Don't let environmentalists mislead you, light rail is dirtier than you think

Whenever millions upon millions of taxpayer money is at stake things are bound to get contentious if not downright corrupt.

Light Rail is no exception even if so many "green" d-bags want you to think that supporting public transportation makes you a better person . . . It doesn't.

Anyway, the story here is that The Star recently got played in promoting one of many "alternatives" to Clay Chastain's stupid plan.

A recent article was a simple enough puff piece but the reporter (Kevin Collison) didn't exactly research why the KC Design Center handed an award to BNIM architects. First, here's the "important" part of the story:

The winning entry in a transit-oriented development competition sponsored by the Kansas City Design Center, a nonprofit group that promotes good design and planning. The entry from BNIM Architects, which is assisting Houston with its next light-rail line, was chosen from among five participating teams.

Well, maybe BNIM had a fantastic plan and maybe they didn't. BUT WHAT THE STAR DIDN'T MENTION IS THAT BNIM IS ONE OF THE KC DESIGN CENTER'S BIGGEST BENEFACTORS:



Or at least that's what their webpage says.

This is important because it's clear that companies from all across the nation are doing every thing they can to get their teeth into this deal that could potentially be a windfall. The contest "win" by BNIM could be used to put them ahead of the pack. Although, the prospect of possibly fixing a contest probably isn't a huge sin . . . It doesn't really speak well of their integrity . . . And it's not like I'm Kansas City's moral compass but then again nobody is lobbying to give me millions in public money. (Incidentally, if they did I would figure out some way to have mass transit in KC involve lap dances)

But maybe they didn't fix the contest at all . . . And I'm just jumping to conclusions. I'm sure it was fair . . .

Just to be sure, right now I'm going to hold a contest for Kansas City's best journalist . . . Okay, all the entries are in . . . Guess what . . . I WON!!!! There you have it, TKC is the best site for journalism in Kansas City. Awesome! Do I get a story in The Star now?

And maybe "fix" is a strong word but at the very least an organization giving an award out to one of it's biggest donors in a "Contest" without much disclosure other than a little known webpage is a tad unseemly . . . Hell, even radio stations have clear cut rules about employees, family and close associates winning their on-air contests.

The point here is that this light rail thing is going to bring out an assload of unsavory corporate types that are the antithesis of every green, clean, good hearted and hippie notion that most public transportation advocates want you to believe they're all about . . . But the truth is that these same folks invited all of this corporate intrigue and the inevitable shadow games that will follow as soon as all that transit money is in play.

So, it's clear that Clay Chastain's plan isn't going to work and it's even more apparent that the folks looking to replace his dumb design are nothing but sharks . . . In the end, it's going to be hard for this city to find somewhere else to turn and the only thing that's clear is that simply driving your car and avoiding all of the corruption that's a part of any public works project isn't something that should weigh too heavily on your conscience.

Paris of the plains

I don't know why celebs get such a bad wrap for being stupid when their fans are clearly much worse: Kansas City Woman Wants To Serve Paris Hilton's Sentence. Via Fark.

KC's History is going condo

Every old building in this town represents an opportunity for Master Realty Properties to turn it into a condo and possibly make a fortune off of people who forget that schools, water infrastructure, neighborhoods and crime are also concerns when deciding on how much a luxury living space is worth.

An interesting article in The Star today detailed the local company's history in Kansas City's Condo craze and listed some of the historic buildings with units that will soon spend more than 24 months on the market until a sucker with deep pockets comes along. Here are my favorite buildings:

An eight-story building at 712 Broadway, built in 1903 to accommodate a pharmaceutical wholesaler will now be transformed into 45 luxury condos.

The Freight House Lofts at 2029 Wyandotte St. The 1929 building was renovated in 2001 into 33 apartments. The condos will sell from $200,000 to $360,000.

The Campbell Paint Lofts at 1535 Walnut St. in the Crossroads Arts District. Built in 1915, the building was renovated by Master Realty into 58 apartments in 2000. The price range is expected to be from $195,000 to $400,000 with monthly condo association fees of about 25 cents per square foot.

