KANSAS CITY LIGHT RAIL KILLED BY THE INCOMPETENCE, STUBBORNNESS AND THE LACK OF CREDIBILITY OF MAYOR MARK FUNKHOUSER!!!
There's no way around it, Mayor Mark Funkhouser's light rail failure signifies the end of his political career in Kansas City. Promoting light rail was Mayor Funky's big gamble and he lost by an overwhelming margin. This vote wasn't just a rejection of the flawed financial projections and bad planning of the light rail initiative, it was a referendum on Mayor Funkhouser's performance. Clearly, Kansas City rejected the Mayor's pleas and his leadership and proximity to the issue killed light rail.
It's his own fault.
Rather than answering direct questions the Mayor staged stupid PR stunts that came dangerously close to violating Missouri ethics rules. The Mayor has alienated so many people that participation in this light rail plan was noticeably selective and didn't include many representatives from minority communities at all. When the Mayor should have been listening to the people of this city he was too busy playing games in a parking lot with steer. He has been led astray by PR flak Joe Miller who served as the main architect of this failure that blithely underestimated the populace of Kansas City and shamefully painted citizens concerned with fiscal responsibility as uneducated rubes. Mayor Funky and his people are now infamous for their arrogance but in this case pretending to be the smartest people in Kansas City backfired and did the Mayor's reputation irreparable harm.
KANSAS CITY MAYOR MARK FUNKHOUSER IS NOW COMPLETELY MARGINALIZED AND HAS NO POLITICAL CAPITAL OR CLOUT AT CITY HALL!!!
For the most part . . . Kansas City no longer has a Mayor.
How could this town take the Mayor's request for light rail seriously when the dude isn't even showing up to work anymore? The Mayor's work from home scheme clearly demonstrated to all of Kansas City that the man has no integrity, no character, no backbone and lacks the will to face any significant challenge.
KANSAS CITY WAS PROMISED A CITY THAT WORKS . . . NOW THE MAYOR WON'T SHOW UP TO HIS JOB AND IS INSTEAD HIDING AT HOME UNDER HIS WIFE'S SKIRT!!!
The Mayor's current course of action is not only a poor excuse for leadership but also a betrayal of every campaign promise he ever made. Mayor Funky has also promised to continue pushing his regional light rail plan despite the fact that KANSAS CITY VOTERS HAVE NOW REJECTED LIGHT RAIL 11 TIMES OVER THE PAST DECADE!!! Funkhouser once promised to listen to his constituents and now it's clear that he is beholden to the same forces that have brought Kansas City to the brink of financial ruin by pushing big ticket, vanity projects on the taxpayer base. Vigilant people with the City's best interests at heart fought off this ill-conceived measure but Mayor Funky's endorsement of a BILLION DOLLAR scheme that wasn't even settled on a final route directly contradicted talk of principles, accountability and transparency.
The Mayor once said he's not a politician.
It is now clear that he's not a leader.
He's not a man who can make his own decision without his wife holding his hand.
He's not a person who can be held accountable for his words.
He's not a Mayor who can keep a promise.
Mayor Mark Funkhouser is neither "smart with the money" nor representative of a "City that works."
SADLY, KANSAS CITY'S MAYOR IS NOTHING MORE THAN A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT TO SO MANY PEOPLE WHO MISTAKENLY PUT THEIR FAITH IN HIS REPUTATION AS A CITY AUDITOR!!!
Mark Funkhouser once held City Hall accountable with his reports and now he refuses to answer for his own erratic, stubborn and irrational behavior. His accomplishments are few and far between. He has lost every big vote to his opponents.
Mayor Mark Funkhouser offers nothing but a record of failure.
Mayor Funky failed in his efforts to replace City Manager Wayne Cauthen.
He failed to establish a good working relationship with the City Council which was one of his goals.
He failed to fight crime while promising involvement in "Mayors Against Illegal Guns" and then backing down at the slightest sign of pressure.
Mayor Funky failed to realize his wife's influence over his office was inappropriate before the City Council devised a volunteer ordinance to limit nepotism in the offices of the City Council and the Mayor.
In every aspect of his tenure as Mayor, Mark Funkhouser's legacy has been one failure after the next. The overwhelming rejection of the light rail initiative is merely his latest embarrassment.
I don't know how Kansas City can go on with such an incompetent and impotent elected official in charge of this town's business (or lack thereof). Without question, Kansas City deserves a more capable leader with at least some ability to form a consensus.
In every facet of the job of Mayor Mark Funkhouser has proven himself incapable of fulfilling his work requirements. With this latest, embarrasing and expensive defeat it is now clear that Kansas City deserves better.
posted by Tony Permalink
But how do you really feel?
