Recently, Kevin Collison wrote a really good article about a discussion of the toy train that should serve as an indication of how badly Kansas City is getting railroaded on this deal.
Streetcars carry ‘oddball’ label at Smart Growth conference
Here are the highlights for Kansas City denizens who don't want to cheer every dumb idea originating at City Hall.
- Surprise, Portland didn't want their streetcar either. TKC Footnote: The streetcars are breaking the bank in Portland.
- An HDR Vice Prez moderated this "discussion" of the toy train where no dissenting voices were allowed or invited.
- Streetcar tech is old and not that clean. They're called "Donkey Cars" as a bad joke in other towns.
- Collison: "The Kansas City plan, which has been championed by City Hall, most notably Mayor Sly James and Councilman Russ Johnson, will rely the most heavily on local, actually hyper-local, funding." i.e. Taxes and begging.
Worst of all . . .
THERE'S A HINT THAT IT'LL TAKE AT LEAST 10 YEARS FOR DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY TO SEE REAL ECONOMIC BENEFIT FROM THE PRICEY STREETCAR TOY TRAIN!!!
- Finally, the funding mechanism for connecting streetcar lines is weak. The only strength that local politicos have is their ability to con voters into believing this hype is halfway legal.
And this is the kicker . . .
Public works genius Sherri McIntyre (the same lady in charge of taking out all of the stoplights in Kansas City's urban core) described the lawsuit against the unconstitutional and tax scheming toy train as insignificant and a "small blip" . . .
To wit, neither City Hall bureaucrats nor elected officials are listening to any opposition on this one. A company earning big money from this effort is in charge of the discussion and the only thing residents are expected to do is foot the bill.
DEVELOPING . . .
Rope.
ReplyDeleteTree.
Most brazen and biggest ripoff I've seen in a long time around here.
ReplyDeleteWe are so fortunate to have Sherri McIntyre who not only is a public works genius, but apparently a lawyer too. She feels like she can evaluate lawsuits and make public comments about it. Put her on the list to go along with Sly and Russ.
ReplyDeleteWhen they get a chance, the idiots at City Hall need to read this: http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/96744187
ReplyDeleteCandidate Sly James’:
ReplyDelete“I’ve been a strong advocate for public transit and will continue to be as mayor. However, we need to restore the public’s trust in City Hall before we ask for additional tax dollars. The city’s plan to withhold $5.4 million in tax revenue intended for KCATA is simply unacceptable and represents a systemic problem with the way our city conducts business. Withholding funds that have been allocated by voters for a specific purpose continues to breed the type of widespread distrust of City Hall that must be fixed. Our budget must always reflect the priorities of the citizens of Kansas City, not simply the priorities of our bureaucracy.”
Message to Mayor James – This proposed budget has increased the amount being diverted to non-transit uses to $6 million.
Add this $6 million to the missing $15,000 at city hall. The public trust continues to be violated by this mayor and council.
DeleteIf there was "real" economic reform or care about KC's jobless rate the Mayor would support full funding of KCATA to get those in need to jobs and opportunities, instead of diverting funds to a 2.2 mile boondoggle catering to the well heeled!
What a disappointment! TKC needs a daily watch on this money like the 15K!
"we need to restore the public’s trust in City Hall before we ask for additional tax dollars."
ReplyDeleteNice little campaign lie if I ever saw one.
http://transactionkc.com/2012/12/14/kc-streetcar-party-video/
ReplyDeleteKC is corrupt to the core.
ReplyDeleteIt won't be long before the city becomes the Detroit of the "heartland". Stripped bare of every financial resource, gamed by "Reverends" and criminals, KC will fall just like Detroit.
Sly = Kwame
Welcome to the cesspool of black gangster America.
bet they'd change dey mind if pop,pop,pop watch dey niggas drop! one less stealing muthafuker!
ReplyDeleteStaubs is pretty good example of lousy thinking, and planning, etc. Of course most kids with hardly any experience with much of anything other then hype are like that anyway.
ReplyDeleteYeah the more I see from Staubs the more I see he's the money grows on trees type. Just keep throwing money at everything and all our problems will be solved.
ReplyDeleteSounds like MORE ' Lawyers ' are getting involved.
ReplyDeleteEither the twenty something college loan debt serfs wanting to become downtown dwellers are slicker then we thought or City Hall is dumber then crap. It's also possible both are hopelessly out of touch with economic reality or the biggest con artists ever to come down the local pike in recent history. Take your choice.
ReplyDeleteAll the twenty somethings promoting this will move to Olathe in a few years and we will be stuck with the bill.
ReplyDeleteDumbest Idea Ever
ReplyDeleteHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... I said boondoggle. Must be True!!!!
ReplyDeleteYup! Of course in eight years the tax payers will have to shell out to replace the train and track that is worn to hell out!
ReplyDelete