With all KC's history up for sale in a sketchy real estate market I wonder of earlier generations ever had to deal with a similar glut of luxury housing . . . Also, I think the best thing about condos is that they are impervious to crime!!!

Westport Crowd Concerns

A few Westport residents raised concerns recently about the late night, weekend crowds in the area . . . The group is actually on the quieter part of the district but obviously they're still pretty scared about what the summer will bring . . . Given that even the Sunfresh Parking lot is a great place to get stabbed in the eye.

Residents of the high-rise Westport House Apartments on Mill Street packed into the building’s meeting room to talk with officials.

Their concerns largely revolved around the thick crowds that gather in the Sunfresh parking lot across Mill and two incidents two Sundays ago: the sound of shots from the parking lot and the news that 21-year-old Chris Bartholomew was fatally shot a few hours later in midtown.

Again, I have a solution . . . I'd be happy to round up all of the drunken, blonde women and take them home with me so that at least we can confine all of the gunfights to the sausage fest that most Westport clubs turn into after around 1 a.m.

Prison Industrial Complex soon to go private in JoCo

Because if you can't make a buck locking up poor people and minorities then the terrorists have won:

Johnson County commissioners are considering striking a deal with a private, for-profit corrections facility in Leavenworth.

Also, one there are more than 2.2 million people in U.S. jails right now which is a greater number and percentage than any nation in the industrialized world.

Only the weak minded and women (same thing in most instances) drink a lot of wine

Beer sales are down across the board, "fancy pants wine" is all the rage among so-called Americans.

Either these people have never heard of Boulevard Beer OR this whole real estate bubble bursting, never-ending war and colossal mess known as the Sprint Center have people a lot more depressed than I ever could have imagined . . . Because unless you're dating a high class prostitute, there is no reason to substitute pricey wine for perfectly good beer.

Today's TKC link dump

I'm playing catchup today but here are some recent stories that I found interesting:

There are a bunch of "convenient" places to get killed in South KC.

Police: Woman Carjacked 45th, State Line

Hockey and mullets soon to come together in Independence.

Brave old lady sent to turn the lights out: 63-Year-Old Woman Set To Serve In Iraq

KCK Police Ask For Help Finding 8-Year-Old

Teen Slain At 24th, Kensington

KC City Council holds meeting at police station

TKC's lesson of the day: White women are the most important people on this planet

Alonzo said it first but I have to agree . . . A white broad who ran off with 20k would be in jail if she was anybody else but a white broad in the suburbs. It's straight out of a Steve Martin joke and I know I'd be in the clink if "I forgot" was the best excuse I could come up with in front of an JoCo judge.

A former Shawnee Mission Parent Teach Association treasurer missed her chance to pay for her crime in court Wednesday.

Julie Ann Carr had agreed to pay back the $21,000 to the Bluejacket-Flint PTA before her sentencing day. But during the sentencing hearing Wednesday, Carr said she did not have a check.

A judge allowed her to leave and come back later, but she did not return before court ended.

It's an important lesson kids, white privilege also applies to the PTA . . . However, I think minorities doing up to 20k worth of damage in that part of town should now feel entitled to the same treatment i.e. going home until you can pay at your earliest convenience.

UPDATE: The white broad is in now in jail after a media uproar . . . So you can stop clutching your checkbook for the moment.

Who's to blame for Bannister Mall's demise?

The much maligned South KC Mall closes today and while so many people (like myself) choose to blame roving band of young Black guy's for the mall's demise, I blame people who ran in fear for both real and imagined reasons.

Finally, Wakarusa organizers realize that folks just want to listen to music and engage in causal drug use in peace

Less aggressive security planned for Wakarusa Fest.

Another out of town chain restaurant for P&L District

Power & Light gets Ted's Montana Grill

KCI: Still "The Airport from Hell?"

U.S. Rep. John Mica of Florida once called Kansas City International "the airport from hell" but he recently changed his tune after a tour of the place with Sam Graves . . . Mica credits a private baggage screening company for the improvements in what was pretty a pointless press conference . . . While I think the place less of a security risk because Osama knows that if a pro-sports franchise doesn't want to occupy The Sprint Center . . . Then our city isn't worth blowing up.

