Opinion

We’ve been talking on the Patrick Lalley Show about the downtown hotel and parking ramp proposal. I've been reflecting on the transformation of downtown.

The announcement on Wednesday of a public/private partnership to develop a downtown block is an exciting and positive step for Sioux Falls. There will be plenty of discussion surrounding the finances of the deal -- valued at $50 million -- including the parking ramp, hotel and retail space. Notably, the question is whether the city is taking on too much of the bill, about $20 million for the ramp. That money will come from a bond that will be retired using parking fees.

I attended the City Council meeting Tuesday. There was only one substantive item – the rewrite of some of the beer and wine regulations in the city.

I started to see the images on social media of Sturgis Brown High School kids standing on a car with “go back to the Rez” spray painted across the side.

Several city councilors want Mayor Mike Huether’s administration make a presentation and answer questions about the once-secret-now-public settlement over the Premier Center siding.

We found out last week that Mayor Mike Huether lied to us. That may seem a harsh assessment but I’m not sure how else to read the settlement the city was forced to release over the warped and bubbling silver siding at the Sanford Premier Center.

I've heard a lot lately about all the people who are jumping into the Sioux Falls mayor's race. We're off to a fast start. It's only September after all, and we have eight candidates so far with some chatter that there will be more.

I’m still focused on safe streets and the reaction to the input from cyclists at the City Council meeting on Tuesday. The reaction in social media was, shall we say, typical. And also disheartening.

Former television reporter and advocate for victims of child abuse, Jolene Loetscher is holding a press conference on Friday to announce her bid for Mayor. It’s a bit of surprise but it’s rumbling around for a week or so now.

I'm dumbfounded by the City of Sioux Falls' announcement this week that it will allow turning right on red lights at two major intersections on Minnesota Avenue.