As you know, the SFPD like to ride their motorcycles down the bike trail even though they have some really nice E-Bikes that I assume are collecting dust somewhere. So today I saw TWO motorcycle cops on the bike trail. At first they were parked and digging around in the trees for transients, then they got on the bikes and took off going at least 30 MPH trailing each other. They did not have on any emergency lights or sirens. If you are going to an emergency GET OFF THE TRAIL. I don’t think the cops should be able to drive on the bike trail unless necessary for an emergency. You bought the E-Bikes for a reason! USE THEM!
Last night while listening to testimony from immigrant activists, immigrants, and children of immigrants one thing was clear; what is happening right now in our country is horrible and riddled with misinformation, lies, and lots of RACISM. About a month before the presidential election, I knew Trump would win. I did the math 20 different ways from Tuesday and the result was always the same. No surprise. The Democrats, while having good intentions, have no follow thru, so while running against the most racist president since Jackson they put up a Black Woman which almost ended up dead last in the last Democratic presidential primary. To say the Dems F’d this past election up is an understatement. To hear all these immigrant horror stories is troubling, and not reflective of our Democratic Republic, which was built on the foundation of immigrants. As I had a lot of mixed emotions last night, after each speaker I kept circling back to why this happened; WE ELECTED TRUMP AS PRESIDENT. None of what is happening is surprising, and the hippie beads, tie-dye shirts and protests with flowers and handmade signs isn’t cutting it, the old way to battle the racist Republicans isn’t working anymore, and you have to fight fire with fire and play their silly reindeer games. But what I kept coming back to after each testimony is this question; ‘WHY THE FUCK DID WE ELECT A RACIST FOR PRESIDENT?’ Heck, even Black and Hispanic men voted for this clown in record numbers. We can point fingers at a lot of people, but I keep pointing my finger at the very people who showed up last night and those on the dais who voted for this rotten person at least once if not three times, YOU ARE TO BLAME FOR THIS SITUATION AND SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES. I LOATHE YOU! The racists got what they wanted and you played right into their hands. Do I think a majority of this country is racist? NO, but they certainly are ignorant and mis-informed to vote for a felon, sexual assaulting, racist (and perhaps pedophile) to the highest office in the land, you made this bed, and now you gotta sleep in it. It is hard for me to feel sorry for those on the dais who have played into this BS. I have struggled over the last 7 months, trying to come to grips with a voting public who is more concerned about the color of your skin and your immigration status then they are about saving a country. And there is more to come, a likely recession, high unemployment, homelessness, lack of healthcare, and the list goes on, all the while instituting a national sales tax (tariffs) on the ones that can least afford it.
(I updated the following paragraph)
After public input the Mayor told the speakers to take a moment while they leave the chambers, and in the hot microphone ‘someone’ on the dais says ‘THIS SUCKS!’ (FF: 4:44:15) While it was hard for me to determine who said it, I’m am pretty sure it was Curt Soehl. AND, It does suck Curt and Paul, and we can thank you for voting for this man likely three times while blindly standing at a press conference that stunk of racism and ignorance. It would have been like being invited to a Klan rally and when you attended you felt like you were mislead. You stepped in it big time, you are really living up to your nickname your daughter gave you. Poops tried to blame ‘misinformation’ before the presser as to why he showed. Gee, doesn’t it SUCK when someone isn’t transparent with you, how does it feel? It’s a gut punch when our government hides stuff from us, how does it feel when the shoe is on your feet? My assumption, whoever said this SUCKED, was a bit irked they had to sit there and listen to this, but you are part of the problem. While I commend all those who spoke last night, it was like a bear crapping in the woods, the officials didn’t hear a word you said, or cared. I am hoping this city and country wakes up before the next city election in June and the midterms in November, because this racist economic policy will be the death of this country, and when the smoke clears, we will be different, and not for the better. A light can never be seen in this darkness.
I also spoke on several other agenda items at the meeting last night.
This Wednesday at 6:00 PM, we’re going to fill the Sioux Falls City Council chambers in downtown Sioux Falls and demand our representatives exercise HOME RULE AUTHORITY to draw a line in the sand against government overreach with Governor Rhoden’s Operation Prairie Thunder program.
Basically the SD Dems are arguing since the city of Sux has a home rule charter they can tell Rhoden to go to Hell. Which is partially true on some matters. In fact the Mayor with the Council backing him could tell Rhoden that he cannot use our police force for immigration matters, and they wouldn’t even need to vote on it, the city attorney could just send a letter and the only recourse for Larry Buck would be to have the AG sue the city, which would be messy. Public input should be very entertaining. Public Input probably won’t happen until 8 PM.
