City Council Presentations
State law requires city government meetings to include "public input" so that members of the public can address government officials. Unfortunately, politicians are rarely interested in what the public has to say. The problem is that politicians work for their rich campaign donors and not the public. Consequently, public input is largely irrelevant to government meetings and exists mostly for ceremony and pretense. I've certainly seen this in action at city council meetings. With regard to medical cannabis, public input was thoroughly overwhelming in support of modest regulations. City government, in opposition to the wishes of the public, approved harsh regulations to severely limit medical cannabis. Another example is my many presentations regarding civil rights issues, all of which were ignored. Government, even local government, doesn't care what the public wants because government doesn't work for the public.
Nonetheless, I attend many city council meetings to better understand the workings of local government. While I'm there, I present plans for better government. My plans and my analysis of many issues appear here on my website. I'm going to gather these plans and organize them into a book or two. The working title for my book is "What's going on!" subtitled "Guide to practical local government." It's going to be a remarkably influential book that helps start a wave of government for we the people - something we haven't had for a very long time.
Thank you!
Budget Crunch, Agenda Item 11
09/09/2025
Wages grow slower than property tax. SD government limited the rise of
property taxes but local government will need to cut services.
Suggests increasing tax revenue by using property tax alternatives
offered in previous presentation. Various ideas to reduce costs
offered, like funding addiction treatment, discouraging alcohol
consumption, and housing the homeless.
Property Tax Alternatives
09/02/2025
Income tax is usually progressive (rich pay higher percentage), vs.
local taxes like sales tax is often regressive (poor pay higher
percentage). Alternative to using property taxes and TIFs includes
land value tax, which is more stable while also encouraging
development. Second alternative raised for a split value tax and a
third of service cost tax. Suggests test areas and changing state law.
Agenda Item 27, Homeless Camps
08/19/2025
Kudos on amendments made to draft ordinance to require posting notice
of tent removal and temporary storage of property. Recommends adding
storage of removed tents.
Agenda Item 31, River Rezone
08/19/2025
Recommends switching to 200-year flood plain guidelines due to global
warming; government flood insurance should not subsidize high-risk
flood areas.
Agenda Item 12, Homeless Camps
08/12/2025
Housing the homeless costs less than emergency calls; return on
addiction treatment is 4 to 1. Kudos to city for progress made
2017-2021. New strategy needed to make further progress.
I.C.E. and Civil Rights
08/12/2025
Wearing masks and working from unmarked vehicles, ignoring due
process, etc. should all be illegal. Problem not just ICE; racial bias
in prosecution. The whole system protects power, not rights. Leaders
swear to uphold constitution but often don't. Recommends strategies to
ensure accountability.
City Design and Zoning
07/08/2025
Recommends redesigning city like ancient cities and new urbanism
designs: more walkable, with higher density and mixed use
infrastructure; reduce reliance on cars and lower costs of road
maintenance and sprawl. Recommends dedicated bike lanes with barriers,
etc.
Excessive DUI Law
07/01/2025
Illegal to sit in driver's seat while drunk, or to sleep in car while
drunk. This law is overzealous and unconstitutional. Recommends using
Sioux Falls home rule charter to amend SD law to add "while in moving
vehicle" (example better laws listed).
Improving Infrastructure
06/10/2025
Intersection at Benson Road and Minnesota Avenue is dangerous to
pedestrians and bikes; urges removal of hostile architecture and
building a friendlier underpass like 26th St. near Rosa Parks
Elementary. Even temporary ramps should be bike- and people-friendly.
Property Management
06/03/2025
Some property management companes don't maintain their properties;
there have been many reports of neglect; local window companies are
backlogged; city should check for bad landlords and take action.
Street Tree Guide
05/13/2025
Trees are great; city tree guide should be rewritten and expanded to
encourage planting more trees.
Promoting Police Accountability
05/06/2025
Civil rights are important in our democracy; can't intervene when
witnessing violations; internal police review is biased; qualified
immunity prevents suing; multiple mechanisms prevent government
accountability; police should be accountable.
Agenda Item 107, Bishop Dudley House Fence
03/04/2025
Homelessness is a big cultural problem; homeless people hinder
business; housing the homeless saves tax dollars; city wants to build
a fence to keep homeless out; proposal is unpopular; there are better
ways to address homelessness.
Reducing Child Care Costs
11/26/2024
Child care is costly; income inequality makes it worse;
multigenerational homes help; in home daycare helps some people; few
families can afford a stay home parent; it would cost city $58 million
annually to subsidize costs by 1/3; legalizing cannabis could pay for
child care subsidy; social reforms would help.
Parking On Phillips Avenue
11/19/2024
Diagonal parking provides more parking, less space for traffic; parked
big vehicles protrude into traffic lane; please approve the proposed
ordinance.
Healing Poverty
11/19/2024
Government usually protects wealth; change zoning to build affordable
housing; debtors prison should not exist; drug prohibition is biased
against poor and black communities; invest in poor communities; close
tax havens; practice the compassion of Jesus Christ.
Reducing Theft
11/06/2024
Rich people steal legally via subsidies and bad laws; poor people
steal illegally via petty theft. We should change election finance so
politicians can work for the people; petty theft can be reduced via
bait boxes, sensors, GPS trackers, and cell phone cameras.
Abortion
10/08/2024
Nature aborts most pregnancies; rate of miscarriage increases with
woman's age; young fetuses die outside a uterus; abortion was used
ages ago; criminalized abortion results in increased maternal sickness
and death; Bible prescribes abortion; SD "Life Defense Fund"
distributes dishonest handbills; protect all life when practical;
abortion should be safe, legal, and minimized.
Carpenter Pencils
10/01/2024
I build things; carpenters need tools including carpenter pencils; I
have a pencil from Greg Jamison for councilor Thomason.
Acquitted!
08/20/2024
I was arrested twice due to a drunken claim; alcohol is a dangerous
popular drug; charges dismissed without a hearing; I was injured via
false charges, bad press, sloppy policing; accusers can't recant
charges; cops protect women, mistreat accused men; modern handcuffs
hurt people; cops lie because politicians want them to; cops force
self-incrimination; jail deliberately deprives inmates of sleep;
county jail has cruel practices.
