December 2016

Once again the Governor thumbs his nose at voters and calls them ignorant

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South Dakotans are idiots, and I’m their fearless leader

Funny, the same people have elected him twice and his one-party rule with a majority of legislators;

Daugaard said voters were sold on the idea that the law would prevent corruption in government, but didn’t realize the extent of the proposed reform. He said he didn’t believe that voters truly supported IM 22.

“I do not believe they do. I just refuse to believe it. Not South Dakota,” he said.

Daugaard said he wished he’d been more vocal in campaigning against the measure earlier this year. He said he’d focused his attention on a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at creating a non-partisan primary.

“Shame on me,” Daugaard said. “I just didn’t think it could pass. I didn’t think voters would support public funds for campaigns.”

Legislative leaders have said they plan to evaluate the law during the 2017 legislative session barring earlier court intervention.

So we are a bunch of dummies when we want relief from corruption, corruption under the Governor’s watch (EB-5, Gear Up, Dilges termination) but good South Dakotans when we elect these clowns. What a moron.

The Sioux Falls City Council needs to put their foot down with the mayor

For seven years I have watched the mayor push ‘HIS’ agenda, using his city directors to implement legislation. It is NOT his job, it is the job of the city’s legislative body, the city council. The new council so far has been ‘mildy’ successful tamping out some of his ideas, and implementing their own. Youth bus rides for example, and their recent attempt to either sell or gift the old ice plex to the Glory House.

Councilor Stehly says it best;

Councilor Theresa Stehly has been more rigid, maintaining throughout the ban’s debate she wouldn’t be supporting any added prohibitions on tobacco use.

“Smokers are taxpayers as well and I’m not going to support anything that is going to impose a fine on a tobacco user. I think our police have much more important matters to attend to than arresting a smoker,” she said. “And the public needs to be aware that this was initiated by bureaucrats in the health department – it did not come out of the City Council.”

The Mayor’s job, as the executive branch, is to run the day to day operations of the city, you know like, making sure building permits are issued correctly . . .

I hope the council votes this down, or at least eliminates the fine portion.

UPDATE: Sioux Falls Council Agenda

UPDATE: After the building collapse and the press conference today discussing the response and what is next, there seemed some strange statements being made. For instance, while OSHA and the insurance companies would be investigating the incident, NO one from the city would be. Even when asked if Building Services could come to a press conference to answer questions, the media was told ‘they are busy’. HUH? When a fire occurs, doesn’t the fire department do an inspection to determine how the fire got started? How is this any different?

Also, who is paying for all this police protection and stabilizing the site? Should taxpayers be on the hook for the entire rescue when their may be negligence? Shouldn’t the city be looking into that?

There is also the question of who won the RFP to build the parking ramp? Was it Legacy Development? The ones involved in the Lewis project?

Good question. There seems to be a lot of tight lips at city hall, and not a lot of answers here.

It seems the City Council’s consent agenda has a couple of interesting items;

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I find it interesting, because the council pulled the DT parking ramp from the budget for 2017, but it seems the planning is still in process.

And while the city has always gave money towards Sculpture Walk, I think with budgetary cut backs towards public art, maybe it is time SW took on these expenditures themselves. If they can raise $1 million for Arc of Dreams, they can cover the cost of installation of SW.

Downtown Design Standards Meeting (Nov 29, 2016)

We ask, what could ever go wrong? Why do we need standards and codes? On November 29, 2016 we heard discussions with interested asking great question on how to make a growing downtown Sioux Falls a more inviting place to walk, shop, work and live. It all starts with standards based in codes laid out to make it work.

Why do we let developers who are concerned about their property but not the well-being or feel of the rest? We have design standards to build in safe streets and vibrancy.

Gee, why would we need standards or codes? What could ever go wrong?