The week's City Council decision to keep major changes off the ballot after charter review committee recommendations is still resonating among Kansas City's urban core and minority communities who might have benefited from the effort to increase neighborhood voting representation by eliminating at-large districts devised during the segregation era.
Criticism of Council Members Curls and Brooks defined the immediate reaction to the vote.
Now . . .
CHECK OUT ONGOING PERSPECTIVE AND CRITICISM OF THE CITY COUNCIL KEEPING CHARTER CHANGE QUESTIONS OFF THE BALLOT!!!
Former Council member Sharon Sanders Brooks calls out a bit of Kansas City hypocrisy and frames the debate as a question of voting rights support during the week of local celebration in honor of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Sharon Sanders Brooks recently wrote: "I AM STILL IN DISBELIEF THIS MORNING REGARDING THE CITY COUNCIL ACTION. Three of the council members who voted NO, against equity and fairness for voting rights in this city were sitting UP FRONT Monday evening at the SCLC'S DR. KING Mass Celebration at Metropolitan Baptist Church.
So Monday evening you honored Dr. King but on Thursday afternoon YOU VOTED AGAINST VOTING RIGHTS ... Can someone help me understand their actions? "
We have a bit more perspective on this question . . .
A KANSAS CITY INSIDER explains that the vote from Council Member and Pastor Brooks might simply represent political survival for the beleaguered politico.
"Brooks was doing nothing more than a bit of CYA. Given his reputation he doesn't have the political capital to stand on his own feet so he took the path of least resistance. His vote garnered favor from the elites and from The Star despite the fact that it hurt his own constituents and doesn't bode well for him in his own district where he might have picked up more votes if the at-large districts were eliminated. In this instance, Brooks is simply looking out for his own interests and hoping his constituents will forgive and forget this indiscretion too."
Remember that it's not out of question that Pastor Brooks might mount a reelection campaign despite an exceptionally troubled and embarrassing first term.
A bit of data to add to this discussion . . .
High ranking Freedom, Inc. leader Clinton Adams brings a information on voting records and City Hall elections that once again proves the discriminatory legacy of the at-large districts.
Mainstream media has been constantly noting the election of two African-American Mayors in Kansas City but neglects to delve into the details of election data in KCMO council districts that's more pertinent to the discussion. Here's some supporting evidence on that front:
Clinton Adams notes: "The white majority has never elected an African American to represent a majority white council district in a contested election. Never. (Al Brooks was elected to represent the 6th district but he was unopposed, indicating that he was the preference of the residents of that white majority district.) But it has repeatedly elected uneducated whites to represent a majority black district when the residents of that district preferred better educated African Americans. Asserting that a system that fosters such outcomes is fair and equitable is akin to arguing that separate but equal is not discriminatory."
Furthermore, the discussion of City Council keeping controversial issues out of the hands of voters extends beyond the urban core.
For instance . . .
The Friends of KCI continue to call out Mayor and Council dragging their feet on a petition that earned the support of more than 5,000 voters who want airport decisions on the ballot.
Meanwhile, it's clear that throughout Kansas City voters are concerned that the council is actively working to limit local Democracy and voter participation in local government.
Developing . . .
Don't forget about the street car. Council did the best to keep that one as far away from voters as possible.
ReplyDeleteSharon Sanders Brooks Nigger, should just shut the fuck up! Nuff said.
ReplyDeletei's still waitin fo any yo bitches to spank ma monkey!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat's BaBa Booey doing in front of the Gem?
ReplyDeleteTONY:
ReplyDeleteYou and I actually know each other, and we get along pretty well. BUT PLEASE stop touting the likes of convicted felon Adams, his grifter sister Gwen Grant, and Sanders-Brooks (one of THE worst City Council Members EVER) as though they "represent" the Black Community.
They are ALL charlatans. There are MANY outstanding people who are black and who have a MUCH MORE LEGITIMATE claim to be truly interested in serving their community. PLEASE.
AND BTW: apparently convicted felon wants conveniently forget that Kansas City voted for not one but two black mayors, and a black man for President twice. We in Kansas City have a LOT to improve but we are NOT all bigots -- unlike convicted felon Adams (and his grifter sister).
You know that's the TRUTH.
This is all about eco-dev money and the more enlightened among us realize that a more geographically even distribution of such cash isn't the solution. Rather, it will result in even more eco-dev abuses. I'm not sure what the solution is but I'm pretty sure it involves both tar and feathers.
ReplyDeleteSo is SSB saying that those Councilpersons who voted against putting the charter amendment are Uncle Tom niggers in contrast to herself, who is a nigger's nigger?
ReplyDelete@5:16pm
ReplyDeleteThe problem is the people you correctly identify as deadbeats and grifters are about the ONLY east side folks that the public ever hears from and that makes them the spokesmen whether others like it or not.
The oldest adage in politics is that you can't beat something with nothing.
And deathly silence, including from those elected to represent east side districts, is all you hear.
Who had a thing to say when Reed shot off his mouth about the police in the Plaza?
Just the Chief of Police.
Because Terry Riley was so educated....
ReplyDeleteMaybe voters don't think being a lawyer is as important as Clinton does. Maybe they think it's more important to elect a member of their economic class than they're race.
ReplyDeleteThis has nothing to do with the streetcar you 1 trick pony motherfucker.
ReplyDeleteJesus Christ not everything is about your pet peeve you fucking simpleton
Throw all the darkies out of office and don't allow any back in
ReplyDeleteThrow Byron in with da darks.
ReplyDeleteLot of old white folks retiring and black folks gonna' pay for their retirement.
ReplyDelete"Clinton Adams notes: "The white majority has never elected an African American to represent a majority white council district in a contested election. Never."
ReplyDeleteWhat does have to do with at large voting? He is talking about a Black being elected in a majority white district.
Is KIKI CURLS going to let Clinton Adams talk about Mebla that way??? The answer is yes...Clinton runs Kiki.
ReplyDelete