Fit To Serve
07/02/2024
Voters wonder if elderly politicians are healthy; maybe there should
be a forced retirement age; alternately require annual physical and
cognitive exams.
Reducing Child Care Costs
03/23/2024
Child care is very expensive; social problems make it worse; wealth
inequality is rough; extended families help provide child care; city
probably can not afford $58 million to cut child care cost by one
third; government reform is the solution; vote to make it happen.
Costly Child Care
03/12/2024
Child care is very expensive; social problems make it worse; wealth
inequality is rough; extended families help provide child care; city
probably can not afford $58 million to cut child care cost by one
third; government reform is the solution; vote to make it happen.
Sensible Drug Policy
02/20/2024
Cannabis was outlawed in 1937; law promoted racism; alcohol is the
most dangerous recreational drug; we should migrate to something
safer; prison fueled by alcohol and drug related crimes; treatment
works better than incarceration; start free testing program to find
laced drugs.
Three Charter Updates
12/13/2023
Presented at a charter commission meeting: voters rejected leadership
pay raise; commission wants to allow leadership pay raise that voters
will not like; I recommend reducing mayor's pay and increasing
councilors' pay; a charter section should be more readable.
Transforming Government Via Charter 1 & 2
November 21, 2023
Corruption wastes vast amounts of money; publicly funding elections
would prevent corruption; PACs (Political Action Committees) should be
illegal; merging local elections with national elections would
increase interest; voters need an impartial guide to elections; all
lucid adult US citizens should be allowed to vote; current voting
method has a spoiler effect and encourages extremism; approval voting
is better than current but not as good as score; we should switch to
score voting for multiple reasons.
Bikeway Hours
10/16/2023
Sioux Falls has a beautiful bike path; I was cited for being on the
bike path at night; city's bike guide does not mention hours; city
ordinance does not mention bikeway hours; transportation roads do not
have a curfew.
Inflation
10/10/2023
2% annual inflation seems to be the norm since 1980; hurts poor people
who don't invest and helps rich people who do; hurts people on fixed
income and pensions; good for aristocracy, bad for democracy; be wary
about mainstream economics because news media promoted trickle down
economics for decades; create decades of 1% deflation to return stolen
wealth and reduce inequality.
Reducing Alcoholism
10/03/2023
Selling addiction is immensely profitable; buying addiction is
destructive, costly; government supports addictive products while
pretending to fight them; alcohol promotes crime and is the most
destructive recreational drug; need more addiction treatment services;
encourage culture-wide migration from alcohol to cannabis.
Safely Dealing With Police
09/19/2023
USA has three tier justice; some cops are dangerous; courts and cops
hurt people in many ways; video recording police helps keep people
safe; never consent to being searched; sorry officer, I will not
answer any questions before consulting with my lawyer; I do not
consent to any search; you can not legally detain me without
reasonable suspicion; stay cool, move slowly; don't argue with people
who are free to hurt you; it's tragic we need lessons in dealing with
police.
Minimizing Panhandling
09/05/2023
Panhandling is a Sioux Falls problem; city government should try to
help; alcoholics ask for drug money; homeless people require shelter;
we need a better approach; it can take years to recover.
Open Government
08/15/2023
Promote government for "we the people;" leaders should publish weekly
reports; weekly staff meetings should be public; all staff should be
available to meet with public; all government documents should be
public unless there is a proven need for confidentiality; police video
should be available; respect public opinion; take mayor off city
council to balance power.
Independence And Searches
07/05/2023
Independence Day celebrates freedom; police detain and harass me about
once a year; politicians swear to uphold our Constitution but ignore
problems; recently detained and questioned without suspicion;
Constitution says innocent people should be safe; expect a lawsuit;
kudos to the sound man.
Helping Kids
04/18/2023
Children need love; working parents mean lonely kids; "Community
Centers" provided free after school care; phasing them out is a bad
idea; stop subsidizing suburbia to save money.
Homeless Outreach
03/21/2023
City made a homeless task force, nice; they have some good ideas;
housing first is important.
Beautiful City Trees
03/14/2023
Trees help make a city beautiful; I wanted to plant 50 small trees by
a school; city ordinance makes that illegal; ordinance should be
corrected 6 different way.
Healing Homelessness
02/21/2023
Downtown grocery often catches alcoholic shoplifters; city policies
don't work well; addiction and homelessness are related; greed
underlies most social problems; housing the homeless saves the
government money; it takes years to recover; harm reduction policies
reduce crime and save money; save money by investing in homeless
people and addiction treatment.
Bike Trail Hours Update
02/05/2023
Politicians swear to uphold constitutional rights but don't; I was
cited for riding on the bike trail at night and found guilty; city
does not care a law is unconstitutional for multiple reasons; judge
violated due process nine different ways; ordinance should be revised
for clarity; city will not cite me again even though I called myself
in twice.
Election Battle
11/11/2022
Presented at the Democratic Forum: elections are big money vs "we the
people;" losing means plutocracy not democracy; candidate with the
most money usually wins; corrupt candidates win more often; we need a
new strategy for elections.
TSA Pat Downs
11/08/2022
American revolution vanquished widespread government searches; they're
back; 4th amendment should prevent groundless searches; TSA searches
start with detailed whole body scan; sometimes followed by patdown
including sexual assault; travelers can't prevent sexual assault.
Ending Police Killings
09/06/2022
Cops should never kill anyone; mass protests inspire promises of
reform that never happen; cops may provoke and attack people; extend
police training; safer weapons should be used to avoid police
killings; eliminate no-knock warrants; fix drug prohibition.
Three Updates
08/09/2022
1) Bike trail erosion problems should be prevented via sediment check
dams; parks quickly removed silt I reported. 2) City gave away
millions of dollars and the parking ramp is still not finished. 3)
Train horns are noisy; quiet zones aren't a good idea until a
developer needs them and then the city gets to pay for implementation.
Digital Billboard Safety, Expanded
07/19/2022
Digital billboards, giant TVs, create profitable distracting roadside
advertising; slower screen changes are safer; many local digital
billboards change too fast; local signs violate city ordinance;
ordinance should be updated.
