The latest election in Kansas City pretty much proves that Kansas City Proper has given up on Democracy.
Fun fact that deserves to be at the top of this post . . .
VOTER TURNOUT IN KANSAS CITY RANKED BELOW 10% THROUGHOUT THE METRO AND THE KANSAS CITY ELECTION BOARD REPORTS ONLY A PALTRY 7.89% OF REGISTERED VOTERS BOTHERED TO SHOW UP TO THE POLLS!!!
One more . . .
SERIOUSLY . . . LESS THAN 10% OF THE ELECTORATE MAKING A $500 MILLION COMMITMENT ISN'T DEMOCRACY . . . IT'S A BROKEN AND PRETTY MUCH RIGGED SYSTEM THAT ISN'T WORKING!!!
Nevertheless . . .
NOW WE MUST NAME THE WINNERS AND LOSERS OF THE HOT MESS LOW TURNOUT APRIL ELECTION!!!
Let's make this quick and dirty . . .
WINNERS
Kansas City Mayor "Tax And Spend" Sly James
Kansas City Mayor Sly James could be the most successful proponent of more local taxes and borrowing in the modern era. This recent $500 MILLION Water Bond victory marks the latest of more than half a dozen times the Mayor has asked the local electorate for more cash. So far, he has yet to face rejection thanks to impressive strategy, low turnout votes like this one and his charisma . . . Or whatever you want to call all of the smiling he does in public.
The Upcoming Toy Train Streetcar Ask
Kansas City taking on $500 Million worth of debt with almost no questions bodes well for the toy train streetcar and all of the vague promises of economic development that have been railroaded through City Hall.
Freedom, Inc. Rings The Victory Bell
Last night this historic PAC did nothing less than WIN BACK their influence on the Kansas City Public School Board . . . Pundits often declare the demise of this group but this election reveals their staying power and a promise of interesting times ahead on the School Board.
Terry Riley Consulting Coup
Credit where it's due . . . Behind the scenes, Kansas City Insiders tell us that Terry Riley's consulting group did the heavy lifting on the upset victory won by Melissa Robinson over incumbent Joe Jackson.
Steve Glorioso Stays Winning
Mr. Glorioso is a mainstay of Kansas City politics and this time around he expertly handled a flood of negative sentiment amid a water bond ask and proved why he has a political history in Kansas City that runs deep.
Kansas City Engineering Firms Secure Their Grand Designs On Local Democracy
Engineering firms run Kansas City . . . Like it or not, and I'm not going to apologize for this one:
Mayor Sly James belongs to Burns and Mac.
Now that I think about it . . . I doubt I'll get much debate on that sentiment.
Meth Town Lady Boom Boom Weir And Her Homeboy Exec Mike Sanders
A low key win in this town's favorite crystal distribution point reminds us that the County Exec still knows what's shaking and he squeezed his candidate through without too much resistance. Get a grip, we all know Mike Sanders still has a good handle on everything bouncing around Eastern Jack.
LOSERS
Airick West And His KCPS Reform Efforts
The reform movement of Airick L. West is now part of Kansas City education history. Also, Superintendent Green is now on borrowed time. Amid rape reports and repurposing fail . . . So-called KCPS progress has all but evaporated.
Kansas City Anti-Tax Fighters
Defeating a Jackson County tax last time out emboldened this crew along with throwing the streetcar off-track in Brookside . . . But last night reality struck for Kansas City tax fighters and without intense organization and a hefty bankroll from some rich guy - The rage of Kansas City low-tax enthusiasts simply doesn't resonate with voters trained to cast their ballots at the command of special interest groups and unions.
Kansas City Charter
The aftermath of last night's election makes the charter more vague, less powerful and basically a floor mat for Mayor Sly and the City Council.
Dead Tree Media Neighborhood Coverage
KC Star endorsements didn't win the day and seemed less important this time out . . . Even worse, most of the Dead Tree Media content for this election was editorial and not reporting.
Low Voter Turnout Dying Local Democracy
This one is worth repeating . . .
VOTER TURNOUT FAR BELOW 10% REVEALS THAT KANSAS CITY DEMOCRACY IS BROKEN!!!
This town simply doesn't care about voting thanks to a Mayor who has substituted social media and pressers for community engagement.
The only bright side here is that victory in this Kansas City election revealed a low threshold required to influence local politics and maybe an opportunity to oppose the status quo which certainly doesn't seem to be holding the interest of the electorate.
