2025

1st Amendment Mayor TenHaken SF City Council Sioux Falls Zoo

A redacted letter over dusty monkeys?

l3wis February 3, 2025 7Comments

You would think they are trying to cover up the assassination of JFK?! During the informational today (on a Monday this week, so they can go kiss the ring of the legislature tomorrow) they went over getting rid of the Brockhouse collection and they had letters from the Delbridge family supporting the surplus. So why is this letter redacted? I’m sure there was nothing TOP SECRET about what was said;

I still think this is a missed opportunity. We could have privately raised the $850K to restore the collection then we could put the displays in public buildings all over town. I know the zoo didn’t want the collection anymore, and I am fine with that, but we don’t have to build a whole new museum we could put the collection in special built atmospheric cases and put them in public buildings. The lack of vision from this work group was astounding! We don’t have to build a whole new multi-million dollar building to house the collection, WE HAVE EXISTING PUBLIC BUILDINGS. I am not sure why the mayor and mostly museum director wanted to surplus this collection. Once again, we have allowed Pastor Poops precedent, and they keep piling up.

Drinking Liberally Liberals South Dakotans

Drinking Liberally Update

l3wis February 3, 2025 8Comments

We have reduced our ambitions lately from saving the World to surviving Trump. As residents of a state dominated by crazy, right-wing Republican’s for many years we probably have special insight to share.

The leadership of the South Dakota Democratic Party (SDDP) is in the Washington, DC area for the 4th or 5th time since they recalled their own Chairperson 18 months ago. They are there to choose a new National Democratic Chairperson and his or her leadership team. South Dakota has about 1/4th of 1% of our Nation’s population and Democratic voter registration in South Dakota has fallen to 23.2% of total voter registration in our State, so you can imagine how important the presence of SDDP’s leadership is in DC. I would estimate it as even less relevant than the seven Democratic Legislative Caucus members their leadership of the SDDP has left us with in our State’s 105 member Legislature.

Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Parks and Rec

Let’s call the new bike trail expansion what it really is, a tax write-off

l3wis January 30, 2025 8Comments

I get excited for new trails in Sioux Falls, as well as my bike riding crew, so we attempted to see this past weekend where the new bike trail addition goes and where it ends. It’s weird. As you can see the trail abruptly ends at a rural bridge on Bahnson only a block from Rice Avenue (FULL DOC);

It really is in the middle of nowhere. But, there seems to be a plan to extend it to Veteran’s Parkway, which is great, but with another 4 miles to go, it could take years and millions of dollars. Many folks have asked me how one mile of bike trail can cost almost $5 million. Look at the design. A bunch of private land needs to be purchased and apparently an elevated trail is needed (it is not). Oh, and a rich donor needed a tax write-off, so this was our best plan for the money? My suggestion to make this trail worthwhile and accessible quicker would be upgrading the bike lane/trail along Rice Avenue to Great Bear and extending to Veterans. This would require a small investment since a half ass bike lane already exists and just needs repaving and marking which should include a medium between Rice and the path;

I would also make this NEW extension pea rock and on natural footings which would save us millions. When the bike trail extended from Russell Avenue, around the airport to Falls Park it was pea rock for years, and was just fine. I was actually disappointed that they paved it. This is what happens when we let rich donors have a ‘VISION’. Their only ‘VISION’ is a tax write-off, and to Hell with what peeps really want, need, or even envision. I hate to say it, but the wealthy in our community and country really control what we get. And wants.

I have been thinking about throwing parties at the end of this trail under the bridge. Themes?

Affordable Housing Downtown Sioux Falls Homeless Sioux Falls

Mayor TenHaken to hold presser on rental code enforcement

l3wis January 30, 2025 7Comments

This should be entertaining. Apparently Pastor Poops is feeling the pressure. I’m sure he will do what he always does, blame the tenants and tell them not to call him. I hope our diminishing press corps at this event will ask tough questions and hold his feet to the fire. As the chief administrator of our city he should be concerned for all renters (I believe 80% of our population in Sioux Falls rents, I saw this stat recently, but can’t find the reference, so just ‘Trump’ trust me on this one Recently the council approved a 170 unit workforce housing complex that was in a perfect location and guess who was basically the only detractor? Another slumlord in town. I told a couple of councilors, ‘He is opposed because it will steal low income renters from him. I used to rent from this family, SLUMLORDS thru and thru.’ It’s time this city cracks down on these folks. I suggest the council put together a set of ordinances that would basically force slumlords out of operation, we will see if they have the courage.