Rising Fascism
07/12/2022
Fascism is rule of the proud & insecure. Steps to fascism: invoke a
threat, surveil ordinary citizens, restrict the press, cast dissent as
treason, subvert the rule of law, ... The USA today is like pre Nazi
Germany. We should protect freedom.
Common Bribery
06/21/2022
Taking money for trips is a bribe. City's ethics board described
common local bribery that city leaders protected. City council should
hire a special investigator to reveal bribery. Care about honest
government and don't forget to rest in nature.
Digital Billboard Safety
06/21/2022
Digital billboards are giant TVs that distract drivers and increase
collisions. Faster display changes cause more problems. City ordinance
does not allow any image changes but is always violated. Ordinance
should be updated and enforced to keep roads safe.
Practical Government
06/14/2022
Politicians work for people with money. Sioux Falls has a strong mayor
form of government. Loudest minority wins. Progressive actions are
usually squashed. There are many false claims in government. We should
make the world a better place.
Prayer For Personal Healing
06/07/2022
World healing starts with the self. Dear God, help us understand our
mission in life. Help us arise from our struggles to reenter your
light and love. Open our hearts to the experience of your divinity.
Prayer For Community
05/17/2022
Dear Lord, we ask that you wrap our troubled world in your loving
arms. Foster our loyalty to people our governments must serve. Help us
protect the Earth and our American Constitution. Please touch our
leaders to do your will on earth. Thank you heavenly Father for your
cherished wisdom, guidance, and love.
Prayer For Social Healing
05/10/2022
Feed the fire of divine purpose and shine the light of truth. You have
forgotten me, says the Lord God. Whatever we do to the least of us,
that we do unto Jesus. Arise oh my people, arise! We are all called to
be appointed by God - if we only have the courage.
Divine Right Carries On
05/04/2022
Recent city council prayer included: "Father ... You have
appointed and anointed each of them ... May they rule with sincerity
..." Most politicians don't care what Jesus taught. Most
politicians are anointed by big money to protect big money. Jesus
taught us to help people and love one another.
Participatory Government
04/19/2022
Government should respond to citizens. An ombudsman would help
citizens with bureaucracy. Public input should be valued instead of
ignored. Politicians should explain controversial votes. These changes
are unlikely because they weaken oligarchy.
7 Now 8 Incidents
03/15/2022
I was detained by local police about 8 times over 7 years. Civil
rights violated every time. Charged twice (out of 8 stops). Charges
were cancelled. Last time was a bogus DUI check that violated my
rights. Officer violated rights again by telling ne to stop recording.
Obnoxious cop waved his finger in my face, required gymnastics,
breathalyzer (I blew 0.00). Replace politicians who condone civil
rights abuses.
Retention Bonus, Agenda Item 51
03/01/2022
City plans huge retention bonus but there is no retention problem.
Looks like buying votes from employees. Bonus was decided without
citizen input. Employees were told about bonus before it was approved.
Early announcement makes disagreement impractical.
More Vacation, Agenda Item 50
03/01/2022
City plans to give more vacation time to employees. Mayor may give
unlimited vacation to some employees. No market analysis. Looks like
buying employee votes. Taxpayers pay for buying votes. Manipulative
rhetoric makes dissent politically impractical. City presentation
overstated impact of changes. Politicians should be honest.
Equal Air Time
03/01/2022
FCC requires equal air time for political candidates but there are
exceptions. Mayor TenHaken had a long radio interview. Gives him an
advantage over challengers. Advantage appears to be legal. Ethics are
another matter.
7 Incidents, 7 Years
02/08/2022
I was illegally detained by Sioux Falls police 7 times in 7 years.
Questioned, intimidated, lied to, falsely charged, set up for attack,
... Charged twice, charged dropped. The incidents: 1 - Running, 2 -
Running, 3 - Bushwhacking, 4 - Shoveling Dirt , 5 - Headlight Not
Required, 6 - Shoveling Silt, 7 - Walking. Needed reforms: Respect
innocence, expand police training, respect rights.
Handcuff Safety
1/31/2022
Modern handcuffs are risky. Pain compliance is dangerous and
traumatic. Handcuffs can be used to assault (injure) people. Excessive
force lawsuits can result from handcuff injury. Police have injured
Sioux Falls women with handcuffs. Change police procedures and
redesign handcuffs to promote safety. We should care about people,
even arrestees.
Healing Addiction Part Two
1/18/2022
Jaytee has a long history of addicted while poor with many
alcohol-related charges. Some charges due to seeking emotional
connection. Some charges completely fabricated. Other charges like DUI
justified. Trauma + poverty + environment -> addiction, crime. Jail
punishes and promotes poverty. Prison means losing job, apartment,
property. Family charged for jail basics (email). Reform
"criminal justice" system to promote healing. Long term
support is necessary to ensure recovery.
Smoother Roads
1/11/2022
Freeze thaw cycle causes potholes. Cheap repairs are bumpy. We should
identify better repair materials and methods. Use reasonably-paid
prison labor for road repairs.
Food Deserts
1/4/2022
Food deserts are areas without a supermarket. Caused by income
inequality, moving away from crime, unprofitable locations. Deserts
make buying healthy food more difficult, more expensive, less
practical. Malnourished obese people, diabetes, heart disease.
Idealist government provides critical community needs. Convert food
deserts into food oases via government subsidy. Also remove sales tax
on food and promote urban agriculture.
City Attorney
12/21/2021
The city charter should be changed to improve clarity and to say the
city attorney provides counsel in the best interest of Sioux Falls
citizens.
City Leader Pay
12/21/2021
Elected leader pay has not been significantly revised since 1995.
It's hard to evaluate mayoral pay, but a pay raise is probably in
order. City council responsibility has grown, pay should be increased.
At large (but not district) councilors should be full-time (not
part-time) to better balance legislature, executive.
Healing Addiction
12/07/2021
Addiction is a frantic way to hide your pain and a complex chronic
disorder that results in brain changes. There are many addictions.