Local dude dies just days before his wedding

A sad story that's pretty heartbreaking actually . . . So I guess it would be crass to point out that all marriages end in death or divorce anyway.

News: White kid almost washed away

It rained yesterday, I also had a lot more important things to do than blog about rain so I did them . . . Newsies paid to report regardless of importance weren't as lucky. Thankfully, the kid in question who nearly drowned is going to survive and an afternoon of rain didn't kill anybody . . . The only thing that suffered was journalism standards in KC.

UPDATE: The poor kid died.

Inside the Chinatown Food Market

I have a policy about my Chinese food . . . I'd rather not know how it's cooked. That's why I don't ask any questions. However, a recent article in Present Magazine regarding a popular River Market Asian grocery store was surprisingly pleasant and thankfully devoid of any domesticated animals.

A blogger's favorite bars

Scooter has a pretty great list of the top 20 area bars that he has visited. His post includes quick reviews and a bunch of other interesting information that you'd have to invest far too much precious liver tissue in order to find out for yourself.

The home video era is coming to an end

KC Media blog reports that Lenexa's Video Library is closing and liquidating their inventory.

An employee of the video store near 87th and Rosehill in Lenexa confirms Video Library is moving ahead with a liquidation of it's inventory ASAP (all titles go on sale this week).

Traffic to one of Johnson County's original viden rental stores died down considerably in the past two years as Blockbuster and Netflix's mail delivery services gained traction in the marketplace. Video Library could not deliver on a similar service to keep pace with the national competition.

Where will Johnson County now turn for older movies and brand new adult titles?????

I didn't know they sold porn, so now the closing makes me sad . . . Still, it's plain to see that the era of bricks and mortar video store is nearly over . . . Along with demand those discs - both CD and DVD . . . And probably profit when it comes to charging folks directly for content . . . At least if Apple's ITV is even half as revolutionary as folks think it might be OR if Bittorrnet ever gets to a point where it doesn't require a Masters Degree in Computer Science in order to operate.

The Buzz jokes about Domestic Violence (and so do I)

I guess Lawrence blogger Joel Mathis is trying to be a nice guy in a post that expressed his righteous indignation over an unsavory ad run by local station 96.5 the Buzz.

The ad was short and not so sweet and here is the offending message:

"This Memorial Day weekend, the Buzz asks you not to beat your wife — even if she deserves it."

Here is part of the response that Mathis penned that will unintentionally make it easier for him to get in the panties of the office intern who happens to be mistakenly earning her college degree in Women's Studies even if that was not his initial aim:

It wasn’t funny. It was horrifying.

This isn’t some Imus-like situation where one DJ made a stupid, off-the-cuff announcement. This was a corporation deciding to advertise itself through humor so ugly it would make a frat boy blush.

If you think I’m being humorless, let me ask you this: How many chuckles would you find in your mother being beaten? Your sister? Your daughter?

Your wife?

First of all, that's a phony question. I can sit around all day dreaming up depressing scenarios in order to try and sway public opinion . . . In fact, that's pretty much the premise of this blog. For example here's a make believe situation similar to what Mathis described:

"If you think stand-up comedy is funny . . . Imagine if Hitler was doing it. "

There ya go . . . Not that I want to defend the Buzz or anything, in fact it has been well documented that no one should listen to The Buzz not because of misogyny but instead because their music really sucks . . . A fact that has been expertly documented by Lawrence blogger J.D. who also gave me a heads up (NO HOMO!) on this recent bit of media criticism.

Anyway, the point here is that the Buzz is giving Domestic Violence jokes a bad name.

Domestic Violence CAN be funny, especially when it's happening to one of your ex-girlfriends.

What is not funny is that jokes regarding Domestic Violence are being wasted in support of music that is the closest thing to soft rock this side of John Tesh.

Mathis is now boycotting 96.5 The Buzz due to the off color joke that he heard in the car with his wife, I'm speculating that his protestations are geared toward impressing his wife in deference to the struggles of her beaten down sisters all over the planet. However, I find that women are rarely impressed with latent homosexuality.

