Let's not forget that Mayor Funky's regional light rail plan crashed and burned.
As usual, the Mayor is out to take credit for other people's hard work and ideas.
Even worse, the Mayor is flip-flopping on his former position regarding light rail.
For much of the past year, Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser made a habit of bad-mouthing a potential light-rail starter line.For light rail cheerleaders, owners of construction companies or architectural firms . . . This news might be welcomed.
He called it “virtually worthless,” said it “will not work” and predicted “voters will turn it down.”
Now the campaign for the city’s November light-rail election kicks off this month, and Funkhouser intends to be one of the biggest champions of the proposed 14-mile starter line.
BUT AS MAYOR FUNKY ONCE AGAIN WORKS AS A CHEERLEADER FOR LIGHT RAIL . . . NOW MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO ASK HIM ABOUT HIS SO-CALLED COMMITMENT TO INFRASTRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY SEWERS!!!
It'll be years before light rail is built, this project isn't infrastructure - It's the same kind of vanity tourist attraction that won't really attract (or transport) people. And it's going to be VERY EXPENSIVE!!!
There are lots of smart people in Kansas City who want light rail. My argument isn't with them . . . But what business does a so-called champion of infrastructure and fiscal responsibility have with a proposal that's going to cost $60 million a mile to construct a transportation effort that could be easily replicated with a few additional bus routes?
Everyday we see Mayor Funky selling out his principles and campaign promises. This Monday news that Mayor Funky is now in favor of a starter line that he once bad-mouthed is nothing more than another disappointing flip flop from a man with neither principle nor a deep commitment to any cause but his own.
Also, Gloria Squitiro will be the engineer of the Mayor's light rail efforts if that makes anyone feel any better.
60 million and Gloria won't wear shoes?
ReplyDeleteForget it.
Again, I have lost the pool for guessing the first day that THC does not carp about something about the Mayor. As today's rant was posted early, at least I wont lost the remainder of the day hoping.
ReplyDeleteTHC, groovy man. I need some brownies.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day, why would anyone take on indebtedness recommended by this madman?
ReplyDeleteIf by some act of negligence and cosmic stupidity the voters approve the tax and it turns out that the tax won't equal the cost of this light rail project, where would the additional funds come from? And if the tax is passed (I hope not) and the federal government doesn't pay the lions share of the cost as projected by the promoters of light rail, what happens to the sales tax money??? Will it be returned to the citizens or like the 20 promised cops, be used by the politicians who will return nothing to us all?
ReplyDeleteAnd are we being asked to trust the Squid and Mayor Smart With Nothinghouser with any of the unused money?
Anony. 6:37 is referencing the low ball cost estimate by John Dobies, of HNTB, who at the July 16th Light Rail Taskforce noted that the new cost would be between 60 and 62 million per mile. At the same meeting the head ATA engineer/planner said it would be more like 1.1 billion dollars by the time construction starts in 2012. You do the math, divid 12 miles into 1.1 billionn. Oh, forgot, the 1.1 billion did not include the 2 extra miles added by the council when working out the ballot language. Another low ball estimate to decieve the voters.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a winner to me.
ReplyDeleteNow you see it now you don't. The line will be cut in half because there is not enough money even if we get some from the Feds which is doubtful. Simply look at what 3/8 cent brings in a year and take that times the number of years and you will see that we are short by 50% so the answer is that they will only build the Crown Center to Plaza part and to hell with north of the river. We need the yes votes from north of the river and the tax money, we do not need to build anything up there. We do not need to run over to 63rd either just get enough of the black vote to get the money. That is the game and always has been the end game.
ReplyDeleteCrown Center to the Plaza. I guess that works out great for Halls customers but who else?
ReplyDelete