Huether buys naming rights to rainbow over Sioux Falls today, but asks for a discount because it only lasts for seven minutes.
l3wis He is denied due to the ‘Irony Clause’ in the contract.
May 2014
How to make a press conference look important
Like I said, I am not going to talk about the indoor pool anymore. The public wants one, so we are building one.
I actually attended the press conference today because I was curious about the announcement. Turns out that the group ‘Veterans for the VA’ will be donating money towards the therapy pool (that is ‘IF’ the pool gets built at Spellerberg – there are still serious discussions about the VA’s rights to the park, especially in light of the recent shakeups at the VA on a National level and NO clear legal document agreement between the city and the VA).
What I found interesting about the small crowd at the PC today (at 11 AM) at Spellerberg Park was besides the 6-7 media personnel there was approximately 8 city managers/directors at the PC with the mayor. (there was about 3 private citizens that support the indoor pool, a Parks Board member and about 8 people from the SAVE Spellerberg group)
I often scratch my head when the mayor and city directors/managers talk about how they are ‘too busy’ to attend certain (ethics) meetings or to talk with the public. But somehow the Mayor and 8 city directors/managers had time to attend a PC that was about a small donation from a Veterans group.
What a waste of tax dollars and public resources (employees).
The SF Planning Department & Commission; Purely Political?
I have often felt that the Planning Department, Commission and City Council base their zoning rulings and recommendations on ‘politics’ and ‘Reindeer Games’ (large developers who promise campaign donations, investment opportunities and golden parachute jobs to resigning city staff get what they want) While the little investor/developer has to beg and scrape his way threw the process to get something as simple as a parking lot.
Take Mr. Pappas for instance. He used to lease his building to Bagel Boy near 26th and Minnesota, when they wanted a bigger parking lot, Pappas attempted to expand it on to land he owned behind his building adjacent to his lot and Spring Avenue, he was denied (two years ago) because he wanted access to Spring Avenue.
Well guess what happened in the meantime? Bagel Boy moved (for more parking).
Mr. Pappas proposed his plan again, this time purchasing more of the adjacent property AND not having access to Spring, in fact, more of a buffer. The Planning Commission Approved the NEW plan at the January 8, 2014 meeting (FF: 1:19, Item 21)
Take into account, he had many stipulations put on him, on top of that this was approved with the OLD zoning ordinances, way in advance of the city election in April (Shape Places had been referred). All Mr. Pappas really had left to do was go get his permit after a private engineer provided him a plan.
Not so fast says the Planning Department, there was an election and you have to re-apply. Huh? Jeffery Schmidt from the Planning Department said on several TV shows (100 Eyes, KELO-TV, CityLink) that if your project had already been approved BEFORE the election, you were good to go. So why is this different? Look at the recommendation for the meeting next Wednesday, DENIAL;
This is not the first story I have heard of small contractors, homeowners and developers getting screwed over by the Planning Department. The worst part about all this is is that Shape Places actually gives MORE power to the internal Planning Department employees to PLAY GOD with your property. I have said all along, you never really ‘OWN’ your property if we allow government to tell you what you can do with it. Money talks once again at Carnegie.
Primary endorsements and predictions
ENDORSEMENTS
(Note, Independents like myself CANNOT vote for Republicans in the primary, but we CAN vote for Democrats)
Senate Republican Race, Stace Nelson. While I disagree almost entirely with Stace’s entire platform, he is truly the ONLY Republican in the race that is genuine, I also think that a race between him and Weiland would be very interesting, I also think it would be very honest.
Rounds needs to go back to selling insurance or whatever the heck he does. His dealings with the EB-5 scandal and the Mette case coverup should be enough to tell Rounds to take a hike.
Governor Republican Race, Neither interest me. If you dislike Denny as much as I do, vote the Hubbel Craft.
Governor Democrat Race, Joe Lowe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wismer has not campaigned at all and is extremely wishy washy. I think she was dug up to be the loser against Denny in November. The Democrats NEED to win the governorship this Fall, and they can do this with Lowe. And if the State Party Dems had any sense at all, after Lowe wins the primary, they would put there full resources behind him.
Circuit Judge, John Pekas. John has proven to be an effective and knowledgeable attorney and county commissioner. He is one of the few Republicans I have voted for. While Hinrichs does have experience as a current judge, I often think that we need a fresh look at the judicial system.
PREDICTIONS
Senate;
Rounds 40%
Nelson 26%
Rhoden 20%
Bosworth 12%
Ravnsbourg 2%
Governor;
Dauguard 90%
Hubbel 10%
Lowe 65%
Wismer 35%
Judge;
Hinrichs 55%
Pekas 30%
Feinstein 15%
Former city attorney wants second chance
No this isn’t evidence, it is my cake recipe book
The same guy who tormented citizens over code enforcement (Drug out the Dan Daily case for 7 years), was terminated for trying to ‘fix’ a traffic violation for his child and was censured by the State Bar & SC wants a second chance;
A former assistant city attorney for Sioux Falls who walked out of an appeal hearing on his termination wants another chance to make his case.
The legal challenge is the latest in the four-year fallout from the firing of R. Shawn Tornow, a two-term state legislator who had been one of the longest-serving and controversial members of the city’s legal team.
Tornow oversaw the civil service board and became the public face of high-profile legal battles over code violations and the city’s now-defunct automated traffic cameras before his dismissal.
He also was the subject of a public rebuke from the state Supreme Court for dishonesty and abuse of power during his tenure.
On July 30, 2013, Tornow walked out of what was scheduled to be a two-day hearing with the city’s civil service board after it ruled that panelist Tom Nicholson did not have a conflict of interest and could make a fair decision in the case.
Nicholson was president of the State Bar of South Dakota when the Bar’s disciplinary board censured Tornow for ethical violations.
After Tornow’s walkout, the board issued a ruling that said he’d defaulted on claims of improper termination and given up the right to further hearings. They also charged him $900 for failure to stay.
While working for the city, Tornow mislead then-mayoral candidate Kermit Staggers about the existence of a recorded phone conversation and tried to get a speeding ticket for his adult daughter dismissed.
Tornow contends he was forced out hastily and contrary to city policy, but has never presented evidence to the civil service board or to a circuit court judge.
“Aren’t you trying to have your cake and eat it, too?” Riepel said.
Oh, Pat, we both know he likes to eat cake. I wonder if Tornow missed the semester or two in law school about ‘presenting evidence’ so you can argue your case? I think the city and county should go a step further and ban this disgrace of a municipal attorney from our city and county. Please, Shawn, go away, you have wasted enough tax dollars and time.