PUCK CONSIDERS REDISTRICTING PLAYERS AND DIVIDING UP KANSAS CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS ACCORDING TO THE CHARTER!!!

TKC NOTE: Here's a fun post from TKC Contributor Puck that casts a little bit of blame for all of the confusion and hot mess surrounding upcoming City Council Redistricting along with calling out the effort of a Council Lady and a few powerful, local political players. Check it:

Nowhere to Run to, Baby… Nowhere to Hide

Welcome, my dearest readers, to another Puck post. Puck is sorry he has been so long absent from this blog, but Puck found love and was justifiably distracted. Unfortunately, Mr. Right turned out to be a scoundrel, so Puck is back, licking his wounds and lamenting the state of affairs in KC proper.

This chitchat about redistricting has the players in town in an uproar, dear readers. The big stinkeroo about redistricting is being caused by just a few little minds that are consistently running around and stirring the pot. These folks, while small in number are mighty of mouth, and are throwing around big words like “disenfranchisement” and other hot-button terms designed to drag on peoples’ emotions. Plus, the entire issue involves drawing straight lines and it’s too much like geometry for Puck to enjoy (he was much more interested in home ec class).

But now, there is even an ordinance, #100650, that calls for a CHARTER CHANGE to amend the Charter to redistrict council districts only once per decade. This ordinance was sponsored by Councilwoman Jan Marcason. Councilman John Not-So-Sharp and Councilwoman Melba (insert your own joke here) Curls, and one has to wonder about their motivation. Well, wonder no more, you clever readers. In fact, the current ordinance being considered this week in the Finance and Audit committee was the brainchild of Pat Gray and Steve Glorioso, two gadflies who can’t help but dip their brushes into City ink. For some odd and curious reason, Ms. Jan listens to Mr. Steve on occasion, so his misguided and self-promoting advice is not limited to cuties representing the sixth district. So enthralled and power hungry is Mr. Steve, he has been hard at work lobbying to be a part of the citizen’s group to oversee the redistricting process. Hmmm… a gadfly that partners with another gadfly, both of whom make money pushing candidates, wants to be on the redistricting committee? Lord help us, dear readers, if someone is foolish enough to give Mr. Steve that position.

Currently, the Charter calls for redistricting to occur three distinct times: Not later than January 1st following the publication of the official census; when increases or decreases in population render current districts unequal; or when a third consecutive general elections would be conducted using the same districts. Our fair city has experienced population growth in certain areas, decline in others. Per the charter, the district boundaries must be redrawn to reflect those changes. Some districts must shift, while at the same time, adhering to Federal laws about gerrymandering, etc. It was done in 2000. Legally it must be done in 2010.

Simple enough, isn’t it readers? The Charter is clear. It’s the same task that faced the Council in 2000. During that time, the districts were re-drawn, but there was no one person (or special interest group) cracking the whip and saying it must be done immediately. And there was certainly no one screaming (or back-room deals being made) for a Charter change to amend the established process. There is no huge rush. In fact, the council vote on redistricting took place in December of 2000. The same thing could, and should, be done in this instance.

So this begs the question, readers: If the redistricting that was mandated by the City Charter was able to be completed per Charter requirements back in 2000, and with no bloodshed or laying down of the race card (by whites, blacks or browns), then why can’t it be done again? The question is simple. Even a simpleton could answer it. We’ll see what our esteemed leaders have to say.
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