Sioux Falls City Council to receive information on a Veterans Housing Project

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During the 4 PM informational on Tuesday the city council will hear this presentation;

Veteran’s Community Project Presentation

As I understand it from my moles this is a tiny house housing project that is tied in with the city’s affordable housing funds. It is in the Axtel Park area. I think the city already bought the land but I don’t know a lot more about funding.

While I am all for helping veterans with housing, I still get a little worried when we are spending local tax dollars on these projects like we did with the cemetery. Veterans affairs should be a Federal issue and come from the Federal coffers. Yes, we do receive Federal affordable housing money and that is a pass through, but when we are spending property and sales taxes on these projects when it should be going to infrastructure for all of us, then I get concerned.

I guess we will await the details from this non-transparent city government.

Thank You Veterans!

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I’m going to do this a little different, and if there is anyone I forgot, please tell me, you have all been important in my life;

Grandpa’s Laddie & Mel (WW2)

Uncle Jr. (Korean War)

Uncle Duane, Stepdad Roger (Army)

Friends Dave & Dan (Vietnam)

Brother & Dr. Kermit Staggers (Air Force)

Friend Dave (Navy)

Friend Brion (Army)

Thank you for your service! I think about your sacrifices more than you can even imagine! Our Freedom is FREE because of you!

Sioux Falls VA believes in Religious Freedom, as long as you are Christian

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The Missing Man display at the Sioux Falls VA initially featured an oversized Bible, disrespecting the sacrifices of countless non-Christian servicemembers since the Revolutionary War. Image from: Military Religious Freedom Foundation

You would think a story this big that someone in our local media or even the local ACLU would be all over this;

The VA hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota has a serious problem. Not with health-care—they’re one of the best in the nation—but with the US Constitution that the veterans they serve risked their lives to defend. And with the veterans whose rights they are trampling on. And the dead they are disrespecting.

A POW/MIA Missing Man display in the main lobby features a Christian Bible, despite a slew of complaints which the VA has not simply ignored, but made a mockery of, by replacing one Bible with another, thus pretending to “resolve your concerns,” in an email to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which is representing 21 VA patients who have contacted them with complaints.

As is normally the case, the majority of MRFF’s clients are Christian, while the totality includes a wide variety of faiths, as well as non-believers.

“Of the 21, 14 are Christians—so two thirds are Roman Catholic or Protestants,” MRFF founder and President Mikey Weinstein told Crooks and Liars. “The other seven are Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Native American and then atheist/agnostic.”

It reminds me of Steve, a veteran who shows up to city council meetings almost weekly and contends the VA has discriminated against him because he is atheist (among other things). We have to remember, many people who have fought for our country are of many different religious stripes or none at all. That is one thing that separates our country from others, religious freedom. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Veterans: Discounts and Sales Tax (H/T – Daily Spin)

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Honorably discharged veterans now qualify for shopping online at military exchanges (retail & some services).  Active duty and National Guard already use this shopping.  The full service started November 11, 2017.  If you’re a vet, go to VetVerify.org.  There’s typically a 20 percent DISCOUNT with special arrangements for major purchases (appliances/furniture).  Prices are not posted until you’re logged in securely.  NO SALES TAX.

Given South Dakota government is principally supported by sales tax, there’s significant budget repercussion.  The state is 900K with 70K veterans.  Veteran dependents can use the service such that there is potential for more than 120K total customers.  Retail sales could decline 10% or more at first with awareness potential for 15% by 2020.  This is exempt interstate sales that are not reported to state or local government.  Some shopping sites let you fill in false information and make purchases.

www.shopmyexchange.com

www.mynavyechange.com

www.shopcgx.com

www.mymcx.com

Sales volume is focused on the two major cities in South Dakota.  Internet sales is why there are so many empty store fronts.  Sioux Falls has had and will continue having revenue short falls.  It’s more than just Amazon and other tax free online purchases.  There are signs the booming economy is over.  It will be harder to make bond payments on the half billion in debt.  This is not a time for play places, admin buildings, or parking garages.  It’s important to amend the charter so there’s no strong mayor veto power and no council overrides.  Take away the mayors’ credit card and put him on an allowance.  There will be tax increases.  Veterans can keep their quality of life with on line tax free sales.

Sioux Falls is NO PLACE FOR A VETERANS CEMETERY.  It has been proven in SD Supreme Court that the city is not democracy.  Circuit court cases decided that Strong Mayor Charter denies due process.  A cemetery must be on solemn federal ground.  The usual city scheme is to acquire undeveloped land then rezone for development.  The federal government does a magnificent job of maintaining cemeteries.  For the city it would be just another inferior golf contract.

State Veterans Cemetery

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Before we get in the weeds on this, for full disclosure I support ANYTHING that helps veterans.

So a veterans group has been trying to get a STATE veterans cemetery on the East side of the state for awhile. I think it is a great idea;

First, land needs to be bought or donated for the project. Council leaders said they’re confident the city of Sioux Falls will be willing to work with them.

While the Feds would possibly cover or reimburse the state up to $6 million dollars, there are a couple of sticking points. The state could possibly be on the hook to maintain the cemetery and the city could donate the land.

I’ll just say it. While I understand Federally funding war memorials and cemeteries, I have often argued for every dollar spent on war memorials we should spend the same amount on peace memorials.

I also think if we are going to spend money on veterans it should be on living ones for healthcare. Our country spends almost 3x more than our closest competitor in military spending, yet we have to have bake sales when it comes to healthcare for veterans or burial. It’s sad. I actually think veterans healthcare could be improved if we implemented a nation wide single payer system for ALL citizens, but that’s an argument for another day.

While I don’t take issue with a ‘partial’ donation of the city owned property or a reduced price, I don’t think we should give a 100% donation on such valuable property (Slip Up Creek area). I look at the Glory House land deal and how we had them pay a reduced price. While I disagreed with making them pay, since their services save taxpayers oodles of money, I also see the argument that ‘nothing is really free’.

I also see this with the city owned property. We have choices in the matter, we could certainly donate 100%, but we could also seek payment from the Feds or the State (which is really our money anyway) or we could say NO all together and sell it at a premium.

I think we should appraise the land, and sell it at a discount for the cemetery, but we shouldn’t just hand it over.

As we often like to say, ‘Freedom isn’t Free’ and neither is land.