What: Sioux Falls Board of Ethics
When: Friday August 16th, 2019 11:00 AM
Where: Old Council Chambers in City Hall. 224 West Ninth Street
Councilors Janet Brekke, Theresa Stehly and Pat Starr will be asking for an advisory opinion on their rights to participate in the ongoing “Triple Check the Charter” petition drive.
The RW3 (Right Way Three) will be bringing evidence that other elected officials have circulated petitions while in office. Mark Mickelson did while serving in the State Legislature, Christine Erickson did (school start date) while serving on the city council and Anne Hajek did while serving on the Minnehaha County Commission.
Huether abused the charter such that we realized it made the mayor a dictator with overwhelming absolute power. There must be change. As for councilors participating in petitions, isn’t it a method to poll and participate with the public? Just because you’re a councilor, doesn’t mean you give up your rights as a citizen.
The parking garage debacle is an example and foremost reason for charter change. The vacated project needs a function that can be decided via the new charter.
Here’s an idea:
Vegas has its downtown overhead light show. How about a full south wall ads and art screen by Daktronics? The garage could become a Caravan(tm) car sales vending machine for Billion(tm). The dynamic project would be a commercial draw into downtown with substantial sales tax from neighboring businesses and hyper attention nationally.
Meanwhile, 5 councilors and the mayor pretend there’s not a useless 5-story concrete structure in the middle of what was a thriving downtown. Maybe hire the magician that made a 747 disappear? We need charter change. Otherwise, a ventriloquist to put his hand in the backs of the 5 and have them say YES once in awhile.