Forget about Funkhouser. If you want anything just ask Mr. Peanut politely!!!

So, I'm still working on the story of an increased Kansas City earnings tax in the works - A story that TKC first exclusively reported (!!!) - And what I'm hearing is that sources directly connected to analyzing Kansas City's financial situation say that there are efforts to get the opinion of Mr. Peanut on the topic because Funkhouser's reaction will be based upon whatever that guy says.

Essentially, word around City Hall is that Mayor Funky is powerless and is basically there to carry out Mr. Peanut's marching orders. So much for all the talk of "principles," unless the appearance of a politico in an extremely rich guy's pocket recently became a virtue.

But I'm won't just rely on City Hall gossip to back up this story . . . It's all over the news.

Mr. Peanut didn't want a voter approved light rail measure to go through . . . So Mayor Funky came up with a silly plan of his own that has failed to meet with any success.

Mr. Peanut was pushing for Mayor Funky to be a superdelegate and if Hillary picks up any steam . . . The guy just might get his way.

And now the scuttlebutt (heh) is that if the City Council is going to try and quietly raise the earnings tax . . . They're going to have to ask Mr. Peanut because his input is far more important than whatever PR image Mayor Funky is pushing upon the public.

All of this might be a tad troubling to anybody unaccustomed to Kansas City politics. However, patronage is simply part of this cowton's political landscape.

The only thing that strike me as strange is that allegations that Mayor Funky is being "run" by Mr. Peanut are so commonplace in Kansas City proper but strangely kept a secret to so many of the Mayor's suburban supporters who are blissfully unaware of how Kansas City politics works unless they're stupidly ranting against minorities.

So, it's this blog's duty (hehe) to inform all of the Internets that it's common knowledge in Kansas City: If you want something from the Mayor - It's better to sidestep Funky's office and the smell of Gloria's barefeet and instead just take your concerns to Mr. Peanut - He's a really nice guy and dealing with the dude directly in power is always the better option.

Maybe there's an upside to all of the hipsters headed down to the P&L District

MToast, my favorite Kansas City blogger, contemplates a brighter future for Westport: "hope that if the Bud Lite-swilling frat rubes have taken themselves and their cash to the P&L District, they're going to stay there for awhile."

Funding for Truman Sports Complex could be cut if Show-Me State legislation passes!!!

Missouri State Representative Jeff Roorda has filed legislation today that would prohibit state tax credits from going to professional sports teams in a league that does not place at least a one-year ban on athletes who test positive for anabolic steroids.

MLB’s current policy, currently under discussion, calls for such a ban only after the fourth failed test. Roorda’s legislation would call on professional sports league to place such a ban on a player after the first violation.

Roorda is an STL area Democrat and I surprisingly agree with his stance . . . I'm also hoping local politicos might encourage some kind of taxpayer discount if the Royals lose 100 games this year - Which is one of the best bets in baseball this side of whether or not Jose Conseco is going to start with ghey confessions after he runs out increasingly sexy stories only slightly related to steroids.

The only thing worth seeing in or around Kansas City this weekend is Comicon

Comicon is this weekend!!! I almost forgot!!!

As usual, there's a bunch of d-list celebrities slated to show up at the Overland Park International Trade Center over the weekend . . . Including Walter Koenig a.k.a. the guy who played Pavel Chekov on Star Trek - I'm guessing he might even feign laughter upon being asked to say the word "vessels" for maybe the first 2 or 3 dozen times. So I'll be showing up early.

Even better Tiffany Taylor will be there . . . I know, I didn't remember who she was either but apparently she's a former Playmate who has carved out a niche for herself by letting nerds drool on her.



Nice.

The last time I check out this local nerd there were only a couple of d-bags wearing costumes but I think I might go as Orgazmo this year - Which, for me, only involves wearing a baseball cap . . . Because I'm that awesome.

One more look at Kansas City cuts

There was a great article this morning in the Star regarding the consequences of all the cuts in Kansas City's budget.

It's good stuff and something that suburbanites should appreciate since it's basically at their behest as KC Parks and basic services get the brunt of the slashing while the so-called "regional cultural attractions" were left intact.

On the bright side, all of this reminds me that socialite, lion queen Jocelyn Wildenstein has demonstrated that extensive cutting can be beautiful. I guess.

KANSAS CITY CARJACKING/MURDER SUSPECTS CAPTURED!!!