Stress and trauma can lead to addiction which often leads to crime and
broken families. Law enforcement is a common reaction to addiction. A
better approach is to switch from punishment to healing, decriminalize
illegal drugs, promote treatment services, and practice Christian
family values by building a shelter for panhandling homeless addicts.
Smoother Valley Gutters
11/16/2021
Valley gutters are concrete dips in road intersections. By changing
road design we can make smoother intersections without big dips that
damage cars.
Rezone By S Ellis Rd
11/16/2021
City government really really likes developers. Developer plan puts a
collector street where it does not belong. City council supported
illegal street location. City should follow city ordinance and place
collector street along property lines.
Affordable Housing
11/02/2021
People can't afford to buy houses because wages were flat for
decades, houses are bigger, education is costly, and super rich are
getting richer and buying investment houses. New development is mostly
big expensive houses on big lots. People with money benefit from
unaffordable housing. Subsidized suburban sprawl keeps prices high. To
create affordable housing: close down tax avoidance trusts, change
zoning to build tiny houses in addition to big houses, replace
monoculture zoning with mixed zoning, and city should plan sample
developments.
Hire Law Firm
10/18/2021
Why is city hiring Woods, Fuller, Shultz, & Smith law firm? I was
shoveling dirt off the bike trail when I was illegally detained by 4
pushy cops. Woods Fuller used unreliable perjured testimony see
Zokaites vs Sioux Falls. They introduced a motion to seal records and
violate right to fair trial, also misconstrued rulings. City should
fire Woods Fuller, promote justice and government for citizens.
More Democratic Government
09/21/2021
Expensive elections mean than politicians work for donors, not the
people. Political campaigns should be publicly funded. Test tiny
districts for more ethical government. Switch to ranked choice voting
for better elections. City should encourage civic participation.
Non-partisan elections are better. Gerrymandering biases elections in
favor of ruling political party. SD legislative districts show
gerrymandering. Supreme Court said gerrymandering is ok. Government
discourages minority vote. SD has voter disenfranchisement for natives
and felons. We should be nice to other people, share wealth, and
promote democracy.
Improved Signage
09/14/2021
Improved road signs increase safety and reduce collisions. City
created new signs "Say no to panhandling." Traffic lights
should be consistently placed. Signs should not block sidewalk. Road
signs should match the road. Interstate signs should be improved. Use
dotted lines to show when lanes merge. Relax and enjoy nature.
Quieter City Addendum
08/17/2021
Noise causes stress and shortens life. We can reduce noise and make
life nicer. Pile drivers go "bang, bang, bang"and are
extremely loud. We should use portable noise barrier to reduce pile
driver noise.
Medical Cannabis
08/17/2021
Low risk things should have minimal regulation. There are no cannabis
overdose deaths. Draft cannabis ordinances are expensive and
impractical. We should treat medical cannabis dispensaries like
pharmacies.
Creating Crime
08/10/2021
Lawmakers criminalize peoples &activities they don't like.
Unpopular laws are commonly ignored and create crime. National
examples are alcohol and drug prohibition. First local example
criminalizes normal parking. Second local example criminalizes walking
your dog. Our laws should be corrected.
Public Confidentiality
08/03/2021
City attorney wanted to provide secret advice, councilor wanted public
advice. City laws maintain confidentiality. Legal guidelines say
attorney-client privilege does not apply to government. We should
revise city laws to encourage transparency.
Phillips Avenue Parking
07/20/2021
Diagonal parking on Phillips Avenue is good for business but makes the
road too narrow and unsafe. Some short parking stalls should be
extended.
Parking Fines
07/13/2021
Fines encourage cooperation and make money for government. City fines
increase rapidly if paid late. Fines quadrupling in 31 days is
excessive and violates rights. City should respect rights and moderate
excessive increases in fines.
Canine Assisted Arrests
07/06/2021
Dogs help police arrest difficult suspects and promote officer safety.
Sometimes dogs attack the wrong person and cause severe damage.
Illegal to defend against a vicious attacking police dog. It is not
okay for dogs to chew on suspects, too brutal. City should: limit
police dogs to bite and release, regularly re-certify police dogs and
handlers, update laws.
Home Rule and Publishing Legal Notices
06/15/2021
State laws can limit home rule with an express statement to that
effect. Home rule cities like Sioux Falls can supersede state law.
Currently SD cities must publish legal notice in the paper. If Sioux
Falls superseded state law, we could publish legal notice online and
provide better service at lower cost.
Quieter City Life and My Cast
06/01/2021
Noise reduces health, well-being and reduces productivity. Noise also
shortens life. City should use portable noise barriers; eliminate
backup beepers, train horns, and dynamic engine braking. Topic 2: My
Cast. I was troubled about civil rights issues and "the
system" protecting itself in many ways. System's oath to
protect our Constitution is pretense. Don't use machinery when
distraught or you will need a cast like mine.
Christian Politics
05/11/2021
Our Constitution allows us to pray or not pray as we wish. Our society
is mostly Christian. Religion influences life, politics. New Testament
largely silent on divisive issues. Jesus the Christ said: love your
neighbor, care for troubled people.
Respecting Free Speech Addendum
05/04/2021
New book, Rise of the Oathbreakers, discusses broken oath to protect
Constitutional rights. August 2019, I presented "Respecting Free
Speech." A man was arrested for his free speech. This book
includes a critical vignette of this arrest. Our government should
respect civil rights.
School Police
04/13/2021
Police think it's a great idea to be in schools and keep students
safe. Online survey responses ranged from ambivalent to very critical.
See "Why There's A Push To Get Police Out Of Schools" on
www.npr.org.
Student viewpoint needs to be determined. We should emphasize mental
health & social welfare over law enforcement.
Safer Handcuffs
03/16/2021
Modern handcuffs are smaller, more confining, and more dangerous than
slave shackles. Plastic handcuff usage increases injury. Handcuff
injuries can be permanent and include nerve damage, bruises,
laceration, and broken bones. We need to redesign handcuffs to make
them safer. Protect people we're supposed to hate.
Mask Mandate
03/09/2021
USA initially ignored COVID and allowed it to spread. CDC recommended
no masks, then one, now two. Rights were violated based on exaggerated
claims. We had curfews, mask mandates, economic shutdowns, education
problems, corruption, small business loans went to big business, ...
