“TEACHER! TEACHER! CAN I ANSWER THE QUESTION?!”
I wish I would have written that post title, but I didn’t.
It seems others in our fine community have discovered the squarespace crusader has no backbone. What took so long?
There has been oodles of backlash towards PTH and council over the roasted pumpkin seed version of the sustainability report, some critiques have been legit, others petty but this guest column editorial really nails it;
So, back to the city council: The council is elected to serve the people of Sioux Falls, not to submit to the will of a seemingly short-sighted mayor. Given that our council members’ salaries are paid by city taxpayers, yes, we do expect more. We expect the city council to carefully study and consider all the proposals in the December 2022 updated Sustainability Plan. We expect them to make Sioux Falls a leader in addressing factors that impact climate change, and to create a city of excellence in policies and practices that contribute to a livable planet for us and future generations.
We expect the mayor to work toward measurable progress to help save the planet, and therefore help save us and future generations. A grant application for Climate Pollution Reduction funds would demonstrate good faith action in this regard.
Is Mayor TenHaken a small thinker or a visionary? Only time will tell.
As I understand the situation Poops was open minded about the initial recommendations but got push back from the council, or so they say.
Trust me, I read about government all over this country daily, as I have told my readers before, it’s my hobby, and it entertains me. But what has astonished me especially over the past 5 years is this seemingly black hole of leadership with our Sioux Falls city council and mayor. I mean, it is one thing to just make bad OR good decisions it’s a whole other level to make no decisions, with no explanation.
Tomorrow when the savior pops out of his cave he needs to make a quick trip to city hall to remind the mayor about redemption and the power of evil forces, then he needs to pull up his sandals and trot on over to Carnegie town hall to talk to the city disciples (councilors) about the consequences of bad decisions. There are a couple of things watered down wine and unleavened bread cannot fix.
“I was for masks before I was against them”…. Who was it who said that, or at least did that?
( and Woodstock adds: “And say, don’t forget about that other guy, too, who was against the City Center before he was for it”…. 🙂 )
I think the article is a little to hard on the current mayor. For one, Mayor Paul TenHaken never said he supported any such hardcare “mask mandate”, he simply encouraged people to be good neighbors and respect each other, where they come together during a panic.
As for the Sustainability Plan, there have been many of us, including landowners, property holders, to common residents of whom all came together to raise alarms to what was all part of, the sustainability plan that came out in the spring of 2022. Many of us lobbied the council to not adopt the plan, let alone lobby the Mayor to not put into effect, the majority of the plan.
As an At-Large Representative, the Mayor represents not just a small minority of “free thinkers”, but the whole people making up the city, predominantly, the Landowners, Property Holders, the Business folk. All those hidden heroes, and stake holders of the city itself.
If you all had been attending, or watching past City Council Meetings, you would see over the past year, many of us have gone before the City Council to voice our displeasure for the “Plan”, and if you had watched the City Council Meeting where the Council was debating the final “Mask Mandate” topic in January 2021 – you would have seen countless attendees roasting the council and the mayor for putting into effect the Mask Mandate. One such person was a 12 year old girl, and myself, to name a few, who made valid arguments against the “mandate”.
To say the Mayor is not a thinker, is a little harsh, to say the current Mayor does not listen, is a little harsh. I can provide you many more examples of where the current Mayor has sat back, and listened to the PEOPLE themselves, before making his final decision(s).
We the People elect the Mayor “at-large” to not so much represent a small minded, group of people, but at best, to represent ALL the people as a “Group of Citizens” of whom make this Community “home”.
What good is a visionary if you are not in their plans?
Tiny homes were thought up by a small thinker. Such a concept is a positive solvency for some without harm to others.
The statue The Thinker is more naked, than small. Perhaps, the naked truth is what we yearn, and such truth or truths – thought out – can lend to a solvency with a vision which encompasses all.
