Spread the word – vote like your life and country depend on it!
Money Helps! Donate Here.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!
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.