March 2025

City of Sioux Falls Tidbits

DELBRIDGE ANIMAL COLLECTION REFERENDUM FAILS

I was told they got between 500-1000 sigs, which surprised me, because I didn’t think they would get that many. I truly believe if Sioux Falls voters were polled about keeping the collection 80%+ would say they don’t care if it gets given away. Which is unfortunate because science and art are important, not to mention we are giving away a priceless collection of mounts. But people care more about the price of eggs and who wins an Oscar then they do about history.

NOEM GETS SERIOUS ABOUT HER CREDIT CARD RECEIPTS

It seems Noem now is calling Dakota Skab ‘Fake News’;

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem‘s legal team hit a South Dakota media outlet with a cease-and-desist letter demanding that it correct and end its knowingly “false and misleading” reporting that Noem allegedly racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars on a government-issued credit card when she served as governor, Fox News Digital has learned. 

“On behalf of former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem in her personal capacity, I write out of concern that your website continues to publish false and misleading information about my client that you have known to be false since at least July 2024,” an attorney representing Noem in her personal capacity said in a letter to the co-founders of a South Dakota outlet called The Dakota Scout. The letter was obtained by Fox News Digital on Thursday. 

“Specifically, your website repeatedly, and inaccurately, refers to all charges on credit cards used by the Office of the Governor of South Dakota as charges of my client—allowing a conclusion by multiple commenters on the site and other news outlets that my client violated the laws of South Dakota or stole taxpayer funds for her personal use,” it continued.  “We demand that The Dakota Scout immediately cease spreading these false, misleading, and inaccurate statements and take immediate and significant steps to correct past inaccuracies.

Reading a FOX news story is like reading a 7th grader’s book report, either way, when I have read all the stories about her hair and nail receipts it seemed clear to me she was spending the money on her staff. But that is NOT what is in question, the question is why were you racking up these CC bills so your staff could travel with you? The taxpayers of SD shouldn’t have to foot the bill so your Trump ass-kissing entourage can parade all over the US. I’m sure the DS will fight this, but Noem’s law firm is pretty tough at this stuff. I think it would be ironic if the suit bankrupts the fledgling paper and the county commission, city council and school district have to grovel back to the Argus to print their legals. I’m sure the Argus would be happy to oblige, but I am guessing under a whole new rate.

SIOUX FALLS CITY COUNCIL GETS ROLLED BY THE MAYOR ON DUD FENCE

At the council meeting Tuesday night I spoke during public input (2:20:00) after Jordan Deffenbaugh spoke about the lack of policy leadership and transparency of the current council (47:30). I also told the council they need their own outside counsel (law firm) to write policy and they should put a line in next year’s budget for the expenditure. I knew it was going to be 8 yes votes. First off, because the council is extremely predictable and when I texted councilors to please vote no, I got no response, so I knew how this was going down. They act like they need unity on all votes, you don’t. I told them solving the problems of the city doesn’t take unity between councilors and the mayor it is about solving problems and sometimes you have to vote NO and start over. Many constituents including myself know this was cooked up by the mayor’s office and not dropped in councilor’s laps until the Thursday before the meeting, and let’s just say they weren’t happy about it. If I was them, I would have all voted NO and told the mayor that they will come up with a better solution within 30 days. Grow a sack already council.

WHY IS A NON-PROFIT PROVIDING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LOANS?

I received a postcard in the mail recently from Habitat for Humanity asking me to apply for this program. Someone asked me how I would have received this. I said, I worked in direct mail for 30 years and you can buy a list for anything. So I am sure they purchased a mailing list that had homeowners in a certain income bracket, and that would certainly be me, LOL. While I appreciate this program, it had me thinking, why isn’t the city mailing out postcards for their similar program thru the Feds of community development loans? The premise is the same, help with needed home repairs. There is a reason we had to but a fence around the Dud, there is NO affordable housing in Sioux Falls and the places that are affordable are falling apart.

Noem, still the ‘dumbest person on earth’

I’m glad to see Noem is keeping the title of ‘dumbest person on earth’ even with her new horse riding position as Chief Stetson wearer of DHS;

During a visit to a library that straddles the border between Canada and the United States, Department of Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem reportedly stepped from one side to the other while declaring the northern nation “the 51st state.”

The Trump administration official’s move comes amid increased tensions between the two countries due to the president’s decision to threaten tariffs and attack Canada’s sovereignty.

According to the Boston Globe, Noem was in Derby Line, Vermont shortly after a United States border patrol officer was shot dead in the line of duty nearby. She decided to pay a visit to the Haskell Free Library & Opera House, through which the border runs.

The library’s executive director, Deborah Bishop, told the outlet that Noem “stood on the American side and said, ‘USA number one,’ then she crossed the line and said, ‘the 51st state’.”

“She did it at least three times and was very clear in saying, ‘USA number one’,” Bishop added, “and didn’t even say ‘Canada,’ just, ‘the 51st state’.”

Staff said the performance made them “angry,” accusing Noem of bringing partisan politics into a space dedicated to unity.

I’m surprised she didn’t burst into flames when she picked up a book and tried to read it.

Mayoral Race shakeup?

Since we last discussed this here was the short list of potential or rumored candidates running for mayor;

Mike Huether

Curt Soehl

Rich Merkouris

Alex Jensen

David Z

Erica Beck

Christine Erickson

Marshall (Mr. Illegally living out of his district) Selberg

Well, the shakeup is interesting. I guess Beck has decided to NOT run which put Mastor Poops in a tizzy to find a NEW recruit, apparently he must make sure his horrible policy decisions continue in a good prosperity gospel candidate. He found someone, and they are a nobody, well in the public square sense. They are the president of a local company I have never heard of. Of course, I will not share his name yet, because we truly don’t know until they announce and I will do some digging to find out more about this white, christian, male in his late 40’s. Sound familiar? I hope in next year’s city election folks wake up and realize this current mayor sucks dog do do and anyone he would recruit or endorse will likely go down in flames. Maybe Beck realized this, or maybe she wants to keep her very lucrative job? (Her pay and benefits would be cut in HALF if she became mayor).

Drinking Liberally Feb 28, 2025

Trump is a Russian Asset. Republicans Can Not Find a Red Line. Are They Color Blind?

Since the end of World War II, we have stood up to the threat of Russian territorial expansion through our NATO alliance with Western European Democracies. It has been the foundation of our foreign policy for 80 years, unquestioned by every Democratic and Republican administration beginning with Truman and continuing through Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush II, Obama, and Biden. Even Trump the First honored this long standing policy. But, for some unfathomable reason Trump has decided to abandon it, betray our commitment to a fellow Democracy and allow Russia to force its will as it can in much, perhaps all, of Eastern Europe. ( I personally think Trump is a Russian asset. ) 

Today he and JD Vance ambushed President Zelensky of Ukraine at a press-opportunity where they rudely and arrogantly tried to establish justification for abandoning Ukraine in the midst of its 3 year battle against Russia’s invasion. As an American, it was not only embarrassing, but also horrifying as one reflects on the World that existed prior to World War I and World War II where “might makes right”, only now with nuclear weapons. 

I am hoping our Republican friends, color blind until now, will see this betrayal and policy reversal as a red line they will not cross. It is long pass the time to reign in Trump and his MAGA crew.  

Here is an article for everyone’s reflection.