South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

Elections

Elections Gregg Jamison Mayor Hubris Mayor Subprime Mike Huether Mike Huether Sioux Falls

The first SF Mayoral Forum

l3wis 2Comments

These are the TWEETS from Atyeo’s coverage of the first Mayoral Forum;

J.L. Atyeo @ArgusAtyeo

Jamison said City Hall is not listening to the people on pool, Walmart issues.

Jamison says he’ll bridge the gap between the mayor and the council.

Jamison talks about the difference in his management style: The perspective that I have from the city council is very unique.

Jamison says the city must address crime: It’s not the ‘rah, rah, rah, we’re building a new events center’ part. It’s serious stuff.

Jamison responds: The main thrust for me running is I think we can do better.

First questions for Jamison: Are we going to take a nonpartisan election and turn it into a Republican, Democrat fiasco?

Jamison: Addressing crime will help protect the value of homes.

Jamison wants to put the people first, not the politicians, he says.

Jamison says he doesn’t agree with all of city’s decisions, and it’s time to challenge those.

Jamison: With 3,000 people coming to Sioux Falls each year, they need a place to live.

Jamison introduces his family of realtors: “I’ve got a vested interest in the realtors in this city.”

HUETHER

Huether’s address lasted 20 minutes. Jamison takes the floor.

Huether responds that investments show how important the community is to him.

First question for Mayor Huether: How do personal land investments affect decision-making process as mayor?

Huether: “We’ve got folks building again … and guess what real estate community, we’ve got folks buying again.”

Huether: “You know how business was four years ago. We’ve instilled confidence … and we’ve got it going on right now.”

Huether calls indoor pool a major project for improving quality of life in Sioux Falls.

Huether: “At what point in time are we going to come together as a community and actually build an indoor (aquatic) facility?”

Huether: The environment was perfect for us to build this events center now.

Huether: Downtown rail yard land will be ripe for development.

Huether: Northwest Sioux Falls will be hot spot for construction. “If you don’t have a presence there, you better get one.”

Huether: Real estate community should be excited about Highway 100 partnership with the state.

Huether: Staying ahead of growth means investing in many different things, including roads.

The rally cry is changing, Huether says. Now it’s about workforce development.

Mayor Huether begins his talk with growth and development, highlighting job creation across all sectors.

Mayoral candidates will each get 10 minutes to address the crowd, then they will take questions. Talks should start about noon.

Elections SF City Council Sioux Falls

‘Citizens for Integrity’ at the City Council meeting tonight

l3wis 19Comments

big-B

Chairperson of this group spoke during public input tonight;

My name is Bruce Danielson, a resident of Sioux Falls.

On Thursday February 6, our new group, Citizens for Integrity, started a petition drive in the city of Sioux Falls. There seems to be a bit of official confusion as to why, we citizens of Sioux Falls are beginning this petition.

In response to the submission, an Argus Leader article quoted a city official’s “Jeffersonian” response to it. In light of the response, another Jefferson quote, from the year 1787, comes to mind: “I hold it . . . at a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical”.

This political season in Sioux Falls, we have 4 ballot issues to discuss among the voting citizens. We the people, do not need referees or appointed city educators, to frame the discussion and tell us what to think. We the people are registered adult voters, with the ability to discern the truth.

The Constitution of the State of South Dakota requires the city to step back from any advocacy positions for or against, or any electoral participation, except for the unbiased process necessary to accept petitions, print ballots and announce results. Once the issue is before the voter, no additional government participation is allowed.

We have already seen what city officials have done to limit the snowgate process. Also, we have city officials clearing schedules to advocate for a pool option NOT on the spring 2014 ballot.

And, there are rumblings of biased education for Shape Places and the Zoning issues.

It seems the city has stepped over the grey line of ‘education’ into ‘advocacy’ and the Supreme Court has clearly ruled ‘advocacy’ with the use of tax dollars is unconstitutional.

Once again, we voters should not be educated by biased city officials using their official city offices and budgets to campaign or educate against the very citizens who pay their salaries.

South Dakota has a long tradition of citizen participation in the Initiative and Referendum movement. As a person, who has participated several times in the collection of signatures, people sign petitions because they feel it is time to help elected officials move issues forward to resolution.

