Uncategorized

Accept the Invitation

l3wis January 24, 2026 4Comments

Yesterday I heard another disheartening story about someone running for local office and turning down a FREE opportunity to promote thyself and their campaign.

I get guff from my Lib friends that I listen to too much right wing radio/podcasts. I enjoy them because their ridiculous claims make me laugh my ass off. But sometimes I learn something new, like how these knuckle draggers think.

I recently suggested this book to someone running for a seat in the upcoming city election. You have to sometimes walk over a line and look at the person on the opposite side of your thinking. You may learn something about yourself while educating those around you about who you are.

The city election is non-partisan. Let’s work to keep it that way. There are no left/right, rich/poor ideas, there is just common sense.

So if someone asks you to be a guest to talk about your campaign, don’t check their party registration, check their values, and check yours. Silence speaks volumes, remember that.

‘I don’t know if the city is corrupt, they don’t tell us anything.’

And that is the crux of our problems, not party affiliation.

1st Amendment Denny Sanford Premier Center Employee Free Choice Act Employment Event Center Sioux Falls Uncategorized Unemployment

A ‘Dumpling’ of a Deal

l3wis January 19, 2026 2Comments

So this bank president wrote an editorial, that I won’t even link, because it read like an internal memo to the Chamber of Commerce, but he had to tell us how great it is for the state to be dumpling millions in taxdollars and rebates to the new dumpling factory being built in Sioux Falls. He also downplayed the conflicts of interest and scandals around the place because we are going to get 650 JOBS!

And that is the real reason we got this dumpling of a deal. Low wages, no corporate income taxes, TIFs, tax rebates, state backed low interest loans, direct handouts. Things couldn’t look better for the Koreans that will be making BANK from our cheap labor. There is even rumors they are going to build apartment complexes around the facility so the workers won’t have transportation costs. Kinda tells you what kind of labor demographic they are looking at (I bet they will build them a big community garden right next to the Data Center);

Ironically, looks like a line worker makes more then a teller at the bank the writer of the editorial runs;

I love it when these corporate rats climb out of their luxury suites at the Denty and decide to address the minions to tell us how good we have it.

Recently they have said that if the Federal Minimum Wage kept up with inflation, it would be at about $23 per hour in 2026. It is Not, it is about a third that.

I still think a living wage in Sioux Falls is $20 an hour if it comes with benefits and investment opportunities.

I guess low wage companies are going to come to our state whether we like it or not, but please, stop using my tax dollars to incentivize foreign investors. You clearly did NO research on Korean work ethic, but I have a feeling they will try to instill it here. Can’t wait to read those horror stories.

When fat ass bank presidents try to tell me about all the golden opportunities for the community because he gave away MY tax dollars to his rich buddies, it reminds of this story about a guy who wants an island, and he wants me to pay for it. I know. CRAZY! Besides, there is only one dumpling in this world worthy, the softball sized flour dumplings at Bohemian Cafe in Omaha (RIP). You put in a factory like that, and I will open a Kolache and Kuchen bakery next door.

Uncategorized

Flippin’ the Bird at a Sioux Falls City Council Meeting

l3wis January 17, 2026 2Comments

So a foot soldier asked me an interesting question, ‘What did you think of the guy who was removed from the city council meeting after flipping councilor Spellerberg the bird?’ I wasn’t there, so I wasn’t sure if his bird involved threats, folks in attendance said it did NOT. All I saw on video was Spellerberg crying to the mayor about a bird flyer;

Flipping the bird (giving the middle finger) is generally considered protected speech under the First Amendment in the U.S. as a form of expressive conduct, even when directed at police, though it can lead to trouble if combined with other actions or interpreted as “fighting words” or a true threat, potentially resulting in disorderly conduct charges. Courts have affirmed that this crude gesture expresses contempt or anger and is protected speech unless it incites immediate violence.

So if he would have done it with other gestures or words that would incite violence or threats, the mayor who instructed security to remove him had every legal constitutional right to do so, BUT if the person simply flipped the bird and even said or mouthed ‘F’ck You’ That isn’t a violent threat and his removal was unconstitutional.

The Prezzo Sally Tomato used that argument this week when he flipped off a Union worker, ‘He was practicing his 1st Amendment Rights.’ So if it is good enough for Sally isn’t it good enough for Sal?

I have no idea who this high flyer was or if he has the financial means to attain legal representation, but they would have a case for illegal removal and the violation of their constitutional rights.

These folks running our city really need to go thru a 12 Step 1st Amendment Rehabilitation Program. It is THAT bad!

1st Amendment Elections Marty Jackley Mike Huether Rich Merkouris SF City Council Sioux Falls Uncategorized

Trust

l3wis January 14, 2026 0Comments

‘firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.’

With the council suddenly decided they wanted to do something about transparency, this word popped in my head. The public no longer ‘trusts’ elected officials. Why is that? We could go into a long diatribe about how they vote, who funds their campaigns and all of their conflicts of interest and multiple ethics and open meeting violations, it is some of that, but all of that corruption occurred because of closed government, which has been intentional for almost 20 years.

The timing is ALSO suspect. Councilor Merkouris who was just appointed council chair (this is a little game they play when an incumbent is up for reelection, they appoint them as chair so it looks like they are important.) I have never understood the game, because most people watching it, know what is going on. Merkouris has had 4 years to make these changes, but has fought them all the way. Why? Because corruption cannot occur in a transparent government. Merkouris is up for reelection and has a challenger, this is why he is doing it. Let’s look at Rich’s track record. He headed up the homeless task force that barely made a dent in homelessness and has actually gotten worse. Even though they have tons of national support to help with a solution they instead blew money on marketing campaigns, unneeded ordinances and a fence.

