South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

Denny Sanford Premier Center

1st Amendment Denny Sanford Premier Center Employee Free Choice Act Employment Event Center Sioux Falls Uncategorized Unemployment

A ‘Dumpling’ of a Deal

l3wis 2Comments

So this bank president wrote an editorial, that I won’t even link, because it read like an internal memo to the Chamber of Commerce, but he had to tell us how great it is for the state to be dumpling millions in taxdollars and rebates to the new dumpling factory being built in Sioux Falls. He also downplayed the conflicts of interest and scandals around the place because we are going to get 650 JOBS!

And that is the real reason we got this dumpling of a deal. Low wages, no corporate income taxes, TIFs, tax rebates, state backed low interest loans, direct handouts. Things couldn’t look better for the Koreans that will be making BANK from our cheap labor. There is even rumors they are going to build apartment complexes around the facility so the workers won’t have transportation costs. Kinda tells you what kind of labor demographic they are looking at (I bet they will build them a big community garden right next to the Data Center);

Ironically, looks like a line worker makes more then a teller at the bank the writer of the editorial runs;

I love it when these corporate rats climb out of their luxury suites at the Denty and decide to address the minions to tell us how good we have it.

Recently they have said that if the Federal Minimum Wage kept up with inflation, it would be at about $23 per hour in 2026. It is Not, it is about a third that.

I still think a living wage in Sioux Falls is $20 an hour if it comes with benefits and investment opportunities.

I guess low wage companies are going to come to our state whether we like it or not, but please, stop using my tax dollars to incentivize foreign investors. You clearly did NO research on Korean work ethic, but I have a feeling they will try to instill it here. Can’t wait to read those horror stories.

When fat ass bank presidents try to tell me about all the golden opportunities for the community because he gave away MY tax dollars to his rich buddies, it reminds of this story about a guy who wants an island, and he wants me to pay for it. I know. CRAZY! Besides, there is only one dumpling in this world worthy, the softball sized flour dumplings at Bohemian Cafe in Omaha (RIP). You put in a factory like that, and I will open a Kolache and Kuchen bakery next door.

1st Amendment Denny Sanford Premier Center Sioux Falls

Do you think the Denty is UGLY? You are not the only one.

l3wis 8Comments

Had to laugh when I read this;

However, that didn’t prevent two buildings on opposite ends of the state from being included on a list of the 100 “ugliest” public buildings in the country.

One of the buildings is The Denty. It ranked 93rd. To watch more videos of how we got this ugly tin can, go HERE. I still believe if we went with the original plan of hexagonal panels it would have looked better and been constructed better!

Denny Sanford Premier Center Downtown Sioux Falls Elections SF City Council Sioux Falls

What is the difference between an Advisory Election and a Bond Election?

l3wis 2Comments

First the definitions;

An advisory question is a type of ballot measure that is non-binding, meaning the outcome of the ballot measure has no legal effect on a state’s laws. This type of ballot measure is also known as an advisory referendum, advisory vote, or non-binding ballot measure.

A Bond Election is a type of ballot measure in which voters decide whether to authorize a local government to issue bonds to pay for specific projects or services. It is typically used to fund public works projects such as roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. The money raised by the bond issue is usually repaid by raising taxes or other revenue sources. Bond elections are often held in conjunction with other elections, such as municipal or county elections.

We had an advisory election with the Events Center. After citizens voted 54% in favor of building the Denty the city council had to take LEGAL action to take out the bonds, in which they did.

If the election was an actual ‘bond election’ it would have taken a 60% passage to pull the bonds, and since this is a LEGAL election, there would be very little action from the city council to initiate those bonds because the citizens LEGALLY approved the bonds in a LEGAL election.

I am often saying that an advisory vote is actually ILLEGAL because NO LEGAL action is being taken by the public in an election. I have encouraged councilors to have a LEGAL bond election with the Rec bonds and CC bonds. First it makes their job that much easier and secondly you are giving citizens the ability to tax themselves if they choose to (we will need an extra penny sales tax in order for the bonds on the CC to work).

If the city pulls an advisory election on the CC, I encourage any local attorney to sue the city for their ILLEGAL election.

Denny Sanford Premier Center Mayor TenHaken Sioux Falls

The SF Storm gets the boot, Stampede is likely next

l3wis 4Comments

I have been hearing about this for a few years, but since nothing was canceled until now, I really didn’t know how to blog about it, not to mention, I really don’t like sports, yawn, so I really don’t care. It takes a ton of needling from my friends to just watch a quarter of an NFL game.

Before we get to the Storm, let’s talk about the Stampede. I had not been to the Denty since the Foo Fighters played there until this past Sunday. I attended an afternoon Stampede game with some friends who had box seats. The one thing I noticed is that the Denty hasn’t aged well, and while it is only 10 years old, it looks extremely outdated and the random wall wrap ads on the walls look tacky, surprised there wasn’t Dale Earnhardt flags on the wall to. So we know not only the inside of the Denty needs a good remodel, the outside needs a ton of maintenance and the siding will have to be repaired. Normally those expenditures would come from the entertainment tax, but since the Pavilion eats it up like candy and Mayor Poops plans to use the tax to buy the Riverline District land, it seems the Denty will be hobbling along like it’s big sister, the Arena and middle sister the Convention Center. It almost seems intentional to drive interest away from that area to promote a shiny new Convention Center. RATS!!! Oh, the Stampede, I have heard rumors that they are facing the same result. I hand counted the crowd at Sunday’s game in 5 minutes. I have heard they are in negotiations with Augie’s ice slab, and that would be great, better setup. I’m guessing we will hear that announcement after a deal is possibly inked.

As for the Storm, they have always struggled with attendance, so this wasn’t surprising. The argument the Denty has had over the past year is that they wanted to free up those sporting event dates for concerts, which makes business sense. But this wasn’t the makings of the management of the Denty, several moles inside of city hall have told me the Mayor has had a personal pressure campaign on management for almost two years to eliminate the leases. While my moles have only gotten a few minor details switched around I find it believable since the mayor has monthly meetings with Denty management.

While I feel bad for Storm fans (I really don’t 🙁 don’t blame management for this one, the Jumping Jacks coach was likely behind this.

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