A special thanks to a TKC reader who sent in an important link regarding the progress of Kansas City Proper (or lack thereof) during this season of economic discontent.
Turns out . . .
DES MOINES, IOWA IS KICKING KANSAS CITY'S ASS WHEN IT COMES TO STEADY ECONOMIC GROWTH!!!
What's the damage?
In MarketWatch's 2009 annual "Best Cities for Business" survey Kansas City ranks #21 while Des Moines comes out on top.
I know, I know there are some important differences between Des Moines, Iowa and Kansas City despite the fact that are population numbers are close along with many similarities in geography.
"In a rough year, slow-and-steady Des Moines is best city for business" but that place doesn't host awesome KC attractions like:
I guess we can call these thing "amenities" and maybe just part of what makes this town exciting and much more desirable to live in than some place like Des Moines that just works to support business.
Doesn't look to bad from here.
ReplyDeletego. you dont do anything to help. you and crazy jerry, rent a car and just go. i grow weary of you.
ReplyDeleteWe'll help you pack your bags!
ReplyDeleteNo black folk in Des Moines.
ReplyDeleteHey Tony love your blog just keep telling it like it is.
ReplyDeleteSome folks dislike the truth.
PS Like it really matters but im white.
Des Moines also doesn't have a sleazy blogger who thinks airing the personal business of people he doesn't like (or people he thinks are too privileged) is a smart thing to do.
ReplyDeleteThis would also be considered a plus.
Great link.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Des Moines needs a 1% penalty tax for people making money. That'll take them down a few notches.
ReplyDeletewe should send 50% of our blacks and 50% of our illegals up there and see how they fucking like it.
ReplyDeletetrue dat.
ReplyDeleteDes Moines is owned by the insurance industry, and they rule the world.
ReplyDeleteTake a drive around Des Moines and you find a much cleaner city than KC. Des Moines has done a nice job with their downtown area, while we in KC are struggling at best (punishing local businesses while rewarding international corporations like Cordish) I don't have any kind of stake in Des Moines or follow their politics, that just been my observations over the last few years of traveling through there.
ReplyDeleteIf you hate Kansas City so much, move to Des Moines. Your blog seems to be nothing but useless ranting and provides no purpose of political discourse.
ReplyDeleteYou point out an article that ranks Kansas City as 21st best city for business, but you don't even attempt to show why. One of your reasons is bashing the mayor, which I will not even count toward an attempt because of its irrelevance and uselessness. In failing to read the methodology of the article (or maybe the article in its entirety), you leave a huge flaw in your arguments about Kansas City.
"This year, we lowered the bar to 500,000, which increased the number of cities included in the survey to 101. Tops in population, of course, is New York, and the 101st city on that list is Lancaster, Pa.
In past studies, the states of Iowa, Nebraska, Idaho, Arkansas, New Mexico, Maine, South Carolina and Hawaii went ignored."
It looks like Des Moines hasn't been included before now, and even though Kansas City has experienced poor growth in the past year, there is no evidence to demonstrate that Des Moines has always been better than Kansas City. Plus, it isn't fair to ignore the lack of integration between many of the neighborhoods in KCMO, which stifles economic development. This is actually a problem that the mayor recognizes and is trying to fix...
The Mayor isn't going to fix anything. He has had years but has done nothing. His wife has a better chance.
ReplyDeleteThe mayor is working hard now to fix things. Do you people know anything? Get the hell out of this town that I love and go to your paradise. Stupid.
ReplyDeleteoh, please, Des Moines?
ReplyDeleteAnyone who wants to move farther North, to a smaller city, that doesn't have the Nelson Art Gallery, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, the soon-to-be-completed Center for the Performing Arts, the (admittedly-losing) Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, the Bloch Gallery of Contemporary Art, the Nerman Gallery, the Country Club Plaza, etc., can have at it.
Sure, we need to have leadership from City Hall and good growth, etc., but, please, Des Moines is no temptation.
Mo Rage
Mo,
ReplyDeleteYou make it sound like this crap is free. Get ready for a wallet raping on that stuff. Not only is it raping the tax base, but I'm loving the $4.50 water, $7.75 beer, $10 ham sandwich (for real), and the $25 parking at the K.
Where else can a family of four spend an afternoon for $200?
I get your point, but don't act like we don't pay out the ass for that crap. Frankly, it's not worth it.
des moines (well, most of iowa, really) has the NICEST people in the country. that's why most KC people can't move up there, ya know - there's a test.
ReplyDeletealso, it's too fucking cold up there.
Why is Beth Gottstein here if it is such a great place. Why doesn't she go home and take Russ, Terry and Jan with her.
ReplyDelete