At the 1885 statehood constitutional convention held in Sioux Falls, attorney W.H. Lyon, formally suggested to fellow delegates “the referendum” to address “all appropriation bills for new permanent improvements to existing institutions . . . and all laws of general interest to the people.” We can conclude W.H. Lyon saw the need for the people’s direct oversight of government.

Also, from the our Secretary of State’s website:

“South Dakota has the distinction of being the first state in the Union to provide for popular initiative and referendum for enacting and rejecting legislation. This was accomplished by a constitutional amendment approved in 1898.

“These two forms of direct legislation, first used in 1908, rest on the theory . . . . since the legislature may not always adequately represent them, the people should be able to pass laws they desire and nullify laws they oppose.”

It is for these reasons, we citizens of Sioux Falls are preparing to present another ballot measure, with the goal of closing loopholes in the current local city code which are apparently not in compliance with South Dakota State Law.

The sentiments of our group ‐ Citizens for Integrity ‐ were effectively summarized, in just two strong words published recently in Jonathon Ellis’ Argus Leader coverage: where election issue advocacy by government is concerned, South Dakota law

declares, city officials should “Butt Out”. Thank you.

Elections Sioux Falls Walfart

UPDATED: Understanding the ‘BULL’ of the Build a Better Sioux Falls campaign

l3wis 36Comments

I’m sure like myself, you received a letter yesterday from these fine folks. You know, the peeps who have there main contacts in Bentonville, Arkansas. They want to build a better (new Walmart in) Sioux Falls. Except the information and dignitaries they are peddling don’t cut the mustard.

First with these fine bullet points;

wmbull

While it is probably true they will collect $1.5 million in sales tax revenue, this is NOT NEW revenue, it is simply shifting it from other retail outlets, including their own stores. Walmart has confessed several times they want to build this new store to alleviate traffic at their Louise store.

I won’t even go into the jobs statement . . . either of them. Walmart employment speaks for itself.

Expanding our city’s tax base IS a good thing, no doubt, but continued annexation and new infrastructure costs and maintenance only chip away at our tax base, not help it grow.

But what is even more curious is the signers of the letter.

wmsigners

Okay, we all know Hal Wick, the guy who wants to make it mandatory that every South Dakotan carry a gun while making evolution education illegal, and to heck with women’s rights? Hogwash. Wonder what he thinks about the WM pharmacy selling birth control?

Then there’s Gene Abdallah, I guess he needs no title, like ‘Prince’ or ‘Madonna’ or even ‘Carrot Top’.

But let’s look closely at the other three;

While it is true that Darryl runs a Non-Profit now (Special Olympics SD). Darryl used to be VP of Marketing for First Premier Bankcard (1997-2008). Wonder who took over that job?

Don’t know much about Diane Derry, but she might want to check her voter registration, because it seems currently she is not registered to vote, I could be wrong, but hey, she wants you to vote for the new Walmart.

Oh, and then there is Dawn Haas, or is it Hass? Walmart can’t even hire a decent proof reader! Well let’s go by her signature (I’m sure she knows how to spell her own last name.) Dawn is a lowly Project Manager Assistant at Henry Carlson Company, you know, the folks that build Walmarts all over the country.

The irony of all this is that Walmart couldn’t even comprise a signature list of five, normal, everyday registered voters to sign this letter. This should tell you what kind of ‘campaign’ they are running out of Bentonville, Arkansas.

I feel like I have been built better (bent over) already.

UPDATED:  I found out today ‘BABSF’ was turned down by two prominent PR firms in Sioux Falls to handle their marketing, and are using an OUT-OF-STATE public relations company. It is also very peculiar that the former Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce marketing person is running their campaign, yet NOT a peep or position from the Sioux Falls Chamber.

Funny how Walmart wants to build a better Sioux Falls, yet no one in Sioux Falls, wants anything to do with them. Talk about a bunch of cheap crap!

Angie Buhl Elections SF School District State Legislature

One is back in, One is advertising fireplaces (but not a city council race)

l3wis 6Comments

buhler-buhler

I guess there have been ‘fireplace commercials’ that feature Christine Erickson and her family in their new home, which means it might have been shot and produced after she announced her candidacy for city council. I wonder if this violates any FCC or election disclosure laws?  Even if it is “legally compliant” that doesn’t make it right to air it, especially less than 60 days out to the election (after April 10, fine).  She should know better, the business should know better, and the media looks complicit for airing it.  Why can’t people just do the right thing any more without forcing someone else to call them out? It’s like the Channel 16 and the mayor blatantly using it for campaign purposes.