KCTV5 reports: A male and a female police considered suspects in the shooting death of Brandon Fauntleroy-McDowel were in the custody of law enforcement officers Monday, according to the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department's homicide unit.

Hey kids, drugs won't help you become a winner. Here's proof:

KSHB: Former Royals player linked to cocaine operation. This blog is all about public service.

Serving up afternoon links

Here's some links I'm thinking about . . . So should you, very much like the Freudian implications of the photo featured above:

Crime Scene KC . . . "Dear Subway Robber: The police want to give you back your wallet"

Wow, the crime surrounding this area looks beautiful: New lighting enhances Paseo Bridge

Diebold is gearing up to decide elections in Kansas City!!!

All signs point to the continued downward slide of the Northeast KC: Graffiti Problem Growing Worse In Northeast KC

Man Injured In Officer Involved Shooting . . . This one actually made big news over the weekend on local blogs with RDM and Alonzo Washington questioning the nature of the gunfire or at least noting that "No new cops doesn't mean no new bullets."

Follow-up: The guy in question not only gets shot but also received a few charges as well . . . Either insult to injury or another reason not to mess with the KCPD.

The Show Me State doesn't stop for anything on two wheels: Missouri motorcycle fatality rates among highest

High property tax pushes biz out of town

From the KC Biz Journal: Higher taxes push Cheep Antiques From River Market to North Kansas City

Twisted Kansas City area dog killings!!!

Normally, I could care less about the plight of pooches in this town given that there are so many white people who will not only donate money to all kinds of doggy causes but also weep on camera and bring attention to canine issues.

Still, A BUNCH OF DEAD DOGS TURNING UP IN JACKSON COUNTY DECAPITATED (!!!) might be cause for concern if only because there is a (weak) connection between people hurting animal and then moving on to people.

On the bright side, these doggy crimes are taking place out in Lee's Summit and I never go out that way. Also, most serial killers are white guys and I have as little interaction with them as possible. Finally, if movies have informed me properly because I'm not a beautiful blonde with nice boobs in tight pajamas I really don't have to worry about being massacred by a serial killer.

Media renames "Million Fag March"

Apparently, self-deprecation isn't newsworthy . . . The recent "Million Fag March" in Topeka to protest the Phelps Klan was either politely called something else or entitled "The March for Love" which strangely sounds even more teh ghey than initially intended.

Kansas City submits to cyclists!!!

KCBike provides info on a plan for a network of trails across the entire city.

There will be public meeting filled with people feigning civic involvement, invoking phony minority participation whenever practical and mostly unconcerned with any real problems in Kansas City unrelated to their hobby . . . Issues like crime, poverty or lack of concern for people of color don't get much of a rise out of this crew . . . But biking is obviously really important considering how few people actually participate in this kind of self-indulgent garbage in KC.

Enjoy!!!

Bush signing in Kansas City!!! (Not as sexy as it seems)

Mary Anne from the KC about.com blog reports: Rainy Day Books announces this morning that First Lady Laura Bush and daughter Jenna will be holding a book signing on April 29th at Unity Temple.

Sign up for a walk with Scooter!!!

It seems like a fun way to get exercise and opportunity to meet new and exciting people!!! If the whole thing didn't pose an extreme danger of my eyeballs rolling right out of my head when contemplating the kind of jerks who would do this thing . . . I'd be there!!! Media alert: This is an opportunity to focus on a blogger doing something nice for the community that doesn't involve a scary political opinion which is mostly left out of coverage when it's not sanctioned by a corporate parent.

The pie just got smaller: Local barflys notice less business away from Electric Avenue

Other than pro-funk propaganda along with a way too optimistic outlook for Kansas City in the face of U.S. economic turmoil . . . Local blogger Toellner reports that bar business is noticeably down all over the metro as the P&L District clearly cuts into profits for local purveyors of the last legal drug.

KU victory will solve all of your problems!!!

Over the weekend there was a lot of celebration documented by the local media which has absolutely no consequence in the real world.

I'm sure the KU victory is a wonderful thing, but it doesn't exactly cure cancer.

Even better I loved all of the TV coverage of the streets in Lawrence in a frenzy.

The cast of characters at these kind of things is always entertaining: There's the woman who doesn't know anything about sports desperately trying to get attention. There's the old dude in the crowd that's completely unaffiliated with the University but needs some kind of excuse to keep drinking and hit on college chicks. And then there's the 7 year Senior who "has been waiting all of his life for something like this!!!"

