Kansas City Toy Train Streetcar stealing (from the general fund and not just the TDD) is mostly unreported but remains on track and on schedule . . .
Ordinance #130941: Authorizing a second amendment to an agreement with HDR Engineering, Inc., for approximately $3,974,000.00 for the Downtown Streetcar Transit System; and recognizing an emergency.
I'm guessing that this thing will be passed unanimously and without a single question.
Let's not forget that "emergency" actions from Mayor And Council mean . . .
- No effort to assure minority hiring practices.
- General Fund becomes a toy train streetcar piggy bank.
- Basically a blank check.
And then . . .
ONE MORE TKC EXCLUSIVE: THE COST OF THE TOY TRAIN HAS EXPLODED BY MORE THAN 50% AND NOW IS MORE LIKE $155 MILLION FOR THE STARTER LINE INSTEAD OF THE PROMISED $105 MIL!!!
Fun fact . . .
THAT'S ABOUT $50 MILLION OVER BUDGET FOR THE KANSAS CITY TOY TRAIN STREETCAR ALREADY!!!
Developing and counting . . .
What do you expect when people don't vote?
ReplyDeleteYou mean after sweeping every account possible there's still some money they missed?
ReplyDeleteOnly the beginning. And $10-15 million/year bond payments as far as the eye can see.
Hope the millineals don't move our of their lofts and back home with their folks!
All aboard.
Tony you are so full of shit. Fuck you.
ReplyDeleteRuss, sign your comments.
ReplyDeleteYou mean what do you expect when people aren't allowed to vote through undemocratic state laws?
ReplyDeleteBingo!
DeleteLess streetcar. More boobs.
ReplyDeleteCan you even prove the streetcar is $50 million over budget? Can you provide detailed accounting, using generally accepted accounting principles, and prove this statement? Otherwise you look stupider than you already do.
ReplyDeleteAnd you look really stupid making claims like this.
Maybe if they would stop digging 4 feet down and putting footing for LIGHT RAIL they might have some cost control. This is what happens when the public has no say,or if you may no vote.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah the fire department is over budget....
ReplyDeleteSad part is the dumb asses of KC will run right out and reelect their favorite crooks.
ReplyDeleteThis is going to become downtown's "West Edge".
ReplyDeleteProbably worse
November 2013, HDR acquired Rice Daubney Architects, an award-winning firm in Sydney, Australia.
ReplyDeleteSome executives in HDR late getting their acquisition bonuses?
George Little, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of HDR is also ....
ReplyDeleteDirector
Mutual of Omaha Holdings, Inc.
Director
Mutual of Omaha Bank
Just a thought anyway
What is it about we taxpayers are getting screwed people don't understand?
ReplyDeleteKC is soooooooo going to regret this. Six months after the train starts running it is going to be graffiti and maintenance hell.
ReplyDeleteremember the ole gas light section st louis once had kinda like river quay
ReplyDeleteI would suggest that the TDD committee owes KC taxpayers a new revised budget in writing.
ReplyDeleteI thought the Streetcar idea was originally worth consideration. Then that special election came into the picture, and that was the end of it for me.
ReplyDeleteNo kidding! I thought what the fuck? Why isn't this a general election deal?
ReplyDeleteBecause they knew it would never pass. That's why it became a special election scam. They took a risk to see if they could push it through without a city wide vote.
ReplyDeleteOver budget? In KC? So what else in new?
ReplyDeleteAnd now zll the talk and prmises about expanding the system are nothing more than preparing the ground for a city-wide tax that's desperately needed just for the original Main Street 2.2 mile route. The TDD can't even come close to funding the construction or operation, which is why money's coming from every which way.
ReplyDeleteAnd then, if the tax is approved, we can all watch the "expansions" put on hold and studied some more.
Alert Glorioso, Gray, Roe, O'Neil and the rest of the usual suspects. There's some more snake oil to be sold!
Vote no!!!
ReplyDeleteIsn't the director of public works an ex employee of HDR? Hmmmmm
ReplyDeleteWhat is significant is that the original agreement of 3.6 million has been amended two times for 6, and 4 million. Might be legal, but it's not in the interest of public bidding to amend a 3.6 million dollar contract to one of almost 14 million.
ReplyDeleteSomeone pony up some money to sunshine all emails between HDR and city staff and you'll have your proof
ReplyDeleteSave us Clay Chastain, save us!!!
ReplyDeleteKyle; just because the state allows TDDs doesn't make them right. Especially if streetcar advocates readily admit that streetcar is less of a transit improvement and more of an economic development gamble on wheels. Not only that, but the TDD doesn't cover the entire cost of the project. As we've already seen, it's taking money from the general fund and the transportation fund, which means cuts to KCATA. You really want to defend that?
ReplyDelete7:43 is right. Improving transit is not this city's top priority, but it's definitely a decision that everyone should have been a part of. Rather than spend the money to market it to the Northland or surrounding areas, they allowed less than 700 people decide whether or not to start what they always planned to become a region transit system. Entirely unethical, but about on par for these folks.
You know that Cincinnati was in the process of cancelling their streetcar, but now it looks like they may continue it because PRIVATE MONEY has stepped up and promised to fund the operations for 20-30 years!
City Council generally doesn't have the tax payers' interests in mind, nor are they the best negotiators. (Many of them are willing to write out the biggest checks they can in exchange for a job or other favors.)
If Cincinnati is able to privately fund the operations of their streetcar, it should be a game changer for streetcar projects nationwide. PAY ATTENTION.
The trolley car debacle is now costing more than exptected? Geez ... no one saw that coming! And if you think it's pricey to build, wait until it starts running. The city will be in every KCMO taxpayer's pocket to fund a kiddie kart ride for thugs and winos.
ReplyDelete