I don’t trust him farther then I can throw him. Maybe less.

Here are Merkouris’ transparency concepts (that I suspect will get watered down and amended before the council takes final action);

Creating consistent public input opportunities across boards and committee meetings as a way to make sure expectations are clear for when folks can weigh in,
Finding ways to improve how various entities give notice when a meeting is going to happen,
Creating consistency in meeting locations,
And looking at ways to improve meeting agendas so people understand what decisions are being made when they show up.

While I have stated that I have been after the council for almost 20 years about transparency I proposed almost every single one of these proposals to Brekke and Stehly, they tried to get some stuff passed but got tons of push back, this is WHY I don’t trust Merkouris on this.

Here are my suggestions;

• Public input at ALL public meetings should be at the beginning of the meeting between the consent agenda and 1st Readings of items. It should be 5 minutes and no limit on how many people can testify.

• Post all agendas for ALL meetings on the same agenda page, and have a BIG BUTTON LINK to the agenda page at the top of the city’s home page website.

• Have ALL meetings at Carnegie, Main Conference Room of Admin or City Hall Chambers ONLY! Record ALL meetings and post on YouTube and stream in real time. Have meetings when people can attend or watch. I have said all public meetings should be after 5:30 PM Mon-Friday so people can attend. I would also do an experiment with Saturday meetings.

• This is a Mike Zitterich idea; There should be a Q & A with the council and mayor in the Carnegie overflow room on the last day of the month 30 Minutes before the regular scheduled meeting. This would be a wonderful chance for constituents to ask questions with the help of the media. It would really show you cared about transparency AND it would probably alleviate the volatile public input during the regular meeting.

• Eliminate the rule that you can’t interact or engage with the public. I think Huether* got rid of this rule. It pisses people off and irritates them that you can’t answer simple questions. Munson was famous for interacting with constituents, he kind of had a special talent for it. I find it ironic that Paul breaks this rule EVERY meeting when he cuts people off and gets into an argument with them. The next time he tries to censor me, I think I will bring up he is breaking decorum rules.

I also think the next mayor needs to hire a director level Public Information Officer who manages transparency and records for the city. I will agree with council on one thing, it is NOT their job to manage meetings, that is staff.

All of this stuff is Transparency 101, that’s why I don’t trust much will come from this, except more closed government. I want people to know I HATE PETITION DRIVES, they are messy, they can involve court cases, they are hard work, and, most of all they should be UNNECESSARY. Why? Because our Sioux Falls city council is a non-partisan representative government, that means they should vote and create policy around what the constituents want.

*MY MAN MIKE MIGHT RUN FOR SOMETHING?

So Huether is either running for Mayor, Governor or US Congress against Jackboots as an Indy. But I am also hearing he is SCARED TO DEATH of losing. That is why I am going with US Congress. It would be most beneficial to him to be in DC, and Jackboots is a flawed candidate involved in gobs of scandals;

Gear UP

EB-4

SOS state cover-up (he decided since Gant and Pitty didn’t steal money from the petty cash drawer they were innocent).

DCI Sexual Harrassment and the list goes on. (oh and he buried the investigation of Huether hitting Cameraman Bruce.)

Huether can beat Jackboots, and he doesn’t like to lose. We will see. (but I really hope he runs against Dusty, because that ass whooping will be fun to watch.)

1st Amendment Ethics Miranda Bayse Open Government Open Meetings SF City Council Sioux Falls Uncategorized

Sioux Falls City Councilors are oblivious to ethics and transparency

l3wis December 30, 2025 2Comments

And the unethical behavior continues!

A committee with representation from community members, city council and city administrators looked through the applications and chose which organizations best fit into those three categories and served the needs of Sioux Falls.

City councilor Miranda Bayse was originally on the committee, however, a conflict of interest with one of the nonprofits caused her to step away from the reviewing and voting on the organizations. She still offered insight to KELOLAND News about the new process.

Bayse said the proposals exceeded the budget, so committee members had to be selective about which nonprofits received funding from the city.

“The coliseum and what happens in that space is very important,” Bayse said in an interview with KELOLAND News Tuesday. “I don’t know the answer, but if funding isn’t feasible in the budget, are there other ways as a community to support and encourage the things that happen in that space?”

Bayse also acknowledged the timeline to submit and review proposals was tight, which could have played a role in why some organizations received funding while others did not.

Isn’t it interesting how she knows so much about the review process yet she claims she stepped away from it. She was likely in on the meetings, and even if she didn’t vote she can influence other members. It’s pretty simple, if you have a conflict, your recuse yourself before the process even begins. You also tell the public what that conflict is and you certainly can’t vote or influence other councilors. Three strikes against Lucy.

It almost seems like they are proud of what they can get away with. After the city election in June if crap doesn’t shape up I am going to file ethics complaints against the mayor, city councilors and city employees. It’s time they learn what it means to be ethical because this type of blazen behavior erodes public trust immensely.

Accept the Invitation

A ‘Dumpling’ of a Deal

Flippin’ the Bird at a Sioux Falls City Council Meeting

Trust

Sioux Falls City Councilors are oblivious to ethics and transparency

You Missed

Bob is right, a lot of work needs to be done over Smithfields

Mr. Mayor, we need to have a discussion about addiction and bigotry

Peeps still complaining about E-Bikes

Where we stand on the city election