COVID deaths count was exaggerated, USA death rate did not change.
Science is ambivalent about masks. A year later, COVID is no longer an
emergency. Base policy on careful science, not human need to do
something. Live and enjoy life.
Ethics Board Appointments
03/09/2021
Ethics Advisory Board should provide guidance on law and ethics;
promote transparency; and not protect a city ethics coverup. Ehics
board determined city officials regularly exhibited unethical behavior
but refused to investigate. Council should interview ethics board
candidates to determine how ethical they are.
Foundation Park TIF
03/02/2021
TIF (Tax Increment Financing) borrows planned higher property tax to
pay some development costs. TIFs should only be used to fix blighted
(slummy) areas. City is using a $100 million tax subsidy TIF to
encourage wealth concentration and income inequality by promoting big
businesses.
Courthouse Searches
02/09/2021
Minnehaha courthouse sign says we all consent to be searched upon
entry but employees are not searched and defendants who do not
"consent"are jailed. The people who should protect our
rights are the people who abuse them.
Agenda Item 40, More Trees
02/02/2021
City is updating ordinance 160.485, Landscape standards. This will
result in more trees in new developments. Nice!
Promoting Civic Participation
02/02/2021
To encourage civic participation, we need to send notice of elections
and meetings; publish overviews of issues, stances, agendas.
Subscribers can receive information on elections, political meetings,
and citizen board meetings. Candidates will provide introductions,
mission statement, policy overview, and answer a few questions.
COVID Emergency
01/19/2021
COVID had huge medical, economic, and social impact. Newspaper
headlines promote fear. Big business benefitted from COVID response.
Emergencies are unexpected events that require immediate action. COVID
is a year long event. The emergency in SD is over. Use planning to
minimize crisis even during a pandemic.
Felony Murder
01/12/2021
People barely involved in a felony can be unjustly charged with
murder. Happened in Sioux Falls. We should address the social drivers
of addiction and crime; repeal felony murder; and care about human
rights.
Local Cannabis
01/05/2021
Marijuana is not the most common drug. Sugar, caffeine, alcohol,
nicotine most common. Marijuana was falsely vilified for decades.
Cannabis has great medical properties. Onerous regulations are not
justified. Mayor Paul is anti-cannabis. Cannabis should be less
regulated than alcohol because it's safer.
COVID Masks, Agenda Item 18
12/15/2020
Early intervention and mass testing contain disease. Not the American
strategy. CDC changed mask recommendation. City did not respond to my
request for science. Government response caused financial &
emotional toll. News media exaggerates problem and promotes fear. Mask
mandates are not very effective. Healthy living is more important than
fear of a flu.
Human Value Of Nature
12/8/2020
My council talks finish with a landscape. My scientific reference
shows that time in nature promotes good health. Another reference
shows that biological diversity evokes happiness. We should Change our
lives to invest in nature and be happier people.
Council Meeting Invocations
11/10/2020
I wrote two invocations for council meetings, one secular, one
prayerful. They're beautiful!
Improving Council Procedures
11/3/2020
City meeting access would be improved by emailing agendas. Ethics
Board meetings should be video recorded. Abstaining should be allowed.
Mayor should require decorum from council. We should have some full
time councilors. Mingling after the meeting promotes camaraderie.
Alarming Supreme Court Rulings
10/13/2020
Supreme Court reflects views of politicians, not voters. Three rulings
help corporations & wealthy buy elections. Two rulings make it
impractical to sue for civil rights violations. Four rulings reduce
our right to vote. Status quo protects itself, its power. Wealth buys
politicians then more wealth. Reform needed!
Ethical Practice
10/06/2020
Ethics board has pretense of promoting honest government. City
officials received gifts (bribes?) of paid travel. City found ways to
delay and derail ethics inquiry. Council should identify all gifts of
paid travel over last 2 years. Council, ethics board, and SD DCI
ignored my request for transparency; they protect apparent corruption.
Massage Licensing
09/15/2020
Regulating agencies usually work for industry, not consumers.
Licensing helps guarantee quality of service but increases cost.
Humans thrive with physical contact. Victimless crime bothers me -
thought police. Enforce license laws, focus on management. Teach,
protect, counsel, and employ prostitutes.
Civil Asset Forfeiture
09/08/2020
Plan is to take assets from drug dealers and reduce crime. Government
can take anything potentially used for drugs. Neither conviction nor
criminal charges are necessary. Reclaiming property is nearly
impossible. Biased against poor and minorities. Reform is needed.
Ethics Issues
09/01/2020
City law 35 encourages ethical government but discourages complaints.
City officials commonly received illegal gifts but council doesn't
want to know. SD Division of Criminal Investigation ignored my
complaint. Ordinance needs improved.
Wealth Concentration
08/18/2020
Many parts of our society now promote wealth concentration including
prisons, drug prohibition, state sponsored gambling, payday &
title loans, inflation, cheap labor, regressive taxation, trust funds,
offshore tax havens, Federal Reserve, economic disasters, expensive
housing, corrupt government, and war.
Agenda Item 37, Political Gifts
08/18/2020
Third party paid travel is illegal for city official. Ethics board
thinks local officials commonly accept gifts and no disclosure is
needed. Ethics board is unethical, citizens need full disclosure.
Racist Marijuana Enforcement
08/11/2020
Marijuana was criminalized via racism. Nixon's war on drugs was
used to crush protest. Criminal cannabis helps big business. Blacks
and whites use at same rate but SD blacks 5x more likely to be
arrested for marijuana possession. We need to change government
motives to solve this. Truth, science, compassion not greed,
dominance, dishonesty.
Agenda Item 11, Improving Transparency
08/11/2020
City council improved transparency when updating ordinance 30, Nice
work!
New C.I. Agency
08/04/2020
Police don't get near enough training. They should get 2 or 4 year
degrees in counseling, civil rights, law enforcement, emergency
medicine. Equipping police vans with basic life support would save
lives. We need a new C.I. (Community Involvement or Crisis
Intervention) agency with new vans, uniforms, and techniques.
Public Input Decorum
07/21/2020
Public Input Decorum Decorum, diplomacy, respect all help meetings.
