Vernon Brown

Is Vernon Brown bailing on running for mayor? One wonders.

vernon-corn

Unless there is a pot of gold at the end of that rainbow, I may not run for mayor

I find it unusual that Vernon hasn’t formerly announced yet or have up a website. I also find it curious that most people who would support him (financially) may be putting their money behind Costello or Peterson, which may leave Brown’s kitty dry. Like Staggers, Brown lives a modest lifestyle and can’t hardly fund a campaign on personal wealth, like Costello and Huether can.

Has anyone heard when he may announce?

Is Vernon Brown running for mayor?

The Butterfly Effect 2 ipod vernon-corn

A little birdy (not a flying unicorn) told me today that Vernon sent out a fundraising letter to see if there is interest in him as a candidate for mayor. I’m trying to get my grubby hands on it so I can post it here. If it is true, it means that Vernon will be breaking a campaign promise he made when running against Theresa Stehly, that he would finish out his four year term as councilor and had ‘no intentions’ of running for mayor.

But we know how Vernon likes to flip flop on many issues (cough, cough, tax increase, cough, cough). What a strong leader he would make? Huh?

SouthDaCola-52-vernon-stehly

Councilor Brown wants to spend $250,000 of your tax money so you can dial 4 less numbers

rotary-phone

Hey, Vernon, rotary phones went out in the 80’s.

The city wants to make it easier to turn in your neighbors. Are we changing the city’s motto to, “The city of neighborly hate”? or “If you have a neighbor, he’s probably a criminal”

Sioux Falls officials, reacting to City Council criticisms, say they are making it easier for residents to file code enforcement complaints against other residents or businesses.

Because before code enforcement started 6 years ago, our city was in shambles! Shambles I say! Shambles!

In response, the city is marketing its general information phone number – 367-8000 – as the number to address code violations. The city has contracted with the HelpLine Center to answer those calls, and operators there will be trained to get complaints to the appropriate departments for investigation.

Because no one that works for the city is qualified to answer a phone and talk to citizens? And we wonder why we may be spending $34 million next year for “Professional Services”.

At some point, the system might even be set up to handle calls 24 hours a day, seven day a week. Officials hope to have a new Web site up in May, which will provide examples of violations of city code and access to file an electronic complaint.

Because we won’t be happy until we turn our city into a police state! This is a crock of shit. Now we are training residents on code enforcement? This is getting out of control. Who the F’ck is on a power trip here? This crap has got to end.

Councilor Vernon Brown, a longtime critic of the city’s handling of code enforcement complaints, told Director of Health Judy Buseman that private companies would go out of business if they treated people as the city does.

Can we fire all of you? Point me in the right direction. Let’s get this party started!

Rather than use a seven-digit phone number for complaints, Brown said he thinks the city should use a 311 phone number. It would be easier for people to remember, but cost $250,000.

Vernon thinks spending $8,000 to experiment with snowgates is a “Waste of Money” because “They don’t work.” But spending a cool 1/4 million on a phone number is well worth it. Go figure. Isn’t it ironic that a guy who works for a telecommunications company wants to spend that much money on a specialized number? Gee, I wonder what company in Sioux Falls is qualifed to handle that kind of contract? (Cough, Cough, SDN communications, Cough, Cough, Time Killers, Cough). I guess it’s time to pay back your Telecommunications PAC money you received during your last campaign, huh Vernon? Talk about conflict of interest!

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.