South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

Sioux Falls

Curt Soehl Downtown Sioux Falls Mayor TenHaken SF City Council Sioux Falls

Is the revamped Facade Easement program just political payback?

l3wis 7Comments

I saw this coming a mile away.

When the program got reinstated earlier this year I knew what was up. Councilor Soehl pushed for reinstating the program while his campaign’s treasurer was restoring a building in Pettigrew Heights. Look who got a grant, item #6, sub-items #4-5;

Conditional Façade Grant Agreement for building commonly known as 100 South Grange Avenue, Boulevard Properties, LLC, $95K

This is for the proposed coffee shop at 9th and Grange that already got special zoning and street parking. This is a massive conflict of interest on Soehl’s part and he should be charged with an ethical violation. It is the epitome of quid pro quo.

And it seems the mayor’s very special campaign donors are getting some facade monies;

Conditional Façade Grant Agreement for Lucky’s at 224-226 S Phillips Avenue, Blackstreet Partners, LLC, $25K

This of course is part of a conglomerate of investment and development partners who have given thousands of dollars to Mayor TenHaken’s campaign and pro-Haken candidates.

Gee? I wonder why the facade grant was reinstated? Ethics be damned!

Affordable Housing Sioux Falls

Omaha has figured out affordable housing in their core. Why can’t Sioux Falls?

l3wis 7Comments

Not only is Omaha building density in the core, they are doing it for affordable rents;

According to rent.com, the average cost of an Omaha one-bedroom is about $1,000 a month.

“The buildings or apartments will range from $450 all the way to $750. We have studios, one-bedroom apartments and two and three-bedroom apartments for families,” said Christian Gray, executive director of inCOMMON.

The Bristol will have 64 units and the Georgia Row House will have 11.

This is what I thought was promised before the election, then the city did a 180 and decided to build slab houses in SW Brandon.

“Its proximity to transportation, to job centers, to downtown. It doesn’t isolate people into deep parts of the community and exclude them from those opportunities,” said Gray.

Yeah, what a concept! Building affordable housing close to transportation resources! During a presser the other day about the zoo merger, the Mayor brought up our supposed competition with Omaha. Yup, in Omaha they are more concerned about helping their low income workforce than they are about animal prisons.

SF City Council Sioux Falls

Apparently I’m a loser

l3wis 12Comments

Laugh it up, I know I did.

As I stepped up to the podium tonight at the Sioux Falls City Council meeting during general public input someone on the dais said into their microphone ‘What a loser.’ I couldn’t figure out who it was, and I really don’t care, but if you are going to lecture me about Roberts Rules and decorum maybe you need to look into the mirror.

I get it, you may not like the fact that I bring up uncomfortable things, but to vocally (not mentally) call a citizen at public input a loser as they walk up to the podium is despicable.

As I was sitting in the audience tonight listening to the proceedings all I could think to myself is that the council has turned into nothing more than 3rd graders fighting on the playground over someone stealing a Lunchable.

If it is too hot in the kitchen, get out or grow up. Pots on, Gas on High.

« Previous Page — Next Page »

You Missed

Uncategorized

UPDATE: Glad I could be of assistance

Art Sioux Falls

The City of Sioux Falls lacks transparency? Get out!

Mayor TenHaken SF City Council Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Parks and Rec

UPDATE: Mayor ‘Kick the Can’ does it again

Uncategorized

Why do some British people not like Donald Trump? By Nate White