Why is all of this happening, you ask?…. Well, our city is not being led for the sake of its citizens, but rather to appease the wealth class, which captivates the GOP and all of its ambitious and potential leaders. All of this is just further proof that our local city leaders are actually just corporate spokesmen and not true political leaders for the people and their best interests.
Mike, a mayor who understands that Smithfield needs to close for a while, is a mayor who understands the importance of a mask mandate, well, initially.
Mike, thanks for turning your spell check back on. Now if “you” could Work on “not” capitalizing Random words and using quotation “marks” completely Wrong, “we’d” be getting Somewhere.
Historically, the only past practical mayor was Knobe. He was known for small leaps focused on the general population. It was an unselfish cultural time when public office was giving back. Thereafter, the mayors office became a road from a 100k salary to millionaire via corruption. Wealthy developers owned the mayor. Competitive bid process became cost plus overpriced projects. The commissioners process was a folly into favoritism. The first Strong Mayor (Munson) was supposed to be a test. It became an entrenched authoritarian form of government. Munson brought baseball but failed with the Washington Pavilion and theater. His vision was 50’s soda fountains on Phillips. Huether was a lunatic from a ‘Richy Rich’ childhood who wasted public money on extravagant play palaces. His reign couldn’t be controlled by the billionaires. He was the city ‘Nero’ and ‘Mussolini’. TenHaken is tame. Mostly because the debt and bond rating keeps him curbed. His tenure has brought peace without tennis.
mike what church should you join if you want to be in patriot ripple effect, & is there a fee to pay? how do they get funds?
i believe gary hanson was the first strong mayor. unless you didn’t consider him as strong as munson.
“At-Large Representative, the Mayor represents not just a small minority”
Mike, the mayor is not an at large member of the council, the position the mayor holds by charter is as the moderator of the meetings. The job does not allow the mayor to vote as a member.
Some of you may want to educate yourself first in the charter before speaking on it. People like myself have it very well memorized, and are educating, and informing people on what it does, and does not do.
Secondly, the Mayor is in fact an At-Large Rep and the most important one we have as a city. He is elected by the whole people of the community and represents ALL PEOPLE from Landowners, Property Holders, Business Owners, and Common Residents.
Thirdly, the Mayor is in fact an acting member of the City Council, a non-voting member, except for where his vote is required to break a tie. The Mayor’s role is in fact to lead the meeting, keep it on pace, in a timely manner, and to control decorum, yes, but he does get to act as a full member anytime he so chooses.
And lastly, we have both a Strong Mayor form of whom the mayor has Administrative Power, and we have a Strong City Council side by side of the Mayor, of which the Council has Investigative Power.
Sincerely,
Mike Zitterich
http://www.siouxfallscommunitychronicle.com
“but he does get to act as a full member anytime he so chooses.”
No he does NOT.
His powers are clear;
• Administrator of city employees (besides council staff)
• Executive orders (that deal with HOW he city is administered)
• Veto power
• tie-breaker
• Chair of the meeting
He cannot just vote when he feels like it. The council also has the authority to ask for a point of order when the mayor is out of order.
The mayor is ONLY considered a member of the council when he relinquishes the gavel to council chair and votes to break a tie.
Good job Mike! You didn’t use quotes incorrectly! I am very impressed. Next up, work on not capitalizing random words, and your posts will almost be readable. Almost.
Such a political tightrope Paulie walks.
He needs (perhaps desires) to acknowledge the center left nature of the City of Sioux Falls.
Yet, in order to retain viability for a poltical future as a statewide candidate on the ‘R’ slate, he cannot allow initiatives such as a Sustainabilty Plan to be anything beyond window dressing.
Foster the image of ‘Sustainability’, absent solid commitment; devoid of tangible and specific actions.
Fluff and image. Sizzle with no meat, creation of which is Paulie’s second best skillset, behind his abilities as a digital spook.
Tightrope walkers like Paulie are small thinkers.
