2024

South Dakota’s (republic Party’s) resolution on abortion is extremely idiotic

l3wis February 7, 2024 4Comments

I’m not going to get into a big debate about abortion. They always end the same. I will say, personally, I don’t agree with abortion for birth control. People need to take some responsibility in their lives and take the proper steps to prevent pregnancy if possible. But not everyone fits in that category.

Listen to the testimony today on the resolution (that has no legal teeth) (it is the House State Affairs meeting at the top).

The thing that bothers me the most is the republics in the SD State Legislature continue to peddle this lie that if this constitutional amendment passes people will be able to have abortion up until viable delivery. FALSE! It is in the law to protect the health of the LIVING person, the MOTHER! And if the mother doesn’t survive, guess what, the baby will likely die to. The law values the life of the MOTHER, which is the most important factor in this equation. If having a baby is going to kill her, there needs to be laws to protect HER life.

These obvious misogynists have NO clue what is beneficial to the mother only that god has put them on some mission to make sure pregnant women are submissive.

So republics in the SD legislature think in order to stop the abortion of a baby that WILL die or is already dead in the womb is to kill the mother.

WOW!!!!!!

Rep Hansen, who is probably one of the most ignorant right wing rodeo clown’s in the legislature suggested that women should deliver dead babies so they can spend time with the corpse before burying it.

Is there a Hallmark card for that?!

These folks are sick. They want women to suffer so they can have dead babies or babies that will die shortly after birth to fulfill some weird fantasy they have about women, god and death. Women can make these decisions on their own. They don’t need Hansen’s bible shoved up their butts while they are trying to get a medically required abortion.

They need to be surrounded by family, competent medical staff and the clergy of their choosing to make this difficult decision, and they don’t need Hansen or the Alpha Center trying to suggest that having a dead baby fulfills god’s mission.

I think the next resolution Hansen will present is to change the name of the state to South Texas (though technically it is North Texas, where are governor is concerned about all the Nebraskans trying to cross our border.)

Pierre really is the vacuum of intelligence.

I ask any spouse, would you want your wife to die in order to save some child that you have never met and will likely die before birth anyway?

Probably not, and why most pro-choice abortion laws are passing in states across the country. This is a needed medical procedure in certain circumstances and is extremely safe (I think complication from abortions in the US are around 2%).

The republics in Pierre can pass all the ludicrous resolutions they want, but at the end of the day it will be the voters that make the decision, which will ultimately be challenged by the state in court, because these dumb M%643^&*$%6#s can’t help themselves.

Save the Army Airforce Technical School Exhibit

l3wis February 7, 2024 8Comments

I got sent this by some advocates, apparently the Courthouse Museum is taking down the exhibit;

Quick. Call the museum (605-367-4210) to ask how much time people have to see the exhibit on the Army Airforce Technical School.

It was an important part of Sioux Falls history that had a big impact on our city.  The maps, then and now, are amazing. I used to say 25,000 servicemen trained there, but I think the exhibit says something more like 45,000.

The exhibit should be moved, not just torn down, to a place where it can continue to be an educational piece for the public. (maybe an airport concourse?) People should know.

Sioux Falls City Councilor Pat Starr to run for SF School Board

l3wis February 7, 2024 6Comments

Pat had been floating the idea since this Fall and has decided to announce he will be running. There are 2 incumbents, one is running for sure, not sure about the other one. There is also a former school district super running for the seat.

The School Board election is in coordination with the city council election in April. The top two vote getters will win a seat on the board.

FOR IMMEDIATE Release

City Councilor Announces Candidacy for Sioux Falls School Board

Sioux Falls, SD – February 7, 2024 – Pat Starr, a Sioux Falls City Councilor, announced today that he is running for the Sioux Falls Sioux Board.

Starr has served on the Sioux Falls City Council for the past 7-plus years. He is term-limited on the City Council at the end of his current term in May.

With a commitment to the betterment of the Sioux Falls School District, and the empowerment of students, parents, and educators, Starr brings a wealth of experience and passion to this crucial role.

With Starr’s experience in public service, he understands the unique challenges and opportunities facing our schools. With a background in business Starr is well-prepared to collaborate with stakeholders and enact positive change.

If elected, Starr pledges to:

• Advocate for equitable access to quality education for all students.
• Foster a safe, inclusive, and nurturing learning environment.
• Support innovative teaching methods and curriculum development.
• Promote transparency and accountability within the school system.
• Listen to the concerns and ideas of students, parents, teachers, and community members.

“I am proud of my service on the Sioux Falls City Council. I have a consistent voting record of never voting for a tax increase in almost 8 years. I have been a voice for those in the community who haven’t had a voice. I plan to take that record with me to the Sioux Falls School Board.”
The Sioux Falls School Board election is on April 9, 2024, in conjunction with the Sioux Falls City Council election.

Sioux Falls City Council meeting sign up sheet

l3wis February 7, 2024 4Comments

During the last city council meeting on Monday night, public inputers were asked to sign a sheet when they came to the podium so they could get the spelling of folks names for the record.

FOR THE RECORD, you don’t have to sign any piece of paper, in fact, you don’t even have to give your first or last name.

I encourage folks going to speak at the council meetings to NOT sign the sheet. Your 1st Amendment rights should NOT be infringed on. If you want to give your full name and address, go for it, nothing stopping you, but just so you know, there is NO lawful purpose for taking your name, it is just an intimidation tactic to discourage folks from speaking.

Is the City of Sioux Falls involvement with the Riverline District just a scam?

l3wis February 7, 2024 5Comments

The more I think about the lackluster presser on Monday about the Rec Center at the current convention center space and a new CC at the Riverline area, I think this is just a scam (an idea former city councilor Jamison had before they built the EC. His idea was to build the EC downtown in coordination with a new convention center and convert the current CC into a rec center).

• Why does the city have to purchase the land at the Riverline District?

• If the council agrees with the purchase of the land, how will we bond for it?

• What will be done about train traffic, flooding, natural springs under Nelson Park.

This just sounds like another sweetheart developer deal where the city becomes the land broker (like Phillips to the Falls) and while the private sector figures out their crap and investors the city sits on the land, collecting NO property taxes, then when the private partners come in, they are handed another tax break with a TIF.

The timing is also questionable, right before a massive bond is going to be taken out for quality of life ($70-80 million). Are they going to slip the purchase of Riverline in on this? And if so, is that even appropriate?

I think it is a good idea to build a CC downtown, but this time around it should be the private sector that handles it. Just look at the current CC and EC, we have practically ZERO ROI on these facilities. While the management takes in millions in sales and profits on the EC, the taxpayers get to pay the almost $10 million a year mortgage. If the EC is doing so well, shouldn’t those profits be shared with the taxpayers so we can use the funds for paying the mortgage? Right now all we collect is sales taxes, and they barely cover maintenance on the facility.

A convention center is just a money pit, once all the grifters feed at the trough, it is up to the minions to pay off the bonds.

If the city wants to get involved in the future with the Riverline, GREAT, but the taxpayers shouldn’t be land brokers, let the private sector sit on this land and pay taxes on it until they figure out their grand ‘Vision’ (ironically an idea from over a decade ago).

Also, there is NO need for indoor municipal rec space. This city has tons of private facilities and so do the school districts.