TKC BREAKING AND EXCLUSIVE NEWS!!! SHOCK!!! KANSAS CITY STREETCAR CRITIC ALLEGES TOY TRAIN SUPPORTERS ENGAGED IN WORKPLACE INTIMIDATION!!!
Tonight a KICK-ASS TKC TIPSTER sends a shocking note our way that reveals the FRIGHTENINGLY HOSTILE Kansas City discourse online when it comes to discussion of the toy train streetcar.
To wit . . .
RIGHT NOW . . . A KANSAS CITY TOY TRAIN CRITIC CLAIMS THAT STREETCAR SUPPORTERS CONTACTED HIS EMPLOYER AND HE WAS REPRIMANDED FOLLOWING AN ONLINE DISAGREEMENT!!!
Here is the note FRIGHTENING note sent our way tonight and only slightly edited . . .
"TKC, I want you to keep my information private but it's important that your readers know what kind of reprehensible people are promoting the streetcar online . . .
Last week I thought I had a heated but still informative debate with a streetcar supporter online regarding the merits of Phase II. I simply noted that the expense of the first TDD was far too high and that I hoped the voting mechanism this time around would be a real public vote and not a secret take home ballot like the first time around. Of course the guy slammed me for not supporting public transit but I held my ground. I informed ############ that I not only take the bus but I'm also an avid user of the new Kansas City b-cycle service.
Well, this morning my boss had a chat with me about two e-mails that were forwarded to him with screen captures that totally misrepresented my points and didn't show the full context of the argument.
What kind of COWARD would do something like that? They lost their argument online and so they try to get me fired? Is that the kind of economic development the streetcar is going to bring KC?
Well, thankfully my employer is a good man and he gave me time to look up he exchange and we examined it together. He saw that I was not saying anything inappropriate and I changed his mind that the streetcar was a good idea. After this encounter I have blocked streetcar supporters from my facebook and twitter accounts. I need my job and I don't think that because I speak out on a political issue is a reason to threaten my livelihood . . .
I'm sending this to your blog because people need to know the depths to which streetcar supporters will stoop and they might also face danger if they get into an online disagreement."
Now, before you dismiss this KICK-ASS TKC EXCLUSIVE . . . Remember that there is precedent for this behavior given that last year there was a nasty de facto boycott was launched against STRETCH for his opposition to the toy train. Luckily, streetcar supporters weren't able to have any impact on his business . . . But this M.O. doesn't seem out of line from other streetcar supporters UNRELATED to this particular argument.
Currently, the protection of anonymous online speech is a battle that continues to rage but so far free speech protections and the courts have sided with Internets freedom. That might not always be the case but THIS story reminds us why anonymous comments are important give that Kansas City politicos take their debating VERY personal and attempt to silence and seek retribution against anyone who would disagree in public.
Those dudes are nerds. Not very dangerous at all. Glad the guy didn't get fired.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the real world, junior.
ReplyDeleteSo far free speech protections and the courts have sided with Internets freedom?
Yeah not so much.
Especially if you're stupid.
Intimidation and threats that is how these streetcar nuts act. What happened to free speech and democracy?
ReplyDeleteThis is the very best argument for anonymous free speech.
ReplyDeleteI sense a Kansas City b-cycle jousting match!
ReplyDeleteSho nuff
DeleteI'd like to see those fools walk into my place and try that crap.
ReplyDeleteMy employees are allowed to be Nazi's if they so desire. That is their private choice and long as they do their job and not bother fellow workers with it who am I to tell them how to spend their time away from work.
Streetcar is nothing but thuggery. A legacy of the Pendergast era.
ReplyDelete"The truth gets in the way of selfish behavior. The truth makes the posturing demagogue look foolish. The truth is bad for big business."
ReplyDeleteAnonymous
I am a supporter of the streetcar but even I think this is a bit skeevy!
ReplyDelete@staubio's boycott against Grinder's was the issue that made me more than an apathetic critic. No question that people who handle publicly collected money need to have a more professional attitude towards tax paying citizens.
ReplyDeleteStretch and Burke are just two of the people whose investments were targeted for speaking out against a rigged vote that affects their business.
The fact that streetcar is an overpriced electric bus is the *least* objectional thing about it.
waaaaaaaaa. In an on-line forum with hatred towards women, racism, and vile comments, you are going to complain about this.
ReplyDeleteGrow a pair.
@staubio's boycott against Grinder's was the issue that made me more than an apathetic critic. No question that people who handle publicly collected money need to have a more professional attitude towards tax paying citizens.
ReplyDeleteStretch and Burke are just two of the people whose investments were targeted for speaking out against a rigged vote that affects their business.
The fact that streetcar is an overpriced electric bus is the *least* objectional thing about it.
Agree. It sounds like this guy flew off the handle, got caught and now is playing the "who me" game.
ReplyDeleteLearn to love the toy train. Or LEAVE Kansas City.
ReplyDeleteThe smoke and fun house mirrors that were used to pass the TDD for the starter line reveal the tactics that supporters and council people will use to further their totally arrogant, totally frivolous folly trolley plans. It goes to the absence of character.
ReplyDeleteByron, you're the best argument against free speech and assuming false identities, a la Funkhouser.
ReplyDelete@staubio isn't more important than good pizza and that's why his boycott failed.
ReplyDeleteThose who control human rent always win.
