Sometimes former lawmakers hit it out of the park, Neitzert really showed his knowledge of city politics and the constitution this past week. Thank you! So Greg, this one goes out to you, because as you know, “The Balls held for pleasure are the ones I love the best!”
I can’t imagine the meetings at City Hall today after the SD Legislative Taxation Committee killed the 3rd penny tax in a squeaker, 7-6. It is no secret their ignorant plan was to convince some rubes from rural districts to support this so they can build a street. But most people knew the jig was up. This was about building a Convention Center that nobody wants or cares about. The Ice Ribbon is a great example of a project NO ONE, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE asked for. But now $16 million later here we are.
So some are asking, without this special 3rd penny tax authority can we move forward with the Riverline District? Yes and NO.
While I think the mayor is about as bright as a bar of soap in a truck stop restroom, I think he knew this may not pass, so they may have a backup plan.
I hate to break it to you Poops, but the legislature is dug in on this one, it ain’t going anywhere. Even if passed out of committee it would have been DEAD in the full legislature.
So how can they still salvage the Convention Center deal? It will be financial gymnastics, but they can still do it within their means, but on a smaller scale. My guess is they will push all bond expectations toward the project and see how much they can borrow. They have also been banking reserve funds which I think they want to use for a down payment (It is between $70-80 million) Why does the city have a savings account from our taxes that is 3x what ordinance asks for? With this surplus and borrowing authority the city could build this without a special tax, but the private donations would have to be significant.
My suggestion all along is to implement an INCOME tax on corporations in SF that have more then 500 employees, Hotels and Hospitality to pay for this. They are the benefactors of conventions, visitors and tourism, the average citizen buying a Twin Bing at the GC won’t benefit BUT these industries would. MAKE THEM PAY FOR IT!
To tell you the truth, the more I think about it, I am not opposed to the city buying the land, it has potential, but with this crappy tax revenue source killed, the city will have to get creative. My suggestion? Demo and plant grass, form a committee that will tell us the best use for the land for the least expensive capital improvement. One idea I had years ago is turning Fawick park into a sculpture garden and put all the SculptureWalk sculptures in the park as a destination, essentially an outdoor museum. We could do this here for minimal costs.
It is no secret that Poops would benefit financially thru this deal (still digging on this one, and will crack that case).
Make no mistake, TenHaken’s lack of leadership, transparency and vision put the last nail in this coffin, and I got to admit after I watched the vote live, I howled in enthusiasm. I think I even did a jig. I am a good jigger.
But don’t get lazy, they will try to cut a deal and we must ride their asses until they are dragging on a gravel road. This ain’t over.
The irony of all this is Poop’s record on getting things done. It is awful. And if I was him I would be embarrassed and resign. Bunker Ramp, 6th street bridge, Delbridge dead monkeys, and the constant lying and belittling of public inputers. YOU ARE NOT A LEADER. YOU ARE NOT A VISIONARY.
With the recent passing of a major developer many readers have been asking me the question,
How much did his company get in TIFS just in Sioux Falls?
I could only find numbers back to 2005 (TIFs were introduced in 1989). Since 2005 the developer received around $40 million in TIFS. The developer also has received TIFs in other SD communities, including RC and Madison and I think out of state. This is $40 million taken from property taxes over decades while residential in this town pay 80% of property taxes while these developers skirt their taxation duty. The developer has also received tax rebates from the city. Oh, and let’s not forget paying the mayor $1M over value for his DT building.
I will admit he did a lot to develop downtown, but we paid for a good chunk of it. I have never spoken with him, but I still remember the council meeting before the 2008 recession where they were promoting another tax scam on the residents of SF, and when we crashed, none of the promises were met by the developers. Shocker, I know. Or how the city sat on the Phillips Loft land for 10 years tax free then sold it to him after he received a TIF.
My condolences to the family, I’m sure his legacy will carry on, oh I know it will, some of these TIFs don’t expire until 2035.
This should be entertaining. Apparently Pastor Poops is feeling the pressure. I’m sure he will do what he always does, blame the tenants and tell them not to call him. I hope our diminishing press corps at this event will ask tough questions and hold his feet to the fire. As the chief administrator of our city he should be concerned for all renters (I believe 80% of our population in Sioux Falls rents, I saw this stat recently, but can’t find the reference, so just ‘Trump’ trust me on this one 
Recently the council approved a 170 unit workforce housing complex that was in a perfect location and guess who was basically the only detractor? Another slumlord in town. I told a couple of councilors, ‘He is opposed because it will steal low income renters from him. I used to rent from this family, SLUMLORDS thru and thru.’ It’s time this city cracks down on these folks. I suggest the council put together a set of ordinances that would basically force slumlords out of operation, we will see if they have the courage.
I guess I am not the only who thought the last forum was nothing more than a theatrical performance;
l3wis