Not sure what the point of this letter is, because it is sure vague on details. I would think a task force member would know a little more;

The time for a new events center in Sioux Falls is now. With a new events center comes income for area businesses, more jobs and more opportunities for a variety of events that are educational and entertaining.

What opportunities? What jobs? What events? Like I said, I support a new events center, but if you are going to win over the public you better start giving us details.

As a group we have met twice a month for more than a year, gathering information and public opinion. We are getting closer, but a decision has not yet been made.

That part of the letter confuses me. If you haven’t made a decision yet what point are you trying to make?

The Arena is full for about a four-month period with our local sports teams and other annual events.

That statement alone is very telling. How are we going to fill a 15,000 seat event center then? I have often suggested we should just refurbish the Arena and add another 2,000 seats if we think the solution is to make us bigger. We can also expand the convention center at the same time.

So far we’ve been leaning toward keeping all of our facilities at the same site. We’re going to need places for people to park. I have learned that regardless of your opinion about Howard Wood Field, moving it opens up 1,400 parking spaces at the site.

Silly. Tearing down a very useable stadium to build parking spaces is dumb. Sioux Falls is relatively small, we don’t need to concentrate the facilities. I prefer we build it downtown, but I really don’t care where, just as long as it is not at the current location of the Arena. By building the EC in it’s own location, we create a unique business infrastructure around it. Putting the EC by itself will truly be good for new businesses.

The best thing about the Mayor’s Events Center Task Force is that we’re open-minded.

BAHAHAHAHAHA! You mean like when you hired a consultant and then said he didn’t know what he was talking about? A professional in the business of giving sound advice on building entertainment facilities?

We want to do the right thing, and we’re willing to look at a lot of options.

You may THINK you want to do the right thing, but you are going in the wrong direction, may I suggest instead of opening your mind you start listening to the professionals and public in our community instead of ‘telling’ us what is best.

Sorry drunk homeless man, my shelter is more important

Holy Shit! Did they take smart pills for once? The Editorial Board uses common sense when writing an editorial:

The point of the pilot project is to manage those costs in a way that saves the county money. Truth is, it likely has saved the city some money as well through, if nothing else, reduced law enforcement costs. For that reason alone, the city should ante up to help defray the county’s costs for Safe Home even though dealing with the homeless is a county function in South Dakota. But more than that, Minnehaha County and the city of Sioux Falls already work together on many different levels, both recognizing their responsibilities in the greater metro area. It would be a shame if the city doesn’t pick up its share of the burden for Safe Home.

It would be a shame. The irony of all this is that the city is the one saving thousands by having this shelter. I have aways looked at this issue in terms of money. If it saves us money to invest a little now – DO IT! It seems city leaders only want to spend money on stuff that doesn’t save us money, like monkey crappers. How pathetic is it that we can’t build a shelter for mentally ill homeless people but we can build barns for pink birds. Talk about F’d up priorities.

It has been almost 40 years since SD Democrats have had a man in the Governor’s office and I’m starting to wonder when they are going to get wise;

So no actual report on when Heidepreim is going to announce his entrance into the contest, but they did get to hear 4 previous candidates talk about why they went wrong.

I imagine the conversation went….

Well, I ran as a Democrat…..

Yeah. Me too. That was a mistake…

In the past, I would agree with Pity Pat, but I think the biggest mistake Dems could make in 2010 is running a former Republican wealthy SF lawyer. It is already pretty obvious that Dave Knudson will win the Republican nomination – another wealthy SF lawyer. The smartest thing Dems could do is to run a small town centrist. I think the problem with the Dems is they have no vision. They keep doing the same things over and over and expecting different results. HELLO! You have’nt won the seat in 40 years! It is time to get a new strategy. I have suggested that Chris Nelson run as an independent candidate. Though I think he would put up a good fight against Steffy in the congressional race, I still give her the bout by at least 7 points. I also like Republican candidate Ken Knuppe, but he is a closet Democrat and the Republicans would never give him the nod.

I agree with Pity Pat’s last comment;

The gubernatorial race could be a long and dirty campaign by the time it’s all over.

Probably, between the Republican candidates anyway.

Who needs an education? We gots bombs to buy.

John seems to be confused, again, about what government pork is;

PIERRE, S.D. — Sen. John Thune says he is working to make sure the new defense budget includes money to continue development of a new long-range bomber.

Thune says the bill being considered by the Senate also includes $250 million to upgrade the existing fleet of B-1 bombers, including those stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City.

The reason why Ellsworth was going to close the first time around is because the Pentagon has determined that long range bombers are not needed anymore. Though I think it would be bad if the base closed, I can’t understand why it just can’t be revamped.

In John’s book, buidling bridges and schools is PORK, but building more weapons of war is acceptable. Dumbass.

I guess my farties are warming the planet

I just shake my head when I see this kind of crap.

No comment.

H/T – Helga and C & L