Vote New Members for City Council in November!

It’s almost time to go to the polls this November to vote in City Council elections.

We have two good Democrats running this time in Rixner and Jensen. Let’s get behind them in a big way, as we usually don’t have such an opportunity!

Above all, we need to shake up City Hall by voting out the incumbents, Dave Ferris and Karen Van De Steeg!

We need a City Council that’s not a wholly owned subsidiary of the local Chamber of Commerce and the Republican Party. Don’t forget that during the last presidential election campaign cycle, then-Mayor Ferris was very conspicuous at Bush-Cheney rallies, but somehow could never find the time to welcome John Kerry to town despite Kerry’s repeated visits to Sioux City. Isn’t the Mayor supposed to at least pretend to represent all Sioux Cityans, even Democrats?

We also need a City Council that’s not always so smugly self-congratulatory. We need council members who won’t simply pat themselves on the back for bringing ever more service-oriented minimum wage employment to town, while the housing sector stagnates and young people flee town for real jobs paying living wages elsewhere.

We need City Council members who will actively debate issues and disagree with one another once in a while, rather than: a) reflexively approve items unanimously, or b) keep deferring items for further “study” until unanimous agreement can be forged behind the scenes.

We need a City Council that demonstrates its interest in the citizens of Sioux City, regardless of economic status, race, or sexual orientation. When was the last time City Council made any significant overtures toward Sioux City’s fast-growing minority communities? Witness how quickly our current Council abandoned the Neighborhood Meetings for supposed lack of interest. Isn’t it in part their job to drum up that interest, rather than place the burden of responsibility on the people?! And how much longer must we put up with Council’s patronizing “Some of my best friends are gay. Really!” rhetoric when opposing the Human Rights Commissions’ recommendation to add language about sexual orientation to the city’s discrimination ordinance? [kudos to Karen, though, for bucking this trend].

We need a City Council that seeks out the best-qualified candidates and some racial/ethnic diversity, rather than simply stacking its commissions and committees with like-minded friends and business associates. Let’s put an end to cronyism!

We need a City Council that respects the citizens of Sioux City. It was only a few months ago that a self-important Dave Ferris and the City Manager needlessly requested police back-up, all because a former resident and vocal Council critic showed up and sat quietly through the tail end of a council meeting in hunting fatigue pants (but an ordinary t-shirt).

More than anything, we need a City Council that trusts the citizens of Sioux City to make informed decisions themselves! If we want to take in a Rob Zombie concert in town, who is to try and stop us (besides holier-than-thou Dave Ferris)? If we want to shop at Doctor John’s or Francis Canteen, why shouldn’t we be able to? Why must Council needlessly play morality cop for Sioux City by trying to rewrite the laws on the books and restrict free trade? What is the point other than empty moralistic grandstanding? I mean, would Council be pleased if a private citizens’ group publicly launched a campaign against unhealthy fast foods such as fried chicken (tasty stuff, fried chicken, but “just about the fattiest food on the planet” according to a January/February 1998 issue of Men’s Health magazine)?!

Dave Ferris got his special new traffic light near his place of business (as well as increased public exposure for said business), and Karen Van De Steeg got a trip to Japan. Service to the city has been good to them, as it has been good for the city sometimes, but it’s time to move on.

Vote for Democrats instead! Vote for change! Vote Rixner and Jensen in November!

Peace!
Historian