I was also alerted that last night on Facebook that Angie Buhl IS running for re-election.  She even used the post yesterday to ask for campaign donations. I guess District 15 hasn’t had enough of Pro-choice, non-catholics 🙂

Elections Sioux Falls

Maybe someone needs to ‘Educate’ Pat about how our city is wasting our taxdollars (Guest Post, Bruce Danielson)

l3wis 1Comments

Mr. Lalley of the AL does not seem to understand our recent petition action. So I guess we need to help him.

This petition drive is not to demean our public servants. We need our public employees to keep our system running. What our movement is about is really quite simple.

Our petition drive is simple, it is Constitutional. We have elected leaders, appointed directors and paid news personalities currently shooting from the hip in fear of the public. The public wishes to have a free and open discussion concerning issues touching their lives. We the public, wish to properly debate with our neighbors without our taxpayer treasury being turned against us, the very same public.

In our current petition movement, we are asking the citizens to use Mr. Lalley’s words, their best efforts at “Reason” “Research” “Facts”.  When there are issues to debate and the people rise up, demanding a place at the table of discussion through the petition movement, the official government must step back.

A properly lead government will have a trove of studies and reports outlining community needs. These reports should be written without a predetermined point of view. It is with unbiased report and study results, a proper discussion / debate can be attained. Our current city leadership feels the public needs to be lead to their conclusions without knowing the “Reason” “Research” “Facts”.

We do not want pretty pictures of four color, 3-D presentations of concepts not being seriously considered to be the basis of the discussions. We want real “Reason” “Research” “Facts”.

Our petition movement does not restrict city employees or elected officials from partaking in the citizen effort as everyday citizens.

Our petition effort does not stop the presentation of ideas from the different citizen groups. Citizens of Sioux Falls have many ideas to present in each of these four issues.

Our petition effort does not stop city employees from partaking in the discussions and debate as average citizens.

Our petition effort does not stop elected officials from partaking in the discussions and debate as average citizens.

Our petition effort encourages city employees TO sign petitions. Their supervisors cannot browbeat a city employee or contractor because of a signature.

Our petition effort prevents city officials from restricting their employees constitutional right to be part of the debate.

Our petition efforts does stop the expenditure of taxpayer revenue from being spent on the debates.

Our petition effort stops the use of official office, position , power and money from be in used by city officialdom.

We voters of the city of Sioux Falls are legal adults, we have been educated to understand, reason and act. We do not need a city official with a vested interest in a plan or plans to “educate” the populace, interfering in the debate.

The reason any of these petitions are before the voters this spring, stems from the official bureaucrats possibly returning favors? Wanting to implement a 50 year plan their grandparents wanted? Settle an old personal score? We the public, who pays the bill, says in these efforts, “We don’t know and we want to find out”.

So to make it very clear, we don’t have anything against our fellow citizens who work for us as city employees or bureaucrats. We appreciate the hard work they perform on our behalf. We wish to have them as part of our public debate. They are our fellow citizens who have to put up with much.

Mr. Lalley has a cute phrase he uses to which can be used to demean us, “Best Little City in America”. If you are going to use this phrase Mr. Lalley, you have a lot to understand. We have a lot of people who wish to be heard to make it better.  The people wish to be heard without filters paid for by our own tax dollars. If the officials feel they need to defend themselves on these citizen ballot efforts, they are citizens. So speak up as citizens, without using your citizen paid for office budget to finance your place at the decision table. The public wants a real debate. We want real “Reason” “Research” “Facts” to make this the Best Little City in America.

« Previous Page — Next Page »

You Missed

1st Amendment Sioux Falls Uncategorized

Accept the Invitation

1st Amendment Open Government Open Meetings SF City Council

Transparency Changes with the Sioux Falls City Council

1st Amendment Minnehaha County SFPD Sioux Falls

A name is important, especially in an Emergency

1st Amendment racism

Jim Crow in Turner County