South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

Sioux Falls

Levitt Pavilion SF City Council Sioux Falls

Is the Levitt banking on a parking ramp at Sioux Steel site?

l3wis 7Comments

Someone forwarded this email to me today that was apparently sent to the city council last week AFTER the Levitt’s director gave a presentation to the city council at last Tuesday’s informational;

First Name

Nancy

Last Name

Halverson

Subject

Parking for Levitt at the Falls

Detail

Dear Council Members, During my presentation to the council on Tuesday, Councilor Stehly asked if I felt the 2700 identified free parking spaces were adequate for our expected attendance at Levitt at the Falls. As parking has been the primary concern I have heard from residents, I was hesitant to go too far in answering Ms Stehly in such a public forum. However, I am following up to voice my concern. This summer we are hosting 30 concerts, with an average expected attendance of 1500-3000 people per concert. I am concerned that parking will be an issue and see additional challenges as we grow to 50 concerts each summer beginning in the spring of 2020. I am working closely with Lloyd Companies and am delighted to know that they hope to add a parking facility within their new Sioux Steel Development. I hope that you will do what you can to lend your support to this much-needed facility to make our downtown more easily accessible to all. Thank you for your service to our community!

My first concern is that a director of a local non-profit that receives a ton of public funds doesn’t see the need to share this information at a public meeting, well at least she found it necessary to share it with them in an email.

Secondly, I don’t see 1,500-3000 people at these events. I wish it were true, but my guess is it will be closer to 300-500 people until people get a feel for what kind of concerts these are. I also don’t understand the cries for parking. There is plenty of parking, and I also think people can use resources like Lyft/Uber, the Trolley to shuttle them from central downtown or even better ride your bike or walk. Ironically, as someone pointed out to me the other day, the Walker parking study indicated that the best place to build a new parking ramp wasn’t at the current controversial site but in the spot just South of the Levitt where Raven is tearing down an old building. What a concept!

Lastly, I’m annoyed that the Sioux Steel development is using a Non-Profit to leverage for a TIF to build a parking ramp. I can hear the arguments already if the expected 3,000 a night don’t show, “People said they would come, but couldn’t find any parking.” Oh, poppycock. Isn’t it amazing that 40-50,000 people show up for parades downtown like Parade of Lights and St. Patty’s or the Sidewalk Arts Festival and find plenty of parking, but now all of sudden we can’t find parking for a couple thousand?

The fix is in folks.

This disappoints me even more since I am supportive of the Levitt and am excited about the first year’s lineup. Now I hear they are being used as a pawn in a multi-million dollar corporate welfare tax scheme. Doesn’t anyone in this town fight fair anymore?

Elections SF City Council Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls City Councilors are picking leadership next Tuesday

l3wis 3Comments

The Do-Nothing Leadership of Erickson/Selberg will be sent on their way and the gavel will be handed over.

I’m not sure who will be up for vice-chair. Logically it would be between 3 councilors, Starr, Stehly and Neitzert. I can guarantee that Theresa is not interested in the position, so it will be a toss-up between Pat and Greg. Fortunately the Mayor is NOT allowed to vote on leadership.

I really believe though that council chair should be Starr with Janet or Greg as vice-chair. Normally the sitting vice-chair receives the position of Chair but I’m not sure why Selberg deserves the position. In three years Selberg has done absolutely nothing. The only legislation he has brought forward is a citizen award that has NO affect on the citizenry as a whole. He has been a rubber stamper of almost everything good and bad brought forward and has added little to the conversation. Saying only “I am listening” or “I agree with so and so.” He has been ANYTHING but a leader, but we know how these rodeos work.

 

Elections SF School District Sioux Falls

The Sioux Falls School District really despises elections

l3wis 5Comments

Today when I went to go absentee vote at the IPC center, this was what greeted me at the entrance. No lawn signs, sandwich boards, or even window postings that this was the place to absentee vote. When I walked in, the room for absentee voting was visible.

After I finished voting I noticed there was no water roller to seal my envelope and I told the person working it would probably be a good idea to have one (for those of us that don’t want to lick a foot of glue).

I also noticed they once again are going with voting centers only in the Southern portion of the district even though all other governments within Sioux Falls use precincts throughout the city.

The school district always shrugs their shoulders when it comes to low voter turnout. Maybe there is a reason why. And with their cold war communist level voting results from an internally hand counted bond election I’m not sure many people really trust them to run an election properly.

Mayor TenHaken Sioux Falls

UPDATE: Mayor TenHaken ‘slipped in’ the State Theatre in his SOC address

l3wis 8Comments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jGzJIV7-1s

He didn’t mention any numbers, but he made it clear he wanted it to open within the year. I’m sure it will buried in his proposed budget and the city council will have no choice but to pull it and amend it if they don’t want it. I call it ‘sneaky budgeting’.

He did have some other important things in his presentation. Not sure what a ‘Dream’ website is all about? Just more web marketing mumble jumble.

I’m not sure how this it was any different then having it at Carnegie. The crowd actually looked a little light. Bowlcut used to have PP presentations also and managed just fine. I guess I would also start doing the SOC at 6 or 7 PM so working people can tune in.

UPDATE: PTH also said he wants to rebrand the city’s logo so that all the different organizations associated with the city like the Chamber, Forward SF, Development foundation, etc, have a similar ‘Sioux Falls’ moniker. I think this is a great idea and a long time coming. I often said there is confusion just with the different city departments. But I disagree with the process. First I would ask graphic designers/artists to submit a design and have the citizens vote on it online (like the flag competition). Then whoever wins give them some kind of prize package with gift cards of local businesses etc. Then I would hire a media company to refine it and match it up with the participating orgs. I also don’t think the taxpayers should be paying for this. I think the other organizations involved have plenty of money to foot the bill, or better yet a local media company can donate their time.

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