Just a few hundred people voted for Kansas City to spend more than $100 million on a streetcar Toy Train that will travel a mere two miles.
And so, this tiny segment of the electorate has set into motion some rather horrible consequences.
Check it:
TAKE A LOOK AT THE TOP 5 CONSEQUENCES OF THE DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY TOY TRAIN STREETCAR VOTE!!!
1. KANSAS CITY'S TAX BURDEN BECOMES INCREASINGLY OVERWHELMING!!!
Can somebody offer a significant legislative accomplishment from Mayor Sly other than raising taxes? I liked his reading program. That was cool.
However . . . Let's realize this:
MAYOR SLY HAS HELPED TO RAISE TAXES THREE TIMES ALREADY DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION!!!
I guess economic hardships and the ongoing recession isn't a big deal to Sly James: King of Kansas City but his actions have directly contributed to the higher cost of living among so many other residents.
2. KANSAS CITY'S BOND RATING CONTINUES TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF SO MUCH BORROWING!!!
Kansas City's bonds have a negative outlook thanks to so many borrowing adventures and the plan for more . . . This toy train is a big part of the equation.
3. THE TOY TRAIN PROVIDES ANOTHER REASON TO IGNORE NEGLECTED NEIGHBORHOODS!!!
Myth: Downtown Kansas City is the fastest growing neighborhood in KC. FALSE.
Reality: Like it or not, The Northland outpaces all other sections of Kansas City in growth and this continued Downtown Corporate Welfare takes the focus away from neighborhoods in every section of this city.
4. THE KANSAS CITY TOY TRAIN STREETCAR IS NOT MASS TRANSIT!!!
$100 million for two miles . . . Is there anybody who can argue this is good math? And let's not forget a lack of density to support the line . . .
SETTING UP FOR TIN CUP URBANISM FAIL: NOW KANSAS CITY WILL DEPEND ON ATTRACTING TOURISTS AND RESIDENTS TO AN OVERTAXED DISTRICT WITH AN INCREASED COST OF LIVING THAT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED TO STIFLE GROWTH!!! GREAT PLAN!!!
This isn't rocket science . . . It's Econ 101 that politicos and consultants are paid to ignore.
Finally . . .
5. MAYOR SLY, CITY COUNCIL AND A "WIN AT ALL COSTS" MENTALITY HAVE LOST CREDIBILITY AMONG THE REST OF THE ELECTORATE!!!
This is the most important point.
KANSAS CITY HAS WITNESSED MAYOR SLY AND THE CITY COUNCIL COMMIT A DESPICABLE ACT BY CIRCUMVENTING DEMOCRACY AND SCHEMING TO EARN A PYRRHIC VICTORY FOR THE TOY TRAIN!!!
At the end of the day:
A basic lack of confidence in the integrity of the political leadership class is why residents leave cities. This fact of life is what has marked overall population decline in Kansas City over a generation.
This vote was rigged and specially designed, nearly gerrymandered to deliver an intended result that will cost all of Kansas City.
The Streetcar vote wasn't Democracy, it was a cheap scheme.
And potential residents should realize that Kansas City's political leadership is almost completely comprised of people who don't believe in Democracy and would rather work to bolster their own political career or the agenda of their corporate patrons. This fact of life will discourage growth at a rate far greater than a toy train will attract residents.
We'll have more later . . . But we still want to stew about this for a moment.
Check the links . . .
Vote Assures Streetcars For Kansas City Downtown
The proposed streetcar taxes have been approved, meaning Kansas City is one step closer to having its own streetcar system.
A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE KANSAS CITY STAR MISTAKING EDITORIAL FOR REPORTING: "KC streetcar taxes pass overwhelmingly"
Downtown tax vote clears way for streetcar construction
Voters Approve Downtown Streetcar Plan, but Opponents Not Giving Up Fight
You lost TKC.
ReplyDeleteDeal with it.
Don't be a crybaby.
The Streetcar and the TDD are the future and this blog is now part of KC's past.
We are moving forward!
I have a feeling Tony's blog will be running long after the toy train has been long gone
DeleteWait until the bond rating agencies get a look at the unfunded liabilities in the city pension systems. Keep spending money they don't have is such a good idea.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite thing about Tony is that he doesn't understand what an editorial is. Any story that contradicts what his "insiders" tell him is editorial.
ReplyDeleteTKC: The No Fact Zone.
What the twenty-something renters don't understand are the financial obligations, complexity, and long-term consequences of something like the streetcar project. When all the cheering and celebrating are over, the real costs and impacts on Main Street businesses will begin to become clear, the minimal impact of development will surface, and the lack of KCMO's ability to pull someting like this off will rear its very ugly head.
ReplyDeleteAll the assertions, hopes, and false lessons learned form other cities will now come home to roost.
It's not going to be a pretty sight. It will be no time before an awful lots of people will be looking for someone to blame.
Now that KC will have steel wheeled transportation the thugs will stop killing, the sewers will never overflow, streets and sidewalks will no longer crumble and business will flock to downtown. I can feel it in the air.
