A little ‘Bird’ told me about this marketing graphic
l3wis Building a Better Sioux Falls is using some interesting stock photography in their mailers.
Someone seems to be not to happy about building a new Walmart.
Walfart
And they say DT Sioux Falls is unsafe
While the rumor mills continue (mostly due to the Mayor using it as a campaign issue) that downtown is unsafe, where have most of the vehicle related fatalities and injuries occurred in this town?
The man responsible for a fiery crash on Friday afternoon is facing several charges. Police say 23-year-old Adam Lind is charged with reckless driving, no proof of insurance, driving with a revoked and suspended license and driving an unlicensed vehicle. Lind was driving his 2001 Corvette Z06 on 57th Street Friday when he crashed into another vehicle, hit a traffic light and fence, before the car caught fire.
Most of these accidents occur on the outer parts of the city, south of 41st, including many pedestrians and bicyclists being injured or killed. Maybe instead of worrying about homeless people trying on clothes at the Man Code to warm themselves, we need to focus on more traffic safety on the Southside. But hey, there won’t be any issues with traffic at a new SE Walmart and even there is and a couple of kids get run over walking home from school, at least we created 250 jobs! 
UPDATED: Understanding the ‘BULL’ of the Build a Better Sioux Falls campaign
I’m sure like myself, you received a letter yesterday from these fine folks. You know, the peeps who have there main contacts in Bentonville, Arkansas. They want to build a better (new Walmart in) Sioux Falls. Except the information and dignitaries they are peddling don’t cut the mustard.
First with these fine bullet points;
While it is probably true they will collect $1.5 million in sales tax revenue, this is NOT NEW revenue, it is simply shifting it from other retail outlets, including their own stores. Walmart has confessed several times they want to build this new store to alleviate traffic at their Louise store.
I won’t even go into the jobs statement . . . either of them. Walmart employment speaks for itself.
Expanding our city’s tax base IS a good thing, no doubt, but continued annexation and new infrastructure costs and maintenance only chip away at our tax base, not help it grow.
But what is even more curious is the signers of the letter.
Okay, we all know Hal Wick, the guy who wants to make it mandatory that every South Dakotan carry a gun while making evolution education illegal, and to heck with women’s rights? Hogwash. Wonder what he thinks about the WM pharmacy selling birth control?
Then there’s Gene Abdallah, I guess he needs no title, like ‘Prince’ or ‘Madonna’ or even ‘Carrot Top’.
But let’s look closely at the other three;
While it is true that Darryl runs a Non-Profit now (Special Olympics SD). Darryl used to be VP of Marketing for First Premier Bankcard (1997-2008). Wonder who took over that job?
Don’t know much about Diane Derry, but she might want to check her voter registration, because it seems currently she is not registered to vote, I could be wrong, but hey, she wants you to vote for the new Walmart.
Oh, and then there is Dawn Haas, or is it Hass? Walmart can’t even hire a decent proof reader! Well let’s go by her signature (I’m sure she knows how to spell her own last name.) Dawn is a lowly Project Manager Assistant at Henry Carlson Company, you know, the folks that build Walmarts all over the country.
The irony of all this is that Walmart couldn’t even comprise a signature list of five, normal, everyday registered voters to sign this letter. This should tell you what kind of ‘campaign’ they are running out of Bentonville, Arkansas.
I feel like I have been built better (bent over) already.
UPDATED: Â I found out today ‘BABSF’ was turned down by two prominent PR firms in Sioux Falls to handle their marketing, and are using an OUT-OF-STATE public relations company. It is also very peculiar that the former Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce marketing person is running their campaign, yet NOT a peep or position from the Sioux Falls Chamber.
Funny how Walmart wants to build a better Sioux Falls, yet no one in Sioux Falls, wants anything to do with them. Talk about a bunch of cheap crap!
Building a Better Sioux Falls VIA Bentonville, AR
Gotta love this, this ballot question committee is priceless, or should we say ‘Always Low’;
Yup, let’s build a better Sioux Falls. Please send all correspondence to Arkansas or our Walmart email addresses and if that doesn’t suit you, you can certainly contact the FORMER Public Affairs and Communicatons Director at Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, Robert O’Connell.
Have a nice day.
New phone survey on SF politics & Walmart
A new phone survey has been running about building the Walmart at 85th and Minnesota. I haven’t heard the survey myself, but here is the gist;
• Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion on the proposed Walmart at 85th & Minnesota?(sic)
It was followed by a specific question.
• Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion about Mayor Huether?(sic)
It was followed by a specific question.
• Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion about councilor Greg Jamison?(sic)
It was followed by a specific question.
• Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion about the city council?(sic)
It was followed by a specific question.
• Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion about Bonita Schwan (SON organizer and council candidate)?(sic)
It was followed by a specific question.
• Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion about Dana Palmer (SON organizer)?(sic)
It was followed by a specific question.
I don’t know all the specifics of the follow-up questions, and I certainly don’t know who is conducting the survey (though I do have my guesses) but if anyone gets the survey and would like to help me fill in further blanks, that would be great.
What surprises me the most is the question about Dana Palmer (a private citizen). They used to pull this crap with Stehly. It is one thing to be running for office, it is entirely something else to be organizing a petition drive. Doesn’t matter if you agree or disagree with Palmer, if she is not running for office, and is working in her best interests as a private citizen, it should be hands off. Of course, that’s not how it rolls in this town, anybody who questions the kingdom’s court decisions shall be tarred and feathered, even though, we both know, it should be the other way around.