I have been blogging about this city government for over 15 years, I may not be an expert on all it’s ins and outs, but I have watched its deterioration from an open government.
I used to think the Munson administration was bad, but he was a light weight in comparison to the last two mayors who have destroyed any shred of transparency and open government.
This is why voting for the ‘Democracy’ candidates for council is important, Janet Brekke, Emmett Reistroffer, Cody Ingle and Pam Cole.
We need to bring openness back and shine a light, we also need to put the mayor back at city hall to run the day to day operations and keep out of the council’s policy objectives. This isn’t an ask, this is how the charter is written. The mayor runs the city by directing its employees to implement the policies the council adopts. I have argued for a long time the past two mayors have been violating charter over and over again, and the rubber stamp council has been derelict in their duties of writing good policy and controlling the purse strings.
If we don’t elect at least 3 of these candidates you will see a downward spiral to darkness and we will never be able to crawl out of that hole.
What would happen;
• Government action will be done in complete silence.
• The mayor will introduce all policy and his hand picked rubber stamp puppets will implement it.
• Taxes and fees will skyrocket to keep up with the reckless spending on special interest projects.
• Crime will go thru the roof.
• The core neighborhoods will crumble to dust.
I know this sounds dire, but we are already moving in these directions and it needs to be stopped. While a 4/4 council might not be able to stop all bad legislation (The mayor can still break ties and veto) it will at least be slowed and hopefully we can turn this around.
What does mean to elect the ‘Democracy’ candidates?
• More open and transparent government (which saves us millions).
• More interaction with the citizenry to shape policy.
• Building density and cleaning up our core neighborhoods.
• Fiscal responsibility and holding the line on handouts to wealthy developers, banksters and bondsters.
• A strategic plan for the city written by the council with interaction from the citizens.
• Creative ways to build affordable and workforce housing.
• Safer streets and neighborhoods.
• A modern, safe and practical bike trail.
• More opportunities for small businesses.
I am not asking you to vote for the ‘Democracy’ candidates, I’m BEGGING YOU!
After Tuesday, if we don’t elect these 4 candidates, we can’t go in reverse, and I am afraid Sioux Falls will never be the same.
This post and the South Dacola endorsements last week bring my thoughts toward the most sought-after endorsement in town – Which food truck is the Argus Leader endorsing?
Or are they waiting for some sort of an official start of the food truck season?
First, I thought city races were non-political so how can you vote for a democrat? Second, why on Earth would you want a democrat to run anything after you see what they have done in D.C. and in states that have democrats for governor, they are corrupt and socialistic.
“Just Asking”, has that replaced the question marks around here?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg72z08aTXY
Thanks for the question, you point out the ignorance of voters, the term Democratic refers to relating to or supporting democracy or its principles and not a specific member of a party. When a Republican party member, Janet Brekke brought this up she was referring to candidates supporting the idea of Democracy, not a party. You bring up the very reason why partisanship in our non partisan city government is a problem. You also are making the assumption that Democrats are corrupt and Republicans are not. Any member of each party that does NOT support democratic ideals is corrupt. As for socialism, we already live in a democratic socialist nation. Our schools, roads, etc all rely on a socialist premise. If our government was NOT socialist, we would not have social security, medicare, free public education, SNAP, farm subsidies, student loans, the military and veteran care, public utilities, unemployment benefits, US postal system, free and fair elections, fire protection, police protection, FEMA, and the list goes on. To deny we don’t already live in a socialist nation is like saying the sky isn’t blue.
“Oh, I can one better you then that”…. “Tomorrow, we need some serious “Levitating” of the Democratic vote…. If you know what I mean”…. 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb1FwTQ5ioI
Let’s just vote in line with the State Constitution, upholding our “REPUBLIC” a People bound together to elect our representatives to help uphold that document. “WE” are NOT a democracy, We do not adopt laws based on the majority of voters, but the consent of the governed based on the # of citizens willing to consent to be governed as such.
When our representatives are on public record of saying: “I support the constitution, but on this topic the constitution is wrong” I have to stop and think where their loyalty truly is.
Socialism? Do mean like Republican Peter Norbeck having the state own a cement place, or Republican George Mickelson’s Ready Funds program, or Republican Janklow’s Governor’s House program, or Republican Rounds’ state drug prescription program, or Republican Daugaard’s interest in adopting ObamaCare before Trump was elected, or how about Republican Noem’s dependence upon covid money to balance our state budget and spend like there is no tomorrow?
Just Asking,
I almost fell for the blogmaster’s clever literary device myself.
“Democtatic candidates?!?! Wait, at least a couple of those are Repu … oh wait, NVM.”
In the Mayor’s race, for which of the Democrats should I vote?
Most people are saying TenHaken.
Given your description of the characteristics of governments run by Democrats you seem to have some grasp of this. What say you?
Only an untrained dyslexic would have seen it as “Democratic”. AND, are you subconsciously telling us that you, too, know that Republicans are really not into democracy; especially, when it gets in the way of capitalism? I’ve always said that both Democrats and Republicans believe freedom comes from a piece of paper. But for the Democrats the key papyrus is the Constitution, but for Republicans its the almighty Dollar.
I f’d up, I meant to say Denocracy candidates and since fixed in post.
Democracy and Democratic are quite synonymous. Republican, however, is quite like repugnant.
I haven’t posted cause Scott deletes them all
‘ “?” ‘ looks very similar to the hieroglyphic type writings left behind at Roswell…. Once again, another example of a comment that is out of this world.
What a great day for democracy! Get ready democrats red wave is coming. Appreciate the website so I knew who not to vote for.
“Red Wave”? Do mean as in Russian tanks and appeasement of Putin by the likes of Republicans like Trump and his dumbass supporters?
You Republicans often speak of freedom or liberty, yet, you are the same appeasers of Putin that you once were of Hitler.
Your picks didn’t happen. No surprise but stay away from betting horses. Truly a sad day for democracy.
You endorse anarchy and clueless halfwits! Seriously, you endorsed David Z! His campaign flyer asked me to watch his zombie video!! He got like 300 votes out of like 30,000 votes cast! And he was your guy! You endorsed Brekke ( wicked witch of the west) after her sad attempt at a press conference due to “threats” where she felt intimidated after being called out fort spamming voters with some DC think tank crap. G back to food reviews because your political endorsements are a kiss of death!
Strong Arm Marxism prevailed. The ruling class will still control and abuse the working class.
Fun to watch Brekke kill her own campaign. She pulled a bio-tech Jo. She would have won if she had kept herself quiet the last 2 weeks.
I agree with Daily Spin. It looks like we’re stuck with Mr Arrogance for another term and he also gained another rubber stamper to the council. Maybe will get new blood in two years.
The tanks are beginning to line up in Taupeville. They have been washed at the local Silverstar and are ready for deployment. Pat Starr is our Zelensky.
BradyHaken wins big on Tuesday, then on Wednesday they announce the date for this year’s Pride event in Sioux Falls…. Here we go again…. Camping that is….
For the first time a South Dakotan is impeached, a tornado touches down, and a chicken sandwich wins big, and all of this in the same day. It’s like September 8, 1974, yet, more local and biblical…. But are we surprised? #ColoradoSpringsIsCalling