LINKS:
KCUR: Voters Hand KCMO Council Election Day Victory
Northeast News: Voters Approve Ballot Initiatives
Meth Town Examiner: WEIR WINS
Examiner: Election gives council a new makeup
KMBC: KC voters pass water bond issue by wide margin
Newspaper: Hickman Mills elects school board members despite smear campaign
Hickman Mills Blogger Debbie Aiman: It’s Over.
That first lady?
ReplyDeleteShe's a strong winner in my book. Seems like she knows how to handle herself!
When residents of a city allow 375 voters to set them all on a course to sepnd hundreds of millions and less that 10% of registered voters make decisions about school districts and $500 million of bonds, they're getting exactly what they deserve from these clowns they elect.
ReplyDeleteAnd when all the bills start coming due, the general fund is sucking air, and all the great promises of these grandiose dreams has floated away, we'll be hearing that "KCMO is the hub of the metro and the least everyone else can do is help pay for all these amenities".
It's like a Honeybaked Ham franchise in Tel Aviv.
Good luck.
Is it any wonder Sly and the slutty hall crew are smiling and laughing?
ReplyDeleteAll the way to the bank?
Why does it look like someone smashed in Glorioso's face w/ a frying pan???
ReplyDeleteNobody votes anymore cause they know that the niggers will do as they please anyway. Democracy?? Don't make me laugh..
ReplyDeleteBottom line, the world is run by people who show up. SO SHOW UP.
ReplyDeleteWhether it be a local school board meeting, city could hearing, or a local charitable endeavor, be present and do something productive. Shit, if it is a neighborhood clean up project, drag your ass from behind that stupid keyboard and take part.
Read any of the posts on this site and ask yourself, are these people who really should be influencing anything? Hateful posts directed toward people you don't even know are directed by anonymous bears, cum/rape guys, and bigots.
Shit if you can't find it in yourself to get out of your pajamas and partake, read about self actualization and ask yourself the truly difficult questions.
I knew the Royals made a mistake when they let Bonifacio get away.
Not sure I agree with the "tax and spend" moniker that has been thrust upon Sly. KC's infrastructure has been ignored for decades, and the time has come to pony up for the neglected improvements. I'm sure, as a mayor who wants to leave a legacy, he'd much rather spend his political capital on sexy things rather than water and sewer lines.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't help but laugh at the Hickman Mills school board hubbub. What voters must realize, is that the felons, deadbeat dads, sued for delinquent loans, etc. is that makes up the Hickman Mills school district electorate. If they were upstanding people with a sparkling background they wouldn't reside in the Hickman Mills district -- so, in effect, they ARE electing one of themselves when that is what they have to choose from in a school board race.
There are no winners here, Tony. Sure, Sly got what he wanted. The same is true believe Freedom, Inc. folks.
ReplyDeleteTruth is, however, Freedom, Inc., in its distant and historical past has been credited with improving voting awareness, registration and motivating people to follow through on their commitment to voting. By your own editorial comments, you state that folks have given up on Democracy.
In contrast, there was virtually nothing in this election that motivated people to vote. Less than half the people who voted in the last election voted in this election. So, it appears the strategy has now shifted from informing voters to making sure they're uninformed and those same folks who consistently vote will determine the status of elections in Kansas City. This sounds criminal to me but it is fair because people still have the opportunity to vote. It won't be long before they fix it to where that's no longer an opportunity, either.
Further, let's be honest... Terry Riley robo calls do not motivate people to vote. It simply signals who is supporting who and its a way to try to influence people who have no idea who Terry Riley is.
Overall, this election kept in line with the typical Kansas City style of politics. There was nothing new, nothing different and the same names were tossed around. Still winning on yesterday's score.
Keeping people ignorant and uninformed has worked so well for the handful of people who refuse to find gainful employment. If you have a PhD, why on earth would anybody want to see a volunteer position on a failing school board especially given the fact she can no longer produce children of her own.
If that PhD education could turn things around, which it can't, KCPS would have never been unaccredited to begin with. The previous school board superintendents would have done it. There's too much hype about titles and less emphasis on actual work previously done and work that will be done and voting public can't distinguish the difference.
This is a sad day, Tony. You should offer a moment of silence. the bell is certainly tolling...
Any community that allows itself to be taken advantage of by people like Riley and Glorioso more than deserve all the tings that are coming their way.
ReplyDeleteThe other commentators here are right. You wonder why there's no bi-state cooperation or other collaboration with all the other cities in the metro?
This fiasco is a great example!
