Sioux Falls

Bullheaded

Here is a letter to the editor in the Argus Leader about the recent flier ban by the SF school district:

There are statistics all over the place about the correlation of extra-curricular activities for kids and their overall health and about how the inclusion in sports and other youth activities is inversely related to crime and school absenteeism. However, the school board is not concerned with the health of its constituents, and it is not concerned with the health and well-being of its constituents’ city. The school board is concerned with running and protecting the district. The kids, apparently, are secondary to that.

You nailed it with that one sentence. Homan could have solved the problem very quickly. She could have either reprimended or fired the communication director for failing to proof the school guide. Then she could have apologized and reassured us it will never happen again. Instead, as usual with Dr. Horse Farmer, she NEVER TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANYTHING, she calls in district attorneys and makes the school board make a very decision based on her mis-management. I suggest parents pressure the school board to FIRE Homan by taking up a petition.

What disappointed me most about the process the school board followed in adopting this new policy was the absolute disdain it appeared to have for those looking for some, any, alternative to stopping the distribution of these materials altogether. Publically, the board talked of partnering and working to find a solution. It asked for input and help in finding a way to continue the distribution. Privately, however, the board wanted none of it. From the first reading of this new policy, the school board had its collective mind made up, and no amount of input, cooperation or alternative ideas were going to get in the way.

Of course they did, they were worried about getting sued because instead of taking care of the problem internally, Homan passed the buck once again. She obviously gets paid too much if she can’t solve tiny little problems like this.

Bam. Unanimous decision. All done. No more access to the kids. The school board is, after all, smarter than the rest of us. It knows what’s best.

Perhaps it is and does. I mean, I certainly feel dumb right now. I voted for at least one of them.

I suggest you run for school board or recruit people who have the best interest of the kids in mind, and like I said earlier, get rid of Homan. Whether she will admit to it or not, she works for us. Her and Munson must be buds.

Tax Happy!

What a perfect time to raise taxes, while the economy is in the toilet. That’s our city government, always thinking (about their campaign contributors that is).

KELO-TV does a story;

Eight South Dakota communities will implement new municipal taxes or increase taxes on January 1.

And Sioux Falls is increasing its current 1.92 percent local sales tax to 2 percent.

I would like to thank anyone who signed the petition to lower the sales tax in 2010 to 1.90 this past weekend.

Council refuses to give up on the Event Center pipe dream

from the Argus Leader;

Councilor questions push for tax-hike legislation

 

One of the Sioux Falls City Council’s legislative priorities for 2009 raised a flag for one councilor Monday night.

Councilor Kermit Staggers questioned why the council was supporting legislation that allows cities to enact a local option tax to raise money for a specific purpose.

Staggers said he would oppose the resolution because it’s not wise for the council to advocate such a tax in a difficult economy and isn’t a good message to residents.

Council Chairman Bob Litz said the city has an expected level of service to meet regardless of the economy.

“This doesn’t mean we are going to enact a tax tomorrow. It just gives the city the freedom to do so when it decides,” Litz said.

Other priorities are ensuring adequate transportation funding, enacting a statewide ban on smoking, developing standards to provide equal 911 service to all and encouraging cooperative efforts to improve 911 services and efficiency.

The measure passed 6-1, with Councilor Kenny Anderson Jr. absent.

Trust me, if the state gives sioux Falls the right to raise taxes to build an event center (that’s what this is about) They would do it the next day.

I also like this line;

the city has an expected level of service to meet regardless of the economy

Bologna. This is another scare tactic by Bob ‘Spread Fear’ Litz. An Events Center has nothing to do with servicing the citizens of this community. Want to service us? Trim our trees, stop pushing snow in the end of our driveways, build a homeless shelter, fix our streets, etc, etc.

Bob, you must really think we are dumb.