Image: Courtesy City of Sioux Falls

The Argus did a story on the expansion of the River Greenway project and got a couple of quotes from Detroit Lewis, while they are accurate, I would like to expand on what I was talking about;

“I’m all for a greenway project in there, but that pedestrian bridge is a gigantic waste of money,” said Scott Ehrisman, a Sioux Falls resident and frequent critic of City Hall. “A million for a pedestrian bridge is a little silly. I think you could do with a half-million and clean up that whole area and be done with it.”

I went on to say that I am all for fixing up the Greenway (bike path, foresty, vegetation, etc.) I just think that the pricetag is out of line. I also got into a discussion about the the amphitheater being planned at Fawick park and questioned the need for another one a couple of blocks north. It is also no secret that this bridge was planned when everyone thought there would be an Events Center next to Cherapa Place (which is still a possibility – see the faint drawing of it in the background of the above image?) but since that is no where in the future to be seen, I think we can hold off building the yellow brick road over the river. As I said to Tom in the interview;

“First off, what is the purpose of building an amphitheater if we are already building one at Fawick, which I believe is a better location, and secondly, why do we need to build a million dollar bridge at that location when you can walk a half a block in either direction and cross the river? Talk about waste.”

Of course, the spend happy city has an excuse for everything;

“I think it’s pretty reasonably priced, and people have to realize that this is being driven by the private sector,” Kearney said. “It’s their desire to develop the area, and we’re just coming along and implementing a plan that we’ve had on the shelf.”

If it is being driven by them, why not let them pay for it to? Will a million dollar pedestrian bridge at that location benefit the citizens or the developers? I think we know the answer to that question.

Critics say more needs to be done in the downtown core, including projects that enliven Phillips Avenue and engender more events at the Washington Pavilion.

“I just don’t see how putting in a pedestrian bridge is going to help downtown,” Ehrisman said. “I think there’s a lot better things to do downtown than building steps down to the river. I see so many better options.”

Like I mentioned above, I think improving trails in that area is a good idea, but I am not grasping how people would be attracted to Cherapa Place. I feel we must expand out from the core area (11th & Phillips) instead of all this spotty development, here and there. We were told over 5 years ago if we build Phillips to the Falls, “They will come.” Uh, we are still waiting. All we need to do is look and see how that boondoggle turned out to know that this is one to. Why do you think people continue to vote down rec centers, indoor pools and event centers? Because when the city plans something, it is always way to extravagant, and this project is further proof of it.

“I know people say, ‘Hey, they’re doing it all for Scherschligt,’ but our goal is the city’s goal. You can’t just quit your vision. This project’s been in the works for 10 to 20 years, before the economy went sour and well before the potholes.”

Well, if your goal is the city’s goal, pony up. I think if you want a million dollar bridge, pay for half. Prove your goals are the city’s goals with your wallet instead of your mouth. It is no secret that you have a contract with the city that was concocted long before you (tried) to blow up the ZIP feed mill, Quen Be De Knudson even admitted to it in an City council informational meeting. Munson, or someone at city hall, promised you everything but the kitchen sink. If I was the next mayor, the first thing I would do is rip that contract to shreds and re-plan a more economical greenway expansion, one that doesn’t include handouts to Mr. Scherschligt.

Detroit may be attending this event Saturday night, make sure you bring lots of money, I’m not a cheap drinker.

I knew it was a mistake from the beginning – and all of you who called me a ‘Peacnik’ at the time of my dissent can GFY!

Moderator Grover Norquist then asked Rohrabacher to provide a “guesstimate percentage of Republicans in Congress who would share that view — not that they opposed the President at the time, but today looking back.” Rohrabacher replied that “everybody I know thinks it was a mistake to go in now”:

ROHRABACHER: Well, now that we know that it cost a trillion dollars and all of these years and all of these lives and all of this blood, uh, I don’t know many…

NORQUIST: Looking for a number. Two-thirds? One-third?

ROHRABACHER: I, I can’t. All I can say is the people, everybody I know thinks it was a mistake to go in now.

NORQUIST: That’s 100 percent.

Norquist then turned to McClintock, asking “what percentage”:

NORQUIST: Of Republicans in Congress, who would agree with the general analysis here that it was a mistake and/or we should go in.

MCCLINTOCK: I think everyone would agree Iraq was a mistake.

NORQUIST: Two hundred percents. Ok, we’re going to average these.

MCCLINTOCK: And, you know, again, I think virtually everyone would agree going into Afghanistan the way we did was a mistake. How many share my, my cynicism over this idea of a resolution of force, which I can’t find anywhere in the Constitution. And how many believe that in those rare cases where we go in, we put all of our resources behind our soldiers, I would say certainly more than half of the Republican caucus probably believe that.

Asked for a number by Norquist, Duncan refused to say, but shared an anecdote of how unpopular the war is politically in his conservative military district. Watch it:

I did support another candidate in this race previously. But after watching the interview with the Gargoyle Leader’s Editorial board, I have changed my mind. Besides the fact that we need more women on the city council, Clara is more then your average woman. Clara came to Sioux Falls 20 years ago with practically nothing and has made a name for herself as an advocate for immigrants and refugees. Her diverse background in public service more then qualifies her to be a city councilor. This is from her state senate bid website:

Hart, 50, is the home-school immigrant liaison for the Sioux Falls School District. She has also been active in a number of community groups that provide important services to citizens in the Sioux Empire, including the Banquet, Lutheran Social Services, the Girl Scout, the Junior League, the Ronald McDonald House, the United Way, and Kilian Community College, to name just a few of her many involvements.