Instead I'm hoping that women want a man who can make up his own mind about the kind of music he listens to without regard for politically correct posturing . . . At least that's what I hope my woman will say about the situation and if she doesn't I'm going to beat the crap out of her.

West Terrace Park Photo History

Evan Harkins recently created an AMAZING VIDEO regarding the history of West Terrace Park.

This Youtube clip offers a sobering account of how Kansas City has traded so much of its history for the convenience of commuters. If there was ever a parable for local pedestrians, Evan Harkins has created it.

If you care at all about the history of this town, you owe it to yourself to take a look at the clip, send a copy to friends who may find it interesting and tell everybody that TKC found it for you.

Big Media Backs their man despite the fact that Mayor Funky has been a failure so far

One month into it, the Star is trying to abate the buyer's remorse that is gripping Kansas City regarding Mayor Mark Funkhouser.

Today's front page story is nothing more than a promotional piece for a Mayor whose promises are already falling to pieces after only a month in office.

The Star publishes a point by point analysis . . . And I just want to take this space in order to retort.

The Star claims Mayor Funky is not anti-business . . . The truth is that it doesn't matter: U.S. home prices have fallen for the first time in 16 years and while real estate speculation once powered all of the cheap hype and cheerleading regarding the "Downtown Renaissance" the epoch of a downtown economy driven by loft and condo sales has now passed . . . Once again this town was a day late to jump on that bandwagon not matter how many developers scream to the hilltops to the contrary. This doesn't have anything to do with what Funkhouser has or hasn't accomplished but he is simply the man left holding the bag (nullus) of a macroeconomic trend that doesn't bode well for a city fixated on Downtown real estate development.

The Star claims that Mayor Funky is not your average politician, probably because that's the image that they sold to their readers. Decades inside City Hall and he's not an insider? That's purely a pose and just because hipsters want to believe something doesn't make it true. The second that Funkhouser rewarded the Northland vote with the appointment of Bill "WTF?" Skaggs to Mayor pro tem signaled that Mayor Funky was nothing more than a regular old politician who seemingly turned his back on every part of the City that didn't overwhelmingly vote for him . . . The mayor had a chance to pick a woman, who would have worked better with the estrogen laden council OR a Black person in order to reach out to the Eastside after a contentious election but Mayor Funky fell back on the same tired political tactics that have kept this city divided for generations.

Nobody in their right mind would defend expensive double dipping by an old Funkhouser friend. Mayor Funky couldn't even do damage control regarding his buddy's QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF COMPENSATION. The move didn't exactly speak to the "regular folks" that Funkhouser fanatics are so fond of invoking and it's yet another sign that the image so carefully crafted by The Star is now just as flimsy as their classified advertising revenue after the advent of Craigslist.

Funkhouser isn't fond of after hours (i.e. post-5:30 p.m.) meetings. Politician is not a real job, Mayor Funky is so inexperienced that he hasn't learned this yet. Say as many bad things as you want about Alvin Brooks but the guy was out on the streets of KC doing his best to serve his constituency DAY AND NIGHT. Whereas Mayor Funky wants to be home by dinner time. Even according to The Star, community leaders from across the city say that they feel slighted. The Mayor's refusal to meet "regular folks" during the hours that are convenient for people who have real jobs just reveals that 851 voters fell for the same kind of empty promises Kansas City has heard for generations.

Apparently, the Funk doesn't exactly have a fire under him in order to fix Kansas City's problems. Question: Do you think he could have made his lackadaisical approach more well-known during his campaign? This is a Mayor with a razor thin margin of victory and he's acting as if he has a mandate. Already the City Council has challenged and defeated one of the guy's campaign platforms. On this last point Kansas City's paper of record has it all wrong once again. Mayor Funky isn't taking it slow, he's paralyzed by a lack of political leverage and it seems that the only ones who are quickly moving to defend him and continue the clueless campaign of catchphrases are the folks at the Star and the last few remnants of Internet bloggers clinging to their naive notions of change at City Hall.

Frankly, I'd like to hear what Internet politicos Heidi, Dan at Gone Mild and BlogKC have to say about a month long display of one Funkhouser Administration failure after the next.

