I was having a random convo today with someone who works closely with our homeless brothers and sisters and I asked him about the ‘busload of transients’. He did confirm to me that a bus did show up, from Minnesota with South Dakota tribal members who were homeless in the cities, at least that is what he gathered from talking with some of them.
Then he randomly says after he told me there was a big meetin’ with the mayor and the other non-profits who work with transients that Paul plans to make homelessness illegal. I asked, ‘How do they intend to make homelessness illegal?’ He replied that they are going to put signs* in public spaces, parks, etc. that says there is NO sleeping in the parks and they will be served with a trespassing violation. In other words the TAXPAYERS and the counties will be on the hook for the fines, etc.
There is a better solution, have the non-profits set up night teams that go out with a van and pick these people up from the parks. I also think the city, state and county need to fund an emergency shelter where people can check in, pass out and have no questions asked. Not everyone needs to be saved by Jesus, I’m just sayin’.
*I find it funny they plan to have these signs installed by October 1st. Good luck with that, they still haven’t figured out how to put up proper speed signage in the parks so I’m guessing when the dude said October, he meant 2025.
UPDATE: Spoke to the GM of Sunshine this morning and he told me they haven’t sold to transients in months ever since they have an ID scanner protocol. I noticed that also, so I am curious why the mayor had to single them out? Will Pomegranate Market be able to sell alcohol?
I don’t need to link the video, but if you are on Turdbook or SF Reddit you can find the video. Basically a person working in the bank building kitty korner from Fawick Park shot video of two folks screwing in front of the Bunker Ramp mural and unless you are a total prude it is pretty obvious the ‘bouncing’ wasn’t the latest moves in transient yoga.
A few days after this video surfaced the mayor had his heated presser about panhandling. C’mon Paul! Was this about panhandling or the hundreds of friends and colleagues that texted you the link to this video? I told someone if I were mayor and this was going on I would be infuriated. But when you do NOTHING for 6 years, literally NOTHING accept sign a check to the Dudley House and Banquet this is what happens.
I also take issue with his elitist views on alcohol. Every bar in this town, whether it is on expensive row on Phillips Avenue or a dive on East 10th street carries and uses well vodka. And guess what, whether that is on the bottom row at Slumshine or the bottom shelf at your favorite snooty bar it is all the same. It don’t get any better with what establishment you are at, just more expensive
Stores downtown, including Slumshine, are SERVING THEIR CLIENTELE. Hardworking middle class folks don’t drink top shelf. A case of Old Mil and a bottle of Old Crow will do just fine. So you are telling the stores they can’t sell their ‘gut rot’ because of a few bad actors? Why should the rest of their customers be inconvenienced because of these folks? A store, ANY STORE, in the free market system has the right to refuse service to ANYONE. And if an OBVIOUS panhandler is trying to buy ‘gut rot’ maybe we should just tell them to keep walking? Problem solved and it didn’t even take a Nine Iron. Whatever that meant
IF WE ARE SO COMPASSIONATE, WHY NOT SHUT OFF THAT FAUCET?
I told someone recently maybe the solution is shutting off the tap for a few weeks while the weather is nice. I am not talking about a total abolition of services but a readjustment. If I were the mayor and police chief I would have an immediate emergency meeting with non-profits like the Dudley House, the UGM and the Banquet and ask them to coordinate a pause in services for two weeks. I think it would still be fine for the Banquet to hand out to go meals for families and temporary housing for these families but everyone else would have to fend for themselves. I would also use this as an opportunity for these non-profits to hit the streets and meet these people where they are at, and maybe we can manage it better when we actually engage these folks on their turf. I know it sounds radical, but what we have been doing so far ain’t working.
I was tuning into the Planning Commission meeting from last week for a little public input entertainment. Mostly older folks bitching about traffic in front of a proposed apartment building. Weird how when you build a road cars magically show up.
Besides the fact that one of the Commission members didn’t know what Shape Places is there was an inputer who was a little late speaking on an item that was already passed on the agenda. When that was explained to him he wasn’t having it saying he missed his opportunity to speak because he is hard of hearing from working at John Morrells his whole life. Yes, he said that. Then as they were trying to get him to sit down (he either couldn’t hear them or didn’t care) he catches a commissioner laughing at him. I will let you watch what happens next (FF: 39:30).
We could argue about that until we are blue in the face, but when you have administration that is very bad with money it usually means some kind of corruption is going on, and his circus monkeys called the city council (no matter who they are) go along with it.
In just a few short years they have managed to bilk the taxpayers out of millions to help and benefit friends and family, here is a short trip down the memory lane of corruption (the list originally was only 6 items, but once I started discussing with others the list has grown, and I can’t even discuss stuff behind the scenes);
• Creation of the PRIVATE Parks Association (This group was started so VIPs in Sioux Falls can use their donations as a tax write-off. Don’t care about that, rich people are constantly finding ways to not pay their fair share, oh well. But what is frustrating is not the donations but controlling the narrative and forcing the public to take on their pet projects and help fund them. Parks amenities should be a directive of the public NOT rich donors. We will take your money and inform the IRS, but we should really let the public decide.)
