July 2017

Sioux Falls South DaCola Podcast

South DaCola Podcast III

l3wis July 24, 2017 1Comments

We get down about Garth, Bosworth, Parks and audits.

Event Center Humor Parody

Garth Brooks buys Events Center

l3wis July 24, 2017 21Comments

It really came down to Mr. Brooks running the numbers, according to his management,

â€œHey, make no mistake, we were going to make an a**load of money from doing our 27 shows in Sioux Falls. We even had to charter a private jet to haul all of the cash OUT OF SIOUX FALLS. We just figured it would be more economical for us to buy the Events Center.â€

While most of the year Brooks shows will be booked at the EC, think Celine Dion, Vegas Show, they will do other shows, like monster trucks and rodeos, but they will also do country, country and country shows.

While Brooks won’t live in Sioux Falls permanently, he did purchase a very nice residence on the South Side.

â€œGarth got a Hell of a deal on a home by the Walmart on 85^th and Minnesota. He loved how the Walmart sign illuminated his driveway at night.â€

We asked what Brooks would do about the bent up siding on the EC. Management had a positive twist on that.

Besides getting a $1 million dollar discount on the purchase price due to the whacked siding job, it was actually a selling point.

â€œGarth liked how it looked like an old grain bin. Actually we will be adding fake rust streaks and a big auger. We are also going to change the landscaping to a field of corn around the EC.â€

We wondered if the secret siding settlement was disclosed during the negotiations.

â€œYeah, we saw it, but we won’t be releasing it to the public, they would crap their pants.â€

We wondered if City Hall had any comments about the sale, and the mayor released this statement.

â€œThis is a darn good deal for the good folks of Sioux Falls. Not only will we be able to pay off the bonds early on the Events Center, we will still have a great entertainment facility that was pretty much built for country shows anyway. And I will never have to answer questions about the siding anymore.â€

We asked if there would be any major changes with Brooks management running the facility.

Besides the bars now will only serve Jack Daniels and Coors Light, all shows will be $75. Whether that is a Brooks show, a rodeo or a State â€˜A’ tournament.

We asked if Garth himself had anything to say about the purchase. He did,

â€œSorry Denny, there’s a new Sheriff in town.â€

A bronze of Brooks is already being minted for the campus of the new Brooks Events Center.

Employment Sioux Falls

Hey Stupid, it’s still about the wages

l3wis July 24, 2017 15Comments

You can give away all the free tickets to a free outdoor concert or unlimited mimosas on center court of the EC, doesn’t matter, if young people want to move back to Sioux Falls to continue their careerÂ that decisionÂ depends on something else very important;

â€œThere’s other things that hold people back from moving back. Like pay and benefits,â€ she said.

She expects her husband will take a pay cut when they return.

â€œHe’ll most likely get paid less than in Alaska,â€ she said.

We can talk all we want about the cost-of-living differential, but it’s still important to note the perception here is that financially they feel they will be less-well-off.

WAGES! WAGES! WAGES! So often we like to talk about low unemployment or affordable housing, but let’s face it, over 40% of the full-time jobs in Sioux Falls don’t pay a living wage. Though we have two of the largest industrial hospital complexes in the region, our pay for healthcare workers is stillÂ some of the lowest in the nation, so yes, her husband would have to take a pay cut, a big one.

While there is lots of things to do in SF, some of them free, like recreation in our parks, it still costs money for entertainment. I’m sorry, but the 700 lb. gorilla in the room is still the lack of good living wage jobs in Sioux Falls, not entertainment and recreation.

Patrick Starr SF City Council Sioux Falls

Pat Starr at Democratic Forum (July 21, 2017)

l3wis July 22, 2017 9Comments

Sioux Falls is lucky. Why? We have a few city council members ready to tackle issues and not just do what they are told, you know to be collegial. One of these Sioux Falls City Councilors is Pat Starr.

Pat Starr spoke to Glory House, annexation, phantom ambulances, zoning, family and other interests we’re facing. The appreciative audience of the Sioux Falls Democratic Forum on July 21, 2017 kept him around long after the microphone left.

BTW, he also said some nice things about SouthDacola and Cameraman Bruce, but we won’t take that personally.

Every Friday, at 12 noon, come to the VFW, have lunch and interact with the speakers invited by the Democratic Forum.