TKC EXCLUSIVE AND BREAKING NEWS!!! MUST READ!!! KANSAS CITY TESTIMONY FROM THE UMKC TOY TRAIN STREETCAR KANGAROO COURT SYMPOSIUM!!!
Recently, the top rising star legal minds in Kansas City reviewed the case for and against the toy train streetcar that's getting railroaded through this cowtown.
Accordingly and without taking on a mountain of debt in order to fight traffic tickets for a living . . .
CHECK THIS EXCLUSIVE AND BREAKING NEWS UMKC TOY TRAIN STREETCAR DAY LAW REVIEW!!!
Imagine TKC as John Houseman in The Paper Chase only with a baseball cap, a Chicano KCMO West Side accent and asking all of the chubby white women inappropriate questions.
Anyhoo . ..
THE RECENT UMKC KANGAROO TOY TRAIN STREETCAR COURT ATTRACTED 300 PEOPLE!!!
Not a peep on the Symposium from any other media outlet but THANKFULLY AND GRACIOUSLY . . . Here is the DEFINITIVE TESTIMONY from a KICK-ASS KANSAS CITY INSIDER . . . Check it:
Urban Lawyers Streetcar Symposium Recap
Congratulations are in order for The UMKC School of Law and their Urban Lawyer’s Street Car Symposium held today. I have to say I went with the predisposed mindset that I would be met with a group of students who thought the street car was “sexy’ and they couldn’t wait to get on board. I figured they would come for the free pizza and some because they had to for a class. I couldn’t have been more wrong and I apologize
The majority of the students were very interested and asked pertinent questions. I had several tell me that their minds were not made up one way or another, that there were many things to consider one of which was the morality of the project. This surprised me. They seemed to be aware that the street car would create an unjust, unfair tax burden on the poorest people in the city. The moderator pointed out that in the 1940's -50’s, Kansas City had a streetcar that ran right by the school. This system went broke and was eventually torn up. He asked the Mayor “why a streetcar and why now.” The Mayor’s response “times change”. They Mayor went on to state "there is $750,000,000 of development in down town Kansas City created by the street car or at least the street car had some part in getting the development. The apartment occupancy rate is 97%”. John McGurk, assistant to the Mayor, went on to say “ after an extensive study, the streetcar was the preferred method of travel”?
The moderator mentioned Fr. Ernie Davis, from St.Theresa’s parish, had testified at one of the hearings, how the streetcar would create an inappropriate burden on his parishioners already struggling to buy groceries and pay rent and house payments. His parish is in the TDD and several parishioners live within 1/3 mile of the track so they would catch the brunt of the tax burden. I was floored at the response given by John McGurk, the Mayors Assistant. Mr. McGurk stated “the people getting the benefit should pay for it”. There was no consideration that the poorest people in our city would be taxed unfairly and probably wouldn’t use the streetcar. The Mayor chimed in “transit does not pay for itself”. In other words, if it is an unjust burden on the poorest people in the city, so be it!
The question was asked, “ what is being done to help the small businessmen who might have their business interrupted by construction or their property torn up?” The Mayor stated “every business along the route who made such an inquiry had been contacted by the city or the contractor.” The Mayor went on to say “ negotiating the streetcar project thru the neighborhoods is a lot like childbirth. While I have not given birth, my wife has and while there was much apprehension at the start: when it was all over, it was no big deal!” Several women in my area of the auditorium gasped.
Other questions: Why not do it all at once, why piecemeal the project? Mayors response “ people get weird if you announce a citywide system…”
What are you doing to sway people who oppose the streetcar? Mayor response “ there’s been a big change in attitude since I took office. Mayor Barnes started it. It is always the negative people that bitch a lot.” I suppose here he was referring to the Cave Men. He encouraged the students to get involved if they want something.
We did learn that if the Judge rules the TDD can move forward and there is not an appeal, then it will be on the August ballot. We were told this would be like “a normal school board election”. It will not be like phase one, where ballots were mailed out and had to be notarized before they could be cast.
After the event, I spoke with several students, many of whom were unsure how they felt stating there were too many unanswered questions. Others who lived in Waldo wanted to know how they could get the streetcar to go there. One student, from Milwaukee, stated she was involved in Milwaukee three or four years ago when they were pushing a streetcar. The streetcar was voted down because of the cost associated with it. She felt like a lot of what she heard today from the city leaders was “bullshit”.
Again I congratulate UMKC law School and the individuals involved in putting the symposium on.
Dan Coffey
Citizens for Responsible Government
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Pretty good read. Thanks to UMKC for having a debate instead of a training session. That wouldn't have done them any good, because the legal jobs for the streetcar are all taken.
ReplyDeleteSly's "estimate" of the economic impact of the streetcar shows just how far off the rails he's gone.
ReplyDeleteThere are only 10,000 residents downtown in a metro population of 2.4 million people. And the largest office building, One Kansas City Place, is 40% vacant.