And I'm not really picking on KU at this point either . . . This kind of celebration is a sporting tradition and the media loves reporting it.

On some level, it's understandable to show school pride . . . I notice that the local camera crews are still following the ongoing party as the school celebrates the return of the team . . . Then again this kind of adulation reminds me of the homecoming of soldiers from the Iraq war - They're usually only met by weeping family members and golf claps from distant relatives.

Apparently, there's a lot to be said for coming home victorious.

Anyhoo . . . Because I've never been a team player, or belonged to a school with a decent sports program this kind of celebration is always lost on me. It's nice to see universal adulation of a bunch of Black guys but it doesn't exactly make sense considering that the victory won't have much of an impact on the same d-bags out cheering in the street and their love for Black dudes stereotypically erodes when there isn't a sport of performance involved.

But, it's best not to question these kind of things. When drunken, college-aged women are out yelling in the street or even more strangely - Celebrating in Kansas City bars (WTF???) . . . The best thing to do is simply join the party, find a blue t-shirt and think of something nasty and slightly entertaining that rhymes with the phrase "rock chalk."

Reconstructing the Westside

Kansas City's best neighborhood once again faces the same kind of gentrification that we get in good economic times . . . Now land is cheap(er) and speculators could be moving back in . . . A note from a local community activist provides some interesting information:

In March of 2006 when the Sacred Heart Area participated in the recommendation of our Westside Land Use Plan to downzone our neighborhood, there were three properties that were left off of the legal description in the Ordinance #06014. They are located on the southeast corner of 29th/Belleview. Specifically 913, 917, and 921 West 29th Street.

Since the downzoning ordinance has passed, this property as well as the old Central Box Company have been sold to Home Investment, Inc.

On March 18th Case No. 13521-P-1 was presented to the City Plan Commission for these properties to be rezoned from R-4 (low apartments) to R-1b (one-family dwellings)

At that time the new owners asked for a continuance as they were not aware of the property being downzoned at the time of their purchase of the property.

On Tuesday, April 1st, This case will again be presented to the City Plan Commission. If you are able to attend and/or wish to testify, we are on the 9:00 AM Docket.

COMMUNITY MEETING SCHEDULED

MONDAY, MARCH 31, AT 6:30PM

2136 JEFFERSON (WESTSIDE CAN CENTER)

Folks with a stake in the neighborhood are invited to attend . . . Also, local real estate development cheerleaders can also celebrate any new construction project without any idea of its consequence. It's all good.

On the subject of Kansas City Dinner Parties OR why suicide seems like an acceptable option for some people

Found this article via Lukas. Also, I'm firmly convinced that Kansas City dinner parties are a circle of Hell even Dante was too scared to depict.

I like looking at your links!!!

It's not a slow news day . . . There is plenty of stuff going on but TKC was busy in the real world. Nevertheless, I always enjoy coming back to the net and looking at what the local bloggers have published . . . While I'm mostly disappointed (with a couple of notable exceptions) today I'm happy to see a bunch of great stuff out there that I'm anxious to start reading . . . Gimmie a sec.

Also, it's nice to see what the Pitch and Prime Buzz bloggers can come up with, without my guidance.

Because I care about you d-bags!!!

There is more than enough depressing and deadly news to blog locally but I wanted to start off with a simple warning:

KEEP THE DAMN CELL PHONES AWAY FROM YOUR HEAD!!!

For the most part, I couldn't care less about most of the d-bags who read this site but that doesn't mean that I want anybody to die. Over the weekend, (typically) a recent study revealed that there could be a connection between heavy cell phone use and malignant brain tumors.

The doctor involved with the study claimed that the risks "could be worse than smoking."

Thinking about the implications of this study, I realize that I can't go to any park, mall or even a restaurant in Kansas City without looking and listening to people gab on these stupid things while they place them to their head. And I don't trust that bluetooth crap either because it just seems like it puts the electromagnetic wave even deeper into your skull while turning folks into human antennas . . . Still, I guess any kind of headset is better than putting the damn cancer magnet thing next to your brain.

So be careful . . . The dangers of (relatively) new technology aren't always apparent in much the same way nobody can be sure of the impact that blogs are playing in the death of fact checking, journalistic integrity and the current downfall of print media.

Long story short: Technology is mostly for killing things, including users . . . And also Sarah Connor.

