September 2023

Washington Pavilion hosts opener to Planetarium with decades old movie

l3wis September 22, 2023 3Comments

The Pavilion decided when opening the new planetarium they should show a movie that was decades old, a Foot Soldier who attended put in in perspective;

We went to the new Planetarium the other night during a members-only event at the Pavilion.

With everything we have been hearing, all the hype about the NEW state-of-the-art planetarium, we were shocked that they are playing such OLD programming. For example, the film they showed us talked about space exploration that “is scheduled to be happening in 2014.” The film mentioned old dates in this way several times! So this film had to have been at least 10 years old, probably more. Really, why would they be showing old videos? In the context of space exploration, that is ancient history and does a huge disservice to the viewers. Additionally, the animation in the film is OLD very low quality, looked terrible.

The rumor going around is that the Pavilion bought a license free digital library for the Planetarium, which is NOT a bad idea, but they should only be used for fill in. Any NEW movies or material should be rented by the Pavilion to show the latest releases. On top of that they charge an extra $5 dollar fee to go to the planetarium! On top of that, that, a few years ago the Pavilion fired their entire catering staff and job it out! Can we have anything nice in this town?

Did the ‘Wine and Cheese’ Dems in Sioux Falls screw up a public event with DOT Secretary Buttigieg?

l3wis September 20, 2023 12Comments

I changed my registration from Dem to Indy when Daschle voted for the Iraq War and have not returned. At the time, there was gobs of evidence that the WMD claims were a ruse, and Tommy Boy certainly knew that, and I told a friend, “I guess the Dem party doesn’t believe in diplomacy anymore, so I’m leaving them until they do.”

Fast forward last week when Pete came to South Dakota but seemed to skip a public event in the state’s largest city.

While the media was clueless as usual and I’m sure no one in city government was going to do a photo op with a Biden appointee I still had some hope that the South Dakota Dem party would do a public event.

Rumor has it they had the event, it just wasn’t public.

Some Sioux Falls Democratic legislators decided to throw a private party with Buttigieg. So not only was the public NOT invited, many Dem loyalists from across the state were also not invited.

I saw some selfies on FB with Pete at a popular DTSF hotel bar and was wondering how this event came about.

The ‘rumor’ is the SD Dem party left it up to a certain SF legislator to plan any events around Pete’s visit, inviting the public and other Dem party reps.

She decided to have a private party instead, you know, because that builds party support in a state that is 90% RED!!!!!!!!

You know, you are called the ‘Big Tent Party’ and if you want to work on the recruitment numbers, that haven’t been positive in years, when prominent, respected, Dems come to town, you use them as a recruitment tool not a book end at your cocktail party.

I don’t think things could get much worse for the party, even if TenHaken was running it.

Closed Government Issues in Sioux Falls

l3wis September 19, 2023 4Comments

I know I have been preaching about this since I started the blog, but closed government has repercussions;

Lenin’s Tomb at the Zoo. Casualty of Closed Government.

Rejected ‘censored’ public art. Casualty of Closed Government.

Sustainability. Casualty of Closed Government.

Infrastructure cost overruns. Casualty of Closed Government.

Bunker Ramp. Casualty of Closed Government.

Code and Health violations ignored. Casualty of Closed Government.

Policy discussions in executive sessions. Casualty of Closed Government.

I could list hundreds just from this administration alone. The worst part is the local media is mostly complicit. Besides Forum (Sioux Falls Live), Dakota Scout and SF Simplified, nobody is asking the questions or demanding the info.

Just look at the council agenda for this Friday. Why is there a special meeting at 9 AM with NO agenda and NO information from the council or administration? By state law, the agenda doesn’t have to post until 24 hours in advance, but in a REAL FUNCTIONING OPEN GOVERNMENT scenario, the public would have been informed immediately if a special meeting was being called even without the agenda being legally posted.

