Munson ain’t no Truman
l3wis 
Munson
The buck stops where?
As you know, I told you a few weeks back that this redlight camera case was coming down the pipe. However I had no idea that Munson was subpena’d – Whoa Nellie.
Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson is fighting a subpoena requesting his videotaped testimony in an ongoing lawsuit over red-light cameras that nab motorists in the downtown area.
Fire up the Mariachi band, here comes the Mexican Hat dance;
Wiedermann has said the cameras at 10th Street and Minnesota Avenue unfairly target motorists. Among his lawsuit’s claims: That the defendants “altered the timing of the lights to increase violations in order to increase profits.”
Kind of like code enforcement fines jumping from $1,900 a year to $60,000 a year in less than 5 years. “But Hey, we are not out to make money, just to harass the shit out of the people who pay are wages.”
Munson seems to be confused about what it means to sign paperwork and be accountable for that signature, legally;
“He signed the contracts with Redflex,” Eiesland said. “At the end of the day, he’s the one for the city who signs off on all these things.”
Remember when Northside Davey was being investigated for campaign finance violations? He said he would have to get in touch with his treasurer because he didn’t know the deets . . . yeah, right Dave. Seems Dave doesn’t have a problem with taking credit when he builds $3 million dollar roads to nowhere in the form of flattering plaques of his face (that are put up in the middle of the night) but when he has to be accountable for the very unconstitutional and illegal operations of red light cameras that’s got nothing to do with him.
You can RUN but you can’t HIDE Dave from the US Constitution – ironically kinda like those redlight cameras.
Munson’s Golden Parachute?
The Plaintiff and I had lunch yesterday (he is the commenter on this site that has the due process lawsuit against the city). We were talking about Munson, and I said I find it interesting that he didn’t really answer the question on Sunday on KELO about his retirement or future after his term is up.
Plaintiff suggested he will get some kind of Golden Parachute job. Which is likely. Even though former city planner, Steve Metli, retired from the city with a hefty package I see he works for a bank now, and there is hardly a time I don’t see him either eating or drinking with developer Craig Lloyd in public. I think they are attached at the hip.
I suspect that Munson may become some kind of inner state lobbyist.
What do the rest of you think? Golden Parachute or Retirement?
God I love it when I’m right
“Jodi, run and get me another box of tissues, the state doesn’t love us anymore.”
“We aren’t lacking road projects. We’re lacking dollars for those road projects and that’s what the stimulus bill could really do to help us,†Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson said.Â
Gee, too bad you didn’t spend some of the record tax revenue over the past 6 years on those projects instead of building crap we didn’t need. And all of sudden Highway 100 is the project of the freaking century.
“That’s such an important roadway for us and this area. And we really need to get that road finished so we can develop on that east side,†said Mayor Munson.Â
Develop the Eastside? How about filling some of these empty retail spaces we have now before building more. If Target wants a new road out there, have them pony up.
But Dave also cries to the Gargoyle Leader about not getting his dirty grubs on the money;
“I don’t think it’s going to create that many jobs,” Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson said of the state’s priority list. “To me, the stimulus program was to build infrastructure and create jobs.”
Over a month ago I addressed the council that we may not see much money in Sioux Falls from Mr. Stimulus Bill because of our low unemployment rates (don’t really need to create jobs in a place that doesn’t need any creation). At the time, I was talking out of my ass and figured I would be eating crow. Well guess what’s on the City Hall menu for lunch today.
I warned that borrowing money and paying for these projects up front gives the appearance in Washington that Sioux Falls is doing AOK and we don’t need Washington’s assistance. I also said that main purpose of the stimulus was to provide jobs where they are needed – that’s not in Sioux Falls.
“Quite honestly, we’re not sure what to make of all this,” he said. “If this is the whole plan,” Hanks added, “I’d be terribly disappointed. If you want to get people back to work, the best way is through the local level.”
Well guess what, Mayor Hanks, the rest of South Dakota is whole lot worse off economically then Rapid City or Sioux Falls. I commend Rounds for taking care of the entire state first before bowing to the two largest cities. Maybe Jodi can spare some of those tissues.
Munson arrogant? Nah . . . just oblivious
I called the Sioux Falls mayor’s office to voice my displeasure with the salary increases of city employees. In the course of the conversation, I was amazed by the attitude of Mayor Dave Munson.
You mean, how he really doesn’t care what you think? Or how he is ‘always right’. Or how you dare question his authority?
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I voiced my concern on how many of us in the community have had our wages frozen or even have had them cut by our employers. I feel the responsible thing is for the city to be as reactive as many private industries locally and nationally have been.
Why would he do that? It’s not like you have a say in the matter, you only elected him and pay his wages.
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Munson arrogantly wanted me to tell him what to cut. He explained in politician speak how the city has done everything it can and is obligated to continue increased expenditures to keep the city growing.
He would never ask me that question, because I would roll out a scroll that would stretch from the Federal courthouse to Falls Park. I would have told him, “Your chief of staff.” Would have loved to hear that reaction.
He and many of those in City Hall have forgotten the bottom line. The citizens of this city have less money, yet our burden continues to grow. Our family budgets get tighter and tighter, yet government continues to grow “for our sake.”
All the while forgetting who is funding the city government.
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Just for once I’d like to see a politician be reactive and not proactive.
Or at least use there fricking brains.