May 2010

Huether: Retail & Job opportunities; BAD. Eggs & Bacon; GOOD.

Mayor Subprime gets sworn in on Monday, 2 PM at Carnegie Hall, so it isn’t too early to be critical (gotta get a jump on it, yah know).

First he wants you to know ‘He is listening’

New Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether will begin hosting “Listening and Learning” sessions starting May 22 at the Whisk and Chop Cafe, 108 S. Minnesota Ave.

I think this is a fantastic idea. But I also think it will be a flop. If you are not handing out FREE pork sandwiches, donuts or coffee, good luck having anybody show up. I often encourage people, that if they have a bone to pick, go to the Monday night city council meetings and address the council while the film is rolling so it is on public record. Never discuss ANYTHING with a politician without a witness or record. I think these sessions won’t be very well attended for other reasons to. People get excited about candidates during campaigns, but once they vote, they want to move on. While a handful of people will be watching and listening, most will be fishing, spending time with families or sleeping off a hangover Saturday mornings. I wish him luck on the concept though.

It seems he is also taking the NEGATIVE road on the Lyon County Casino;

SIOUX FALLS, SD – Sioux Falls mayor-elect Mike Huether calls himself a positive guy, but he sees nothing positive about the large-scale casino that will soon be going up across the border in Iowa.

Besides the job opportunities, the retail opportunities are HUGE. I think it will actually bring more sales revenue to the state and city which will offset the VL revenue loss. It seems some city councilors get it, let’s hope;

Sioux Falls’ four newly elected city council members aren’t necessarily happy about the casino, but they’re excited about the opportunities the casino could bring to the city’s economy.   You can hear their thoughts this Sunday on Inside KELOLAND at 10:30 p.m.

And it looks like some people get it;

Supporters also think the venue will lure out-of-towners to the area, despite concerns over losing revenue.

“I don’t think it’s going to affect our economy that much, because a lot of people come to Sioux Falls for a lot of different things, and I don’t think a lot of those people are going to go gambling,” Marcia Steffen from Sioux Falls said.

Hopefully at least a handful of them at city hall will make and effort to reach out the Lyon County. Because I can guarantee if city hall doesn’t, eastside businesses will snatch up the opportunity.

It also seems councilor Greg Jamison seems to be confused about what it means to ‘Purchase’ something.

“The state of South Dakota should just write them a $60 million check each year and call it good so they don’t have to build the place,” Jamison said.

He thinks we will just be giving the casino a handout. Not true. They will have to purchase their water just like we will from Lewis & Clark. But unlike the city of Sioux Falls, they were not suckered into prepaying for something they ‘may’ have by 2012 like we were. It also surprises me that Greg is being so negative about the potential sales tax revenue that will be flowing into Sioux Falls from casino visitors. This is a guy who has called people like myself and Stehly negative and ‘hot heads’. Maybe he should take a good look in the mirror. A word of advice to Lyon County if they decide to reach out to our city government. Don’t invite Greg to the meetings.

Johnny get your gun (H/T -Helga)

Speakers at NRA convention target Washington, midterms, CNN

Speakers at the National Rifle Association’s annual leadership forum on Friday touted Second Amendment rights and also set their sights on the upcoming midterm elections.

Sarah Palin told the crowd in Charlotte, North Carolina, that the “lamestream media” is using propaganda to make guns seem more dangerous — and not the criminals behind them.

“Criminals, of course, are to blame for crimes. It’s the bad guys, not the piece of metal, that’s to blame,” she told the crowd. “Anti-Second Amendment gun laws don’t offend them [criminals] — they don’t care what kind of gun laws are passed.”

Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, told the crowd there are two competing visions about the future of the country.

“One consists of more government and less freedom, and one consists of less government and more freedom,” he said. “And right now, unfortunately, the prevailing vision in Washington D.C. is that of government. More and more government.”

Barbour, Palin and Thune are among those considered possible GOP presidential nominees in 2012.

Thune talks about More Government? Hardy, Har, Har, Har. This is the same guy who proposed the largest Federal loan to a private company in the history of our country long before the recession and TARP to a company he lobbied for before he was a senator, DM & E Railroad.

If his hypocrisy wasn’t so hilarious it would be pathetic. Wait. It is pathetic.

Is SF competitive bid process really ‘competitive’?

Especially when the mayor has final say;

Section 34 1/2-6. Contracts to be let to lowest bidder.

The mayor may reject any and all bids and readvertise for proposals if none of the bids are satisfactory, or if the mayor believes any agreement has been entered into by the bidders to prevent competition.

Section 34 1/2-7. Publication of advertisement for bids.

In all notices, the mayor shall reserve the right to reject any and all bids or proposals.

Section 34 1/2-8. Emergency award of contract without advertising.

The mayor may make an emergency procurement without advertising the procurement if rentals are not practicable and there exists a threat to public health, welfare, or safety or for other urgent and compelling reasons.

Golly gee, why even have a process if the Mayor can just veto any of it anyway? Or better yet, just give department heads the power to spend, spend, spend;

Section 34 1/2-12. Items exempt from competitive bidding.

The city may purchase or lease storm-caused debris removal services, sewer clean up services, art as defined by SDCL 1-22-9, chemical products, biological products, laboratory apparatus and appliances, library books, medical supplies, lubricating oils and grease, snow removal services, personal computers, telecommunication equipment, any equipment repair, tableware or perishable foods, surplus property from another municipality, any animals, asbestos removal and emergency response action, services provided by individuals or firms for consultants, audits, legal services, ambulance services, architectural services and engineering, insurance, real estate services, auction services, peripheral computer hardware, printers, networking components, software, and related connectivity without advertising for competitive bids.

Competitive bids? Don’t make me laugh. And we sit around and wonder where the city debt came from . . .