South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

January 2019

Media South Dakotans State Legislature

South Dakota MSM should be against this bill

l3wis 0Comments

It surprises me that the print and TV MSM is not against this bill since it leaves out the internet as a news service;

(1)    Obtains or receives the information, with or without solicitation, in the course of gathering or obtaining news for publication in a newspaper, magazine, or for broadcast by a radio or television transmission station or network; and

(2)    Is employed by or otherwise associated in a new-gathering capacity with the newspaper, magazine, or radio or television transmission station or network [HB 1074].

While I have several arguments against being ‘PAID’ to qualify as a journalist (I do sell advertising). It amazes me in this digital age that the local TV and Print wouldn’t be against this legislation because it does NOT include the internet.

The argument is obvious. The Argus Leader and all of our local TV stations maintain very active websites. Even some of the more advertising slanted media in town like 605 Magazine has an active website. Siouxfalls.business is only web based.

I get no news from TV. Haven’t turned one on in over 6 years (except in my occasional hotel stays). I read the state’s dailies online. In fact, if I had to guess, most of these media sources could not pay the bills or survive if they shut down their websites.

While it is obvious the ‘internet’ was left off of this bill to poke an eye at bloggers, it really misses the point that most people get their news digitally. While Pitty Patt may not be my favorite person in the whole wide world, I think he said it best;

Given the prevalence and shift of resources to the Internet in the news world, I would argue that it’s the legislative equivalent of writing legislation for licensing requirements for the horse and buggy… and ignoring the fact that most people are traveling by automobile.

I’m surprised there wasn’t a bill proposed this year that asks the Capital Building to maintain a stable.

Planning Commission Sioux Falls

Will there be a NEW Planning Director for the City of Sioux Falls?

l3wis 0Comments

I have been speculating for awhile who will take over as the new planning director. Last week I proposed Jeff Schmidt. (FYI, City Hall readers, I threw that out as a curve ball, hope you got some good laughs out of it).

I have noticed there have been quite a few terminations and ‘retirements’ over the past couple of months. Someone in the Attorney’s office recently got the boot from the man in the corner office (I’m still gathering more info on that one).

I think with all this reorganization (which is to be expected in a new administration) that the Planning Department will see some major changes.

I don’t think they are going to hire a new director from a promised ‘national search’. It would be almost impossible to bring in a new director from outside of Sioux Falls or the State, even with a stellar resume, they would lack historical knowledge of planning in SF and would have to do mountains of research on day one.

So what do I think will happen? This of course is pure speculation and NOT based on any information I received, but I think they will appoint a Deputy Planning director internally and COS Beck will be the overseer of the Department, essentially getting her cake and eating it to. I think with the high salary Beck is receiving and the enormous amount of power I heard TenHaken gave her to make decisions in his absence (which is quite a bit) that she will start putting a lot of these departments under her authority.

Would love to see those Executive Orders.

Like I said, pure speculation at this point, but the stars seem to be aligning.

SF School District

Why would you name a middle school after a gun?

l3wis 2Comments

While I have not taken issue with naming the new middle school after Ben Reifel, many people in the community (who have no clue who he is) have been saying the same thing, “Why would you name a school after a gun?” My response was, “Why would you allow the finance department of the SFSD count the votes on a $300 Millions dollar bond?”

Another reason why a ‘public’ vetting needed to be done when selecting the names of the schools. Yet again the elitists with the school district seem to think they know better than the public. At least picking a mascot will be easy.

Railroads Sioux Falls

Urine laced snowballs derail Black Iron Project

l3wis 5Comments

It’s not often I get to write headlines like that, and NO Adam White from the Sioux Falls Headliner didn’t help me on that one. It’s all true;

She said her husband went to a neighbor’s yard and urinated on a snowman. Later, after more yelling and as she left to drive her friend home, she said he kicked over the snowman and threw urine snowballs at her car.

While I have known about the big ‘D’ for awhile, like many things that go on behind the scenes, none of my business, but it seems the dirty laundry is out now. While I feel bad because I have known both Erika and Dave for a very long time and both of them have been very generous and kind to me over the years. They both have enormous personalities.

It’s also too bad the Black Iron project isn’t moving forward. Dave had let me in almost 2 years ago he was planning a project for the area. Hopefully something can come of it besides another square apartment building downtown by the Double ‘L’ Co.

I often tell friends I am thankful of three things 1) I don’t have children 2) I have never been married 3) I don’t have a lot of money. Three things that can force a man to throw urine laced snowballs.

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