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• Buying the Sanford Wellness Center (So we bought a failing facility from Sanford so we can subsidize it?)
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• Jacobsen Plaza (Originally a $4 million dollar project, turns into a $16 million dollar project for a facility NO ONE in the community was asking for. I literally haven’t heard one single person tell me they want this, most just say, “Another Parks White Elephant like Great Bear.”)
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• Great Bear (We’ve thrown millions at this facility over the past few years, and for what? To be open a couple of weeks in January? It’s time to make this a FREE natural winter park and let people use it when they want to and sell off all the lifts and snowmaking equipment).
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• Golf Course Clubhouse (Originally just a simple expansion of the current Elmwood clubhouse and a cart shed replacement has turned into a country club clubhouse project. This is a modest muni course, a pole barn would do with some nice landscaping. But the council approved it anyway.)
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• Massive subsidies for indoor recreation (The MIDCO is subsidized $1.2 million a year, the wellness center will probably be double that, and the sad part is you can’t walk into these facilities for free. I said we need to start focusing on FREE recreation.)
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• Delbridge Museum coverup (Initially lying to the public then trying to cover it up about the conditions of the animals. I have said we are missing a massive opportunity here, we could build all new dioramas that surround the aquarium and we would have one of the most unique exhibits in the world! But that takes vision.)
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• Sixth Street Bridge ($10 million cost overrun to bailout a whiny developer.)
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• Bunker Ramp (This is a gigantic mess and I just found out more about this debacle recently – more to come on this!)
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• TIFs (handing them out like Booty Prizes, and now to developers out of state.)
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• Censoring the Bunker Ramp mural (They said the mural was racist and then the Smithsonian picked the piece. I have said that the mayor and his prosperity gospel folks he runs with are culturally retarded).
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• Riverline District (Besides the fact there are massive conflicts of interest with the brokering with this deal and other developments the public should NOT be paying for this, and they especially shouldn’t be buying property with Entertainment Tax money.)
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• Lying about income tax and IM 28 (This will never happen, if this passes the legislature will just increase sales taxes on everything else. An income tax? Yeah, and monkeys will be flying out of my butt.)
• Dakota Scout and Legal Notices (So the full council new the investors and voted for this anyway hiding the information from the public. This isn’t about the money it’s about Paulson controlling the narrative).
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• Eliminating the Internal Audit (This is actually all on former councilor Jensen and screwing up managing council employees and allowing the mayor to hire the Audit Manager after she was LIKELY on probation with the council. Not sure if that is the case, but it is pretty easy to put 2 & 2 together.)
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• Ignoring the LGTB community (I could use a lot of colorful language, no pun intended, but I will just say, the queer community ain’t real impressed with Poops. It also has an economic impact. Many queers in this community own businesses and contribute to our bottom line. Acting like they don’t exist isn’t helping that relationship.)
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• Sustainability Report (After a group of volunteers spends months on this project the mayor’s policy advisor, the pumpkin recycler, shreds the document). There is also the economic impact of sustainability.
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• Homelessness (The mayor had a press conference today that didn’t solve a damn thing, I know, shocker. The Q & A I heard was quite spicy. A KELOLAND employee busted the mayor in a stat he pulled from his ass. The city needs to figure out how to manage the issue, NOT eliminate it. You will never end homelessness BUT with several measures, policies and ordinances and actual action you can manage the problem. This is what other cities have done, don’t look at it as a problem to SOLVE but something you can MANAGE. The mayor has also ignored the issue thinking it will just go away, that is NEVER a solution. There is also a fiscal impact, and where the city is dropping the ball. The downtown business district brings in a lot of revenue for the city, and with the struggling economy, inflation and now increased homeless traffic they are hurting, which hurts all of us including the homeless.)
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• Childcare (Not getting the business community to step up. Poops needs to use the bully pulpit to put his boot up the ass of large companies in this town and have them start subsidizing childcare. I don’t think tax dollars should be used on this, but you have to admit there is a massive labor market fiscal impact if we don’t solve this problem.)
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
• Backdoor real estate deals (Not only did the mayor laugh all the way to the bank, it helped the buyer increase the value of properties around the one they purchased.)
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND CORRUPT!
As you can see, not the best track record, and if we had media in this town with some historical knowledge they would be all over this. Some do, but most don’t.
Speaking of historical knowledge, I have also heard a rumor that city employee morale is way down, not just because of poor leadership by Poops, but because Millennial management has been quietly pushing out Boomers. Besides the fact that employment rules, regs and laws may be broken here due to age discrimination it is even more troubling that the city is ridding itself of city employees with historical knowledge. I often tell people when you eat out, ask to eat in the section of the oldest server they have. Pick a winner every time!
