South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

Mayor TenHaken Planning Commission SF City Council Sioux Falls

Mayor TenHaken’s office sends out bizarre photo to advocate for the closure of Elmwood Ave.

l3wis 5Comments

You can’t make this stuff up. The mayor’s office sends out the above photo to the city councilors to advocate for the closure of Elmwood Avenue. Saying this;

02-08-19 Update: Mayor Paul TenHaken stated that Erica Beck, Chief of Staff had sent an email to council outlining the administration’s analysis of the street vacation request. The administration supports the vacation, and is not obligated to be neutral. The Crippled Children’s Hospital and School was built in a corn field and predated the neighborhood.

Their argument that they were their first is ridiculous. First off, zoning laws have changed numerous times since the hospital was built. The neighborhood has also changed. The hospital and it’s ownership has changed names at least 4 times since it was built. On top of the that, the current facility plans to sell within 5 years with no idea who will move into the facility (though the rumor is Sanford wants to snatch it up).

While I disagree with some things in our current zoning laws, street closures should NOT occur because someone or some entity with the most money wants it closed. It should be based on what is best for the neighborhood, which is obvious, keeping the street since Elmwood is the only street in that neighborhood that goes all the way through.

But I have an even bigger issue with the Mayor’s office trying to advocate for a private business and influencing the council’s vote before they have the appropriate hearing. This is what happens when your Deputy COS comes from a right-wing partisan-hack background that doesn’t understand how non-partisan, municipal government works. If PTH wants to veto it after the fact, fine, but him and his staff are not acting ethically in this matter, and it’s a damn shame.

State Funding State Legislature Steve Haugaard

Rep. Haugaard hates the petition/initiative process because he says ‘Direct Democracy’ doesn’t work.

l3wis 4Comments

Haugaard said this, this morning during the legislative coffee; “Direct democracy doesn’t work.” I about fell out of my chair laughing. Once again, another state legislator makes a ridiculous statement NOT based on facts.

First, let’s look to direct democracy in our state. Many of the greatest changes in state law have occurred due to initiatives, some of the worst changes in state law have occurred in the state legislature. I could go thru a long list of examples, but you know what I am talking about.

As for internationally, the Swiss people have had ‘Direct Democracy’ for decades and it works and is very popular. The Swiss people vote on laws 4 times a year and voter turnout is around 50% over the past 30 years (Americans are around 50% over the same time period in national elections). A recent poll shows 65% of Swiss people are satisfied with their government (Americans are at about 58% but another 61% want to see ‘significant changes’). On top of that the Swiss people have one of the highest standard of living in the world. Switzerland rates #2 in the world for per capita wealth.

I challenge Mr. Haugaard to tell a Swiss citizen that “Direct democracy doesn’t work.” They would certainly disagree. Not only does it work, it lifts people up in more ways then you can even imagine. Leave the petition/initiative process alone, it’s not broken and it works extremely well. Our state legislature, not so much.

Democrats

SD Dem Party finally(?) decides how state chair election will go

l3wis 4Comments

From the top down;

Candidates for Chair,

Earlier this week the SDDP Executive Board met to discuss election procedures for officer elections on March 23. The SDDP Constitution does not indicate how the election must be held so the EBoard discussed multiple options before settling on the system below.

Each candidate will have 1 minute for nomination and 3 minutes for a speech. The vote will be cast with paper ballots with the top 2 voter-getters moving on to the final round of voting. If one candidate receives 50% in the first round we will not move to the 2nd round. We will break for a 10 minute caucuses period to whip votes before returning to a final vote.

The Eboard wanted me to run this system by you before it is sent out to the State Central Committee. If you have any questions or concerns don’t hesitate to contact me.

—

Sam Parkinson

Executive Director 

South Dakota Democratic Party

There is still some debate between candidates about how long they will be able to make their case for the seat. Some of the candidates think 10 minutes would be better. We will see.

2nd Amendment Kristi Noem

Noem trusts founding fathers on gun ownership but NOT on hemp production

l3wis 3Comments

Maybe if Noem would do a little historical civics research she wouldn’t be so scared of Hemp;

Gov. Kristi Noem is asking lawmakers to shelve efforts this session to allow the cultivation of industrial hemp in South Dakota.The Republican governor said in a Friday statement that South Dakota isn’t ready for production of industrial hemp. Noem says questions remain about enforcement, taxpayer costs and effects on public safety.

Noem says officials need to see federal rules once they’re issued and decide if hemp is as “promising as they say it will be.” The governor’s office says the crop isn’t currently authorized for growth in South Dakota.

First off, industrial Hemp has little to no THC in it. There is NO need for ‘enforcement’ of a crop that doesn’t produce an illegal drug. As for public safety, Hemp is usually considered a very safe crop because it needs little to no herbicides and pesticides. It is very hearty and virtually grows on it’s own in almost anywhere. I find it a little ironic and hypocritical that Noem takes the words of our founding fathers on the 2nd Amendment, but doesn’t trust them on Hemp production, a major cash crop for them and a product that was farmed up until WWII. Please Kristi, grow a brain.

Jason Reisdorfer Sioux Falls Parks and Rec

UPDATE: New Innovation Director ‘Motivated’ by bloggers

l3wis 5Comments

I almost had a little tear in my eye when I read the below FB post by Jason Reisdorfer, the newly anointed Innovation Director with the city. He also believes God helped him get the job. It’s always important to thank the ‘Big Guy’.

As for getting things done, not thrilled about 5G, but that had more to do with lining Thune’s pockets and the Feds FORCING on us! Hopefully a Democratic Congress will do a full investigation of how the telecoms are screwing municipalities on the deal.

UPDATE: I was hoping Jason is motivated to start filming the Parks Board meetings as he told me he was working on a solution, and it looks like Jason and God made it happen: WATCH HERE.

« Previous Page — Next Page »

You Missed

Downtown Sioux Falls Sioux Falls

Business Diversity Ordinance needs to be implemented Downtown Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Transit

Why doesn’t the city want the working poor going to the airport?

Charter Revision Commission Ethics Mayor Subprime Mike Huether Mayor TenHaken Mike Huether Munson Open Government Open Meetings SF City Council Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Charter Revision Commission Triple Check the Charter

I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Kirby

Harrisburg School District Open Government Open Meetings

Update I: Did the city of Harrisburg violate open meeting laws