Sioux Falls

City of Sioux Falls Sustainability fight heating up

l3wis March 20, 2023 13Comments

Arlene Brandt-Jenson, Administrative Coordinator, SoDak 350 and President, League of Women Voters – Sioux Falls, also wrote a letter to editor with her opinion on what happened;

The Mayor’s new policy advisor, which had not been a part of the monthslong process, says the new “framework” was created in response to concerns from “people” and “the public,” without disclosing sources.

Because they have no sources except political hacks and they would never give that information up;

Let’s be clear: city leadership has shown that they only care about the few loud voices who want to kick the can down the road. By replacing the Sustainable Sioux Falls Plan with a shoddy “framework,” the administration that once committed to grow Sioux Falls through “consensus and transparency” has chosen to override consensus for purposes of apparent political expediency.

I have NOT met with or spoken to any members of this group. I know what the media has been reporting and little else (just like the public).

It was actually refreshing to see a group call out the subversion of information the mayor’s office has been engaging in. While Lori said she would be interviewing the mayor on the topic, a video has yet to pop up. Maybe the press briefings will be re-instated this week and we will hear about these supposed sources that gutted the sustainability recommendations. We can all dream I guess (just make sure you are NOT dreaming next to a river shirtless).

Sioux Falls Mayor TenHaken’s newest policy advisor has experience in Pumpkin Recycling

l3wis March 19, 2023 7Comments

Paul’s newest advisor, Jenna Harris, comes from San Diego where she served as an advisor to a city councilor there. One of her achievements was this;

Seeing the need to divert solid waste and raise awareness of climate action goals, I designed and implemented the City’s Pumpkin Composting Pilot Program, diverting thousands of pounds of Halloween pumpkins from the landfill. 

There is so much turnover in the Mayor’s Office lately, one has to wonder who is advising him and if this advisor had anything to do with white washing the sustainability recommendations? I think Charlie Brown would have something to say about it.