November 2013

So Carrie Underwood is a supporter of PETA, what do SD ranchers think of that?

Panties in a bunch.

A trade group for ranchers in South Dakota complained about Joan Jett’s placement on the state’s float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Other celebs who support PETA have been on parade floats without controversy
  • Jett says she wants to be on another float because of “people’s political agendas”
  • “We were rightly concerned about her representing South Dakota,” ranchers’ rep says
  • Jett supports PETA, which says “the meat trade can’t stand any scrutiny of its cruelty”

(CNN) — Rock star Joan Jett was removed from a parade float representing South Dakota in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade after ranchers protested her appearance, saying she’s a vegetarian and a critic of their livestock production.

Jett is a supporter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the world’s largest animal rights group that promotes a vegetarian diet and condemns factory farms and ranches.

“I’ve decided to switch from South Dakota to another float because people’s political agendas were getting in the way of what should be a purely entertainment driven event,” Jett said in a statement Saturday. “I will remain focused on entertaining the millions of people watching, who will be celebrating a great American tradition.”

The trade group for ranchers in South Dakota complained about Jett’s placement on the state’s float for the New York parade, CNN affiliate KEVN reported.

“So, of course, when we learned that about Miss Jett, we were rightly concerned about her representing South Dakota and a state that is so heavily reliant on agriculture and livestock production to drive our economy,” Jodie Anderson of the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association told the station.

A Macy’s spokesman said Jett and her Blackhearts band will be moved to another float, and another undetermined performer will take Jett’s place on the South Dakota float, the affiliate said.

A PETA leader said the controversy reflected what the group deems as problems in the cattle industry.

“Thanks to South Dakota’s reactionary ranchers, people across the country have learned why Joan Jett supports PETA. The meat trade can’t stand any scrutiny of its cruelty,” PETA Senior Vice President Dan Mathews said in a statement.

Many celebrities who support PETA have appeared on previous Macy’s parade floats or performed without controversy, PETA spokeswoman Moira Colley said. They include “Glee” actress Lea Michele, Jay McGuiness of “The Wanted”, singer Jay Sean, Alan Cumming and Carrie Underwood, Colley said.

You would think after getting their asses handed to them in an ice storm, and their buddy ol’ pals Thune and Noem not helping them in disaster aid they would want anything BUT controversy. Nope. Keep crying and keep voting for conservatives.

Why is the mayor ‘playing politics’ with the preservation award?

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Seems a little strange he is getting involved?

When it comes to recognizing efforts to preserve the historic character of Sioux Falls, Mayor Mike Huether is questioning whether the city should give its annual Historic Preservation Award to a project that received city money.

It’s been done in the past — several times — but this year, the mayor denied the Board of Historic Preservation’s nomination on grounds that the project received money through the city’s façade easement program.

While I am not a fan of the facade program, well let’s just say I think it is total waste of taxpayer dollars, I can’t help to think that the mayor’s moves on this is more ‘political’ then anything.

Does the mayor have a beef with Grant Houwman or the Preservation board?

Seems a little odd to all of sudden ‘DENY’ an award when he was not the one nominating the award.

What did I say about his ‘micro-managing’? All of sudden, he now is deciding who is getting cake and ice cream at the little kid’s birthday party. Really?

How petty is it denying a $18 plastic award?

The indoor tennis facility contract agreement with the city

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After listening to the informational meeting on Tuesday, I have some concerns about our potential contract and gift of $500,000 from the city.

When Bill Townsend (from the tennis association) was asked about public use his reaction was mixed. Several councilors questioned how the public use of the court would be implemented.

Townsend answer at first was that besides the Tennis Association using the facility, there would be public time afforded, then he took an unusual turn. He said he couldn’t say how much the public would be using it because they wanted to wait and monitor the public’s use once opened to determine how much time would be allotted for public use.

Huh? If you are asking for public money wouldn’t you be saying that this facility was partially being built for public use? In other words, if there is truly a PUBLIC need for the facility, the city giving money makes sense, but you don’t know how much the public MIGHT use it, why should we be set in stone with giving you public funds?

Later, Townsend was asked if the city could see how much money the Tennis Association has raised. He said he would not give that information because the original agreement from the city was to give 20% of the cost. But since they are not giving the full 20% he didn’t feel entitled to tell us what they have raised.

What?! If the city is agreeing to give a certain amount, they should be afforded the courtesy of knowing what the Tennis association has raised. It’s not a hard question and it certainly isn’t personal, it’s just a dollar amount, not names of donors.

Lastly when councilor Staggers asked about the conflict of interest with the Mayor signing the contract with his wife sitting on the tennis association, Townsend’s answer was clearly back pedaling. He said he didn’t look at it as a conflict because Cindy Huether has been volunteering on the committee way before the mayor was sworn into office.

Doesn’t matter what Mrs. Huether did before Mike was mayor, it matters now because they are asking for the money while he is Mayor.