Maybe I was the setup? I spoke at the informational meeting* today during public input. Since there was nothing on the agenda except more executive sessions I chose to speak about item #4 on the agenda, which was PUBLIC COMMENT. I basically informed them that council meeting rules don’t supersede the US Constitution’s 1st Amendment and they need to stop cutting people off. I directed my comments at the entire council, not just chair Soehl. I told them they need to STOP the chair if they are wrongfully cutting people off. I think the council needs a crash course in the 1st Amendment and Public Input, and would even be willing to give my taxdollars to school them. They don’t seem to understand who controls the government, it’s not them, it’s us.
Well the mayor must be off at a jumping jacks convention because Curtis decided to chair the next regular meeting (FF: 41:00) and he got another earful about how they fail to listen to constituents and when they have no discussion on unanimous votes it tells the public you are making decisions before the meeting in private conversations (heck, the school board has been doing that for decades!)
Though some of the people who spoke tonight have shady pasts (that was an interesting google search đ they made valuable points about our 1st Amendment rights and how ineffective and thin skinned our current council is, and the longer termed members are the worst of the lot!
This council better buck up fast and take control of the public’s meetings, because it is turning into a real circus and the dancing bears are the council.
*The meeting hasn’t posted yet because they were having ‘technical’ issues. These same issues pop up every couple of weeks for the past decade or more. You would think the city IT department would have figured this out already?! I am pretty damn sure they are censoring certain things and that is why it happens so often. I mean, someone can’t f’up that much unless it is on purpose.
One of the public inputers, Bruce Head told us he is suing the city over civil rights. Here is a link to the filing.
Sioux Falls is run by a coalition of financial and real estate interests, old money elites, a couple new tech wanna-be millionaires and criminal gangs, all protected by the SD GOP controlled mafia. Our charter system needs to be changed. The so called strong mayor form makes the complaints, will these people force a change of form? The Dutch Mafia running the current form needs to be arrested?
The only reason to go to a council meeting is the stand up comedy known as public comment. Otherwise, itâs all about posts in pots. The comedy is not so good but flagrant abuse of civil rights is no joke. Strong mayor tyranny is so entrenched that the mayor doesnât have to attend. Gives him more time for graffiti and mocking the homeless.
How about make Carnegie Hall a Carrousel? Itâd be profitable enough for many best buddy TIFâs and a foolish non profitable private but public paid venture. With Strong Mayor, the council is an unnecessary puppet show. The theme seems to be authoritarian so letâs play socialism.
I was actually one of the individuals who spoke, along with my friend Riggin. We would be willing to meet with you and speak with you more about your efforts to restore accountability to this council in whatever way possible. Regardless of what people may think of our views, we also strongly support the first amendment for ALL people, even those we disagree with ideologically.
Also, check out last week’s meeting at timestamp 34:40 where I called out the constitutional issues with the recently amended public disturbance ordinance. Finally, it might interest you to know that I am (or was until the ordinance fiasco) on good terms with the mayor and have been for several years now, both before and after my incident in Idaho with my former affiliation.
For the Record, the 10/08/2024 Council Meeting which had a 2nd Reading of an Ordinance and 2 Resolutions, lasted only 15 minutes. The Public Comment Period lasted 30 minutes.
The GOP Mafia: Black SUVs have replaced Lincolns.