The TKC Saturday Night Playlist: It doesn't matter how much you pout, light rail in Kansas City is so far away!!!



This is a bit of a TKC EXCLUSIVE (!!!) but it's not anything people in the know didn't already realize . . .

Over the past week I've talked with 3 local politicos . . . Two from KC proper and one from Jackson County, here's what they've had to say regarding light rail and the chances of Kansas City putting it on the ballot and approving it in November:

  • "No fucking way. There's no real plan on the table Tony. Everybody wants adjustments and special consideration for their jurisdiction. It will be impossible to get everybody to agree on a single plan by November and I won't agree to anything that can or will be altered once it is approved."

  • "Once we voted it down, that killed light rail for the time being."

  • "Unless there is some miracle that happens and we all start to agree on the details I don't see it in the cards Tony."

    Mind you . . . These are three people who have a big say in the process . . . What they're saying behind closed is that the chances aren't great for anything on the ballot in November and even worse PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR LIGHT RAIL IS DECLINING EVEN IN THE FACE OF SKYROCKETING GAS PRICES. It seems that the multi-billion dollar price tag scared a lot of people along with the fact that the current plan won't see anything completed for years . . . For a city without a significant traffic problem, maybe buying a stupid looking car that gets good gas mileage and moving closer to the urban core could be the better option.

    To wit, here are a few songs for this weekend dedicated to the fact that light rail is something that's definitely a very far away dream:

  • I Ran (So far away) - Flock of Seagulls
  • Carole King - So Far Away
  • Stabbing Westward - So Far Away
  • Teenage Bottlerocket - So Far Away
  • Staind - So Far Away
  • Dire Straits - So Far Away
  • Social Distortion - So Far Away
  • Crossfade - So Far Away
  • U2 - Stay Away (Far Away, So Close)
  • Fuel - Shimmer (So Far Away)



    Anyhoo . . . Thank you for reading this week. Have a safe and fun weekend.
  • Comments

    1. That's Dire Straits.
      Geez, what a D-bag.

      ReplyDelete
    2. WTF? He spelled it right.

      ReplyDelete
    3. That Mexican't had it spelt Straights.
      He done corrected it.

      ReplyDelete
    4. Yeah they suck anyway, like most of the music T. displays. Except Social Distortion, natch.

      ReplyDelete
    5. Mike Ness has been writing the same song for 20 years. It's a catchy song, don't get me wrong...but how much "loser rock" can one take?

      ReplyDelete
    6. Fucnkhouser wins on this one again Tony. He put together a solid plan that gives us a good start.

      Your guy lost.

      ReplyDelete
    7. Tony - Great blog, read it daily but I just can't agree with your assessment of light rail - It is not simply about alleviating congestion it is about giving people another choice. Buying a cheap car isn't the answer as many, many people can't even get credit these days for the cheapest cars. Second of all, gas prices aren't going to get any cheaper. Third, one has to pay for insurance which many people can't do these days or can't get approved for. Fourth, cars require constant maintenance to run well, again which many people cannot afford. So, there are 4 reaons why a long term committment toward light rail, etc., just makes sense.

      ReplyDelete
    8. Anon 10:47... the bus service already services these poor people.
      A light rail system in a town this spread out will never be a viable commuting option. At most it will be a fun, "urban" experience for suburban hausfraus looking to take the neato train to see Josh Groban at the Sprint Center.
      Otherwise, it will be just a way for vagrants and pederasts to get from soup kitchen meals on one side of town to their methadone clinic on the other.
      I win again. Three pointer top of the key, all net.

      ReplyDelete
    9. How many times will you playlist A Flock of Seagulls?

      It's like you were born to illustrate TEH GHEY.

      ReplyDelete
    10. Spend billions for an Amish bus so that asshole in front of my SUV will ride it.

      Its all about real estate. Light rail may raise some land values along some routes and downtown but guess who already owns the land.

      ReplyDelete
    11. Those hooknosed Jews?

      ReplyDelete

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