There was a loss of decorum last week. It's gentler to address the
whole council instead of individual councilors but city can not
legally require doing so. The First Amendment supersedes city
guidelines, they need updated.
TSA Sexual Assault
07/14/2020
I witnessed the TSA commit sexual assault. Sioux Falls police ignored
my concern. In Pittsburgh, I tried to talk about sexual assault but
was threatened by a TSA agent while a cop watched. I was threatened by
another cop in Pittsburgh. My official complaints were ignored.
Government protects government, not the people. Reform is needed.
Agenda Item 14, Ambulance Rate Increase
07/14/2020
The city's ambulance contract has an automatic rate increase
that's reasonable but a little higher than it should be.
American Race Riots
07/07/2020
USA has long history of racism. Whites, blacks, and men in blue have
all rioted. Worst riot destroyed 35 city blocks! African Americans are
incarcerated far more than whites. Destructive city searches encourage
bad feeling. We can build community with empathy.
Felony Voter Disenfranchisement
06/16/2020
"Prisoners and felons can't vote per SD law until entire
sentence (including restitution) is completed. Felons are
disproportionately poor, minorities. Restitution is impossible for
most felons. Felony voter disenfranchisement makes many second class
citizens. Criminal justice should provide more education, healing, and
re-integration. Sioux Falls should allow convicts and prisoners to
vote."
Progressive Housing
06/09/2020
The lack of affordable housing is due to bigger houses, income
inequality, and design. Mobile home parks help some. The typical
government solution is pretense. Zoning encourages economic
segregation and expensive housing. I have plans for a very progressive
development that includes smaller houses, low impact development, lots
of parks, and keeping trees.
Postponed Rally
06/09/2020
My rally permit has not been approved, rejected, nor commented on.
Protesting Racism
06/03/2020
George Floyd was arrested then killed by police. There were protests
all over the USA and the world. Police culture and government needs
reform, even here in Sioux Falls. I am organizing a rally against
violence.
Imaginative Multiple Jeopardy
05/19/2020
Constitution should protect us from double jeopardy. Someone was
charged with charged with four murders after killing one person.
Multiple jeopardy violates rights. Reform is needed.
Religious Politics
05/12/2020
Religion provides community worship. It can also protect kings, rally
political support, be subverted for extremism, or promote social
change. Find something big to love.
COVID Consequences
05/06/2020
To minimize disease, use science, testing, face masks, isolation. We
didn't do that. COVID is little worse than flu. Consequences
include social control, corruption, economic shutdown. Unhealthy
living causes most deaths. Get more vitality, exercise, vegetables,
love, connection.
Barriers to Civil Rights Lawsuits
04/21/2020
Civil rights lawsuits help government remember duties to citizens,
decency, and our Constitution. Suing for civil rights problems is
extremely difficult, I found 12 barriers. We need to rewrite bad laws
and overturn unjust rulings.
COVID Response
04/06/2020
COVID is worse than seasonal flu but not as bad as heart disease,
obesity. We should test many more people for COVID. City should fund a
study to compare face masks to social distancing.
Agenda Item 20, Washington Pavilion
03/10/2020
Is $355,000 for an architect reasonable for Washington Pavilion
repairs? My contractor bro wrote "6-7% is about Architect
standard." Fee is reasonable.
More Useful Ethics Board
03/10/2020
"Ethics Advisory Board should advise on law, ethics, past events,
planned actions. Ordinance 35 only supports legal opinions, not
ethics. Board does not like to review hypothetical plans. This is
misleading political theater. Please update or repeal ordinance
35."
Trees & Agenda Item 52
03/03/2020
Avera included trees in their building plan. Nice Job Avera.
Urban Renewal Programs
03/03/2020
These programs correct urban blight; TIFs (Tax Increment Financing)
have a 20-year subsidy, no limit on size, wealth. Reduced Tax Program
subsidy for 5 years for small projects. Housing Program helps low
income owner- occupied. Inequality: mobile homes not covered for the
poorest; TIFs help the richest, have great terms.
Public Forum Speech
02/18/2020
First amendment trumps ordinance 30.015 and executive order 151 for
council meetings. People can say anything at public forums.
Politicians can't block polite critics on Facebook.
Various Updates
02/11/2020
"Ideas evolve, mistakes happen, update again. Update 1: homeless
shelter could use economical huts. Update 2: development standards
reduce flooding by slowing drainage. City needs to clarify conflict
between ordinance 30.015 and executive order 151 for council
meetings."
Agenda Item 25, Campaign Finance
02/03/2020
Letting campaign committee open favors wealth - close them after
elections. PACs should be eliminated for transparency. Paul TenHaken
announced he's running for mayor. He's got competition - me! I
was chastised for announcing my candidacy in the same forum that Paul
T. announced.
Agenda Item 25, Sioux Steel TIF
02/03/2020
TIFs (Tax Increment Financing) are a tax subsidy to encourage urban
renewal. City uses TIFs to support projects, not areas. Is the real
goal supporting Sioux Steel and Lloyd's?
River & Flood Management
01/14/2020
Sioux Falls floods every 5 years. National flood insurance encourages
risky building and should be phased out. Skunk Creek flooding could be
eased with a long diversion canal. Spillways should be navigable;
replace spillway with whitewater park for safety, tourism,
environment.
Stormwater Management
01/07/2020
Global warming and channelization increase flooding; levees fail
occasionally; much of Sioux Falls is protected by levees. Reduce
flooding with improved building standards, water permeable pavement,
and rooftop detention ponds.
Agenda Item 29: Alcohol License Renewal
12/03/2019
Alcohol is popular, profitable, addictive, and destructive. Addiction
is part of a cluster of social ills. Problems near Walia Convenience
Store; they could do better; city should help.
Bike Trail Design, Flooding
12/03/2019
Bike trail is for nature, exercise and workforce development. Reduce
flooding on trail to promote utility; raise some trail sections.
Cost Overruns, Fixing Democracy
11/18/2019
City should not pay for design failures; builder should pay for cost
overruns; expensive elections promote corruption.