The TKC Saturday Night Playlist: The week Kansas City was cut to pieces!!!

The biggest story of this week (other than the Kansas City panty bandit) was probably the budget and the betrayal of Kansas City residents by politicos of nearly every stripe.

Here are just a few of the consequences of the budget cuts:

KANSAS CITY DOESN'T GET THE ADDITIONAL POLICE THAT WE WERE PROMISED!!! Once again, the political leadership in this town failed the citizenry when it comes to fighting crime.

There's very little money for street repair in the slash and burn budget - This was one of Mayor Funky's biggest promises during his campaign and his treacherous budget simply proved he was lying.

The Zoo will partially close or at least severely scale back. The gorillas will probably be gone in a year . . . I don't really care about this one but it's a tangible reminder that all of the talk about JoCo supporting Kansas City attractions just doesn't work in the real world.

Sadly, the cynical budget cuts don't really solve the financial crisis that looms over Kansas City and the United States . . . Eventually, they're going to have to raise taxes . . . It's coming a lot sooner than everyone thinks.

City Services could be severely impacted, Mayor Funkhouser irresponsibly took an ax to the employees at City Hall and the grumbling against his vengeful regime is now at a deafening level inside its corridors.

All things considered the budget debacle was a world class sellout that once again demonstrated Mayor Funkhouser's lack of political skill, dishonesty and ineptitude.

In honor of this boondoggle here are some songs celebrating lies, betrayal and cutting which define Kansas City's new budget:

Eurythmics - "Would I lie to you?"

Cutting Crew - "I just died (in your arms)"

Radiohead - "Knives Out"

Ben Folds - "Careless Whisper (cover)"

Fleetwood Mac - "Tell Me Lies"

Leonard Cohen - "Everybody Knows"

Jack Off Jill - "Strawberry Gashes"

Sheryl Crow - "The First Cut is the deepest"

Average White Band - "Cut the Cake"

Reel Big Fish - "Sell out"



In any event, none of the PR events in the news this week solved Kansas City's budget problems or the fact that this town is still sinking under the weight of so many white elephant museums and the impending failure of the P&L District or at least the inability of the place to generate enough revenue to pay off the bonds this cowtown borrowed. In the final analysis, the smart money is still on a downgraded economic outlook for Kansas City.

In any event, thanks for reading this week and have a safe and fun weekend.

Evening link roundup

KCK Teen Murdered In Drive-By Shooting

From a Kansas City estate blog: "Ever notice how school districts and property values go together?"

When making the streets safer doesn't make the streets any safer: Questions about Independence pursuit?

Get your grease somewhere else: Chubby’s closed temporarily

Do you know a South KC alcoholic? 7 DUI arrests at KCPD sobriety checkpoint

Billy Williams sings "Kansas City" circa 1965

The Pitch does better in Ad Sales than The Village Voice . . . In other words, print is a dying medium, Kansas City just slower getting to the same conclusion. Gawker reveals that former Pitch Editor Tony O., is taking a beating in New York.

Kansas City is critical

Police said four gunshot victims drove themselves to the hospital around 2 a.m. Saturday. Kansas City Police said the shooting occurred in the area of Swope Parkway and Agnes.

It's gonna be Gov. Jay Nixon

The Blue Blog reports . . . According to Rasmussen: Missourians Continue to Overwhelmingly Support Jay Nixon for Governor

Same Difference: Southwest is now Southwest Early College Campus

Still sucks but now the students who can consistently brave guns, arson and other students can earn up to 60 hours of college credit at UMKC which could facilitate a swift rise to the middle!!! In other local education reform news, putting lipstick on a pig is a pretty good trick as well.

TKC Exclusive!!! Outgoing School Board Prez David Smith doesn't support Airick Leonard West, as the incumbent runs a clandestine campaign!!!

Because there are so few people running in the upcoming Kansas City School Board election, there is a real risk that voters will get complacent and may not even care enough to cast their ballot.

TKC has long complained that the School District is a sinking ship but the fact that there are a few people working to improve the situation gives my cynicism just a moment of pause.

Currently, all of the Internets seems to be supporting Airick Leonard West and I begrudgingly agree that he's probably the last, best hope for the schools in this cowtown even though I despise groupthink and its dangerous consequences.

Strangely, support for Mr. West is not unanimous in the real world. Rumor has it that the outgoing School Board President David Smith hasn't given his blessing to the campaign of Mr. West and is still supporting the incumbent Bill Eddy.

