many of whom will shop at Walmart. Just like they do now. It will just be a shorter trip for them. Less congestion on 41st Street.
The way city government is structured we should start learning Russian or chinese. When no city contract is competitive bid, when every project is high with cost overruns, & when the mayor is associated with contractors; it’s ripe for corruption. We have an Albatross events center & decaying infrastructure to show for it.
I think some things get pushed through because a majority of citizens would like to see Sioux Falls move forward vs. being stuck with outdated facilities and ideas. Is this the right way, of course not. But, I feel citizens get impatient waiting for everyone to agree on everything. I for one would like to see an indoor pool facility that everyone can enjoy, but I do not agree with the location. I have been waiting for this for 8 years now. It frustrates me that current the mayor and council cannot find a new location and that they should have used the Drake Springs area for this years ago.
Thanks to a petition started by Stehly Drake Springs became a FAC. If it doesn’t happen at Spellerberg we could all be waiting another 8 years. And in 8 years we may have to vote again, because of a few people who say ‘not in my neighborhood’. Spellerberg is a great location. It will work. Build it now. If the outdoor people win we could also end up with no pool at Spellerberg. Vote ‘No’ for an indoor pool!!!
Dear Harry, It is true, a group of concerned citizens who wanted to preserve the outdoor swimming experience for the children in the Drake Springs area led a petition drive in 2006-2007. I was never opposed to an indoor pool, and have always advocated for a joint city-school partnership to get the most usage out of that venue. But I felt that those children in the Drake Springs area deseved an outdoor pool that was within walking and biking distance. We met with the mayor and park director right after the vote and indicated that the citizens wanted a basic traditional pool. That request was tossed aside and we have the present pool which will not even facilitate swimming lessons. Despite the limitations of the pool, it is packed to capacity many summer days. Providing outdoor activites for the children of this community is important to me and many others in Sioux falls.
A study has shown higher income people are more adept to shop at big boxes including Walmart than lower income people.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2014/02/18/are-grocery-stores-doomed-study-shows-more-shoppers-buying-food-at-target-walmart-pharmacies/.
In the past 12 months, 83% of those making more than $150,000 reported having shopped for groceries at a big box store, convenience store or other such retailer.
And what about providing year-round recreation for those SAME KIDS Theresa? Guess you squashed that one pretty flat – didn’t you? Unintended consequence – or not.
The ground at Drake Springs was tested for stability and ability to hold the weight of an indoor pool complex. The ground studies reported unstable river bottom land not suitable for building the complex without expensive and major stabilization efforts. Everyone get over it, Drake Springs is an outdoor pool of sorts and will be for a long time. Move along now.
The vote for Sioux Falls voters is now on to the outdoor pool decision. Once again the city parks department has decided to put a large box in a small spot without concern for the neighborhood.
The neighbors who wanted to be part of the process were intentionally excluded. When will the parks department and administration listen to the neighbors? Once again we have an out of control city government running roughshod over citizens.
Just like Theresa’s battle 7 years ago showed, the city just walked over everyone just to prove they could. Look for it to happen at Spellerberg and a neighborhood near you.
Vote ‘YES’ for an outdoor pool on April 8. Design to be decided after the election, not the fake pictures drawn up by TSP for the special interests.