ReplyDeleteI'll support it when there's a plan to run it from say 75th to MCI. Honestly it would have been a better plan to start off if it went from Brookside to Westport. KCATA and UMKC already subsidize free bus passes for students so there’s guaranteed ridership right there. The 2 mile downtowner is tourist joke (with a downturn of conventioneers). Wait... was this all about the RNC bid? Ha!
ReplyDeleteI got a call at my business last week from a streetcar supporter nut case demanding to speak to me. This person seemed to know I am against it. My office manager would not put the call through. He cussed her out and hung up. Then he called 4 more times trying to talk to me. She put him on the speaker so i could hear what he said.I also saw on the caller ID his name and phone number.
ReplyDeleteHis parting comment was f*^k her for being against the streetcar.
Anyone know who Kevin Geraghty is?
Fuck a Toy Train...I will de-rail it the first week !
ReplyDeleteA democrat thug. Say it isn't so.
ReplyDeleteAre these strong-arm fucks still going for tapas in Spain?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeletewhat is it with Democrat mayors anyway. Look at Chicagos mayor and past Detroit mayors.
I'm thinking that these aren't just isolated incidents. We need to put the pieces to the puzzle together already. This sounds like the work of one or two consulting companies doing business with the city and they're out to protect their investment. Nothing more, nothing less. People need to know that this is how business is done in KCMO. Through intimidation. That is why people continue to leave the city.
ReplyDeleteThis is about voter suppression and legal maneuvers, the City Council doesn't care what you think. Pay up bitches!
ReplyDeleteAnon 7:10
ReplyDeleteWhere is your proof that I have assumed a false identity. Or are you just using your intuition?
Its ludicrous.
How is it that no one supports the streetcar so the boycott against Stretch did not work but Stretch was forced to cave in? Huh?
ReplyDeleteIn addition, when people boycott Stretch this is a crime against humanity in Tony's eyes, but Tony is "leading" a boycott against The Roasterie at the very same time? Huh?
I'm pretty sure that the streetcar projects nationwide are receiving strategies from lobbyists or a DC entity explaining ways to bypass voters and still legally build the streetcar.
ReplyDeleteThis is part of Barack's agenda and he's got a mountain of stimulus cash still waiting to be spent. I felt like the bidding process had a predetermined result in mind as well.
Regarding boycotts, they're generally stupid, but Grinders was boycotted for filing a suit against a tax they were ordered to pay but never allowed to vote on. We can debate the quality of their food all day long; what kind of city treats business owners that way??
TKC has his reasons for boycotting the Roasterie. I think it has to do with how they've changed the face of The Westside without regard for the residents.
Tony I am so god damn tired of seeing Byron Funkhouser’s shit on these posts all the time. He is ruining your site. He is not from around here and adds nothing to this local blog. His insight is hateful as a rule and does not reflect the views of people or events of Kansas City. He has gotten to the point he only posts to incite and anger people for his own benefit.
ReplyDeleteI thought everybody was in Spain.
ReplyDeleteBypass voters? Secret take him ballot? You guys are dumb as shit. I voted against the streetcar and still know that a mail-in ballot is easier to use, just as secret and every bit as democratic as a Tuesday polling place election. Take a polo-sci class at your community college, morons. Or go val to high school and pay attention in civics
ReplyDeleteBoycotting a business is a form of free speech you constitutional scholars. Boycotting a business that demand to vote in an election is every American with a brains duty to democracy. You nitwits think a mail in election is undemocratic and in the same breath advocate for the rights of nonpersons and nonresidents to vote. Brilliant.
ReplyDelete7:58 through 8:05 appear to be the same person and not too bright. And it would seem to me that someone whose livelihood is impaired by someone calling his or her employer would have a legal remedy.
ReplyDeleteIf it is a bad idea then intimidation is the only route open to overcome intelligent opposition.
ReplyDeleteAnything... any project lead by Niggers will ultimately result in intimidation, unethical behavior, distortion of facts and white collar theft. The legacy of Niggers in leadership roles is atrocious. Marion Barry, Ray Nagen, myself and now Sylvester James. All the PR in the world won't change the legacy established by the black-faced leaders of municipalities across the country.
ReplyDeleteSmall-brain Midwestern booster types generally are closet fascists. Sinclair Lewis figured it out long ago and wrote books about it.
ReplyDeleteWeird shit going on.
ReplyDeletewww.kcrag.com seems to have disappeared.
For those of you who don't know, the Rag is where most of the pro-supporters (like Staubio)rant and rave about the toy train.
I've been a going to that site almost every day for 10+ years. I've never seen it go down like this.
Must be Tony's fault.
Kansas City politicos take their debating VERY personal and attempt to silence and seek retribution against anyone who would disagree in public......
ReplyDeletethis is so true. they want your health, job, property, and sanity. questioning the high and mighty is dangerous work. getting in the way of the cash flow makes you a target.
keep it up. you are not alone.
11:44 is right on.
ReplyDeleteThe Star continues to hemorrhage money but they won't ask a single hard question at city hall. Sly James all but controls the narrative of this city's main newspaper.
Thanks goodness for The Pitch and The Business Journal; although if you want any type of honest discussion, it's all relegated to the internets.
Even local talk radio has opted to take a less hostile, political approach. Maybe it's a business decision to share opinions about weird news that happened in Florida or discuss the personal life of Scott Parks, but that used to be the place that people could go to have a real discussion on local issues. Sad.
ReplyDelete