Besides myself, who broke the censored mural controversy, only one other journalist has really poked around on the topic, but someone must of went over to the newsroom and woke up one of their jokalist’s to write an article. It is actually a pretty good article on the insight of what the artists were going thru, but not very timely;
Would they ever work with the city again on a project? They’d never completely count out the idea, the artists said.
But, Hernandez added, “the experience was pretty horrible.”
These fine young artists aren’t the first and certainly won’t be the last to suffer the consequences of ‘horrible’ city policies and leadership and blatant CENSORSHIP.
There is also another concern. Do we have RACIST elites in this community influencing city hall policy?
Speaking of suffering, the city has asked the courts to dismiss the Federal housing discrimination lawsuit. Just your typical dragging out the clock games they play. Of course, we know that is likely NOT going to happen. They have an incredibly solid case.
“Do we have RACIST elites in this community influencing city hall policy?”
Well, let’s see:
No camping at the 85th Street Walmart.
The current federal housing discrimination lawsuit.
Our bus services don’t penetrate south of 57th.
During the height of the George Floyd controversy, a city leader posted rumors on her Facebook about “three buses from Fargo”.
Our bike trail system doesn’t really penetrate south of 57th.
Only the rich, who for the most part would be white, can now realistically afford to acquire a new liquor license.
The controversy with the Bunk(h)er Ramp mural controversy.
The population of Sioux Falls has nearly doubled since the present charter was put into place in 1994, but we still have only eight city council members and none of them are currently of color….. Well, except when they are made to do something that they really don’t want to do…. 🙂
AND, the last one has to do with the local school board. During the boundary changes, one of the suggestions by the school district was to bus poor kids (mostly minorities), who live near Roosevelt, to Jefferson, but any thoughts on busing kids (mostly minorities) to white schools got no traction or even initial attention.
But we do have a relatively new MLK statute, however, at a city park, which is nice, that if a Pride event were to be held there the Mayor would not show up at…. 🙂 #Equality #GoingCamping #NotAtWalmart
I’ve written two other articles about this story, Scott. I’ll link them below but it’s not especially hard to google “Argus Leader mural” and find them. This one’s coming out now because the mural went up in D.C. and the artists were willing to speak to me. Thanks for reading!
https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/city/2023/08/16/sioux-falls-parking-ramp-mural-painting-walter-portz-development-arts-council/70603250007/
https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/city/2023/10/04/sioux-falls-artists-write-open-letter-to-mayor-paul-tenhaken-over-rejected-mural-submission/71032487007/
Trevor, Lalley and I were covering this for months before you woke from your slumber. When censorship occurs you need to attack it right away not let it simmer. Your story was to little to late. Oh and can’t read them anyway, because you guys charge because you can’t seem to sell advertising.
You did quote my article, so I suspect you’re reading it somewhere. But if cost is the issue, shoot me your Venmo and I’ll spot you the $10 for a digital. Always prefer an informed public.
You know you are really scraping the bottom of the barrel when the journalists are paying the readers to read their content, oh, and for a story that is over 16 months old.