I think it is time to start discussing recall efforts, not only of the Mayor but of the entire Council. This crap is getting old.I encourage anyone who would like to join the effort to email me.
What have I been saying about informing the public about policy changes? Tomorrow the city council plans to approve this on the consent agenda with NO informational presentation to the public (Item #6, Sub-Item #22);
Homelessness Street Outreach Services Agreement Implemented on the recommendation of homelessness task force. South Dakota Urban Indian Health, Inc., $175K.
While this was recommended by the Homeless task force and was discussed in their meetings, there hasn’t been a broader presentation by the city to the public on how this program will work.
But you can read all about it HERE. I guess the city is relying on bloggers now to put out information. I never thought I would see the day
While I totally support what Dakota Scout, Sioux Falls Business and Sioux Falls Simplified do, the information needs to first be disseminated by the city. Maybe they can do a quick two minute YT video about how they are serving the UNHOUSED (I’m still getting used to this synonym of homeless and puzzled by what the difference is between the two words).
IF PARIS CAN CLEAN UP THE SEINE WE CAN CLEAN UP THE BIG POO
I found this story amazing (imagine what you can do when you spend actual money on cleaning up the problem);
But now clean up efforts, which started in 2018 as part of what is known as the “Swimming Plan,” are coming to fruition, and local authorities say residents will be able to make use of the river once again as part of the legacy of the Olympics, which is returning to the French capital after 100 years.
They cleaned up the river in 4 years!
Two disinfection units at wastewater treatment plants run by the Paris region public sanitation service will be operational from this summer, and structures that will help to improve water quality, such as a rainwater storage basin, are under construction.
The basin will hold rainwater and gradually release it into the sewage network, preventing pollution when wastewater overflows during periods of rain.
These basins would obviously have to be upstream from Sioux Falls, but we could build a filtration damn in Sioux Falls that would actually help with water flow of the Big Sioux. I heard an estimate several years ago of $75 million (probably closer to $150 million now).
I know a lot of people make fun of the French, but if it wasn’t for them we all would be drinking tea and eating Spotted Dick.
THE LEVITT CAMPGROUND HAS OFFICIALLY OPENED FOR SUMMER!
I like to go for nightly bike rides around 8-10 PM Downtown. Last night as I was riding thru Levitt and I saw two separate couples sleeping within 50 feet of each other with blankies on the Levitt Lawn. But Monday night was a real laugher as I saw two private security officers with heaters in their hands (who are supposed to be stationed at Shriver Square) yelling at the homeless who were sitting on a tree bench in front of Oshima. As they were instructing them to leave, one of the fellas says, ‘This is public property we can be here.‘ I had to laugh that a homeless inebriated person knows their civil rights better than the rent-a-cop. We are NOT going to fix the homeless problem downtown overnight, but I am not sure we are approaching this the right way.
UPDATE: Yes, that is a guy passed out on 14th street. Not sure what is going on, but it was an interesting scene.
GET YOUR MANURE FITNESS ON!
The mayor is hosting this event tomorrow, and I am wondering who the poor schmuck will be that has to power wash all the goose crap off the sidewalk and around the fitness park before the event? I love this new park, but the only time you can get a real workout is before 7 AM because after that the kids seem to think it is a playground, even though they have a wonderful play set just to the south of the fitness pad. Great edition, the only other critique I would have is that a cover, even something linen like at the DTSF dog park, be put over the pad for shade. Just make sure you show up early so you are not tripping over toddlers to get to the stair stepper.
100 DAY CHALLENGE IS COMING TO A CLOSE
I believe the final day is July 31st. I put myself to the challenge this year and I am averaging 14 miles per day with 1,331 miles as of yesterday. About 10% was stair stepper, 25% regular bike and the rest E2 on low setting with NO throttle assist (I do not count throttle miles in the challenge). Since the E2 threats from the SFPD I have NOT ridden on the trail with my E2 which has given me a great opportunity to explore residential routes. A great one is if you take 4th Avenue and 26th from Mckennan Park going South to 33rd which takes you all the way to 41st street. Even at 4:30 PM I see very few cars. I know the city is trying to setup residential routes, but I would encourage commuters to avoid all primary and secondary arterials and ride on residential. I can count the number of cars I encounter on one hand and you can cruise along at a safe 15 MPH.
RENEWABLE ENERGY IN SOUTH DAKOTA IS NOT AT 80%, ALL OF THE TIME
I had a chance encounter last week with an engineer operator from a major energy company in South Dakota, he told me he works at the plant near Sioux Falls and the generators run on Natural Gas. I asked him about the 80% claim. He said that it is NOT wrong, but out of context. He told me that when Hydro, Solar and Wind are at max capacity they supply 80% of the power, the problem is the wind isn’t always blowing, the water isn’t always flowing and well solar doesn’t work real well at night. He said that the yearly average is closer to 45%. He said the advantage of Natural Gas generation is that you can switch it on and have it operational within hours.
l3wis 
