[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnmyaKXK-KQ[/youtube]
Sometimes we have to be reminded how messy democracy is. Sometimes our leaders get to feel the burn of polite citizen outrage. Tuesday January 19, 2016 Sioux Falls City Council Public Input was just one of those sometimes.
We will be posting the results of the public’s polite pressure in another of our next video. To say the public showed up and expressed their views would be an understatement. The public showed up and helped the panel know how important agendas are for the process.
We also learned a great deal about the proposed rental car “tax” and how it’s introduction is taking away a funding source being held in reserve for a potential airport parking ramp.
Another little bit of inconvenience exposed in this session were the Open Meetings violations the Council was party to the week before. The Council was called into Executive Session to privately discuss marketing and campaign strategy for the rental car “tax”. City Attorney David Pfeifle was in the room for this discussion and did not stop it. What good is a city attorney if the person is part of the questionably legal activity? Hmmmm…..
The speakers were as eloquent and on point as we have ever heard. Speaking truth to power is important and these speakers did. This group did not complain, did not offend, did not insult and Tim Stanga did point out to the panel why people are not eager to be part of their group. It was Tim at his best, bravo. Bravo also to Dan Letellier, John Matthius, Kendal Zoeller, Liz Muilenburg, Greg Neitzert, Duane Riggy, Michael Wyland, and David Zokaites for showing up on a cold January night to bring democracy to the Council.
Cameraman Bruce finished out the Public Input by reminding the room we are messy democracy. We want to be part of the process. We all showed up because we care and don’t care if the Council tires of us coming. It’s the job they all ran for so suck it up and accept our participation.
An amazing meeting and only a tip of the work to be done.
Over the top when you used the analogy of Nazi, Pol pot and Mussolini. It’s obvious you don’t respect the people in the council but when you use language like that, you don’t respect yourself.
I’m no fan of many on this council, but no one deserved that.
Lil just gave another example of fake political correctness. Just because someone uses possibly uncomfortable clean, straightforward historical references to bring a point often used in the teaching the lessons of ww2, the speaker is wrong.
I will always be proud of the input given by everyone who spoke an especially mine. My input made Individuals uncomfortable? Too bad.
You want a voice? Show up. Don’t hide behind your initials. Some of us are using our educations and experiences to these meetings.
If you don’t like to read uncomfortable words, join us and be part of the process. I’m not going to use your words. If you want your words in the public arena, get in there and express them.
In no way shape or form would I be affiliated with what you stand for Bruce. You’ve morphed your vigilantism into something that can only end badly. I’ve posted it here several times that a gang acting like jack asses during these open discussions has ruined it for all. Citizen activism is one thing but your just straight out antagonizing these people.
You using a WW2 reference for a city council meeting is akin to Al Sharpton quoting MLK. It’s juvenile. Realize the brutality of those references you made, then get a grip on the reality your in. Using these references added nothing to the discussion but only to anger the council people. In which you delegitimized your own argument and made yourself look the fool.
I’ll make this real simple for you to understand. Often folks have some really good input on the subjects that need to be discussed. Then you or Scott follow up and might as well take a shit on the council floor. You literally shit on everyone else’s work. Government is messy and your drivel makes it pointless to keep it public.
Speaking of speaking out. Put your money where your mouth is and run for the council or the mayors chair. When you keep shoving yourself into the spotlight you best be ready to take the heat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductio_ad_Hitlerum