He Was Making His List, Checking It Twice...

Well it seems that Santy Claus really does check the naughty/nice list and a couple of slumlords have received their Minnehaha Circuit Court coal in their stockings.

T. and B. Smythe have been hoarding the legal section of the Argus Leader lately with a string of foreclosures in both Sioux Falls and Brandon. For those unaware of the history, Toby is the slumlord that has been providing substandard low income housing to central Sioux Falls and plays a huge role in the downfall of the neighborhood. What a nice landlord he was! Not only did he provide the substandard housing, but his liquor store on 11th street also made it possible for his tenants to be able to walk short distances for accelerants for our crime problems. Did I fail to mention that T. is a schoolteacher? Oh, yes! I would definitely see some sort of conflict of interest in him teaching the young in our community as well as fueling criminal activity.

Also receiving his legal lump of coal is H. Ortiz - the silver-tongued Colombian man that left his debtors in the lurch! I don't expect to see much on Henry, for if I were him, I would head back to Colombia to his wife, where the money has probably gone as well!

Oh, slumlords, you will be sorely missed as we in the 'hood try to pick up all the pieces and put ourselves together again! Good riddance!