ReplyDeleteI was opposed to it until I read Tony's thoughts. Now I think it's a great idea! Chooooo Choooo!!!
ReplyDeleteMayor Sly should be put in charge of coaching the worst pee-wee hockey team in the league to teach him a lesson.
ReplyDeleteQuack. Quack. Quack...
Funkhouser's looking better all the time!!
ReplyDeleteI voted and I voted NO. This way to short sited. How would opinions change if it went from Dt to the Plaza?
ReplyDeletePhase 2 = Plaza
DeleteI would've been more impressed with Sly if he had increased taxes $100 million to spend on more cops and crime fighting to help reduce the violent crime rate and the number of murders occurring in the city. That would've been worth the costs! reduce crime and businesses and tourists will come back to the city, which in the long run will increase the tax base.
ReplyDeleteJust KC way of imitating our Federal Govt.But look at the bright side of it all, when we go over the cliff and we hit the bottom we can truly say things are looking up. We are on our backs looking up.ha ha ha
ReplyDeleteTony! Saw you at the victory party. Why you no stick around? Why you show up in the first place?
ReplyDeleteThe stench was getting a little overwhelming so I had to leave 8:36.
ReplyDeleteRight on target Tony. The rent on my loft will be going up $10-$15 per month. Certainly not making living in River Market more affordable.
ReplyDeletePeople get ready
ReplyDeletethere's a train a comin
you don't need no money
you just get on board
kumbaya kiddies we are here to help ya
you don't need not money, it just grows on trees
If the train went from downtown to the Plaza it would still duplicate more than adequate bus service, 8:03, and it would still be a dumb idea.
ReplyDeleteFiscal Train Wreck
ReplyDeleteBut worldly tourists from Japan, Australia and the UK and everywhere will come to KC to ride on this marvel of human ingenuity!
ReplyDeleteI Voted!
ReplyDelete“there are those in the millennial class who say quite frankly that they’d much rather have an internet connection that a car payment. And I don’t blame them. I would too, if I had a way of getting around. We’re going to provide that way of getting around.” Mayor Sly
ReplyDeleteROFLMAO
We need to attract Young Professionals (paycheck collectors) to KC to be somebody!
ReplyDeleteWhy the hell does Downtown need a streetcar to Crown Center? If downtown is so economically dynamic and viable and attractive it could stand on it's own without it. People would be rushing to move to downtown regardless.
ReplyDeleteFunk wins.
ReplyDeleteOkay nothing to see here. Let's get back to murders, crumbling infrastructure, school scandals, and girls with neck braces.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteTake a look at the future of KC by looking at Detroit now...corrupt politicians stealing every dime they can, in every manner imaginable, leads to ruin.
New Jack City?
DeleteTaxes still higher in joco. Detroit economy is based on manufacturing. KC economy based on medical, tech, and ag, all growth industries.
ReplyDeleteTaxes are higher but schools are better in Joco.
ReplyDeleteCheck your facts. KC economy is based on government employment, Insurance and banking.
Are all you street care idiots this clueless about the economy. No wonder you had to cheat to win.
@10:31am
ReplyDeleteAnd NONE of those industries are downtown. So why the never-ending focus on pouring money into a part of the metro that has just 10% of the jobs, and most of those with one level of government or another?
For once take it like a man. Stop your whiney little bitch act.
ReplyDeleteWhat's another hundred million? Let the good times roll!
ReplyDeleteIt ain't over 'till the fat lady sings, 11:05, and I ain't heard Mary O singing lately.
ReplyDeleteA major setback for the citizens of KCMO.
ReplyDeleteNow Sly can move on to the convention hotel project.
ReplyDeleteFor those willing to take risks, there are great profits to be made by jumping on an investment bandwagon so long as you jump off again in time.
ReplyDeleteWhen Sly gets voted out:
ReplyDelete1. He will move over to JoCo to live off the earnings of KC tax payers, while paying nothing to this horrible idea.
2. We (the tax payers) will be stuck with this horrible, worthless train. While Sly weasels his way out of the KC spot light.
Way to vote smart you silly sheep...
21 percent of the City's registered sheep voted in Sly. The turnout for this choo choo folly amounted to 18%.
ReplyDeleteThe local politicos must love this system and as long as they can discourage people from voting by messing up everything constantly their free ride continues.
sheeet dey aint even NO popeyes OR churches fried chikin on dat 2 mile ride! dat shit is fucked up!
ReplyDeleteSly and his entourage of crooks left the financial future of this stupid idea up to a small group of young, uneducated free spirit hippies. Not the responsible, tax paying adults of this city.
ReplyDeleteThis is whole train debacle is beyond wrong. The city leaders are a mockery to the tax payers of Kansas City.
Don't worry Tony will step up and start a Recall Sly James thing. I'm surprised no one else has to be honest.
ReplyDeleteThe economy booms when people have disposable income to spend. It's really quite simple. This is just another form looting and enslaving the taxpayers where a small handful of "players" get the immediate benefit$.
ReplyDeleteTony's blog will be around until he finally realizes he's wasted a whole decade (or two) on this when he could have been making some real money.
ReplyDelete