Just watched the informational, apparently Karsky is the one to bring this back up, he wants it postponed until after the election for a work session, which makes sense, BUT here is the kicker, he is bringing two amendments forward tonight, 1) to postpone until after the election OR 2) to vote on it again tonight. So there is still a possibility this will get killed tonight. Hold tight.
It seems Jim, Michelle and Mike really want to get the TIF disclosure amendment in the application process dropped, and before the election. Someone (I am assuming one of them) got it put back on the agenda for Tuesday night. They not only want the spousal disclosure removed, they want to bury this TIF change before the election.
Last Tuesday, the council voted 5-3 to postpone the change until April 1st (a week before the election). I have a feeling there was a discussion after the vote with the two swing voters (Dean & Sue) to try to get them to change their votes for this Tuesday.
It begs the question, “What is Michelle, Mike and Jim trying to hide?” This is all about transparency and ethical practices when it come to elected officials. It is no secret that Huether and his wife are investing in properties throughout our city. But why are Michelle and Jim so concerned about this?
Remember, Jim has property adjacent to the new Events Center and Michelle’s donor list reads like the ‘Who’s Who’ of SF developers. Either these three are trying to protect someone’s investment or their own.
There is a deeper story here.
Larry, Curly & Moe must think the citizens are really that stupid
Not so much stupid, just uninformed. While the argus, the tv networks, and radio stations sensationalize things like NCIS basketball, and apologize for meager attendance, (503 for the championship game) issues like this go way under the radar. Once again, thank you Scott for being a real watchdog of city politics, and not the lapdog the media is.
BTW….great imagery of the 3 stooges. Especially of erp. I realize not a lot was needed on your part to repaint these stooges, its still classic. Thank you.
I always thought that was a conflict of interest so if this true then MAGIC MIKE doesnt care.
Not sure how this ties in with Diamond Jim, and his friendship with the owner of McNally’s Pub, but the rumor going around DTSF is they are opening another location on Main & 11th (in the old Young and Richards location) Catty Corner from the Pavilion.
Wanted to watch the rebroadcast of this Council meeting on Channel 16 last night at 7 p.m.
Nothing.
I’m certain Central Services will have one more LAME excuse about technical difficulties….
Highly controversial meetings (ex: TIFs and homeless shelters) and technical difficulties (both on Citylink and SIRE) seem to go together in this town!
DL – this post reads like a bad mystery novel. Where is the where and what is the what?
Definition of adjacent – next to or adjoining something else. So the JE property that is 2000 feet from the front of the new EC is adjacent?
And JE will be out of office soon so how will he impacting what his friend is doing downtown?
Is not Greg Jamison also involved in real estate and construction in the city. Why is this different than the mayor buying some real estate?
I sense a consistent dissonance in your positions on various issues – need to make up your minds.
Do you want the city to operate like a “neighborliness-driven” small town, with all sorts of nefarious back-door, under the table “deals” going on with and between the council members and others?
Or do you want a big-pants grown up city with rules, regulations, and ethical codes enforced by faceless loyalty-free bureaucrats.
Can’t have it both ways.
I just can’t get over the fact that you are about the only voice to try and get the public aware of what the greed and egos are doing to this city. Must be too many promising advertising budgets from
keeping the al and tv tight lipped. One has to wonder how far the greed will go with taxpayers putting up with the likes of our city leaders. Time for spring cleaning. Wake up voters
OSF – This isn’t about JE, he’s leaving soon, this is about what Michelle & Mike are trying to hide. It’s troubling.
Regardless of whether you like Mike or not, the idea that a spouse’s financial interest can be considered separate from a politician is ludicrous. That’s a loophole that any public figure could use to fund any semi-legal or illegal method of making money. I can see it now. “It wasn’t me that bankrolled a Columbian drug cartel. It was my wife. Vote for me!”
I’d say the same thing no matter who was in office. You can’t excuse such actions just because he’s your candidate, and Mike cannot use the “I love this city” defense that kept Munson out of trouble.
man you did a great job with huether there.
So the JE property that is 2000 feet from the front of the new EC is adjacent?
2000 feet? Much closer than that. What kind of sliding scale you using? Of course, back in the day, when pushing for a DT EC, 5000 feet from a ramp to the EC was a gingerly stroll thru wonderland.
The DT location was 1.75 miles from the E 10th exit, 2 miles from the W 12th exit, 3 miles from the Rice Street exit. All via multiple different routes.
The current location is 1.1 miles from the Russell exit (only one route), 2.75 miles from the W 12th exit (two possible routes), 2.75 miles from the Benson Road exit (partly via Russell route – BTW – CRUNCH) and at least 5.75 miles to ANY other exit.