Part of the problem is that State Law ‘allows’ local governments to determine what they consider ‘confidential’. Leadership in either the mayor’s office or on the council could fix this, they could put into city charter that information flows freely, or better yet, present it to the Charter Revision Commission and put it on the ballot!

As I have mentioned, the city council struggles with getting help from the administration on crafting legislation. Just look at the E2 ordinance. Besides clarifying ADA and speed limits (which is already on the books) all Councilor Neitzert is asking is to add E2s and mysteriously both the active transportation board and the parks board said they don’t know enough about them to make a decision. At a recent bike committee meeting, they seem to keep beating the dead horse;

Parks Board and Active Transportation Board had tabled the Class II ebike ordinance proposal until questions could be answered regarding enforcement, safety, speeds, and other issues. Sims reiterated that there are safety concerns that need to be addressed and other options such as licensing of e-bikes which could be explored.

Newsflash! The city isn’t going to do a study. They also are NOT going to enforce anything. This has been on the books for 5 years with NO studies, NO enforcement and NO major injuries. Also, who is going to pay to register their E2 so they can ride it on PUBLIC PROPERTY? NO ONE! What makes these committees and boards think something will change next month? I encouraged Greg and other city councilors to bring legislation without the administration’s blessing. If these people are so concerned, they can show up to the 1st and 2nd readings and voice those concerns like the rest of us. Stop playing the mayor’s games and start throwing aces.

As I have stated in the past, a lot of information given to me cannot be published because either the source doesn’t want to go on the record or they are anon. While some in the administration ‘think’ the leaks are coming from the dais at Carnegie that couldn’t be further from the truth. I have a network of former city managers, current and former city employees and other associates. But the public doesn’t have access to these sources or the time to weed thru the rumors like I do.

We do have an opportunity here. There is a Spring council election with the possibility of 3-4 new councilors. I encourage people to recruit non-partisan candidates that are pro open government. I have about 6 possible candidates on the big board but it is going to take at least 3-4 in each race to really shake things up. Open government is easy to fix, and it costs nothing and saves taxpayers oodles of money in lawsuits. We can have a progressive city that cares about everyone, but we can’t have it when city hall is locked and asleep at the wheel.

Why is the City of Sioux Falls hiring a marketing firm?

l3wis September 19, 2023 2Comments

Besides the city being run(?) by a successful marketing mogul and international doxxing champion they have a fully operational and funded media department, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Development Foundation and Chamber (FULL DOC);

The function of city government is not to MARKET the city but to INFORM the citizens. We need a media department, it is very important, but they are not a cheerleading squad they are more like a librarian.

Much Ado about Nothing

l3wis September 17, 2023 3Comments

South Dakota politics is turning into a real Shakespearean play;

Count Claudio falls in love with Hero, the daughter of his host. Hero’s cousin Beatrice (a confirmed spinster) and Benedict (an eternal bachelor) are each duped into believing the other is in love with them. Claudio is deceived by a malicious plot and denounces Hero as unchaste before they marry.

Besides the obvious jokes about Noem’s supposed affair with a total dirt bag, all you have to do is look at a little history and you can predict about anything that goes on in Pierre and Sioux Falls.

OF COURSE A TASK FORCE WAS COMING WITH LENIN’S TOMB AT THE ZOO

You can’t screwup this much and thumb your nose at public sentiment and think you can just take another bible study vacation in some far off land while it all blows over.

SANFORD MERGER WAS NEVER GONNA HAPPEN

I remembered how it all rolled out the first time, and the people involved. Unlike South Dakotans, Minnesotans actually study history. I think Sanford came in with the same game plan and they got rolled.

CARBON PIPELINES A GIGANTIC SCAM

Just looking at the history of the consultants involved, I knew this was just a money making scam or as one person said recently a scam to put in green methanol pipelines. This was never going to happen, but I’m sure the consultants cashed in.

I feel sorry for the journalists that have to cover this crap.