SF City Council

A redacted letter over dusty monkeys?

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.

UPDATE: Omaha holding big event Tuesday to help Tzadik residents

UPDATE: So, things are not getting much better. So this happened;

So while the tenants are getting gouged on utilities by the service provider, the landlord isn’t even paying the bills. To turn tenants gas off in the middle of winter is CRIMINAL and it is time for the SFPD to produce an arrest warrant for this guy.

As you know, the city of Omaha is also dealing with that dirty rotten rat who owns Tzadik properties;

Health and safety concerns have been raised after conditions at City View Apartments were brought to the attention of the city, and it’s because of those issues that local attorney Dave Pantos said residents could possibly get out of their lease for free.

Well look there, a local attorney willing to help, in Sioux Falls, not so much. In fact I was in a meeting with an attorney and state representative Kadyn Wittman several months ago with tenants and all they got was the ‘HAND’ and little help, but no surprise. They have more important things to do, like making sure transgender females can use the woman’s bathroom 🙁 Most attorneys in Sioux Falls are on retainer with the city and won’t take personal cases against the city or landlords because they like the city’s butter on their bread. It is almost impossible to get a SF attorney to represent you against the city, maybe the SD Supreme Court in all their knowledge should address this? LMFAO! They are so useless, I don’t think I could even count on them to be a school cross guard. Either way, they are getting legal representation, unfortunately they have to get it from out of state.

Oh, but besides rent for an apartment crawling in cockroaches, frozen pipes, broken security, broken pipes, broken fire alarms, mold and nails flying out of the garbage disposal they make the residents pay a service company for utilities, and it is a doozy. I will post two bills that are completely different but still make no sense;

When this was first sent to me, I told them, “Pretty obvious you are being gouged.” I have a 900 Square foot house that I live alone in and these above charges equal about $177 in winter and $90 in the summer so I find this to be an incredible ‘GRIFT’ by the service provider and the landlord. I actually laughed with the service fee. Really?! After basically taking a 100% or more commission you still charge a service fee. RATS!!!!!!

The saddest part is the inaction from city hall. The city government has a lot of power when it comes to putting this person in compliance, but they are to big of wimps to do it. It only took 20+ years to tear down a recycling center that almost fell over before the bulldozers showed up by my house, so I am guessing that maybe in 2045 these folks will get some help 🙁

But hey, we gotta build a ninja warrior complex in the Arena! Priorities people!

Why are the taxpayers of Sioux Falls giving money to a Religious Organization?

Not sure how long the city has been doing this, but if you look at the December expense report apparently we need to fund religious orgs in town now;

YMCA (YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSN OF SF): $16,416.63, Operating Support

Besides being kind of an odd amount and giving money to a religious organization without the consent of the public or even the city council is NOT a good look. Also, if you check their tax filing from 2020 they are part of a National organization that pulls in millions from donors and grants;

This organization is an independent organization and not affiliated with a larger national or regional group of organizations. Young Mens Christian Association is a 501(c)(3) and as such, is described as a “Charitable or Religous organization or a private foundation” by the IRS.

They even describe themselves as a religious organization. It would be like the taxpayers giving money to the Catholic Diocese. I know we have been giving to them for awhile on different programming but after they f’d up the deal with Sanford on the west side rec center, essentially forcing us to purchase the place because Sanford was loosing money on the facility, they shouldn’t get another penny from us!

The entire expense report is fascinating to read because it provides little detail for massive handouts, like this;

LLOYD COMPANIES: $992,331.40, Various Projects

Closed government at it’s best!

Speaking of that, the salaries finally posted Friday afternoon, AFTER, they were printed in the Dakota Scout and distributed. I have not done a deep dive yet, but if you compare to last year, some folks got some massive raises!

2024 DOC2025 DOC

UPDATE: Why did Sioux Falls taxpayers give $100K to the SD Trade Association?

UPDATE is at bottom of article. Also, as many know by now Luke Lindberg is the son-in-law of John Thune, so no surprise he got the money.

I only agree with Councilor Curtis the Blurtist on occassion, and he is correct when he said at the 1st reading of the grifting agreement;

“This is not our role as a city,” he said at the council’s Jan. 14 meeting, noting that City Hall relies on organizations like Forward Sioux Falls, the Greater Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation to navigate private markets on Sioux Falls businesses’ behalf. “If they’re going to continue funding trade, that’s fine, but … it’s not our lane as the city of Sioux Falls.”

He is correct. These importers and exporters are private capitalistic business owners who generate millions in selling and buying products, they should be funding this organization. And let’s take a look at their tax filings. As you can see this is just pure grift, they didn’t need our money, they should have went to their members if they needed this money. The council’s priorities lately with handouts has been atrocious and needs to end.

UPDATE: Notice in their fiscal year of 2023 they spent very little of their budget on actually helping importers and exporters, most went to salary (LINBERG is going to work for the Trump Administration). There expenses were $407K and they only spent $42,752 on helping their members (10% of total expenses) with half going to travel expenses ($22,477). So I guess it is safe to assume the money we just handed them is going towards salaries and not actually helping trade. I wonder if the council even bothered to research their expenses before giving them their money. Don’t kid yourself.

See what happens with public engagement in Sioux Falls

Not sure which SFSD Board Members pulled their arses from their heads, but this was a wonderful way to engage the public about elections, etc.;

Nearly two dozen people attended an informational meeting about what it takes to be a school board member, and how to run for school board, for the Sioux Falls School District on Tuesday night.

Sioux Falls School District Board of Education President Carly Reiter and vice president Dawn Marie Johnson led the meeting, and explained that board members approve budgets and policies, hire and oversee the superintendent, develop and review policies, represent community interests in education and attend appropriate city, state and national events.

Imagine that, when you have a meeting at 6 PM on Tuesday night you can actually get people to attend (though this is at the same time of the council meeting.) You are also helping people to navigate the political landscape. While I appreciate the public engagement, we know that they will be handpicked, funded candidates that Poops and Matt Paulson pull from one of their prosperity gospel churches. The right wingers will likely put someone up to, though they didn’t have much luck the last two elections. I wonder if they also talked about how to file a campaign finance form that is not perjured?

I think it would be great if 24 people ran for school board. That’s what public engagement is about, not hiding in your basement doing jumping jacks.