South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

November 2013

SF City Council Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Parks and Rec

NO Public money for Private Indoor tennis center

l3wis 15Comments

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Image: Argus Leader

As I suspected, this facility is only for the members of the Tennis Association, and if you want to use it, you better pony-up;

A consultant hired by the Sioux Falls Tennis Association has recommended charging $22 per hour to play at the seven-court Community Indoor Tennis Center. To be guaranteed court time, players would have to sign up for memberships that cost $30 a month per person or $50 for families; nonmembers would pay $10 per visit in addition to the court rental and could not reserve permanent court time.

These prices are outrageous if you want the ‘public’ to use the facility.

And what kind of usage does a facility like this expect to get?

Sioux Empire Fitness is one of two private businesses in the city that have indoor tennis courts. Owner Reid Hans said running a facility that is solely for tennis is difficult financially, partly because no one shows up when the weather is nice.

“It attracts 3 percent of the population,” he said.

So we are going to give $500,000 to a private organization that is going to charge a fortune for the public to use the facility so that approximately 3% of the city’s population can play tennis indoors?

Besides the blatant conflict of interest with the mayor’s wife, this is a total waste of tax dollars and I urge the council to vote against giving them the money. They will just have to work a little harder in fundraising and they can have their own private tennis club (that is what they are trying to do anyway by charging such a high public fee).

Kermit Staggers SF City Council

Look’s like councilor Erpenbach and Rolfing’s hissy fits were over nothing

l3wis 4Comments

staggers-lg

Remember when Michelle & Rolfing threw a fit because they didn’t want councilor Staggers to go to a convention on the councils dime?

Well Kermit explained his trip to the council at Tuesday’s informational (FF: 22:36) Instead of attending a right-wing cluster, he actually learned about sustainable development, affordable housing, public transit, affordable personal transportation and the Feds role in all of it.

The only thing Rex and Michelle were ‘suspicious’ of is that Kermit actually attended something productive. Can’t wait to hear Rolfing’s report on the League of Cities conference. We’ll see how ‘productive’ that was.

Rounds

Gordon Howie drops a bomb

l3wis 12Comments

Wow! This is interesting;

From sources high in the South Dakota Republican leadership camp, the message is a real political bombshell.

We have been told that Mike Rounds will withdraw from the US Senate race in December…

due to investigations currently underway.  Details were sketchy, but the assertion is that the EB-5 program investigations are getting too hot for former Governor, now Senate candidate Mike Rounds.

That might explain why Rounds has been conspicuously absent from nearly all of the joint appearances of the candidates.

We are also told that current US Congresswoman Kristi Noem will enter

Okay, Howie isn’t exactly the best source for this news, but it certainly an interesting theory.

food tax State Legislature

The SD ‘Food Tax’ Dilemma

l3wis 21Comments

Trust me, I don’t stand out on street corners holding a sign that says ‘End the Food Tax’ but I do think eliminating the tax, at least partially would be a good idea.

So why am I bringing this up months before the legislative session? Well it seems there may be winds of change blowing on the issue in Pierre this year.

The other night I ran into a state representative, and let’s just say this, we are on ‘talking terms’. One of the topics of conversation was ‘legislative’ proposals. They had a great idea; eliminate the food tax on fresh fruits and vegetables at farmer’s markets to encourage healthy eating habits. I liked where this person was going with the idea, so I told them they should go a step farther, and eliminate the food tax on all fresh foods and preparable foods (i.e. milk, flour, eggs). I told them that Bread for the World has been fighting this fight for years in the legislature, but maybe if they teamed up with a legislator that wasn’t a Democrat, they might get somewhere on the issue.

They gave me that normal right winger scowl you often see when you ask them to be bi-partisan. They did say they would take that into consideration. I hope so, I already told Bread for the World about your proposal. Teamwork kids! Teamwork!

SF City Council Sioux Falls

Representative Christine Erickson to Enter City Council Race

l3wis 10Comments

113Christine M Erickson_PRlr

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Wednesday, November 20th, 2013

CONTACT:  Christine Erickson – 605-366-5377

Sioux Falls – Representative Christine Erickson, a small business owner and stay-at-home mother, has announced her intention to enter the Sioux Falls City Council election.  Erickson will be seeking the At-Large “B” council member position.   “I have a real passion for public service and I believe at this point in my life, serving the people of Sioux Falls on the City Council is where I can be most effective,” stated Erickson.  She continued, “My campaign will center on finding the tools for the City to be competitive on economic development projects, giving our law enforcement the help they need to keep our City safe, and promoting local business of all sizes.”

Erickson will serve out her remaining one year at the South Dakota Legislature representing the people of District 11.  “My constituents deserve quality, focused representation and I plan to continue to provide them that level of service.   My legislative experience has given me a unique perspective and I hope to put that perspective to use on issues that are local and can do greater good for the people of Sioux Falls,” stated Erickson.  “If elected, my goal would be to continue to push Sioux Falls forward and build on its reputation as a great place to raise a family and conduct business,” concluded Erickson.

A Rapid City native, Erickson understands the importance of family. The daughter of an insurance company employee father and a school employee mother, Erickson grew to understand the value of hard work.  She also learned perseverance by watching her brother, Adam Vinatieri fulfill his dreams of kicking in the NFL through a tremendous amount of work.  “My family is my number one priority,” noted Erickson.  “My husband and I believe it is important to raise our family in South Dakota – close to a lot of family.  The greatest lessons I have learned have been from watching South Dakotans make a difference.  That is what I want to do for Sioux Falls on the City Council.”  Erickson and her husband, Tony, a realtor, live on the western side of Sioux Falls where they raise their three boys, Anthony, Braylon, and Charlie.

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