Mike’s new theme song?
Oh, and he wasn’t called it just once, but twice. The person also didn’t abbreviate like I did in the headline.
While it was good theatre while it lasted, I would agree it probably wasn’t good decorum from a long time public inputer. Sierra has commented several times on crime going on in town, especially sex trafficking. She has had a volatile relationship with the mayor for quite awhile.
So how did it happen.
Public input started and I went up to speak. I went to sit down, and the mayor pulls this trick where he says quickly, “Anybody else, okay.” then quickly signals to the clerk to read the alcohol permits.
David Zokaites who had a PP presentation ready went up to the podium to speak but the city clerk had already started reading. So David stood there until she finished. Sierra stands and yells, “Let him speak, public input isn’t done.” and Mike asked Jamie, the alcohol licensing agent with the city to continue. Sierra lost it, walked toward the podium and told the mayor he was a stupid son-of-a-b*tch, and as she walked for the exit she called him that again.
Then David, who was still standing there asked if he could speak, and the mayor skirting his duties as usual, asked council chair Kiley if David could speak, and Kiley said NO. David apologized for not getting up there in time.
I think the whole incident is unfortunate because they are going to use it to change public input once and for all instead of just banning the bad apple.
But I will say, while I don’t approve of Sierra calling the mayor names (though I did laugh) it really comes to his continual effort to stifle public input by cutting people off before they even have a chance to standup. He has said in the past he wants people to stand in line and ‘be ready’. Sorry, if the mayor gets to sit during the meeting, we should to until it is our turn to go up. Some people are also disabled so it takes them a little time to get up there.
The mayor played more games tonight, and he may finally win, but trust me, not without a fight.
UPDATE: Belfrage talked about the incident this morning on his show. Many people are confused about what public input is and how it is handled, including Mr. Belfrage.
• There is already a time limit of 5 minutes. (Minnehaha County has NO time limit on their public input and I have seen people talk for over 20 minutes, in fact the mayor himself talked for over 11 minutes one time asking for a government handout for a drainage issue on his private lake home). I would be okay with changing it to 3 minutes.
• It was suggested that maybe it should be like the SF school board where you have to sign in to talk at public input and write down your item. I don’t agree with that. Freedom of speech is exactly what it is supposed to be FREEDOM to speak about whatever.
• It is often discussed that this is an inconvenience for the council and mayor. Excuse me? If anything it is an inconvenience for the public to show up on their own time to plead their grievances, this is the only opportunity they can. The mayor and council get paid to sit up there. They chose to run for office and serve after being elected. We pay their wages, it is the citizens TIME and MONEY being expended at the meetings. There is also NOTHING in the charter that says the meetings must be limited to a certain time frame. In fact there are provisions in the charter that allow for recesses or deferring to the next day if a meeting is going to long.
• Same people different topics. Many complained on the show that it is the same people that show up. Well guess what, I try to share something different every time I speak, I am NOT redundant, unless of course it has to do with the trains 🙂 I will NOT apologize for being passionate about our city government, I am very proud of the fact that I speak out against government corruption in this community. If not me, who? I also found it ironic that several veterans showed up last night asking for a land donation from the city and I overheard one of them say they were not registered to vote after refusing to sign a municipal candidates petition. So you served our country bravely as a soldier but once you got home you didn’t participate in something truly patriotic? Hmmm.
• The 1st amendment is very clear, it is a protection for all citizens to tell their government what they think of it. Sometimes it gets a little messy, oh well, you deal with it and move on. Let’s talk about who is being a snowflake. Like I said above, it is unfortunate that Sierra said what she did (in public) but I have heard much worse name calling of the mayor from prominent businessmen, politicians and current and former city council members. His attitude that the public serves him and not the other way around is complete BS, and it finally boiled to the top last night.
Our City governmental process is becoming unglued. I think it is a result of all of the asbestos in the local air around us.
And “stupid?”…..Really?….. I wouldn’t say “stupid.”
And all of this reminds me of the story about the time Juan Peron and his wife Evita visited Generalissimo Franco in Madrid. Evita, who had had a checkered past, was horrified when Madridians shouted at her, during her visit to Spain, calling her a hooker, a prostitute, or a lady of the evening. But Franco tried to reassure Evita, even with all of that name calling going on, however, and said, “Don’t worry Evita, they still call me General too.”