TKC knows how to save The Woodlands

With gambling soon to be expanding into Kansas, The Woodlands race track is still going to find itself in a precarious position. Year after year, the financial hardships of the place have made headlines and now the management is desperately hoping that a new gaming bill will provide a windfall for the place . . . But it probably won't.

Put simply, The Woodlands is simply too far out a bit sleazy to attract a big crowd in its current configuration. Additionally, KC casinos are much nicer and WyCo casinos will be much more convenient so that the new slots that could soon end up at the area race track really won't make a difference.

But TKC is all about solutions and a recent news clip inspired me to bestow a nugget of my wisdom (nullus) on local leaders . . . The attraction that will save the Woodlands and make it a profitable and beloved institution throughout the area is simple: Bikini Racing Women!!!!!!!!

A recent race at the Hollywood Park gave me the idea but I think that applied to the Woodlands on a regular basis during the summer months would drive throngs of visitors to watch broads in thongs hustle toward the finish line.

I'm not kidding at all, this a great idea and I don't think any heterosexual man would ever get tired of watching this kind of entertainment. Really, it's the best idea in order to make gambling on races more interesting in Kansas.

No need to thank me Woodland's managers, simply hit me back via e-mail for a P.O. Box address where you can mail my check.

TKC Model of the moment: Laura-Marie

Nothing in particular stands out about 21 year-old Overland Park model Laura-Marie but I think that's the point . . . Thin, blonde and tan isn't a bad way to go for an aspiring model in much the same way that angry, bitter and confused is the defacto standard for most bloggers . . . We all have certain ideals to live up to . . . Anyway, check out this local model's myspace page if the pics interest you.

Politics is pointless

KSHB reports that Sen. Kit Bond said Tuesday he will support Republican Congressman Sam Graves in his re-election bid, despite reports of a feud between the two. Translation: The myriad of Democrat ranting and press on the feud between the two was simply a matter of public masturbation and pretty meaningless given that the real goal is how we can all unite to deport Alberto Gonzales and send a message to Latinos across the nation about their place in this country (i.e. preferably outside of it).

Christians bothering people on the Plaza

Here's hoping that Jesus hates all kind of performance art, especially people handing out religious tracts disguised as money. The clip is pretty pointless but it's a nice look at the people I usually pass, ignore and do my best to try not to spit on . . .

Highlights:

Hipster broad in Black trying to debate while her boyfriend looks bored.

White chick thinks it's real money they're handing out.

The various and nuanced ways people find to ignore or bypass the obstruction . . . Ew that sounds like talk regarding a colon blockage but rest assured, Christians bugging people on the street is far more annoying.

Bonus for people picking up The Pitch and other free publications . . . Now you get free religious tracts with the city's best guide to hookers and horrible real estate!!!

What I didn't see:

Anyone taking the least bit of interest.

The owners of A/X justifiably telling them to clear out from their entrance.

Lightning striking given that breaking the commandment of "leaving people the f*ck alone on their weekend" is nearly blasphemous.

KCK Crooks offer convenience

You don't even have to leave your driveway in order to be carjacked.

Newest KC contingent: Coyotes

Coyotes can survive in the concrete jungle according to recent studies. A story regarding a coyote in a KC mattress store is cited with other numerous instances of these highly adaptive animals making the transition from rural to urban environments.

The remarkably adaptive critters, famous for roaming rural stretches, have long been spotted in cities and suburban areas. But some naturalists suspect the ranks of urban coyotes may be swelling as the animals migrate from the open spaces of the West and Southeast toward the East and Midwest.

In more heavily populated areas, they're drawn to the ample rabbits, rodents and small house pets that are easy pickings compared to running down a fawn in the forest. Parks, golf courses and well-tended residential areas provide a good food source and cover. Throw in dog food left outside or food scraps in trash cans, and you sweeten the chance a coyote comes calling.

Actually, I think the prospect of coyotes (other than the kind that bring Mexicans) in downtown Kansas City is pretty cool and I don't really care if it's not what downtown loft and condo dwellers signed up for . . . Additionally, wild (and wily) coyotes cruising around downtown Kansas City just might be the only solution to remove homeless, vagrant beggars from urban streets. Truly, it's kind of amazing that KC is playing a bigger part in the circle of life.