IN FACT, The Star reports today that Bill Eddy remains on the ballot . . . TKC has dug even deeper (heh) and discovered that the dude's strategy might be to run a low key, secretive campaign in order to hold on to his seat. He could have suspended his campaign a week earlier or withdrawn altogether in order to avoid any confusion but (very) strangely did not. Smith is seemingly complicit in this effort by inaction and deed (or lack thereof) in his coy refusal to speak on behalf of West or offer him the slightest bit of support.

TKC has always contended that Smith is a bit of a d-bag given that he has not only presided over a District that has consistently neglected the embarrassingly high Latino dropout rate but also because he was found guilty of wrongly firing an employee because she disagreed with his bigoted hiring practices.

This current, secretive tactic seemingly put forth by Eddy and Smith in order to maintain the status quo is typical of the kind of deceptive maneuvers which have brought local schools to the edge of ruin. The most important part of this live, late breaking revelation is that it reveals Mr. West isn't a shoo-in and if Kansas City voters really want to facilitate change in the School District they should realize that the outgoing School Board President and so many others are working diligently to ensure that the misguided course which they've steered the district into cannot be changed.

The TKC Weekend Link Dump

The Flag is fairly well hidden at The Sprint Center.

Battle Station Kansas City: Aircraft plant may come to KC

Show Me another local fake out: "Did Sen. Chris Koster plant Molly Korth Williams as a fake candidate for Missouri attorney general?"

Kansas City Jazz band successful at something other than putting people to sleep.

A Wyandotte County jury has found the driver of a Kansas City, Kan., fire engine largely responsible for causing an accident that killed a man in 2000 . . . It'll cost the area's local government 500k.

Once again a bad economy(and Republican incompetence) puts education funding on hold: Missouri’s student loan authority will delay part of a scheduled payment toward the state’s college construction program because of financial losses and uncertainty over the credit market.

Life in Kansas City isn't easy for old folks: Police investigate second possible case of elder abuse

Summer Shipp to be buried

A sad conclusion to her story, another reminder that Kansas City's streets aren't as safe as politicos and corporate propaganda would like people to think.

How's it going? Are you flowing?

Kansas City Fountains get turned on April Fool's Day . . . Thank you Mr. Freud.

The killing doesn't stop in KCK

Two people suffered serious injuries in a double shooting Friday night, a teen was reportedly killed.

Kansas City's Black Panty Thief!!!

I have been remiss in my duties as a blogger for not highlighting a recent story about a Kansas City Panty theif and making it the most prominent story on the page. Think about it, this is way more important than anything related to the budget.

Here are some crucial links on the subject so I can get up to speed:

Kansas City burglar favors black panties

Panty Thief Strikes In KC

KC police seeking 'panty-raid' thief

Really, with 2 homes burglarized in the metro . . . NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE ACTION!!! Once again, Mayor Funkhouser's lack of ideas when it comes to crime makes it clear that the residents of this town will have to fend for themselves at this crucial hour. Really, this thing makes the War of Terror waged in Iraq look like small potatoes or at best some red herring intended to prop up the military industrial complex.

Therefore, in order to keep women's undies as safe as possible I'm inviting every good looking woman in the metro area wearing Black Panties to take refuge with me in my mom's basement. Together, we can beat this thing (nullus) . . . TKC is all about security and I know that there is no better place in Kansas City for women clad in Black Panties than with TKC; the only true protector and and guardian of hot ass women in Black Panties . . . NO FATTIES!!!

TKC can't stand Chelsea Clinton

This doesn't really have anything to do with Kansas City but I was just thinking that I really don't like Chelsea Clinton. I don't have (or need) a good reason to back up this opinion, but there's just something I find disconcerting about her special brand of white privilege. Sure, she's brilliant (or whatever) and I guess it doesn't matter that her mom doesn't think much of her profession.

As of late, she's been quite beneficial to the Clinton II campaign . . . And her level of smugness and righteous indignation seems to signal that she's becoming an expert in adopting the family's hypocritical style; You'd hardly know they had to step over the dead body of Vince Foster to get this far.

Additionally, Chelsea looks like one of my ex-girlfriends who is now married to a rich Chinese dude and something about that always irked me - It's nothing personal or even anything against Chinese people . . . I just thought it was strange - She was into a lot of that Social Justice garbage and it's hard to play that angle in the corner of a so-called "model minority" I always thought, hoped, fantasized that she would date a Black dude to follow up TKC or at least have a lesbian fling.