Hart has also lived the American dream. A native of Mozambique, she and her family were forced from the country and were refugees in Tanzania, the Sudan, Zaire, and Kenya. She eventually immigrated to the United States in 1988. In 1997, Clara earned her bachelors degree in political science from the University of Sioux Falls.

“I know first hand what a lack of law and order does to a person and to a society,” Hart said. “I know first hand that it is more important to give a person a hand up than a hand out. My adult life has been spent trying to help people help themselves.”

Chuck, with some guy from a band called ‘Cracker’ (is that you Sy, or do you go to the same hair stylist?)

The night is as long
as the pants
but time is nothing
but a passage from here to there

then why
is it important
to remember
if no one
sees the first time
there or here?

Charles Luden
3-16-10
at the Horse Barn

Yesterday I was made aware that the city code enforcement department was trying to squelch free speech. A Staggers and Stehly supporter purchased and has been displaying these signs in his yard. A couple of days ago, code enforcement took them down and said he was violating ordinance. Not true, so he put them back up. After a discussion with the enforcement office he explained to them that as long as his signs did not exeed 1,296 square inches (they are 1,230 square inches) they are legal to display, according to city ordinance. The real reason they were removed was because of ’several complaints’ the code enforcement office finally admitted. Really, is that how we enforce code now in Sioux Falls, if someone complains loud enough, the code enforcement office just makes up something? The signs are staying up for now.

UPDATED: In all fairness to Mike, I have updated my comments about the EC.

While, I have been telling people, including, Mike Huether, that he is my second choice – after the past week, and things I have seen and heard, I no longer have a ’second choice’.

Let’s not muddy the waters. Some things do not change.

FACT: Mike Huether was VP of Marketing for First Premier before quitting in June 2009 to pursue being mayor. He told me to my face that he quit at FP because he “Won’t do the bidding of T. Denny Sanford.” But let’s not be silly folks, the damage is done. As VP of marketing Mike was in charge of the marketing strategies for FP, he probably knew about how they targeted consumers, no, HE DID KNOW. I worked in the CC industry for 4 years as a mail piece and document designer, I knew a lot for being the low man on the totem pole. The CC industry is cloaked in secrecy, not just because of Federal Law, but because of trade secrets. Trust me, Mr. Huether was well aware of what he was doing, and he can say ‘Out damn spot’ all he wants, but it won’t go away.

Sure, he helped Sanford become a billionaire and he helped employ alot of people in Sioux Falls. But guess what, those strategies are now deemed illegal by the Federal government, and for good reason, they were bleeding their customers. Mike just can’t wash his hands of First Premier, I’m sorry, you participated in something that makes me not want to trust you and that is what scares me about a Huether administration.

I also have trouble swallowing some of the things he tells the public. In his Gargoyle Leader interview he told the Ed Board that he has been saving up for years to run for mayor. Yet he told me that he quit at First Premier because he wouldn’t do the bidding of Denny. So would Mike still be working at FP if he wasn’t worried about the perception of the public and the ‘business experience’ he achieved at FP? He is kinda like Costello in the realm of business, he loves to mention his experience but doesn’t tell people what that experience entailed. Pat likes to talk about burgers instead of meat-market bars and Mike likes to talk about ‘financial institutions’ instead of fee harvesting schemes.

When it comes to the Events Center, Mike says this; “I will present a palatable plan to the public, that touches on one point, and that is – let’s come up with a proposal to replace the existing Arena.” He also touches on funding, and says we can build a new EC for aroung $90 – $110 million. Mike does have some great ideas. He does agree that most residents are opposed to the current funding plan. He also suggests we can bond for the EC and use the BB & B tax. But in his AL interview he says he will introduce a plan once he becomes mayor. But why not NOW? I have told Mike in emails that it would actually help his campaign if he introduces a concise plan for the EC. Yvonne Hawkins (who sits on the Ed Board) even says to Mike that his proposal is ‘philisophical’ It seems she was trying, as I was, to get Mike to tell us his plan. He also would not promise a EC would get build during his administration. And he finishes by saying, “He will present a plan after he is elected mayor.” In an email to me he said this;

“Scott, if you don’t know me like you reiterate in your blog, then how can you attack me like you do?  No one has been more open than me on the Events Center Task Force proposal and future plans than me.  No one.”

He apparently was upset about this comment I made;

“That’s just it, that is all we have with Mike, is just his word, and I don’t think it is worth much. I sent him an email simply asking him to tell me his plan for the Events Center and he couldn’t do it. Why is that? That worries me.”

He talks about ‘ideas’ he has but still maintains that the task force needs to meet again and it is up to the voters. That’s not a plan, Mike, that is a suggestion. Leaders lead, they don’t make ’suggestions.’

Just for the record, I have told Mike, on numerous occasions he is more then welcome to defend himself on my blog, with a guest post or even in the comments section. So before you start hollering at Detroit for being the big bad wolf, maybe Mike should build his campaign house out of bricks instead of straw. But what can you expect from a ’straw man’

Sorry, I forgot about this. I love Chilton’s music.

Another brilliant idea by Detroit Lewis? Probably not.

I have been considering changing South DaCola for awhile to just focus on Sioux Falls, events, arts, music, politics, etc. What do you think? All politics are local? Right? It wouldn’t happen until after the election, and South DaCola wouldn’t go away, just your beast to play with.

For the next couple of weeks I will be featuring paintings I have FOR SALE. I will be selling them for BEST OFFER unless otherwise noted You can leave your bid in the comments section, and if your bid wins, you can email me.

BEST OFFER: ‘CHUCK AND BETTIE’ (UNLIKELY PUNK ICONS) (Aprox: 24 X 48″ – MIXED MEDIA ON PLYWOOD (CUSTOM WOOD FRAME)