Agenda Item 14, Parking Ramp History
11/12/2019
I've talked about this project repeatedly; vastly overpriced;
cheaper alternatives ignored; secret deal with a disreputable builder;
looks like staff got paid off; $1.5 million cost overrun.
Zokaites v. Sioux Falls
11/05/2019
People should be decent, police especially. I was illegally detained
while cleaning the bike trail. Police intimidation, bogus ticket,
perjury. Reform needed, lawsuit proceeding.
Building Scam? & Better Agenda
10/08/2019
City projects are in secret, looks like a scam. City pays for
construction failures, scam. Contract extended without competition,
scam. Better agenda for more transparency, efficiency.
Curbing Racism, Gangs, Sex Slavery, ...
10/01/2019
Hate group legally recruiting; politics of fear support hate; drug
prohibition gives work to the desperate; can sex work be legalized to
reduce crime? Address social ills to reduce crime and racism; rest in
nature, love more, hate less.
Bike Trail Expansion, Agenda Item 41
09/17/2019
Expanding the bike trail is a great idea! Use more underpasses,
minimize flooding, and enjoy city life.
Budgeting Process, Lower Cost Safety, Agenda Item 47
09/17/2019
Mayor should coordinate more with council and public. Police budget is
1/4 of operating expense. Better policing includes sane drug policy,
reduce homelessness, care for troubled kids, less intimidation, better
road design, ...
Respecting Free Speech
08/20/2019
Mark B yelled "F*** the police" tacky but legal; charged
with 3 crimes; SD previously ruled cursing cops is "protected
speech." Reform is needed; I pledge allegiance to Truth, People,
our rights ...
"Respite Park" Homeless Shelter
08/13/2019
Poverty, childhood trauma, and addiction encourage homelessness. We
need a new tent-based shelter to promote recovery, invest in troubled
people, and reduce crime.
Floodplain Management and a Zoning Change
08/05/2019
Don't build in the floodway; levees promote downstream flooding;
don't zone floodplain as industrial; preserve
environmentally-friendly waterways.
Kudos
07/16/2019
City staff usually amazingly fast email responses; often receptive to
suggestions, recommendations; nice work!
Independence Day Accountability
07/02/2019
Local politicians were threatened, that's disturbing, but
they're protected. No one protects me from overzealous police.
Leaders took an oath to uphold our Constitution and provide
"equal protection under the law."
Bike Trail Flooding
06/04/2019
Snow melt floods bike trail at multiple locations; global warming
increases flooding. We should raise lowest points of bike trail and
add some access paths.
Drug Strategy
05/21/2019
Illegal drugs cause fewer deaths than legal drugs, alcohol, tobacco,
suicide, or firearms. Prohibition was not designed to reduce
addiction! We need a scientific assessment of drug danger; cannabis is
safer than alcohol. Turn in your stash, go to treatment. Prescription
heroin reduces addiction, theft, disease; $5,000 bounty for meth
dealers.
Special Council Meetings
05/07/2019
Special council meetings should be announced at the previous regular
meeting; please meet regular place, regular time; encourage public
participation.
River Safety
09/11/2018
A low head dam is submerged, almost invisible; hydraulic roller below
spillway causes drowning; we have unmarked dams; replace them with
rock ramps; put ring buoy by Falls Park for safety.
"1) Public Input Law and 2) Open Parks Board"
07/17/2018
Revised law reduces time for addressing the council but allows for
input on first reading; why no more electronic presentations? Were my
PowerPoints too effective? Parks board meeting audio now posted online
- nice!
Oath of Office
07/10/2018
New leaders swear "I ... do solemnly swear that I will support
the Constitution of the United States ..." but politicians ignore
unconstitutional processes and condone police perjury. This is
distressing and tragic.
Bike Trail Update: Please Expedite
06/05/2018
I want to fix some problems but can't get a permit, please
expedite.
Changing The Guard
05/15/2018
I commend political candidates, it takes dedication; new leaders
should make changes: cancel parking ramp scam, expand drug treatment
programs.
Bike Trail Issues
05/02/2018
Update ordinance 95.024 to assure night access; prevent silt on trail;
pave some access points; I want to deliver gravel.
Improving Council Transparency
04/17/2018
Consent agenda consolidates "uncontroversial minor" items
but can hide bad policy; council meetings should be divided into 3
sections alcohol licensing, zoning, and city business. Allow public
input at first reading.
Noise Reduction
04/11/2018
Train horns make noise pollution; they're vastly louder than city
limits; we should create no-horn zones to make life more pleasant.
Politicians Follow
04/03/2018
Candidates promise what voters want but deliver what rich donors want.
We're not supposed to know USA is #1 in prisons; money is in
control; news supports developers. Good that candidates advocate drug
treatment.
Everything's OK and Transparent Secret
03/20/2018
People want to NOT know about hard problems (such as nuclear reactor
in a tsunami zone); city has bad deals in Agenda broad daylight:
selling city land at 90% of value, boondoggle parking ramp.
Build It Now
03/13/2018
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and TIFs (Tax Increment Financing)
encourage corruption; city decisions favor developers because money
talks; I list biased decisions.
Music, Allegory
03/06/2018
Music can be so expressive; I wrote lyrics for the "Zombie
Walk" parade, an allegory for our time.
1) Premier Center Siding and 2) Music, Allegory
02/20/2018
City approved flat siding to save money; enjoy my music video,
"Take Back The Night"
Fixing Building Issues
02/13/2018
I plan to cancel the overpriced parking ramp. Premier Center siding
looks bumpy and tacky; they failed to account for thermal expansion;
dubious settlement; builder should fix it.
1) Discussion Tactics 2) Let's Make A Deal
01/09/2018
Distracting emotional arguments support bad decisions; an iconic truck
would cost twice as much but not work well, just like the iconic
parking ramp.
Parking Ramp Mechanisms
01/02/2018
People like traditional methods; denial helps bad ideas; shady parking
ramp contractor; council should listen to citizens and cancel bad
contract.
Combining Elections (Agenda Item 30)
12/19/2017
Combining city and school board elections is a great idea.
Parking Ramp Questions
12/19/2017
I have 20 questions about this ramp regarding cost and secrecy. The
project looks like a reward for campaign contributions.
