Happy Friday! Megan here.
Weather check: A break in the rain
Status check: I don't know about you guys, but I've been hit by some kind of cold/flu bug that's had me laid out for a good chunk of this week. It's been a good reminder to me to slow down, focus on good food, good sleep and taking my vitamins – but it's also meant a bit of a lighter issue this week. Hope you're all healthy, rested and well headed into the first week of school!
This week, I talked to a number of folks who are working on Mayor Christine Erickson's transition team to get a sense of her leadership style and how she's approaching her new role. There's some good insight in there – particularly in how Erickson is prioritizing listening before taking any action. You'll also find some quick Super Simplified stories before you go and soak up those end-of-summer weekend vibes.
And now, news:
CITY
What we know about Erickson's leadership style after one month as mayor
Simplified: Mayor Christine Erickson has been on the job for a month now, and we're getting an early look at her leadership style. Sioux Falls Simplified chatted with members of Erickson's transition team and heard from the mayor herself on how the first month is going.
Why it matters
- After winning by only four votes in the July run-off election, Erickson knows that she didn't take office with a mandate from the voters – something she's acknowledged from day one, including with her transition team, said Kadyn Wittman, a District 15 state representative and transition team member.
- Another thing she's said from day one is that she's committed to doing the work, and Erickson told reporters earlier this week that she's also putting her transition team to work in meeting people where they are, gathering information on city departments and bringing tangible recommendations for how to improve city operations.
- For transition team member Jodi Schwan, who previously served on Mayor Paul TenHaken's transition team and worked as Mayor Dave Munson's chief of staff, Erickson's move into the mayor's seat has been "a really healthy process so far."
"She was very clear about her desire to be collaborative not just with folks who supported her, but she wants to have open dialogues and relationships with those individuals who have not always been in alignment with her policy stances," Wittman said.
Tell me more
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- Live in Whittier? This one's for you. The city is looking for feedback from the Whittier Neighborhood as part of its neighborhood-specific strategic planning efforts. If you live in the Whittier neighborhood, you can click here to complete the survey.
- Ready for hoops?* Ok, we're a little ways from professional basketball season, but it's exactly the right time to sign up for youth basketball with the Sioux Falls Family YMCA. Kids of all skill levels from age 4 all the way through high school can have a chance to learn, whether they're stepping onto the court for the first time or preparing for competitive play. YMCA Youth Basketball focuses on skill development, teamwork, sportsmanship, and fun while creating a positive environment where every player can succeed. Registration ends Sept. 16, so be sure to sign up today.
- City looks to increase taxes downtown. Councilors on Tuesday took the first step in informing the public about proposed changes to the downtown business improvement district (BID). The changes would increase how much apartment buildings and industrial properties pay in to the BID. Right now, they're facing exemptions to those taxes, but the changes would have them paying in at 100%. Councilors will have a first reading on the changes in October.
- Metro staffing shifts helping out. Metro Communications this week shared that their shift to separating jobs for emergency versus non-emergency calls has helped recruit and retain employees. Supervisor Robyn Logan said the change has really helped not only the employees but also the public in getting directed to the resources they need – whether it's response to an emergency 911 call or support with non-emergency stuff (which is about 2/3 of the 300,000 calls Metro deals with each year, Logan said).
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
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Megan Raposa
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