Bravo to Councilor Pat Starr for being the only city councilor to vote against the property tax increase, he also gave a great speech about it. There was ZERO open discussion from the rest of the council, they just bowed their heads and did as their masters told them to do. RAISE TAXES!
During public input a citizen shamed the council (except councilors Starr and Brekke and former councilor Stehly) for not doing the right thing when it comes to evictions, the Feds had to step in.
Many people showed up tonight to talk about the importance of funding the municipal band, including many veterans. No mention of suckers or losers, which was good. Councilor Starr proposed a multi-year contract amendment. Councilor Kiley and Soehl tries to downplay it with some poppycock about a future ‘study’. We know how this goes.
The Police and Fire union contracts were approved, little talk about the contract with the rest of city employees.
Neitzert’s ethics hearing was voted on. The circus started by Greg’s attorney’s claiming Starr and Brekke should recuse themselves because they colluded with Mr. Cunningham. Silly. It is actually hilarious. If they provided Mr. Cunningham with documents, they were all PUBLIC. PUBLIC. Not anything private or privledged. Don’t be fooled by the legal mumbo-jumbo. Greg’s attorney claims this was a political attack, but Greg is the one who violated ordinance not Starr or Brekke. A political attack is accusing someone of something they did not do. Greg did it. How do you attack someone who is guilty? Guilt is guilt.
Greg’s attorneys are extremely sloppy. Emails between city councilors and citizens and conversations between city councilors and citizens are public property. Not collusion. And to make that assumption is ludicrous.
Shawn ‘Tornado’ Tornow blows the whole thing up. Good stuff. Even Gregs’ attorney could not pronounce Greg’s last name right. LOL. What is a Nit Zert?
Well, I’m not sure much was accomplished except that the hearing is at 6 PM at Carnegie on Thursday. I doubt the city camera’s will be rolling, but I am sure Bruce’s will.
You lost me when you tried to swipe at President Trump about something he never said. I guess you should only believe sources that will not say who they are or will not speak out in public. I thought you were big on open government. I guess I was wrong.
First off, if we didn’t have anonymous sources Nixon would have never resigned. And I don’t care if the Atlantic had 1 or 4 anonymous sources, when I read the story I believed he said that crap immediately, he has disparaged veterans in the past. It is right up his alley. Donny is only for Donny and money, he doesn’t care about anybody, veteran or not.
What about text messages during a council meeting? Seems to me that could be an other form of collusion. Are they texting third parties, and thus colluding with them, or are they just texting fellow council members, during a council meeting, and colluding with them?
( and Woodstock adds: “Yah, what if you watch TV on your personal computer during a council meeting and you are a council member?”…. “Who are you colluding with then?”…. “And does it matter if you are just watching and not interacting?”…. #PersonalElectronicDevice )
No doubt Trump has a record of veterans disrespect. His treatment and crude comments about John McCain come to mind. He was the only president in 56 years who did not lay the wreath at Tomb of Unknown Soldier in 2018. He refused to visit the cemetery at Normandy because it was raining. He has bad hair days but they seem to be mostly when it’s time to acknowledge veterans.
Republicans raising taxes. Can you have culture without a band? A Republican President is tight with a former Soviet KGB agent. At times, North Korea is the new Kentucky. Liberty University has a hotel boy, a Republican President, a porn star. Masks are now only for rich Republican surgeons. It’s hospitalizations and not long term effects. Many in the military are apparently, “Suckers” and “Losers”, according to a Republican president. An electronic device is not yours, if you are a billionaire. The rule of law now means my way or the highway. A Republican president wants you to vote twice. A Republican president wishes people could still punch others at a rally. A Republican council claims there is an integrity issue with voting boxes, which resemble mailboxes that accept ballots. To see it, is to believe it. Your taxes are going up, but what about your wages? In my opinion, the Chick-fil-A euphoria has definitely collapsed. #ChickenAnyone?
chick-fil-a and chipotle euphoria will end after people have eaten there a couple of times.
Having Shawn Tornow defending Mr Cunningham could be very interesting considering he is the former Assistant City Attorney whom left the city a few years ago. This could get quite interesting, especially since he wrote the “ordinance” in question. I wll be there Thursday Night …
Will there be popcorn and soda ?
– Mike Zitterich
“Shawn ‘Tornado’ Tornow blows the whole thing up.”
That moment when most people would recognize that their legal counsel is ineffective and in need of replacement.
I been reading the State Constitution a lot these days. Check out these two Bill of Rights (29 of them).
§ 27. Maintenance of free government–Fundamental principles. The blessings of a free government can only be maintained by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality and virtue and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.
§ 26. Power inherent in people–Alteration in form of government–Inseparable part of Union. All political power is inherent in the people, and all free government is founded on their authority, and is instituted for their equal protection and benefit, and they have the right in lawful and constituted methods to alter or reform their forms of government in such manner as they may think proper. And the state of South Dakota is an inseparable part of the American Union and the Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land.
§ 20. Courts open–Remedy for injury. All courts shall be open, and every man for an injury done him in his property, person or reputation, shall have remedy by due course of law, and right and justice, administered without denial or delay.
And..wait for it . How “WE” govern ourselves under Home Rule Charter –
§ 2. Home rule. Any county or city or combinations thereof may provide for the adoption or amendment of a charter. Such charter shall be adopted or amended if approved at an election by a majority of the votes cast thereon. Not less than ten percent of those voting in the last preceding gubernatorial election in the affected jurisdiction may by petition initiate the question of whether to adopt or amend a charter.
A chartered governmental unit may exercise any legislative power or perform any function not denied by its charter, the Constitution or the general laws of the state. The charter may provide for any form of executive, legislative and administrative structure which shall be of superior authority to statute, provided that the legislative body so established be chosen by popular election and that the administrative proceedings be subject to judicial review.
Powers and functions of home rule units shall be construed liberally.
– Mike Zitterich
Cunningham hired Tornow? What’s the matter, wasn’t Avenatti available? You know, he’s now at home thanks to COVID.
And didn’t Tornow have his own ethical issues a few years ago with the city? Or, does herd immunity, or acquired antibodies, make it all better?
It just doesn’t pass the taste and smell test, if you ask me, but neither does COVID.
Tornow left cause of differences with how the city done his business creating a conflict of interest. Hes the perfect guy tobl defend Cunningham in this case. Who better to defend the people than the very guy whom knows how the city works, wrote the ordinance, let alone understands the system. I say – Cunningham chose Tornow for a reason. He will call all them out very aggressively. Hes honest.
– Mike Zitterich