November 2012

SF School District Sioux Falls snow removal Snowgates

Did the SF School Board & Dictator Homan create the ‘Perfect Storm’?

l3wis November 26, 2012 4Comments

One of the few shots of SF School board president, Doug Morrison where he is not rubbing his neck during tonight’s meeting (notice who he is looking at – the Fuhrer).

I guess none of us should be surprised by this;

The Sioux Falls School Board has given a school consolidation and closure plan for three central schools the green light. Longfellow, Mark Twain, and Jefferson will be closed. The district will also build a new multi-million dollar elementary school on the Mark Twain site. It will be bigger, and physically better than the aging historic neighborhood facilities.

What angered me the most about tonight’s meeting was the lack of public testimony and that NONE of the important questions were asked about who is buying the land and the bonding. The blatant lack of 1st Amendment rights that were respected was obvious when parents were yelling from the crowd for more testimony and denied because of ‘policy’. Sorry President Morrison, the US Constitution trumps silly school board policies.

But that argument is for another day.

More importantly, the school board fueled an amazing storm tonight. They have probably encouraged many parents to run for the school board this Spring. But this won’t be your average hunky-dory election where about 3% of the voters show up and vote for rubber stampers. The snowgate supporters will be there to, people who believe that the ones that dole out their tax dollars should be spending it on ‘prudent’ things and services. Like proper snow removal and educating our youth. This spring, you may see a storm on election day like no other, and it won’t be coming from the sky, it will be coming from the ballot box.

Elections Sioux Falls snow removal Snowgates

SNOWGATES; On to Phase II

l3wis November 25, 2012 13Comments

Merry Christmas driveway scoopers of all!

The snowgate petitions will be turned in during a press conference on Tuesday (Nov 27) at Carnegie Hall at 1 PM.

This brings us to the next step in the process, the SF city council calling the election. I will keep you updated about the council times, etc.

All petitions are serial numbered, scanned and in electronic form ready to be utilized to encourage the citizens to participate in future work. These signatures were gathered in less than 10 weeks, by over 50 volunteer petition circulators.

This is the gift-wrapped box that over 8,000 signatures will be delivered tomorrow in.

SF School District Sioux Falls

School consolidation likely

l3wis November 25, 2012 27Comments

Seems we have at least ONE school board member that is voting against consolidation. Where do the rest of them stand? Good question.

As much as I would like to say it won’t happen, I’m sure most of the school board members will vote for consolidation, (besides Kate Parker)

The school board will vote Monday night on her recommendation to close Longfellow and Jefferson in 2015 and replace Mark Twain with a two-story school for as many as 600 students.

You will likely see the school board approving this measure. But let’s ask the important questions that the AL and Josh Verges did not ask;

1) Where did the $800,000 figure come from? If this is a salary figure, I totally understand. But tearing down three schools and building a new one isn’t free, and the mortgage payments will not come cheap. So are we really saving money? Not to mention as DT SF becomes revitalized, wouldn’t we think enrollment would go up instead of down at these schools? Wouldn’t upgrades make more sense?

2) Who has peaked interest in buying Longfellow and Jefferson? The hospitals?

3) What is the relationship between bonding companies and school board members and Homan?

What disappoints me the most isn’t that this may happen (I have no kids, so I don’t have a dog in this fight, except for paying property taxes) but that even after I asked Managing Editor Patrick Lalley on the ‘100 Eyes’ show last week to ask these questions, he and Ellis reassured me that they will. Well, Josh Verges certainly did not, and if he did, it was edited out of the story. Why is the AL neglecting to tell the bigger story here? What do they have to lose? They have told us on repeat occasions that the AD department and the NEWS department don’t dictate each others duties, but have yet to provide proof of this.

Who are two of the largest advertisers in the AL?

Mayor Hubris Mayor Subprime Mike Huether Mike Huether SF City Council

Takin’ care of my peeps & Representin’

l3wis November 25, 2012 2Comments

It seems our Two-Faced mayor doesn’t have a problem with crying to the media, but doesn’t even bother contacting city councilors about his grand conspiracy theories;

Jamison said he was surprised Huether reached out to the media but didn’t contact councilors. On Friday, Jamison hadn’t heard anything from Huether regarding Vishnu Bunny but had received an email from him about a separate item.

â€œI couldn’t find a good reason to deny it. I’m all for business and for the eclectic nature of downtown, and this adds to that,â€ he said. â€œWe made a good decision. People ask me about the relationship between the council and the mayor, and I try to explain the challenges we have. This is a perfect example of our challenge on the council.â€

You call it a challenge Greg, I call it something else . . .

Art Sioux Falls

Seems some DT business owners need a little cheese with their WHINE

l3wis November 23, 2012 22Comments

Jeff Mann – All things Tattoo. KELO-TV Screenshot

So the mayor has this crazy idea that he wants a re-vote on Vishnu Bunny’s malt beverage license;

Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether wants the city council to reconsider its approval of Vishnu Bunny’s malt beverage license. City councilors say that’s not likely.

Silly boy, everyone knows tattoos are for adults.

â€œI will not be bringing the issue back,â€ Entenman said, â€œWe want to know about the security plan. He told us about the security plan. He had to submit one when he applied for the license,â€ Entenman said.

The license means the business can serve any time. During Tuesday’s city council meeting, the owner said he planned to sell just once a month during downtown First Fridays. According to the city council members, it’s not uncommon to own a license and use it sparingly. They also say with years of experience, the business knows the ramifications of serving alcohol while tattooing customers.

There is a reason Jeff asked for this license, I am guessing he was tired of giving away FREE malt beverages on First Fridays. That’s it, no hidden ‘artist’ agenda. It amazes me that in other (most) countries artists are on the same level as clergy, but for some reason in this country we are revered as druggies and criminals. What amazes me is that the mayor was at Vishnu’s grand opening, in fact we had a long convo about piercings (I brought the topic up – point of reference, and for the record, I have NO tattoos or piercings, but find the art form fascinating). During the event, the mayor was enjoying a malt beverage, compliments of said business.

Mike knows this place is safe, he got a full tour of the establishment. I suggest he doesn’t worry about flower and cheese shops and let’s this issue drop.

Did the SF School Board & Dictator Homan create the ‘Perfect Storm’?

SNOWGATES; On to Phase II

School consolidation likely

Takin’ care of my peeps & Representin’

Seems some DT business owners need a little cheese with their WHINE

You Missed

UPDATE: What’s going on with promised Apartment Complex behind 8th and Railroad?

Nepotism run amuck at Sioux Falls City Hall

BUY LOCAL! BUY IMMIGRANT!

UPDATE: Pavilion ‘Roofgate’ continues