Anyhoo, my bad vibes about the Clinton Clan are exceptionally important now because immigration has really fallen off the radar as far as an issue related to the Presidential Campaign - Still, of all the candidates I suspect that she would be the quickest to throw Latinos under a bus after they had consistently supported her. Therefore, all things considered, if she gets the nomination - I'm probably voting for McCain or writing-in myself.

"Overland Park Drivers Suck"

A blog entry regarding JoCo drivers isn't a new post from "Fate's Thoughts" but for what it's worth I think it's one of the most eloquent, brave and accurate passages I've read in the recent week.

A GREAT Question: "What was the Mayor thinking writing this letter?"

The Kansas City Blue Blog contemplates Mayor Funkhouser's latest embarrassment. Money line: We understand that recognizing you have no political capital, integrity or respect in this City can be frustrating for a first time Mayor . . . Maybe the post graduate degrees and experience should have taught him how to engage the community better.

Kansas City Double Take

Here's what a few of us have learned in the week that was:

We've got a new budget, it cuts City Services to the bone and leaves employees out in the cold . . . Even worse, it doesn't even come close to solving the City's financial troubles.

As usual, The Westside is stuck in the past and still planning pipe-dream, pricey development.

THERE IS A PANTY THIEF ON THE LOOSE IN KANSAS CITY!!!

There's also a lot of local dogs showing up hurt or dead . . . But I'll let white people worry about that since it's the only problem they take personally.

In the end, the media works for social justice . . . In situations that aren't the least bit important.

Kansas City is full of fatties!!!

I'm not surprised at all that Kansas City made the list of one of America's most gluttonous cities according to a recent Forbes Magazine study. Here are a few of the details:

Well known for its barbecue, Kansas City has a big appetite. Like other cities on this list, where a culture of food is closely intertwined with a way of life, that may contribute to high levels of obesity. In Kansas City, 26.9% of residents have a BMI higher than 30, which qualifies them as obese.

Actually, there are many ways to interpret this town's collective big ass and it's worth noting that the crap corporate food that slowly kills po'folk but is horribly convenient could play a factor . . . AND, there's an awful lot of crazy chicks around this place with food issues . . . Still, this headline shouldn't be used to think about why this town is fat as f*ck but instead is yet another wonderful occasion for media inspired self-loathing. Pass the snack cakes!!!

Spring Cleaning in Kansas City

Here's a collection of unrelated links for this evening and also a sad realization that Aria Giovanni is still smokin hot but not exactly what she used to be . . . Enjoy!

Springtime means it's time for propaganda related to Royals and a lot of talk about their high hopes for this season. The smart money is still on 100 losses.

Things aren't looking up in this cowtown: Kansas City’s economy likely to cool in the near term

The KC beer blog - Now without beer!!! Sorta.

The cries of the "Friends of the Zoo" went mostly unheard - A good thing.

No Fun League Strike Again: Because of a classic/typical Larry Johnson Cheap Shot NFL players might not be able to have long hair anymore . . . We all suffer when Larry gets catty.

Here are some weekend events and links from the Event Driver for those of you bravely planning to leave the house.

That whole Iraq "thing" still isn't going very well.

Have you seen suspected Case Park Killer?

Suspect Sketch Released In Carjacking Murder

Note the civic pride jacket!!! Nice.

Be careful at the club this weekend

Man, 33, critically injured in fight outside KC bar

Lights out for Liberty in Kansas City

I know, I know you've already heard about the budget cuts and the fact that they've caused Liberty Memorial to cut off the eternal flame (false advertising?) - I just like the headline and the fact that I was correct regarding that lack of public support for the pricey monument.

No respect: Funky angry letter has to remind everyone he's the Mayor!!!

First of all, it's nice to see Yael Abouhalkah swagger jackin TKC. HAHAHAHAHA! I can't really complain because I do the same thing to Dallas Penn but I still want credit for bringing silly hyperbole and a lot of bold type reminiscent of the KCTV5 announcer to relatively insignificant stories.

Anyhoo . . . Here's a bit of the whiny, angry letter to the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce in which Funkhouser seems upset that the City Manager has more pull than he does:

"I am outraged that my input was not sought in the development of the chamber's recent resolution on the city's budget. I saw it for the first time when it was introduced at the board meeting. I raised concerns about the resolution. You and your board members listened politely and then called for questions and further discussion. There was none, and the motion to adopt the resolution was summarily approved.