Parking Ramp Complex Costs
12/12/2017
Walker report said $9 million to build a parking ramp but city is
spending $21 million; gift to builder; I wrote uplifting song named
"Parade of Lights."
Proposed Parking Ramp Complex
12/05/2017
"An existing parking ramp could be expanded; city proposes
expensive parking ramp complex; secret bid process. $56,800 per
constructed public space but local median cost is $20,000. Reward for
campaign contributions?"
Police Improvements
11/21/2017
Pursue accreditation; invite DOJ review; implement body cameras;
remove push bumpers; more friendly police; treatment for addicts.
Apparent Sioux Falls Corruption
11/07/2017
Expensive elections result in corruption; city changed election laws
to favor wealth; police violate rights; plea bargain system violates
rights; secrecy promotes corruption; unconstitutional laws should be
corrected; reform government. Restricted & Vicious Animals,
Updating Ordinance 90 09/19/17 The law protects citizens from vicious
dogs; city plans to exempt police from accountability; I recommend
limited exclusion instead.
Restricted & Vicious Animals, Updating Ordinance 90
09/19/2017
The law protects citizens from vicious dogs; city plans to exempt
police from accountability; I recommend limited exclusion instead.
Drug Prohibition Part 3 of 3
09/05/2017
Some human trafficking supports addiction; alcohol addiction helped
organized crime; propaganda persists; prohibition causes more problems
than addiction; treatment reduces addiction and crime; some industries
benefit from prohibition; drug amnesty would help; we need better
policies.
Drug Prohibition Part 2 of 3
08/15/2017
Illegal drugs kill very few people; alcohol is worse than cannabis;
cannabis was criminalized to hurt dark racial minorities; Nixon's
war on drugs attacked protest movements.
Drug Prohibition Part 1 of 3
08/01/2017
Too much unrealistic rhetoric; 23% of us are binge alcohol users; drug
prohibition does not prevent drug abuse but creates crime and puts
many people in jail.
Zoning at 6th and Bahnson
08/01/2017
Six acres of city "ag" land will be rezoned; owner wants
high price; neighbors want residential area; builders want intense
use; I suggest a partnership to make a park.
Bike Trail Improvements
07/18/2017
The trail is beautiful, being extended, signs added, widened. Cut
grass a little taller; police patrols should be on bike; need more
signs; fix more bends; prevent silt on trail.
The Flow of Power
07/11/2017
Unconstitutional laws are not changed; petitions are ignored; meetings
are for ceremony not real dialogue; power flows from campaign donors
to senior officials then to clique then to legislature.
One Dead Bulb
06/06/2017
I got an unjustified citation; I tried to charge an officer with
perjury but was threatened with arrest.
Improving Traffic Safety
05/09/2017
Dangerous repairs on I-229 during rush hour; signs and lights would
help; can busy highways be repaired at night?
Our Bike Trail
05/02/2017
City bike trail provides beauty, nature, exercise. Needs straightened,
more signs, make it bigger.
Earth Day: Planting Trees
04/18/2017
I plan to have all city employees plant 4 small trees for random
residents.
Dedicating our meetings
03/21/2017
Council meetings now open with prayer to Christian God and Pledge of
Allegiance. I plan to write a pledge/dedication and encourage others
to write their own.
David Z for Mayor
03/14/2017
Government for we the people! I want to work with citizens, councilors
for responsible government. What can we accomplish together?
Zoning Aesthetics
03/07/2017
Zoning is controversial, affects property values, and limits
construction; tract housing should be varied; homeowners don't
like big apartment buildings nearby.
1) Recording Meetings 2) Revise Ordinance 55
02/14/2017
City board meetings should be video recorded; new ordinance 55 needs
revised: change the title, clarify time for correction, reduce extreme
penalty, eliminate multiple jeopardy, require a search warrant.
Multiple Jeopardy
01/17/2017
Constitution says one bad action is one crime against one law; USA has
multiple overlapping laws; one bad action is multiple offenses with
long prison sentences - that's unconstitutional and keeps us
subdued.
Happy New Year
01/03/2017
Christmas is a season of camaraderie; I brought cookies!
Public Speaking Guidelines
12/20/2016
For better meetings: stay calm, focus on one topic, offer a solution,
and be nice.
Georgia Girl + Local Doctor
12/13/2016
SD teenage sex laws are dangerously broad and harsh; it's risky to
call police; government makes it very hard to testify for defense.
Entertainment as Indoctrination
12/06/2016
Some crime TV shows encourage civil rights violations: solitary
confinement, illegal search, prisoner abuse, lying to a suspect, lying
to the public, shoot to kill. We should use healthier entertainment.
1) Alcohol and Law 2) Mass Incarceration
11/08/2016
Alcohol is a popular social sedative; the most popular drug; some bars
sell too much. USA has world's largest prison population;
unnecessary "sheltering in place" turns schools into jails;
defend liberty.
Decorum & Related Topics
11/01/2016
Decorum and mutual respect makes life nicer; most people hate to be
challenged; diplomacy helps.
Push Bumpers
10/17/2016
A push bumper is a battering ram on a police car; increases risk of
pedestrian death in a collision; they should be removed.
Modeling Government
10/11/2016
Expensive elections favor rich donors; political decisions support
donors and corruption; government controls our world; public must
finance elections.
Police Violence
10/04/2016
I was detained and bullied by police who violated my rights; they
tried to provoke me; government protects bad police; reform is needed.
Proposed Administrative Building
09/20/2016
City ignored a citizen petition; council rhetoric was unrealistic;
cheaper alternatives were ignored.
Project TRIM and Ordinance 94
09/13/2016
City regulations for trimming and removing trees violate our right to
due process; people are fined without a hearing; some fines are not
supported by law, that makes them illegal.
Robin's Presentation and My Book
08/09/2016
Robin was searched without a warrant. Similar to my painful, dangerous
experience. Rights are being gradually eroded. People who trade
freedom for security retain neither. We're not supposed to notice
corruption, greed, Earth destruction, ... Reform needed. I started a
book "Reclaiming our American Democracy." Revolution of the
mind, spirit.