As I mentioned on Sunday, I was wondering when the public would get an update. So over 24 hours later the communications officer finally did a press conference in which he basically denied that the guy arrested for hitting a cop car was NOT the suspect. Fast forward to Tuesday, and court records filed show another story, he is the main suspect in the shooting. So why did the communications officer either lie, mislead, or simply did not know the correct information from a crime that occurred over 24 hours earlier?
I don’t know, but it is further cements my belief that this city is being ran like a rudderless ship and if there is no competent captain at the helm it trickles down to the other departments.
City Council’s Tuesday meeting was full of NO decisions
Speaking of a rudderless ship, the SS Minnow, better known as the Sioux Falls City Council did not disappoint last night, because when they are not rubber stamping, they are sitting on the fence, and there was a lot of fence sitting.
It all started with a debate over who should pay for a road in a new development (deferred a week). Then it went into garbage can ordinances (I think the council is still divided on this and the mayor may have to break the tie). But the big debate of the night is raising fees on vacant properties. While I originally supported higher fees, after watching the discussion last night, I’m not sure that is the ultimate solution.
The first issue is compliance. I think you first must be registered with the city as a vacant property, if you are not, the city certainly can’t fine you. Anybody could have a vacant property, and as long as you keep the lawn mowed and snow shoveled and the heat, water and electric on, who would know if it was vacant without asking the owner (who could lie).
The second factor is, even if they do figure out which properties are vacant, will the property owner be able to pay? Mr. Tobias, the code enforcement overlord did say he would work with owners who are looking to sell or use community development loans to fix up, so that is positive. But the more I think about it, we should just be starting a pilot program as I have suggested to start cleaning up the core neighborhoods, and we wouldn’t have to worry about this. There is an entire block on my street that is vacant (3 houses and 2 businesses) and falling in disrepair. I have been told by code enforcement that they have been working with the property owner. Really? You told me this 5 years ago.
I still think a hand up approach may work better then a catch and release and fine (that will never get paid). It is time for the city to start investing in the core neighborhoods.
l3wis 