Alonzo Washington Clan now making news in India

Pretty amazing that these local kids and their comics are getting worldwide attention for their cause whereas I think I was still addicted to Nintendo at their age.

Now back to your regularly scheduled KC Royals losing streak

Kansas City drops fifth straight game.

Real Red Bull

KC Currents files a pretty interesting story on a KCK vet.

World War II veteran Roque Riojas is the current president of 34th Combat Infantry Division. The 34th, nicknamed the Red Bull Division, was the Army division that saw the most total days of combat during the war. Riojas joined at the end of the North Africa campaign, and was in Italy until October of 1945. Two years ago, he represented midwest and Latino veterans at a White House breakfast for the dedication of the World War II memorial.

Memorial Weekend Motor Madness

The highway patrol says eleven people died in traffic accidents in Missouri during the Memorial Day weekend.

Favorite target for KC Crooks: Family Dollar

I'm guessing that it's the Kansas City area's number one soft target!!!

I try not to post too many links about petty crime but I've finally come to the conclusion that any Family Dollar store in the metro area is most likely the next location at least one of KC's next dozen or so armed robberies . . . The place just might as well be an ATM for KC's criminal class. Here's the latest headline on the subject that even notes the futile nature of this store's business:

Another Family Dollar Robbed

Police said two teens wearing shirts around their faces walked into the Family Dollar Store on Stadium Drive at Van Brunt on Monday.

They demanded the cashier open the safe, but she couldn't, so they reached into her drawer and took what was there.

Officers said when she pushed the silent alarm, the teens took off running and escaped.

Will anybody snitch in Quadruple shooting?

KCTV5 reports: Kansas City police were still searching for a person who shot four people Sunday night.

Crossfire continues in KCK

Earlier this morning, the victim of a drive-by in KCK fired back into the middle of the street toward the car that previously attacked his house.

Someone drove past a house at 18th and Haskell at about 1 a.m. and opened fire.

No one inside was hit, but someone inside the house grabbed a gun, went out on the porch and fired back!

It wasn't clear whether that person hit anyone inside the vehicle, which witnesses described as a silver sport utility vehicle.

Double Bonus: Reportedly there were at least two dozen shell casings that littered the streets after the shooting . . . So gunfighters in the area aren't recycling either, and that's really a shame.

Another reason to give up: Greensburg Tornado could now be giving people cancer

A Kansas expert says that residents and volunteers who are wading through what's left of Greensburg, Kan., are probably being exposed to asbestos.

If your kid play basketball, his chances of going to Pembrook Hill just got better

This news items helps explain all those minority kids waiting at the busstop near KC's priciest school: "Pembrook Hill School announced Tuesday that it has received a $2 million grant to provide student scholarships."

"No Health Net"

KC Blue Blog reminds you that you better eat that apple a day because the doctor AIN'T coming your way: "MO Health Net restores health care for only 4,000 of the almost 400,000 Missourians who either lost it or had it severely cut. It changed its focus from coverage to "preventative care" which is a nice way of saying that it will promote healthy ways of life because a lack of health goes untreated."

Property Codes are everybody's problem

From The Kansas City Post: "Kansas City Must Toughen Its Property Code Laws"

TKC's favorite game: Find the Black people at "popular" downtown attractions!!!

The KC Rag Forum hosts some pretty great photos of Memorial Day Weekend's "Celebration at the Station."

But here's something that most folks ignore or don't want to recognize: Whenever there is a "popular" or "successful" downtown event it's usually all white.

The Memorial Day Celebration and the Crossroads First Fridays are the first two examples that come to mind . . . I've been to both of these events and every time I'm there, I literally count the infinitesimal number of Black people I see in order to pass the time . . . If I have company I make a game of it and the first person who gets to ten gets a soda or somesuch.

Anyway, the point is that I understand how the Crossroads keeps away minorities given that bad art is akin to Country Music in confusing the tastes of a demographic that hasn't historically shown much enthusiasm for highbrow hipster posing. However, it's a shame to think that more Black people don't attend the Memorial Day festivities given that Black people are just as patriotic as anyone inasmuch as they also want Mexicans out of the country.