Total distance to three nearest exits from DT = 6.75 miles.
Total distance to three nearest exits at Russell location = 6.6 miles.
Distance is not a really significant difference. The issue is everybody having to squeeze onto Russell at the same time to get to two of them.
Oh, I see, you’re talking about parking ramps poly – not exit ramps. 5,00o feet? really? There’s not a parking ramp within a MILE of what was the proposed DT location? Yeah – sure. Talk about a sliding scale ruler.
This reminds me of when the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s wife was trying to persuade the City Council to allow her an exception to serve alcohol at Falls Park.
She actually stood at the podium in the citizen’s townhall and told the Council her husband had absolutely NO involvement in her business venture.
I guess she donates all of her profit to charity!!?!
Poly – Walking or driving it is over 3,000 feet between the two buildings. In the parking studies, I believe the JE owned building was outside the 1600 ft radius they drew to count parking spots available but was inside the 2,500 ft circle. So I am pretty sure I am within + or – 200 feet if you want to go out and help me run a tape measure across McCart field.
The DT ramp is also around 3,000 ft to drive to from what was the proposed DT/EC site. So whomever was saying 5,000 ft was stretching it a bit.
The ramp at 8th and Dakota is, let’s see, about 6 blocks from the DT location! The 10th and Main lot is 8 blocks. Depending on where the entrance doors were to be located for the DT EC. ALL well w/in walking distance. Just sayin’.
So I am pretty sure I am within + or – 200 feet if you want to go out and help me run a tape measure across McCart field.
Why would I waste my time with you running a tape measure when I’ve got Google Maps on my side? My point is this. You want us to believe diamond Jim’s property is not of any value to the new EC. Tell me ol wise one, which DT ramp or ramps is closer to the proposed DT site than dj’s property is to the new McArena?
330 feet to a city block – including the street right of way.
BTW – I hear there are some new pedestrian bridges over the river that cut off a couple blocks distance between the DT location and those ramps 🙂
Just sayin’.
Poly, if “Diamond Jim” was really concerned about making some quick cash from the Events Center location, he would never have suggested the Arena location and instead would have pressed for it to be built near the Sanford Sports Complex (which would result in thousands and thousands of vehicles passing directly next to his dealerships where he is so prominantly displayed on the corner).
Either way, his property is still farther than 2,000 feet from the new EC so you’re off base there, and if you really feel his property will be significantly more valuable, you’ll have to explain why there are currently several properties for sale across the street (closer to the EC) and very little interest.
Heck even the Moose Lodge property has been for sale for what… a year or two now? That building is over 14,000 square foot, they have a massive 50,000 sq foot parking lot directly adjacent (and yes this time the word actually means what the definition says) McCart fields yet the listing price is $900k. If DJ or anyone else felt real estate in that area was about to skyrocket, please explain why they haven’t snatched up that facility or why the Lambertz property down the street has been for sale for so long. Last I checked even the old Dairy Dream was available and it sits directly on the intersection of three roads.
DJ’s little property has what to offer exactly? Little to no parking – outside of the range of what most people consider acceptable walking distance to the EC or Arena and no room for expansion. Do you really think he is going to profit from the EC at any level that would have made all of this worth his time?
If anyone stands to profit from their real estate here it is likely the homeowners who live directly across the street on Western, because ultimately that is the area which would be poised to become future parking lots or commercial development. Last I checked… none of those homeowners sit on the city council though.
Finally here is what I find so comical about some of the complaints about the EC. Some of the same people telling us that Diamond Jim will profit from this location are the very same people telling us it will fail and that no arterial development will occur in the area. If no development will occur, then real estate values won’t increase and DJ won’t make a dime right? We can’t have it both ways, so some people need to determine which issue they want to complain about and be consistent in their complaints.
Either way, his property is still farther than 2,000 feet from the new EC so you’re off base there
My point is Scott suggested dj’s property is close to the McArena. Ol slew counters with its a long ways away, 2000 feet or more. I was just remembering when the site of choice was DT, 2000 feet or more was nothing. Very easy walk in fact.
BTW. You’re wrong on that 2000 feet or more. I’d say it’s less than 1600 feet.
Great points Craig.
The JE property is commercially unviable for anything more than a bar like Jono’s. That is a family owned building in the neighborhood the family grew up in. It means more to them than money.
If anything I believe the businesses just south of the stadium could be the place the development comes from. Imagine a sports bar/restaurant row on that street. The coming 2-3 years will tell the story there.
Diamond Jim could not care less about vehicle traffic. He’s got all the biker traffic he can handle. What j&l cares about is weekend beer tents, god awful crappy bands, and selling $1.00 drafts for $5.00 and $2.00 made in Malaysia Harley t shirts for $20.00.
