SDPB Prairie Doc highlights Cleveland Abbott

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This Thursday, May 2, 2019, 7:00pm South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s On Call with the Prairie Doc® “A Different Approach to Pain Than Surgery or Medication” will also feature a segment on 2018 South Dakota Hall of Fame inductee, Cleveland Abbott.

Bruce Danielson of Sioux Falls will highlight how Cleveland Abbott’s life was a microcosm of America’s 20th century story of changes. Abbott was one of the people responsible for many social changes we now take for granted in our everyday life. The Cleveland Abbott story is one of excellence in character, personality and perseverance.

In a time of great hardships for his race, he found ways to accomplish the mission Tuskegee Institute’s Booker T. Washington asked of his followers, to prove the worth of a man is not color based.

We in South Dakota can point with pride to the man who overcame the discrimination of his birth, hardships of the South Dakota prairie, to be accepted by our ancestors who then helped shape Abbott’s early life, so he could take on challenges few of us could.

Cleveland Abbott was a leader his entire life. He showed a steady growth of lifetime leadership skills starting with his Watertown boyhood, academic and sport greatness then on World War One French battlefields followed by the Tuskegee Institute and then onto the world stage.

“I believe everyone owes Cleveland Abbott a thank you for opening the world of sports and equal rights to all people of every sex, color or creed” said Danielson.

Thousands of individuals directly benefited during his life and there millions who today, living the benefits of his work in:

  • Equal Rights
  • Civil Rights
  • Women’s athletic breakthroughs
  • Leader in modern NCAA athletics for all students
  • First black member of USA Track & Field board
  • First Black member of US Olympic Organizing Committee
  • Champion of player safety

Cleveland Abbott’s approach to pain and suffering was to get into the arena quietly, with determination and South Dakota spirit to overcome life enormous obstacles.

For more information on Cleveland Abbott, please visit the highlighted exhibit in the South Dakota African American History located in the Sioux Falls Washington Pavilion or contact Bruce Danielson.

Click here to view Cleveland Abbott YouTube videos

Bruce Danielson

Posted in: Cleveland Abbott

Pomp Room Documentary (Early) Trailer

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I was one of the patrons that was interviewed, not sure if I will make the final cut, and heck I can’t even remember what story I told, I have so many. I used to have a FREE pass to the place when I started creating the ticket artwork, so I spent most weekends there, met tons of musicians and friends at the place. It was always a blast. Heck, they even used to let me park my bike in the liquor storage room.

Part dive bar and part home, The Pomp Room was the greatest rock and roll club in South Dakota. Filmmakers Austin Kaus and Jesse Yost are currently hard at work to tell the venue’s story with The Pomp Room: The Documentary. When completed, the film will capture the spirit of the legendary South Dakota venue with photos, flyers, and–most importantly–interviews with the bands, employees, and patrons that were there for all of the chaotic beauty that was The Pomp Room. See where Aerosmith played a surprise show, Fugazi got a great dinner recommendation, and Marilyn Manson learned why it’s important NOT to piss off the bouncers. Please enjoy and share this trailer, and follow Facebook.com/PompRoomDoc for updates and anecdotes as the film moves toward completion. Remember the Pomp Room’s motto: IF IT AIN’T LIVE, IT’S DEAD.

Posted in: Art, Music, Pomp Room, Sioux Falls

Stop the Funding may have a hearing soon

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Last week, Cory Madville did a great post about the technicality of the petition’s oath (thanks for filling in for me);

SDCL 2-1-11 requires that statewide petitions be” liberally construed, so that the real intention of the petitioners may not be defeated by a mere technicality.” If the spirit of that law applies to municipal petitions as well, then Danielson’s mis-oathed petition should stand, and the will of the voters should be heard.

Besides a bunch of armchair politicos, bloggers and attorneys, Mr. Danielson may get his day in court (details to come soon). A judge will ultimately have to decide the fate of the petition oath.

It is clear this will have to be settled in court, the city attorney, the SOS and the city clerk, Tom Greco did the right thing in invalidating the signatures, and Danielson admits he grabbed the wrong form. But what I take issue with is the defense of the city clerk in what he did before the petition was circulated.

Several councilors last night decided he needed defending, while I will defend him on invalidating the signatures, I WILL NOT DEFEND HIM on stamping the petition. Yes, Danielson has fully admitted he screwed up, he should have had an attorney review BOTH sides of the petition, he has admitted it was a mistake. But ultimately, Bruce is NOT the public official who has to verify a petition before moving forward, that is the job of the city clerk. There has been a lot of he said-she said in what happened. Bruce said he offered to show Greco the back of the form, and he said he didn’t need to see it, Greco offers that Bruce told him he didn’t need to see it. Either-or, doesn’t matter. The city clerk’s job is to verify a petition (both sides) and stamp it for approval. Greco did not do his job, period. Even if Bruce refused to show Greco the back of the form, Greco could have refused to stamp the petition. Pretty simple.

I still think the city clerk deserves a reprimand for what he failed to do at the beginning, but as of right now, it looks like that may be a judges decision.

Posted in: City Administration Building, Sioux Falls, Stop the Funding

Sioux Falls City Council Public Input, June 14, 2016

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[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwUgfMgJmMI[/youtube]

Gay chickens and dogs discussed in City council? What? Leave it to David Zokaites to help us understand the nature of things and rights.

What can we say about our Sioux Falls public when they need to get something off their chests. Imagine the power in our fellow citizens as they become either brave enough or frustrated enough to challenge the power structure. 2016 is a year of citizen unrest rarely seen in South Dakota. The best part of this is how politely it is done in the Carnegie Townhall on June 14, 2016 for the City Council.

Who in city hall ever thought the public would ever understand zoning enough to challenge the city and protect their property rights.

Who would have thought there would be at least 5 equality rights advocates in front of the City Council? We never did and it was great.

Our mayor even gets into the public input spirit with another 5 minute soliloquy of woo or was it whoa? It was inspiring to at least a few citizens, including your Cameraman Bruce. Bruce and the mayor had a polite bit of discussion on process.

This hour and nine minutes enriched the Council and the public with examples of speaking truth to power, politely.

Posted in: SF City Council, Sioux Falls

You’re kidding? Right? Events Center engineering wins an award?

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With a pending lawsuit and a lien against the city for the botched siding job, cracked terrazzo floors and their ADA compliance into question they win an engineering award? WTF?

The South Dakota Engineering Society recently awarded the events center project its 2014 Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award, acknowledging the accomplishments of the engineering profession in South Dakota. The South Dakota Engineering Society each year recognizes engineering achievements that capture the innovative and dynamic spirit of a profession “dedicated to public service,” according to a news release.

The award nominees are judged on application of engineering principles, originality and innovation, complexity, social significance and economic impact.

Economic impact!? You mean the $10 million dollar mortgage we are stuck with from the CIP every year while SMG and other contractors cash in? This award must be some kind of sick joke.

Posted in: Event Center, Sioux Falls