Sioux Falls

Update II: The Sioux Falls City Council meeting tonight was truly disgusting. I felt like throwing up afterwards.

UPDATE II: I decided to see if the 50% rule has even been used since it was implemented in 2017. It has ONLY applied ONE time, and that was in 2024 and the runoff between Thomason and Deffenbaugh, and the runoff results were the same as the general election with Thomason the victor. There have been 4 elections since the rule was implemented and has only been triggered one time! Simply not needed. In 2018, there was a runoff between DeBoer and Soehl, but the runoff would have occurred even with the old rule of 34% in place because neither Zach or Curt got over 27% of the vote (there was 5 candidates in the initial race). It seems silly to defend a rule that has never been applied, was implemented because of political revenge, keeps grassroots candidates on the sidelines, costs us extra in elections and has NO political or constituent advantages to stand on. The councilors that VOTE against changing it back really need to get their heads examined. This is an easy one. Something wasn’t broken, change it back.

UPDATE: When this was introduced a few years ago by councilor Starr, councilor Merkouris told fellow councilors keeping the 50% rule would keep out the ‘fringe candidates’. In other words grassroots candidates with little money would’nt be able to take on the money machine. This is why Spellerberg and Sigette had no challengers. Peeps are tired of the money game. I also find this rule ironic, since if applied to the last presidential election there would have had to been a runoff between Harris and Trump (he received 49.8% of the popular vote.)

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I will say, I have been following council since Hansen was in office. I have seen some pretty weird meetings, but tonight, was sickening.

First, the public input. I think that most of them need a brain scan to see if they have dementia, secondly, they were saying crap that was counter culture to what really happens. Here is a fine example, so there is this guy that shows up to the council meetings that thinks he is philosopher, but he is mostly just a blabber, and he says to the ordinance about changing the plurality to council races BACK TO 35% that it seemed ‘politically motivated’. Hey, it got changed because of POLITICAL MOTIVES and that is why we need to change it back, so good catch, even if you don’t know what you are talking about. The change came in 2017 when the council was split and Mayor Huether broke the tie to pass this very idiotic change.

Let’s move onto the city council, they also took the side of ‘political motivation’ as to why not to change it back. Let me inform you. Councilor Rex Rolfing was vindictive, he was mean, and didn’t make any policy changes unless he was punishing his political enemies, and the move by him was purely political because of his disdain for councilor Stehly. The main reason why this should be eliminated was it wasn’t needed to begin with. If 7 people are running for a council seat and the leading candidate gets 35% of the vote, that’s good enough for me (the remaining 6 candidates would get an average of 11% of the vote, which is a THIRD of what the winner would receive.) It seems the council likes to enrich the pockets of local campaign electioneers, so the longer they can draw this out the better. The problem; You are so misinformed it is almost criminal.

It is shocking to me that the majority of the council has NO CLUE about good governance. Just protecting their behinds. In a democratic republic you are elected to represent us, not to preserve some rule that was concocted to punish political foes. Do your research BEFORE the second reading, and you will see that changing a rule that was in place for 20 years back to it’s an original intent is the best way to resolve this, and put the Rex Rolfing rule to rest once and for all.

Will the Sioux Falls City Council amend the Rex Rolfing Rule?

So this is on the agenda of the council Tuesday (Item #32);

The proposed ordinance would reduce the percentage necessary to win a city council race from more than 50 percent to 35 percent as long as the candidate receives the most votes. If the candidate with the most votes is unable to secure at least 35 percent of the vote, the top two candidates with the most votes would go to a runoff. This proposed ordinance would only impact city council elections.

I think it is turning it back to where it was originally before Rex Rolfing decided to mess with it. Not sure if the entire council supports the change since the two sponsors are the only two councilors who support a November election date. We will see.

Poopy Reflections

See Paul, I don’t have all bad feelings for yah, I’m starting this post out with one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands!

So lately many folks across the political spectrum in Sux have been reaching out to me. Corruption? Open Government? Poops new exercise routine? Close. They have been asking me about MisTaken’s political future and why he is bailing. I told someone, flat out, “Because he can’t run.” I will have more on that soon. But what has been resonating with all these folks is a weird question; ‘Why is Paul so angry?’ First off, I don’t know the guy from Adam, so I don’t do a lot of mental health checks on him, though I do know he likes the Quacktorpractor, maybe ask him? But after the 4th or 5th person called me about this last week, I was like, Gum Dummit! I need to figure this out. So here it is;

I think Paul has been reflecting on the past 7 years and realizing, that in fact, he accomplished nothing except weakening our bond rating, creating millions in additional operating expenses for Rec NO ONE asked for, not stopping the Bunker Ramp, and the list goes on. I would be angry to, very angry. I’m actually surprised he hasn’t been eating broken glass at the meetings (I think they make Werther flavored glass).

This is F’ing Priceless!

Yeah, I know, another story about a crackhead stealing cars and wrecking crap, but this part about made me piss my pants;

the Impala was found abandoned at a convenience store near Russell Street and Minnesota Avenue. The suspect then allegedly stole a Sioux Area Metro bus that had been left running at that location.

What was the SFPD telling residents a few months ago? Something about leaving a running vehicle at a C-Store? The crazy part is can you imagine if their were patrons on the bus? And why would you have to keep your bus running in the Summer? I bet that was the biggest pink slip the schitty of SF ever delivered.

“But Sir, it was a crackhead who stole my bus.” Manager; “Exactly.” “Can I least get a reference?” Manager; “Sure. I heard Get N’ Go is hiring a parking lot attendant.”

Maybe I am wrong, but is this a typo?

Shouldn’t it be 45/47? With the hyphen it just makes it look like you Dean Karskied it into office (getting appointed but telling folks he was ‘elected’. Well at least he lived in his district unlike a certain MARSHALL SELBERG! Funny that Donny trash talks Biden, then wears a hat that negates his existence. Maybe he really is a Very Stable Genius?)

On that note, I have to tell you it was a great day of love, protest and joy in Sioux Falls! And not because Sally Tomato got to play with his tanks! I started the day on the Pedicab picking up folks after the parade, then I made it over to the No Kings protest, amazing patriotism! That is all I saw! People proud to be Americans and proud to support a Democratic Republic! Then I made it to the Pride Festival, what a great setup at Yankton Trail Park. I gave tons of rides and wanted to do more, but had a chain/sprocket issue I could not fix in the field. Who knew you secondary motor chain sprocket needs to align with your axel sprocket? I know now MOM! But I am back at it next week! The highlight of the day was when my E-bike friend who tried to help me fix the bike suggested he tows me to the bike shop. So funny! Been a long time since I have done 8 MPH down the bike trail. Maybe I need to look at this perspectively, or am I just using another word incorrectly again? Can’t wait for the E-Bike insults VSG.