If the "plan" is for downtown KCMO to be successful, whatever that might mean, by becoming a taxpayer-subsidized amusement park for 20-something year olds, taxpayers in KCMO are at some point going to have to realize that the notion of that part of the metro ever even coming close to becoming financially self-sustaining isn't even part of the plan.
Then there's the even larger problem of fads fading away and being replaced by something else and the millenials tiring of organic arugula, soy latte's, and apartment living, and getting married, having kids, and moving to the suburbs for grassy yards, safe neighborhoods, and good schools.
And the office buildings will have been converted to apratments which will then have the same vacance rates they have now, except that it will all be subsidized and TIFed and the tax base will be gone.
Of course, Sly and the gang will all be gone then, too. Only the bills will go on and on.
Lets take away all the tax incentives and see how many developers rush in to build along the streetcar route.
ReplyDeleteHow will all the lil' Calebs, Juniper's and William's get around to smoke blunts and drink Pabst Blue Ribbons without toy trains?
ReplyDeleteIt was tweeted. Sly talked about childbirth and Stone babbled about paradigm shifts and what was probably Russ Johnson tweeted about the dangers of hesitating to blow all this money.
ReplyDeleteIronically Yael was the only one who tweeted any sense with . .
"Streetcar backers ought to acknowledge huge costs & hurdles. State how they can be overcome. Whining about 'no-nothing' critics won't help."
The streetcar is one of the dumbest ideas in KCMO, and that says a lot.
ReplyDeleteSounds like this was actually educational. It might have been more entertaining if Mensa boy had been there and thrown one of his tantrums.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure McGurk is going to walk to Union Station, take the street car to 12th & Main and walk to his cush job at City Hall...and give up his reserved parking spot!! Don't bet on it. The financial burden this will impose on taxpayers is criminal!!
ReplyDeleteNo one living Downtown will use the Streetcar to get to their jobs in Overland Park!!
I'm sure McGurk is going to walk to Union Station, take the street car to 12th & Main and walk to his cush job at City Hall...and give up his reserved parking spot!! Don't bet on it. The financial burden this will impose on taxpayers is criminal!!
ReplyDeleteNo one living Downtown will use the Streetcar to get to their jobs in Overland Park!!
Would yall git it straight...it is not Stop and Frisk.
ReplyDeleteI is Stop, ASK and Frisk.
Now repeat after me and post correctly in the future..
Stope, ASK and Frisk.
Would best a game changer on KC violence.
In this city, you're foolish if you think decisions like the streetcar are made by facts, study and rational decision making. This is not about that. It's a "gut move" type decision that since day 1 has not been supported by objective and concrete facts to show a decisive and unmistakable benefit to the city or its citizens. It is the citizens, in the end, who suck up the bill for this. They get zero of the economic gain but take all the risk for its failure.
ReplyDeleteBack in Nebraskohiossipi: Aunt Mildred passes the corn muffins to her bearded avocado shaped nephew visiting from Downtown KC, with his q-tip shaped friend from Kansas. She asks “how is your trolley doing boys?" He says “like yah, it’s going sooooo well Aunt Mildred. The rails are like, amazing, and a craft beer bistro opened across the street, called the international trolley cafe. Aunt Mildred say's "how bout the crime, poor schools, sewers, city debts, underfunded pensions and things that were going to be fixed?" He says "Oh it's already fixed Aunt Mildred, just recently in fact with a super duper bond deal, and the trolley is so universally popular now because of that, tourists from all over the world, and people with great creative talents are already on waiting lists to come to the nabe to sample drinks, rooftop range fed chicken, and most of all, the chance to ride the famous trolley to their new jobs. Plus, it's already successful, profitable, so much so that other city's are scrambling trying to copy our success model so they can be like us!"
ReplyDeleteNow that is some funny shit 8:49 AM...
ReplyDeleteYou made my day.
The over building of apartments Downtown can be attributed to massive City Hall subsides not the streetcar. Where are jobs to fill the empty office buildings?
ReplyDelete"Imagine TKC as John Houseman in The Paper Chase only with a baseball cap, a Chicano KCMO West Side accent and asking all of the chubby white women inappropriate questions."
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wOUMd3bMRI
Professor Botello: Mr. Abouhalkah, here's a dime, I want you to call your mother and tell her there's serious doubt about you ever becoming a respectable journalist!
So if the children - aside from Davy J and The Extended Stay America Desk Clerk - won't vote for it, the old folks won't vote for it and the poor blacks won't vote for it, who's gonna pay for this $500m+ all you can eat buffet for the Kerrs and the Stowers?
ReplyDeleteIf this isn't more reason to send Sly James running back to his law firm... I don't know what is. What kind a person says out loud that women's child birth is no big deal? This seals the deal for me.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cnn.com/2011/11/01/health/multiple-pregnancies-mother/
ReplyDeletehttp://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/why-are-so-many-u-s-women-dying-during-childbirth/article_dd916b4b-38f0-5bae-ba42-ddee636e4cf4.html
ReplyDeleteUrban Lawyer is a lefty group at UMKC, not eco-devo people in general.