DT. West Sioux. Don’t matter to me. 12,000 seats in this town is a giant fail.
Poly – Google Earth on my side. 1,954 ft from front entrance to front entrance.
Check again slew. You’re wrong.
From today’s argus.
The ethics board cited the council’s code of conduct, which allows councilors to retain and pursue private interests, and decided Cindy Huether did nothing wrong.
How is the ethics board appointed or formed?
Poly – Download Google Earth and use the ruler in the tools menu. Google Maps scale is horribly inaccurate.
Here is a screen shot I saved.
The red line from Harley store entrance to proposed EC entrance is 1,954 ft. The red line from Minn Ave to Western Ave is 5,278 ft. So that confirms the accuracy.
So if Goggle Earth is wrong there is no longer 5,280 feet in one mile.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxgXiBXri21mZ0FJbEs4VXlZSkU/edit?usp=sharing
Again it doesn’t matter anyway, they aren’t selling the property or opening up a little bar/cafe there.
Google Earth has many interesting features that Maps lacks. Historical Timeline maps, etc.
It’s a no brainer that any politically connected person has a conflict of interest and that anyone benefiting from free city improvementd must be disclosed. Just a sad commentary on how much we accept institutionalized corruption. We have a TIF in Madison close to a new hospital being built. It was an empty cornfield, hardly a blighted area, but our big boys got it approved through our economic development corporation for 5 local investors hiding behind the paperwork. Lloyds is the builder. Obviously this is all wrong, but people prefer to sit on their couch with their mouths fully closed. Maybe they deserve what they get?
Hey slew, it don’t matter one iota to me either. Whether it’s 20 feet or 20,000 feet matters not in the larger scheme of things. Far as I’m concerned this EC is going to be a giant FAIL. But there are those out there by the white elephant who believe their property is only going to go up in value in the next few years. That’s their gamble…glad it ain’t mine.
But now I am curious. You seem adamant in your claim. As am I about the distance. A 20% difference is actually quite a bit. I have never used google earth so I’m curious just exactly how you arrived at your number. Not being condescending. Just curious.
BTW, for me at least, your link is broken.
Poly – you are correct about the link. Not sure why as I have shared stuff on my Google Drive before.
But you really should download Google Earth.
http://www.google.com/earth/download/ge/agree.html
If that link above does not work google Google Earth download.
Much more one can do with it than Maps. Google Earth has a Ruler option in it. Click on one place, pull your mouse to the next and you have a distance. I do this when I look at farmland.
BTW the Howard Wood football field from goal post to goal post measured 359 ft which is 120 yards as it should be.
After you download Google Earth and get to where you want to go, click on Tools, then Ruler. Click on a spot and drag. Also on View, click View, then click Historical Imagery to turn that on. You get a little timeline in the top left of the screen. Interesting stuff where I can watch the trees in my neighborhood grow up. Goes back to the mid ’90’s. Not much south of 57th back then except the stuff around the golf course.
I could sit on Google Earth for hours as there are so many features. Have not figured out the Flight Simulator yet, but I did crash into a field near Gann Valley as I was looking at some land.
Once you get on the Google Earth ruler. I am measuring from the front of the J&L store south of
Burnside to about 50 ft to the west of the present convention center entrance which is where the EC entrance will be.
Maps is more than adequate for many things, but Google Earth is just a fun tool to use.
I only have google earth on my ipad. Have not looked that close yet at what it can do. Other than zooming around our residence and the places I lived at as a kid, have not used it much. Don’t remember a tool bar tho. Do you get that even if its just the basic ipad app?
Used google maps. For whatever reason it has a more current map than google earth. Can see the basic footprint of the new EC easy enough. I measured from the front door of J&L to the southwest door of the EC. Using Howard wood field as a scale, I came up with 1580 feet. I used my ipad doing this, so I think it’s accurate, but could be a little off.
Poly, I used the football field as a reference also. You are right, it shows up shorter if you take its length and move that distance end to end over your screen. When I snap the ruler on known lengths like section lines and football field and Elmwood golf holes, they come up accurate. Not sure why that is. I do not believe the iDevices or Android versions have a ruler in Google Earth. The new maps are the same in the Computer version of Earth as in Maps. I guess I wonder why the mobile devices would not update Earth. The Earth version has a tilted look to it. Not sure if that would cause measuring issues though.
Poly – if you used goal post to goal post as your “100-yardstick” that would explain why you are almost exactly 30% off (short).
Ruf…in any version of google maps the goal posts and goal lines are not that accurate to look at. Some grey areas. I used from the ten yard line north to ten yard line south. Exactly 240 feet. Try it. See how it works out for you.