Mayor Grump Toad

Is Huether being tapped to run the Sioux Falls Development Foundation?

Ok, my DaCola contacts have been spit-balling tonight what Mike’s BIG announcement will be on Monday. Announcing a political race is probably unlikely.

Some think he will run some non-profit, or give tennis lessons, etc.

But one of them said to me, “You think he might run the development foundation?”

Hmmm. That’s an organization that loves secrecy and bilking taxpayers. Seems right up his alley.

Briggs, can you get some BINGO cards put together for Monday?

Watch his latest ‘Ask the Mayor’ where he pats himself on the back so many times he might have to re-commission his robotic arm.

MayorCam & RexCam photos (H/T – Cameraman Bruce)

Last Tuesday night I decided to join the many fellow citizens of Sioux Falls who opposed the golf course RFP / RFQ process. As someone who does not play golf anymore, my input was on process, not because I would have anything to gain. When Detroit Lewis left the podium, I went up with my trusty clipboard.

Recently the city started blocking my exhibits during my input time so I decided to bring my exhibits on the back of a clipboard. This one seems to bother a couple of the members of the dais:

Rex Rolfing seems to get upset by hats and other things, did not like my clipboard and asked the mayor to force me to take it down.  When the mayor shook his head and refused to do it,

but the camera changed to a close-up without the “offending” clipboard.

As I tried to conclude my thoughts about federal crime and city government Rex continued to interrupt mentioning to the dais I was at least not getting a one finger salute while speaking.

See the entire show with MayorCam and RexCam running. This whole process has been delayed by not posting the CityLink / SIRE video immediately as usual and then a strange flaw at the 37% point, approximately where my input was. I was next thinking I would see a frozen video or floating Wizard of Kiley head again.

Is Mayor Huether Private messaging people about the Copper Lounge collapse?

I’m not sure if he is messaging people, but if he is, this collapse and investigation must really be hitting a nerve. It makes you wonder what he knows and how deep this investigation goes? The mayor has already admitted on Belfrage’s show on Wednesday that the city had to turn over video (and as I understand it email correspondence and copies of building permits).

Things that make you go hmmmm.

Who is this Mysterious Anti-Development crowd you speak of?

The Mayor is now hallucinating and making up secret minority societies that oppose development in Sioux Falls (FF: 9:30).

I’m not sure who he is talking about. I have been following city politics for over 12 years, and besides a few older citizens that liked things the way they were in 1979, I don’t hear to many people who are opposed to development.

Has there been serious and mindful disagreements about how to accomplish that growth and development? Yes.

Redevelopment of existing core and central neighborhoods and businesses instead constantly buying up cornfields to build strip malls. Which only add to our infrastructure costs and maintenance. I have thought for awhile the redevelopment of Minnesota Avenue to be more bike/pedestrian friendly would spur more private redevelopment. I have lived here since 1991, and it looks the same as it did than (actually worse).

Tax incentives and TIFs are NOT needed to promote development in our community. Most developers, investors and builders in Sioux Falls have done just fine without government’s help. Some ask why we give these incentives? Because they ask for them and our mayor and his minions on the council roll over like an old dog. Besides, it’s not their money they are handing over to developers that may be investing with. End the corporate welfare and the let the free market do it’s job.

Eliminate or reduce regulations for redevelopment to make it more affordable.

More working class homes and apartments and less luxury homes and condos.

More community development loans and grants for individual homeowners.

Stop allowing the Hospital Industrial Complex buy up and eliminate affordable housing in central Sioux Falls.

There may be many disagreements with Mayor Huether on how to intelligently grow and develop our town, but just because we disagree doesn’t mean he is right.

City Employee defends mayor on diversity with FB comment

The comment was deleted, but not before it was left on Jolene Loetscher’s FB page in response to my comment about the mayor throwing mayoral candidates under the bus for not taking a stand on the parking ramp. I pointed out that Jolene did take a stance on the topic;

The person who left this message recently got promoted to the diversity department. I’m not sure if I have ever taken the mayor to task for diversity, I’m also not sure what he has done for diversity, maybe she is right, not sure. I will agree I have been critical of some city employees, but that criticism is usually pointed at a certain department, a director or policy. I agree that the city employees work hard and have the best interest at heart, unfortunately their fear of Hizzoner stifles them sometimes.

I do know that my conversations with individual employees (retired, supervisors, firefighters, police officers, etc.) haven’t been happy with how their boss has been running the city. In fact many of them are very angry with his performance, to put it lightly, and can’t wait until he is gone. Obviously those who report directly to Mike, like this person does, have an appearance to keep up, and I get it. I just suggest they stop drinking the mayor’s kool-aid in the new city hall cafeteria and stay off of FB in the middle of the night.