Two different realities; the SF Mayor race heats up

“I’m Mister Positive, please vote for me, and BTW, fill out your city survey”

Councilor Costello rebutted councilor Staggers column today in the Gargoyle Leader. While both councilors gave facts about what is going on in the city, I feel councilor Costello fails to see the bigger picture;

Councilor Kermit Staggers thinks the rest of the Sioux Falls City Council and the administration are living in an “artificial” world. Most councilors are acutely aware of the concerns of the majority of the citizens in Sioux Falls, and it is only Staggers who is living in an artificial world of pessimism and negativity.

Really, Pat?! Then why does the mayor and a majority of the council consistently vote against citizen rights and raising taxes and fees? As for your second statement, I would prefer my elected officials be a little cynical, it keeps them vigilant. Misleading the public and wasting their taxdollars is hardly positive. So who is really being negative?

While we often disagree on quality-of-life issues such as parks and recreation, the events center,

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Staggers is not against an Events Center, in fact, he has said publicly in council and informational meetings he is not, he just feels it should not be funded by taxing the poor on food.

My disappointment with Staggers is that his column is grossly misleading and incomplete. I find it ironic that a man who repeatedly has attacked the administration for not providing all the facts to the City Council would himself do the same to the citizens of Sioux Falls.

Start listing them Pat. Seriously;

Staggers implies that the 3 percent increase in the city’s portion of property taxes for 2010 will go to build a clubhouse at Prairie Green Golf Course and pond rehabilitation. In fact, money for this project will come out of the capital improvement program budget, better known as the second-penny sales tax. Furthermore, the reason Staggers’ amendment to delete funding did not receive a second is that this project is not scheduled for construction until 2012.

Pat, it doesn’t matter what freaking kitty the money comes from, it still comes out of taxpayer’s pockets, you are the one misleading. A first penny, a second penny and a penny paid towards my property taxes adds up the same, you would think an accountant, like yourself would understand that concept. And why not delete funding now instead of later? What’s wrong with that. You are the one all high on the hog about balancing the budget, go for it big guy.

By the way, the 3 percent increase in the city’s portion of property taxes is only $9 on a $100,000 home. Staggers’ assertion that an elderly widow and a single mother would lose their homes is inflammatory and simply not truthful.

And it was $8 last year, then $10 next year, then $10 the next year. I think Kermit voted against the tax to stop the trend for once. While you look at this as a ‘one time deal’ those one time deals add up over 5-10 years. It is kinda like the .08% tax increase last year to build arterial streets (that you opposed, thankfully). While taxpayers have put almost $2 million in the fund, developers have put in 17x less. I don’t think Kermit is against taxes, he just wants them to be fair and balanced.

Obviously, we have short-term economic challenges,

Let’s hope so, but if not, I would prefer a cynic in power to face those challenges.