November 2023

UPDATE: Republicans lie, cheat & steal and when caught, lie some more

l3wis November 17, 2023 4Comments

I have been following the Freedom Works campaign stories that Patrick Lalley has been digging around on, and his latest touches on an industry I have worked in for 30 years;

Lawrence & Schiller didn’t win the $5M contract for Freedom Works Here, but their idea showed up as the centerpiece of the recuitment campaign produced by the governor’s political consultant.

Let’s just say in the marketing, graphics and communications world, highway robbery is common practice. In fact, I would argue that the industry would have collapsed on itself if it wasn’t ‘borrowing’ from itself concepts and ideas.

Where it gets complicated is when that robbery is blatant, like in this case. Most agencies know that you need to ‘tweak’ a concept you ‘borrowed’ just a tinge so you don’t have finger pointers.

The problem in this case is that the winning bidder (who suddenly popped up a day before presenting their bid and has deep political ties to Noem’s alleged boy toy) never submitted a creative concept. The losing bidder did, and it looks pretty close to final concept.

This doesn’t surprise me. Pierre is full of empty suits that wouldn’t know an original idea if it hit them like a runaway manure spreader.

But the denial by Noem’s staffer says it all;

The accusation that Go West used the creative from another firm’s bid is “completely false,” said Fury in a statement to Sioux Falls Live.

“The only similarity between the campaigns was the use of Gov. Noem’s image,” Fury said. “The chosen campaign works because of its humorous approach, specific metrics, and targeting to fill our specific job openings. We encourage L&S to be transparent by releasing their own creative pitch so that South Dakotans can see the difference for themselves.”

They are NOT going to do that. This agency has deep political ties to the state and the SD GOP and it would be a grave misstep to f’ck up that relationship over a stolen concept and I wouldn’t doubt if they were brought in as a 3rd party contractor on the project (Go West hired them to do the creative).

UPDATE: I was informed by Lalley that L & S was NOT a 3rd party contributor.

But we will never know.

Sioux Falls Sustainability Advocates change frustration into action

l3wis November 16, 2023 1Comments

Bravo to these folks!

“We can’t just sit by and do nothing, so we’re going to have these conversations,” Brandt-Jenson said. “… We are way behind. Just the fact that the biggest city in South Dakota has no real sustainability plan as a policy for our city is something to take note of.”

The coalition’s next effort is a community conversation on climate and sustainability at 8:45 a.m. on Dec. 2 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. The two-and-a-half hour event will allow residents to speak with each other, ask questions and hear from experts in the field, including South Dakota Climatologist Laura Edwards and University of South Dakota professor in sustainability Meghann Jarchow.

To often individuals (like myself) will take their frustrations out on city hall without the support of other citizens or advocates in the community, usually the results are a dead end. But when a group of advocates form a coalition join forces they can have a bigger voice.

Legendary Political Cartoonist Rob Rogers in Sioux Falls this weekend!

l3wis November 16, 2023 2Comments

I can’t believe I just saw this, but Mr. Rogers will be in Sioux Falls this weekend! It will be in coordination with an exhibit at Augustana.

Today Rogers will be conducting a lecture at Augie this afternoon at 4 PM and an artist reception on Friday.

Rogers is the Rock Star of the political cartooning world and if you can’t make the events at least go check out the exhibit throughout the month!

Just the tip . . . of the iceberg

l3wis November 16, 2023 6Comments

Kelo TV did a a story tonight (reported on a court hearing) about a massage parlor that was in violation;

A Sioux Falls masseuse faces possible discipline for allegedly allowing an unlicensed individual to perform massage therapy at her place of business.

While this goes on a lot in Sioux Falls, it is hard to catch them in the act.

I encourage Kelo or Dakota News to send an undercover male reporter to all the massage parlors in town. Ask to see the license of the masseuse before getting a massage, and see how many produce them.

There are also other things to look for, like if they are here legally (work visa, citizenship or green card).

*And one more thing, if they are offering sexual favors (there are certain coded phrases you can use to get this information).

Are you comfortable with any one of these activities going on? I’m not.

I am not sure how much this goes on in Sioux Falls, but I have heard rumors for years that there is multiple massage parlors in Sioux Falls and in surrounding towns that offer ‘Happy Endings’. I think the only way to find out is to ask when setting up the appointment.

There is a lot more I could say about it, but all I have is rumors and speculation, this is why we depend on the professional 4th estate to look into this stuff so bloggers aren’t out asking for fake Handys to get material for a blog post.

So while your story was informative, it was just the tip.

*I AM NOT REFERRING TO THE BUSINESS REFERENCED IN KELO’S STORY. THEY WERE ONLY CHARGED WITH HAVING AN UNLICENSED THERAPIST.

Sioux Falls Mayor TenHaken doesn’t even know what he is sponsoring

l3wis November 14, 2023 16Comments

I have taken a few pot shots at the mayor’s office for sponsoring policy on the council agenda (because the council should sponsor it).

Normally if a councilor sponsors something they present the item and staff assists them after that.

There has been on occasion that Paul will present the item (give details and answer questions). A few months ago he did that when they presented the contract for the Link. He knew very little (or he just wasn’t willing to tell councilors).

It happened again tonight at the City Council meeting (website is down due to transition). So I can’t remember the item number but it had to deal with a grant to the landfill. After the item was read into the record, Paul looks around and says something to the effect the landfill staffer wasn’t there, so they had to defer.

So you sponsor policy and have no clue what it is?

There was absolutely no reason the mayor could not have answered the questions since ultimately he has to sign off on the grants.

Fast forward to the end of the meeting after public input with old and new business. The mayor proceeds to tell the council that item needs to pass tonight because it is time sensitive so he asked for a reconsideration and got the landfill staffer on the phone.

The staffer literally answered two basic questions in a matter of minutes.

Here’s the deal. If the mayor’s office wants to be all King Sh!t sponsoring policy, he should probably read it first, especially since he has to sign off on it.

I mean, it is one thing to take these duties away from the council, but then to sponsor them without having a clue makes it even worse.

Lazy Authoritarianism.

The sad part is we almost lost a grant over it.

Instead of doing jumping jacks with kids, maybe Paul needs to spend a little time in his office reading up on his job.

Cruise Control Government at it’s finest.