August 2024

UPDATE: Internal audit has a busy schedule

UPDATE: This meeting is worth the re-watch. One of the committee members asked why they were NOT auditing the City Attorney’s office, because as he put it, ‘it is on the heat map’ which means it is a critical department to audit because it has been in a long time. So audit chair, councilor David Barranco asked our ONLY internal auditor, Ryan, what the process is to get this audit on the 3 year schedule. Ryan basically said he must put in a request with him and then he would have to amend that schedule and it would have to be amended by the committee at a future meeting. In other words, he wasn’t looking for more work (even though our internal auditor only collects evidence and passes it onto our outside counsel). So Barranco with the urging of another member decided to amend the schedule right there and throw it on the agenda. So with one quick motion and vote it will be included on the audit schedule. It was a good example of government cutting thru the crap and getting something done instead of playing reindeer games.

A lot to accomplish in 3 years when you only have ONE employee . . . oh, and they are using outside sources, because you know, the best way to conduct an INTERNAL audit is to use OUTSIDE sources 🙁

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It’s the little things

I thought this was a clever way to manage E-Bikers;

“We needed to do something about it immediately,” said South Lake Police Chief Brian Tholen.

With very few statewide regulations on e-bikes, Tholen teamed up with city leaders to address concerns and draft a new ordinance that requires e-bike users to wear helmets. By requiring helmets, he said his officers have more authority to stop riders and address various safety concerns.

I always wear a helmet and recommend others do the same. This is similar to the seat belt law. In Washington state when they implemented the law, they made it so officers could pull you over for a seat belt violation.

While I am a big advocate for helmet use, it should only apply to the street riding.

Had a brief convo with a local journalist about this, and he thinks that the city and mostly state need more guidance on where to ride these things. While I agree it would be helpful to have actual e-bike rules and regs when it comes to road riding, I also don’t think we need to make laws that are trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist. I also fear if licensing and registration is required it could be a detriment to low income peeps who use these bikes for work commuting. It’s bad enough we have a transit system with many options except any that actually make the riders lives better.

Drinking Liberally Update (8/23/24)

In Politics: Democratic National Convention ended last night and by all accounts it was a home run, including the acceptance speech of the Democratic Presidential Nominee, Vice-President Kamala Harris. Vice-President Harris. The Convention as a whole painted the picture of a Democratic Party firmly grounded in the mainstream of American life, supporting the rule of law and working for the betterment of every American in contrast to a Republican Party representing the selfish interests of billionaires, their nominee, 34 time convicted felon, Donald Trump, and members of Country Clubs everywhere. As Michelle Obama said on Tuesday night, it is time to “do something”. 

In Politics: In South Dakota: I still wait for signs of a campaign, any campaign by South Dakota Democratic candidates and the South Dakota Democratic Party (SDDP). SDDP leadership was at the Democratic Convention in Chicago and the delegation members had their picture taken here and there.

Hopefully, besides pictures, they will bring back a plan to change the SDDP’s fortunes. Lord knows, as the Chart below demonstrates, the SDDP has been going in the wrong direction for a long time.

And, as if the Chart doesn’t say enough about the current state of the SDDP and its leadership, after candidate resignations, they are contesting only 48 of South Dakota’s legislative seats, the same number as in 2022, a number a few months ago Shane Merrel, SDDP Chair, bragged about increasing to 52 this year as a sign of the SDDP’s progress.

It is time for them to stop talking about what they are going to do and “do something”.

It was only a matter of time

While the city council and the mayor’s office has been ignoring this issue for several years, it came to a head today;

According to court documents, the victim was shot in the right eye and died from a gunshot wound to his head. Early indications show the gunshot happened from the range of 3 feet, court documents say.

The 9MM handgun was a stolen gun from an unlocked car in Sioux Falls, according to court documents.

The council has said that since there is an open carry law in South Dakota and of course 2nd Amendment rights they can’t write an ordinance that will punish negligible gun owners.

I suggested to Starr there is a reach around. This of course hasn’t been thru lawyering but this was my suggestion for an ordinance;

ANY DEADLY WEAPON* STOLEN FROM AN INDIVIDUAL’S HOME OR VEHICLE AND IS USED IN A CRIME WILL BE SUBJECT TO A FINE FOR NOT SECURING THAT WEAPON.

*A ‘DEADLY weapon’ is described as anything that can be used to cause bodily harm, injury or death when used by an individual.

I would also suggest another similar ordinance that just addresses your weapon being stolen then recovered before it is used in a crime.

In other words you avoid the ‘gun talk’. It could be anything, a hammer, a bat, a knife, a taser, etc. If we focus on WEAPONS being stolen from cars instead of just guns, I don’t think the 2nd Amendment applies. Just because you have the constitutional right to own a gun, you don’t have a right to abuse those privileges. Lock your crap up already before some other teenager is found dead.

I would also suggest the fine be $1,000 and if someone dies from your stolen gun it should be $10,000 and 3 months in jail. It’s time to send a message to these idiots who don’t know how to lock a door.