Sierra was out of line, and was escorted out of the building. She has apologized to me for her behavior. In defense of the Mayor, David was not getting up to speak when last call came. The moral of the story: Be prepared and alert if you want to utilize this precious citizen input time. Especially with this administration, there is NO room for lollygagging.
Remind me again please, who is the servant and who is the master? I do not agree with Sierra’s name calling but I have to give some respect for when it is due. She obviously was not concerned for her own issues. She spoke out on a minor technicality use to suppress another Citizens input. If memory serves me right? Many other minor technicalities have been used to deny both petitions and the voice of the People that they are to represent. So tell me again when will there be fair and equal treatment by both sides?
I want to apologize to the citizens of sioux falls and to the process of public input .I take full responsibility of my actions that happen at public input last night.Having said this for the future evryone that wants to speak at public input needs to be ready and don’t lagg at going to the podium.
When Public Comment happens, everybody in the audience should don a strip of duct tape across their mouth. A silent protest could work.
Sierra has been a good voice regarding crime and sex trafficking. David usually has something calm and preaching. Obviously, Huether and Kiley consider permit paperwork more important.
I no longer text and drive. I’m usually to drunk.
Respect us and we’ll respect you.
Anyone who acts like this should be banned from public input.
LJL, and she probably will. But you make a good point. The mayor has the power to gavel people and ask them to leave. I have often said that he should handle public input on a case by case basis instead of just a blanket policy. Just because someone gets up and calls you an SOB doesn’t mean the next person is going to get up and do the same.
da mayor likes to show his mug and hear himself talk on the listening and learning but he’s not much for listening & learning himself.
Sierra is very passionate about sex trafficking. She brings this to attention of the city often. If what she is saying is true, then I fully understand why she did what she did. What is being done about the topic she is passionate about?
So you can “fully understand”screaming “your a SOB’ at a public meeting because of “passion”?
That’s a breath taking admission. Trump must be your hero.
It has been obvious for a long time that this individual is very impulsive and volatile when she is giving public input. Yesterday’s outburst was inevitable.
The Mayor and certain Council members have been looking for reasons to justify moving public input to the end of council meetings (where it will never be seen by most). Unfortunately for every citizen, she just handed them another reason.
She needs to be permanently banned from giving public input.
And, for many reasons, security at Carnegie Town Hall needs to be re-evaluated and stepped up.
I respect everyone’s opinion yes I broke the rules of public input. If mayor Huether bans me from public input I will return in couple months later when we get a new mayor. Sometimes you just hit a breaking point there is a lot of behind the scene stuff mayor Huether has and or has attempted to do to me to keep me shut up. That’s not my nature in not good a sit down shut up and listen. Remember when the golf management contract happened and I spoke at public input about sex crime? What happen the same night they made a human trafficking arrest brother and sister and was on news next day. I’m not saying I need a Siouxper hero award. I will continue to testify against these sex crime criminals make citizens arrest and testify in court. Mayor Huether would be a good fit working for North Korean government.
I’m on the edge of my seat, and cannot wait to hear the topic of the day from Mr. Z’s presentation next week. I’m sure it will change to a PowerPoint with road closed signs in the background due to his denial to speak.
This whole incident could’ve been avoided if some simple rules were put into place. As mentioned prior, a sign in so all speakers would be recognized by the council to have their chance to speak. Some don’t feel that you need to disclose what you are talking about on a sign in sheet but want open and transparent practices of others. Don’t worry everyone will still get their face on the ol TV with these changes. If everyone wasn’t concerned with being the bad guy, or worried about reelection (if applicable) changes would be made. I’m not sure who has the power to change this (mayor or council) but this needs some attention soon. This would be a basic change and certainly not that hard to implement. On the topic of freedom of speech, there are some rules of decency that must also be taken into consideration as this is aired on TV and families are in the audience. Sierra’s comments only scare folks away from these meetings, and only hurt others that are polite during these meetings. Again, families attend these meetings and I remember attending one of these meetings in high school to learn about local government. I’m sure students watch from home now, but the content of some of these sessions is rather unproductive and unprofessional during the public input time.
I find it funny that even Mr. Belfrage states that the regulars usually have little relevancy with their input nor do their speeches offer solutions to what they feel are problems most of the time. This statement is very fitting from Greg: “…constant critic you are heard a lot less than an occasional critic…”