Anyway, I've been to so many so-called "popular" Downtown attractions and the lack of diversity is appalling . . . So I suggest that an elaborate and expensive outreach effort is necessary in order to ensure that we truly are "One KC" (ugh) and the so called downtown renaissance isn't just a conspiracy to remove all of the minorities from the urban core . . . Which is what it looks like from what I see.

Kansas City carjackers are creative

Fox4 reports: Police said four men tried to rob another man overnight Monday with a knife and a manhole cover. The bizarre incident happened near 46th and JC Nichols in Kansas City, Missouri.

Brookside Fire leaves family homeless

KSHB: "A Kansas City family is homeless Monday night after a fire ripped through their Brookside home."

KC TV News Rankings for May

I can always count on the Gateway City Message Boards to put things in perspective:

Mornings

6am-7am

Not sure if WDAF or KMBC was 1 or 2
KCTV
KSHB

Noon

KCTV (ahead of WDAF by almost 5 share points)
WDAF

KCTV 5 4pm show grew 51%

5pm

KMBC
KCTV
WDAF
KSHB

6pm

KMBC
KCTV
WDAF
KSHB

10pm

KCTV
KMBC
KSHB
WDAF

Chiefs mediocrity in full bloom during May

An article from 810 highlights nearly half a dozen problems that Herm is going to have a hard time resolving.

Dowtown Kansas City: Where bad art and poor planning intersect

From Country Club Kay's Administration to Mayor Funky's fanatical regime it's clear that Kansas City just can't stop spending money in order to subsidize the Crossroads.

A recent combination of "art and infrastructure" (ugh) is the latest example of KC's futile hope that 3rd rate artists can convince people that they won't be robbed, shot, raped or killed when venturing into KC's downtown.

With the help of a $500,000 grant from the Gary Dickinson Family Charitable Foundation, James Woodfill has been chosen to collaborate on a project that will transform four dull downtown bridges spanning Interstate 670 into something memorable, and provide a whimsical transition between the new Power & Light District and the Crossroads Arts District.

“The idea is to utilize infrastructure elements as a site for something more profound to happen,” Woodfill said. “Nobody expects an experience like that. It sets up a condition where art can be more meaningful.”

Woodfill’s commission, which totals $828,500, was decided recently by a host of community organizations, including the city of Kansas City, Downtown Council, the Crossroads Community Association, the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Dickinson foundation.

The thing that's insulting about this so-called artwork is that it falls for the hype that Crossroads hipsters have helped to cultivate. Sure, First Fridays are great for a few businesses and white gallery owners in the area but by and large they're overall economic impact is minuscule - Show me the numbers that say otherwise . . . All I see is the same old phony stat that fakes a thousand or so people into a crowd of 10k or more.

Anyway, while the rest of KC is hurting for attention Downtown KC continues to hog this city's resources and share of mind . . . So far the results have been nothing more than a tenuous and speculative condo market coupled with pervasive crime that cripples any threat of a real urban renaissance . . . Thing is, the folks behind this downtown cheerleading could care less about the interests of downtown residents who don't dwell in luxury condos . . . They're simply out to promote their own angle and sell an image of downtown living that is so far from the truth it might as well be a soap opera in which South KC and the Eastside are nothing more than minor players. Additionally, this beautification I-670 bridges is completely misguided given that Broadway near Bartle Hall exiting onto highway in question is nothing but a minefield of potholes that is a complete embarrassment to this city and clearly demonstrates that all of this downtown hype and fanboy zeal for Mayor Funky is nothing but fake sentimentality.

Still, reality has a strange way of circumventing these grand downtown schemes and I only hope all of the filthy homeless bums that are so commonplace in downtown KC appreciate the pricey artwork that might be beautiful but ignores the real state of Kansas City streets.

More Delusional Talk from Dayton Moore

After a year of spinning his wheels the Royals GM Dayton Moore doesn't have much of anything to show for it when it comes to the team's play . . . That's either the definition of insanity or yet another sign that KC's pro-sports teams are cursed . . . (By the bad karma of making Jackson County taxpayers pick up the tab for their poor play).