Light Rail issue puts Kansas City elite against community and neighborhood groups
The image featured above is from a handout circulated by a community group in South Kansas City that seems to be dedicating their lives to defeating the upcoming light rail initiative.
Since last week I've talked to a great many people about this topic and here's what I've learned (I would call this a TKC Exclusive but pretty much everybody already knows it):
LIGHT RAIL HAS VERY LITTLE SUPPORT AMONG GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS IN KANSAS CITY!!!
This is a shock to me because any big money ballot intuitive usually takes the time to throw some money or make promises to these groups in order to divide them and make them ineffective or at least quiet their concerns by providing the attention that people who participate in this kind of thing so desperately crave.
A general failure to address these constituencies a key weakness that I see in the pro-light rail campaign.
Recently, the endorsement of Light Rail by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce was big news but it seems to be predicated on a lot of things that just aren't going to happen . . . Like a decent time frame for building the thing and money from the Feds that will now be going to the Wall Street Bailout and should be used on KC Sewers.
Anyhoo . . . What I notice is that when this Light Rail mess started with Clay Chastain's effort - It was a grass roots effort by one wing-nut that was virtually unchallenged and ignored. Now that a few KC power brokers have bought into the deal the idea gets more credibility (because their is big money to be made) but there's even less support from the citizenry . . . Which normally doesn't make a difference but proved to be the only factor that started this thing moving in the first place.
At some point there has to be community support for light rail and so far I don't see it . . . And the middle-class begging for new toys in Waldo, Brookside and Ward Parkway aren't exactly representative of the rest of Kansas City.
posted by Tony Permalink
Most chamber members don't support this, probably the Halls will vote against it even after donating to the campaign. Just like no one can say the emporer has no clothes these people must act like they support it. Everyone must play the "civic leader" game
That's what I've heard too. It was actually a very contentious debate before the vote and took much longer than anything they've supported in recent memory.
That's all very interesting, because I've yet to meet anyone in Kansas City that isn't supportive of the plan in general, even if they don't agree on all the specifics.
Guess you haven't met me and everyone I know, dumbass.
That picture could be named:
Waiting for the Chamber to stop flip flopping
That's have
Lite Rail ain't going to south Kansas city and it ain't going north of the river. they can say "park and ride" park and ride" but the cost of the bridge to get the train over the river is incredible.
It is crown center to the Plaza and that is it.
Lets hear some of you guys talk about the FEDERAL FUNDS. ha ha ha ha its all going to AIG and the other bankrupt companies.
We're on the edge of a depression and you fools still talk about FEDERAL FUNDS.
I live in south Kansas City. The furthest south the light rail line will go is 63rd Street. So why are the 6th District Council persons, Sharp and Jolly, supporting it? They evidently think it is okay to have me wait for the bus, to then ride the bus to a light rail station and then wait for the light rail just to get to work in the downtown. We need a better bus system or this area of the city will really "go south".
Since when did south Kansas City begin at 63rd Street?
The 6th District starts somewhere around 87th Street. Sounds like Chuck Eddy is still on the council and south KC is getting nothing.
Stop the whinning. South Kansas City is doing just fine. You have the nice vacant Bannister Mall. And you have the memories of once having had an airport.
That's just cruel.
But South KC will do better when Cathy Jolly is Mayor.
Anonymous 8:44 You think that's crue? South Kansas City does not even have a public swimming pool but our city council wants south KC to vote for a 1.1 billion dollar toy ride. No doubt the council sees that as a way of protecting children from the threat of drowning. We would at least like descent bus service to go to the Northland to swim.
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