2019
l3wis Cherapa II is more like ‘Let’s make a deal!’
So a couple of months ago a developer insider told me that Jeff Scherschligt was looking to do Cherapa II on one of Warren Buffet’s biggest scams on Federal taxpayers in at least a couple of years, the RR Redevelopment project. Mayor Bowlcut & Bucktooth coined it as one of his greatest achievements of his administration. I guess moving Beluga Sturgeon Caviar from it’s original jar to a ziploc bag is considered an ‘achievement’. Who knew?
As we know, it has floundered and the city has been looking to pass off these thrift store 501 Levis onto any takers.
They found a buyer in Jeff.
This should be no surprise as Jeff has been looking to build his Buffalo Palace II for awhile now. He of course got a heckuva deal from the Munson administration with the River Greenway project and now the Golden Arches of Sioux Falls built right in front of his palace thanks to the generosity of rich donors and taxpayers. But with any ‘gift’ the receiver always asks for more.
While the planning department of the city is being quiet about the deal until Tuesday, Detroit Lewis has gotten some rumored details.
The original offer was HALF of the appraisal price.
Mind you, not sure how this land can be appraised anyway? We paid too much for it, and the railroads are still railroading thru the center of the town. But I did a little digging.
Undeveloped land in Downtown Sioux Falls goes for about $15 dollars a square foot. So if you do the math, that would mean Jeff offered about $7 a square foot (and asked for NO TIFs or tax rebates). The rumor is they met half way, so he probably is going to pay about $10 a square foot.
Personally, I could care less, just sell it already. But here is the other ‘Kicker’; Cherapa II is rumored to put in the deal an ‘option’ to buy the rest with a TIF option.
Of course, this is all slobber and gossip from my mouth at this point, and we will hear more details on Tuesday. But if you think for a second the developer is going to take it in the shorts while the taxpayers come out smelling like roses, you are mistaken, unless you think roses in Sioux Falls smell like renderings from a packing plant, then hey, we are doing just fine.
SD Democratic Party relies on ‘Players’ to make important decisions
I have told people lately, that if you think the SDDP has screwed the pooch in the last couple of election cycles, you have not seen nothing yet. Even if nationally they succeed in winning the oval office in 2020 (and hopefully booting the rotten pumpkin out of office before that) the state party will probably have their worst results in 2020.
I know I have told you this before, but I’m an Indy, and while on a National level I support Dems, statewide and local, that is NOT always the case, heck, I even have a soft spot for Dusty Johnson (though I would never vote for him).
Apparently before the SDDP party leadership is supposed to make a major decision, like closing offices and canceling yearly events they must discuss it with the Executive Board (E-Board). Party Chair Hawks and her new ED decided to do these things without consulting the E-Board. Some members of the E-Board asked how this happened without their consultation, Hawks supposedly responded that she consulted the ‘Players’ in the party, and they were ok with it.
Huh? (I could insert a lot of tasteless jokes right now, but I think I will pass).
I have encouraged the older, more successful party members to alert the DNC of the B.S. and to start another SDDP that actually runs like a REAL party and recognizes the bread and butter issues of working South Dakotans. Because when the ag economy goes in the sh*tter next year, who or what goes in that sh*tter door really won’t matter to the democratic base.
Trial of the Year?
The below notice was sent to me by a foot soldier today who also sent me some interesting facts about the case against the ‘Living Man’.
• This is a Jury Trial for a misdemeanor in Circuit court. Seems like an incredible waste of tax dollars.
• The Police Sergeant who signed the arrest warrant, Sean Kooistra, is the brother of the city attorney, Stacy Kooistra.
• The defendant is representing himself ‘Pro Se’, which normally frustrates judges and attorneys because of unpredictability.
Food for thought.
I will not be wasting precious vacation time for a trial that, IMO, will end before it even gets started in a dismissal.
City of Sioux Falls Media Concerns
There have been a number of concerns I have had with CityLink over the past couple of weeks;
• Why did Mayor TenHaken ‘BOLT’ from the neighborhood summit after an introduction? He claimed he was going to his kid’s soccer game but I heard he was tailgating at a USF football game. Either way, it doesn’t matter where he went, it was ‘TACKY’ and he should have stayed to help answer questions. The event also wasn’t recorded. Thank you to my favorite Swede, Cameraman Bruce for recording the event. I think city staff did a fantastic job answering concerns. BRAVO!
• Why is the new director of the Dudley House, (who I assume is getting paid) Madeline Shields still working part-time for the city as host of ‘Inside Town Hall’? I find this to be a conflict of interest (since the city gives money to the shelter already). I would also think that this job needs her full attention and she would not have time to ‘moonlight’.
• Also, in the video below where councilor Soehl, or as I nicknamed him ‘ErpenHeater’ is saying how wonderful it would be to tear down the Arena, why this episode appeared on CityLink but NOT on the city’s YouTube Channel?
There is some serious ethical issues going on with our tax payer funded media in this city, and questions need to be answered. Don’t hold your breath.