"I have an MBA, an MSW and a PH.D. in public administration and urban sociology. I've spent nearly 20 years examining the finances of the Kansas City municipal government as my day job and teaching graduate courses in public finance at night. I know the numbers, the players and the history. I think I'm as qualified to discuss the city's current budget issues as anyone on your board. And I'm the mayor."

It's good stuff but essentially meaningless . . . A note to Mayor Funky: A real leader doesn't have to remind everyone that they're a leader.

Even better, I had coffee with somebody who has a bit of a connection to the business community and they called the move "political suicide." She noted, "You don't talk like that the to business community and then expect to have a good relationship with them afterwards."

Probably true and one of the many reasons KC's current mayor is known to have a contentious relationship with local business interests.

Kansas City was sold out by most of the political class during the budget crunch!!!

The phony budget crisis that Mayor Funkhouser created is now complete.

What Kansas City is left with is a total sellout of everything the Mayor campaigned on and yet another indication that Kansas City is beholden to suburban, big money interests that couldn't care less about the economic stability of this town.

There's enough blame to go around for everybody.

I think the conclusion that nearly everyone can agree upon is that Former Mayor Kay Barnes was probably the biggest contributor to Kansas City's budget dilemma. She gave away the keys to this city through the irrational and crazy use of TIF and this town was left holding the bag. Nullus.

But Mayor Kay didn't make Mark Funkhouser put forth stupid promises during his run for office. Every word Mayor Funky said regarding infrastrucutre and streets was revealed to be a lie during budget discussions given that he not only left little money for street repair but also cut City Services to the bone.

Most of the council, with the notable exception of John Sharp, was complicit. While they secured some cash for the City's reserves . . . Without question: THE EMPLOYEES AT CITY HALL WERE SOLD OUT!!!

To top it all off, long standing commitments to voters were neglected.

KANSAS CITY ISN'T GETTING THE ADDITIONAL COPS ON THE STREET WE WERE PROMISED!!!

I supported City Manager Cauthen during his row with Mayor Funky but there's no way the guy should be giving advice to the KCPD regarding how they should do their job. His comments were out of line and a poor excuse for all of the backstabbing involved in this budget.

From the dopey animals at the Zoo, that could've been actioned off at a BBQ, to the employees that will be left out in the cold - This budget betrayed a great many locals. Even better, THANKS TO THIS BUDGET BULKY ITEM PICKUP IS NOW BY APPOINTMENT ONLY!!! A few folks question what impact a cut in City Services would have and I believe it will start immediately with a lot more illegal dumping.

The so-called "compromise" from the council seems to be a cruel joke. The stand out in this budget sell out has to be Jan Marcason who has left a bad taste in my mouth more putrid than the time I sampled her potato salad - That's not a sex joke, she really makes horrible potato salad. Anyhoo, her support for this backward plan was key and if she had not hopped all over it like a ditsy "Girls Gone Wild" skank she might have helped to work toward a better plan. But no, she's gambling that the affluent folks in her district won't remember how she gutted this town of so many services. Put simply, Jan Marcason cost jobs and a great deal of the human resources that makes this "a City that works." Ugh.

Without a doubt, this effort led by Mayor Funkhouser never had the best interests of Kansas City residents at heart - Especially the "regular folk" he continues to cynically invoke while doing the best to cut their throat.

And here's another sad truth that has also been hidden in mainstream media coverage:

THIS SELLOUT OF KANSAS CITY AND ALL OF THE CUTBACKS STILL DON'T BALANCE THE BUDGET!!!

If the economy stays in its downward spiral (it will) and if Electric Avenue doesn't start generating some serious revenue (it won't) Kansas City could find itself in yet another budget crisis sooner than anyone thinks.

Leadership at City Hall already knows this, they just don't like talking about it and that's why TKC is the only media outlet brave enough to inform readers about the clandestine plan to raise the earnings tax. Sadly, it's the only solution this town has left given the failure of Bi-State II, the lack of support from suburbanites when it comes to a regional jail along with light rail which have shown us that Kansas City isn't going to get any help from our neighbors.

It would also be nice for millionaire pro-athletes along with all of those suburbanites commuting along I-35 every day to PAY T