So good......
DEEP SIX LIGHT RAIL NOW AND FOREVER!!
Oh, wait...we did that last night.
OK.
DEEP SIX MARK FUNKHOUSER NOW AND FOREVER!!
Let the recall effort begin.
You know that this post needs?
More, bold, red type!
Tony we need to talk.
Meet me down by the river tonight at 2 in the morning.
Tell no one.
I RECALL that even Kay Barnes was a better mayor, right?
FIGHT
FUNK YOU TONY. YOU WILL NOT BE GETTING A CHRISTMAS CARD THIS YEAR.
Where's Lazlo Toth when we really need him?
Hope he's back on his medication.
yeah, i refused to vote for light rail because Funky would probably make it stop in front of his Brookside house, where it could take him to Mammy Frances Semeler in the North Land.
Light Rail was defeated. And so was bullying.
The council rigged the light rail process from the very beginning. Stacked the so called Citizens Light Rail Taskforce, waisted millions of local and fed money on engineers, lawyers, consultants. They put at the planning table the zelots of light rail who seldom if ever ride public transit. The process was so flawed, even some of light rails strongest supporters called it a sham or rigged.
I suggest that this council not try this manipulation again. You need to earn some credibility. Transit planning should not be used as a development tool, a job slogan, or a symbol of wealth.
Build a transportation system around modern style busses and remember that this is a City of 340 square miles. Try governing for a change and serve all the people in your city. You have promoted the steriotype that busses are for the poor and minority.
Not one council person spoke against Light Rail. No courage. No leadership. You failed to represent your cities diverse political thoughts. Shame on you!
Finally, let me say that intemidation of individuals in the political and business community who opposed light rail is totally unacceptable. Threatening businesses who would have spoken out, is reprehensible. Perhaps Councilman Johnson will re-think his style as it is early in his political term. A 'mia copa' to a few business leaders might give you some grace.
"mea culpa"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mea_culpa
Italian: mia copa. That's why it is in between ' '
if it doesn't take my car off the road i'm not wasting money on a "light rail" plan for residents of the Country Club Plaza
Funkie is a doofis but the light rail issue is something the voters passed before his tenure, he is simply following through on that passing. Not that I agree with his actions but that's the case. At least point that out.
The Star has no sense of balance or journalistic ethics. The Star reporters for the most part are now bloggers and editorial writers in disguise of journalists.
Case in point, Brad Cooper, who writes on the PrimeBuz a lament that further puts down the voters who selected not to spend their money on light rail. He clearly belittles the voter. If only we were more like those wonderful voters in Seattle.
He says: "Get ready to send more of your tax dollars to places like Seattle and Hawaii. (Just think of it as the whole redistribution of wealth thing.)"
I think not. No local tax dollars are going to Seattle. Perhaps he is talking about fed dollars. But then that is just a simplistic effort to manipulate the readers. And I think the voters are more sophisticated. The Star thinks it can use propaganda techniques to shape public attitudes.
Brad Cooper is a shill. He has been given Spivak's job of shilling light rail. There once was a time in journalism when reporters reported the story rather than make the story.
It's amazing what could happen when City leaders give their constituents credit for being smart, thoughtful people, instead of bullying them and hiding information.
The light rail measure in North Kansas City passed. That ballot had tons of information on it, including the proposed route and additional amenities.
Too bad the leaders in KCMO thought they were smarter than everyone else.
What doesn't the Star or Kansas City Area Transportation Authority understand about the work NO. Is 11 times saying it not enough of a signal? Why this constant shilling a mode. Star promoting a workable transit system.
Now the Star on the Opinion Page sees the light rail vote as nothing more than a derailment. Blaiming the defeat on falling gas prices and the economy.
Evidently, the Star does think the voters understood that this was too expensive at 91 million dollars a mile. The public saw it as not providing an answer to modern transportation needs of city spread over hundreds of square miles.
KCATA is going to continue to promote light rail. The city council can stop this and get on with real transportation planning.
whoops.
TKC was taken down by the man for a while there.
I'm glad this post is back up.
Funk the Funk.
Did the proponents of Light Rail ever ride a fucking bus in this town. They are empty. NO LIGHT RAIL!
http://mattpayton.tumblr.com/post/58365354
Is there not a kind word that can be spoken of the Mayor? Surely, we can recall the good times. Had it not been for Gloria, he might have made a good mayor.
Good ridence and don't forgrt Russ Johnson's involvement. He is already distancing himself.
Yes Sir Rus is at the top of my list. It is PAYBACK time. Some of the largest businesses in town are going to square his account. Look for a very financially strong opponent to run against Rus in the next election. Guess Who . Bye Bye Russ
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