It seems our local media has been on a ‘look at how great the city is’ kick these days. Blaming bicyclists for poor planning of detours on the bike trail, and now patting themselves on the back over the transient issue, not so fast;
Because repeatedly, now, as I’ve walked throughout downtown Sioux Falls in essentially any direction, the difference is clear: The feeling on our streets has changed for the better.
While I would agree, the panhandling has been less in that 3 block strip on Phillips, the transient population HAS exploded this summer DTSF (in the fringes).
I ride almost every night DTSF after dark and I do a homeless count. The biggest night I had was 36. Most nights I count over 20. They hide at various parks and camp out on the fringes of DTSF. They absolutely love the Levitt space (because they have outlets to plug in their smart phones) Sure, they have been pushed out of the main drag, but they are seeping over into the neighborhoods around DTSF (some of the poorest in the city with very little police presence unless they are hiding on a break, that happens a lot). There is a picnic shelter close to my house on the bike trail that is literally a campground for around a dozen transients, and when the police chase them out, they are back the next night, same people, same spot.
I would encourage Jodi to take a ride with me at night, and SEE just where the police DTSF are pushing these folks. Because while the panhandling has been down, the population has exploded and the problem exists in the shadows. The SFPD, which I believe are responsible for eliminating the issue (they are called public safety officers, it is YOUR job to keep us safe, that means addressing the transient issue instead of playing whack-a-mole.)
I would give each transient approached by either a street team specialist, ambassador or an officer FIVE options;
• The LINK (ONLY option if they were extremely intoxicated). After DETOX, these four options will be available;
• A bus ticket back home.
• Stay with a friend or relative locally, and have them pick you up.
• Go to a shelter that would except them.
• Jail for trespassing, and after incarceration the three options above.
If we started being strict with these options, you would see the problem lessen, right now they are playing a game of whack-a-mole and just moving checkers around on a board. I think MOST of these options are compassionate and humane, and they actually work.
So Jodi, you can keep writing stories about how glorious DTSF is, or you can get on a bike with me and see the real issue.
It’s no secret that MMM started a program of setting up DTSF public security cameras, which I support, sometimes. This public camera system sitting on light poles and other infrastructure downtown has helped to solve many crimes downtown, piecing together video evidence and tracking the suspects. BRAVO! A great use of technology. Where it gets creepy is when the PD use it to intimidate, harrass, or squelch free speech. Let’s just say that the SFPD are using the camera system on DTSF cell towers to target and chase violators, several blocks after the violation occurred. There is much more I could say, but I best button up for now. I just want every tourist, transient, local or whatever breed you are, if you are DTSF and participating in ANY kind of illegal activity on our public property, you are likely being recorded and watched.
“The video released this past Friday has been very helpful and eye-opening, shedding light on where Tyler was headed the morning of September 4th. If anyone knows where Tyler went that morning, please reach out and speak up. This season has been absolutely dreadful and confusing for our family. We all want answers. I know the SFPD has more footage from Combined Building Specialties that shows Tyler walking toward the interstate, and I am hoping that footage will also be released to the public. If anyone knows where Tyler went, SPEAK UP. This is incredibly difficult to express because my vulnerability is being mocked and used as an opportunity to create baseless theories. It’s putting my family’s safety at risk and perpetuating a false narrative that only endangers my family even more. Enough is enough.” – Mona Lisa Perez
As we know, police departments across the country and state have been successful posting evidence online to social media and getting the public to help them solve a crime. I remember a story from a small town in Eastern SD (I forget the name) but after posting a crime on their FB page it was solved in a matter of hours. GIVING THE PUBLIC INFORMATION WILL HELP YOUR INVESTIGATION! THIS IS CRIME PREVENTION 101. They don’t get it. While I hate closed government on ALL LEVELS, the PD should always be transparent in their investigations. Their lack of transparency only cost$ taxpayers because of extended investigations that go nowhere. Unfortunately we will probably have to wait for a new mayor and council to get transparency from the PD. The first thing I would do is fire the chief, the information officer (he would be FIRST!) and all the detectives and replace them with national searches that actually know how to investigate crimes and be transparent with the public. I have felt for a long time that the chief has a ‘warm bodies’ attitude towards hiring and the COS’s son is in charge of that. I often advise people if you can solve the crime on your own, you are probably better off.
l3wis 