ReplyDeleteThey had it in the lounge, they dont let the unwashed in the
EE Tommy Thompson courtroom
Oh, quick, let me guess.
ReplyDeleteIn favor of building streetcars:
1. Contractors make tons of money
2. Developers make tons of money
3. Local government gets a shiny new toy to be proud of
4. Local taxpayers get screwed
Against building streetcars:
1. Contractors don’t make tons of money
2. Developers don’t make tons of money
3. Local government doesn't get a shiny new toy to be proud of
4. Local taxpayers don’t get screwed
That about sum it up?
9:27 EXCELENT
ReplyDeleteProfessor Botello: Mr. James, here is a quarter, call your wife and tell her you will be a one term mayor.
YO,YO,YO....I ax you white bread mofos agin....when are you gunna git up off sum mo dem Free Zoo days???
ReplyDeleteWould someone that has a brain explain why this organic taxi service is racist when any color can pay the fare.
ReplyDeleteWhat are we missing here.
I would imagine they have to apply for a business lic. and pay whateve fees and taxes are required. But is sure does not look racist.
8:49........ OUTSTANDING.......
ReplyDelete12:50 comment
ReplyDeleteDear Sir:
We here at the KC Falling Star would like to extend our sincere apologies if you've offended in any way.
Our Editorial Board is hard at work, as I write this, composing the proper rebuke to the racist whitey agenda that has attempted to deny you all of your hard-earned free government subsidies.
Again, please accept my apology and encourage you to look forward to the coming editorial. I have instructed our delivery contract agent in your area to drop off a free copy of our paper each day to keep you fully informed.
Sincerely,
Fael Abracadabra
Lewis DoBad
BaBa Shyly
1:27 its not racist at all. is hard to understand the entrepreneurial climate here in town. trust me, the city policies are all over the place. first google fiber to make kc a petrie dish of tech innovation. Awesome, a really good idea and a lot of bright people started buying into this. Then we hear Google Fiber is license ONLY for residential use, so anyone wanting to "legally" do work and develop something immediately began shutting down. You may hear about the so called "Hipster Manifesto" on here. Its true as part of Mayor James' vision a younger crowd was advertised for the Main Street corridor from River Market south. So as the organic growth Mayor James wanted begins to take hold, and things like Lyft come about old interests that are at odds with Mayor James' vision begin to flex their influence. No one can blame Bill George for protecting his interests. In fact the only person to blame for the current unpredicatbility in Kansas City is the Mayor and city government. There is no clear vision, and the policies are wishy washy. The right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. This has made any organic or grassroots wealth creation at the least frusturating and at the most impossible. Were there to be a clear vision, whatever it may be, growth in KC would be possible. But the uncertainty exhibited by the administration is any entrepreneurs worst nightmare.
ReplyDeletea risk assesment is necessary for all business, and while a would be entrepreneur is willing to take on a greater risk, the factor of uncertainty for some has tipped the risk scale too far. it really is too bad.
ReplyDeleteYou chuck dudes ain't answered ma black kass yet on when yall gonna git up off sum mo dem Free Zoo days!!!???
ReplyDeleteThe risk here be if some them wild negro kid hordes with guns start axin bout gettin mo Free Zoo days??
ReplyDeleteSly in wid dem whiteys real tight he should be gettin dem free day at da Zoo already done.
Oh yeah ...bring pizza and orange pop too Sly...nawmean
Echo chamber of irrelevance.
ReplyDelete"The Mayor chimed in “transit does not pay for itself”. In other words, if it is an unjust burden on the poorest people in the city, so be it!"
ReplyDeleteWell it doesn't pay for itself when you make it free for everyone like the downtown section will be. Will the extensions also be free rides? If they are, the money sucking sound the streetcar makes will increase in volume.
The sad fact is that pretty much nothing in KCMO government ever is built or works very well because the electeds couldn't care less how things turn out after the big announcements, balloon launches, and ribbon cuttings are over.
ReplyDeleteTry to work with the department that handles business licensing or permits.
Even parade and run permitting is now contracted out to companies who have no accountability to the public at all.
When was the last time policies in the police department were reviewed and updated?
The elected folks in KCMO are way too busy subsidizing private buildings, giving money away to grifters, and attending receptions and dinners to bother themselves with what kind of actual services the government they supposedly head provide for the residents who pay their salaries and actually try to live here.
Who cares if one hand doesn't know what the other is doing? It's the sizzle of exciting innovative downtown KCMO that counts!
A world class joke.
undue burden unjust regressive poor people modern effective transit buses gas emissions save our boondoggle talking points show me disenfranchise toy train unjust undue unjust undue boondoggle mantra
ReplyDelete4;43 "were not talking about a Taj Mahal"
ReplyDeleteMr. A Lot Like Childbirth Mayor also said we need the streetcar to attract brains and talent from elsewhere since KCMO school district grads are too dumb and lack skills from years of crappy education. Yes, he really did.
ReplyDelete