To think larger than the width of the rope is dangerous to the future of those who walk a tightrope.
mike is always right, even when he’s wrong. just ask him.
Scott,
We debate that any time, place, manner. Most likely, u will see you at the Charter meetings thus fall to resolve pur little difference I believe you are not correct.
Oh Mikey…to be as wrong as you all the time and think you’re right…i think that earns a selfie with the mayor.
Could you debate it at the Pizza Ranch?
Mayor and council are a necessary evil. They’re sort of like the royal family in England. They show up when citizens must feel there’s control when actually there’s not. At least we don’t have to buy them gold carriages, Crown Jewels, and 50 room palaces. They’re in it for corruption that makes them millionaires. It’s important to keep them in the granite city hall and antiquated Carnegie fire danger. so they will leave after their term and not get entrenched building an authoritarian empire.
One should remember these are narcissists. They spend a fortune in political contributions to get elected. Then forget about service, duty, and promises. The next term or two becomes politically seeking higher office. The end of their career becomes wealth and undeserved prestige.
Well, what do you know, Mike is wrong on more than we thought. Apparently, rape and incest of a minor is a family matter, and shouldn’t be prosecuted.
https://dakotawarcollege.com/koskan-plea-agreement-pre-arranged-in-september-suspends-all-jail-time/#comment-936059
Scott, sorry for linking to DWC, but this needs to be seen.
Someone needs to take away this guy’s keyboard.
i imagine mike’s patriot ripple meetings are quite interesting. concerned about the smut in our schools while complaining about how joel koskan’s rights were violated.
Family matter: Is that like a family restaurant? #PizzaRanch
“I once went to a family restaurant in Tijuana….. Beer was 99 cents”….
At least I am respectful, own a business. Learned to best use morals, values. Ans self discipline when speaking to people, and stand behind all the things I say. I will never compromise on the Bible. My Faith. The Constitutions. I know the City Charter better than half of the members of this blog, and I most of the time do not attack any member if this group. Some of yoy all you want to do is argue, complain, and call names.
– Mike Zitterich
I never compromise on the Bible, either. That’s why I constantly preach Jesus’s concern for the moneychangers and to be aware of them.
Well Mike, you self create a lot of your problems. Writing your essays that most don’t want to read that usually come with misspelled words and incorrect facts is probably the biggest one for you to deal with. A debate would be interesting indeed.
FtF&M,
Every time you hear about a moneychanger (banksters in the parlace of l3wis) passing through the eye of a needle, you know exactly which body part with which he leads …
I have no idea who this “Steve” guy is, he has never met me, nor have I ever sold him a car, or my dad fixed his car. All I know is for whatever reason, this guy stalks my every move, attacking my every word. However, I have remained true to myself, my morals, my values my entire life, never doing anyone wrong, or mistreating anyone. ALL my best writings can be found on my own website, which is becoming very respected through out the state. I cannot worry about some small # of bloggers on a few message boards. I am sorry you do not like my writings, but it is also a free country. I would suggest that Steve learn how to use proper morals, and values treating people more respectfully where they disagree with him.
Thank You,
Mike Zitterich
http://www.siouxfallscommunitychronicle.com
TGfG,
That sounds painful, but could Greece help? Although, their economy sucks.
AND, do you know what’s the difference between a bankster and a gangster? A bankster robs you with a pen, while a gangster with a gun, but only one usually ends up with the pen.
Mike, it’s not that I “disagree” with you, it is that you are wrong on so many easily verifiable things, let proclaim yourself an expert. If you want to be taken seriously, I’d start with taking a remedial English class, and once you’ve mastered that, talk to someone who can help you decide if you should really be posting at all. You’re your own worst enemy.
“Becoming respected throughout the state”. Thanks for the early morning laugh.
“Becoming respected throughout the state”: Wasn’t that Enron’s motto?
mike- if u cant run with the big dogs stay on the porch
Mike would help himself by staying inside instead of going out to the porch. Honestly, stop embarrassing yourself.