Your entire post including blogger comments are, as usual, mindless drivel.
ReplyDeleteLOW VOTER TURNOUT. IT IS KRIS KOBACH'S FAULT KEEPING THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM VOTING. Wait a minute, wrong state sorry and he only picks on Mexicans.
ReplyDeleteWho cares about taxes if you are on welfare.
The Relator's Association of Johnson County says: "Thank you Sly, you are good for business."
What is the difference between Detroit and Kansas City? Detroit has a decent baseball team.
On the ballet questions, the loser is common sense. Our City Council has, once again, thrown inarticulate ambiguous crap against the wall and, due to voter apathy, it has stuck. With question 4 passing, I assume that the large city contractors can now put up their own slates of candidates?
ReplyDeleteQuite the collection of GRIFTERS, a rainbow group for sure. Wonder what the play is between Skippy and Boom Boom ?
ReplyDeleteIf you live in KC, you are totally fucked. Welcome to tax city USA.
The other difference between KC and Detroit is that the people who looted Detroit mostly still live in Michigan, whereas the people looting Kansas City actually live in another state, and the states were having a rainbow party with big biz until they're parents found out and told them to stop.
ReplyDeleteWhoa polar bear, what is this, an israeli costume party? take that silly pillowcase off ur damn face.
ReplyDeleteYo Bear, did you know that Jesse Jackson (Jr) himself once said: "I am more afraid of the boys in the hood than I am of the boys wearing white hoods."
ReplyDeleteNew day. Klan lovers on TKC.
ReplyDelete819Plus1
I am disgusted that the Pattie Mansur won a seat on the KCSB. She whored herself to the Teachers' Union -- the ones who destroyed the schools along with liberal judges.
ReplyDeleteOf course, as we learned on here in the past few days, the KCFT is run by perverts who should not be allowed around children. There ought to be a special camp built to hold perverts like that Kim Clause -- the Raytown Lezzie who "mentors" teen girls. Sex predators should be incarcerated forever!
Why don't we simply ask 8:19 for the answers? He seems to know all of them..
ReplyDeleteWho is this slut named Kim Clause?
ReplyDelete8% of KC voters voted yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI think the rest have given up on CK at this point. Developers and their political friends in office will just loot and strip mine every last cent they can before the whole thing goes down the tubes.
Tony I hope in the future you have some pictures of Boom Boom without Skippy. Perhaps you could get some pool shots or back yard sunbathing.
ReplyDeleteIn all fairness I would say that Methtown has a new tourist attraction.
ReplyDeleteLOL!
ReplyDeleteIndependence Examiner has a recent picture of Boom Boom. She looks like an older version of Mimi Rogers.
ReplyDeleteKind of a butterface, but very motor-boatable...
Mimi Rogers, not bad. She is a DD so is probably Boom Boom.
ReplyDeleteWeir needs your support! Badly.
ReplyDeleteShe has not butt to speak of at all so I wonder whether Boom and Boom were late additions to the work?
ReplyDeleteTKC+KKK=out
ReplyDeleteI had the same question.
ReplyDeleteBoom Boom: real or fake? Don't get me wrong, they are still spectacular.
I am leaning "real" however, the butt issue does introduce doubt.
ReplyDeleteReal. Mimi Rogers nude pictures are all over the place and she has a nice natural pair.
ReplyDeleteSo does the mayor get waxed at Cindy Baker Circo's shop for shearing? Anyone seen her around the pool?
ReplyDeleteThe Mimi Rogers comparison is spot on:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailymotion.com/video/xa9i9c_celebs-mimi-rogers-full-body-massag_redband
I think Methtown should open a new water park asap!
ReplyDeleteAnd the new mayor needs to be the first one down the slide wearing one of her vacation bikinis.
Phone cameras ready everyone?
I am always amazed how amazingly stupid some amazing friends are on amaz-o-rific facebook:
ReplyDeleteGabrielle Parris to Pattie Mansur
Congrats again, Pattie! You are so amazing and will be an amazing addition to the school board! This is SO needed!!
Gabrielle Parris: Moron!
Like the water park comment. The place would be a true sausage party however with dudes just trying to get a peek at the DDs.
ReplyDeleteBoom Boom does have some big breasts...
ReplyDeleteCum guy in 3-2-1
ReplyDeleteThey are real you can see them sagging in the photo with Skippy, that bra is working overtime. Plastic tits stick out and look like soccer balls in a bra.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWonder what Boom Boom's position on unsolicited bulk email would be?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe only answer, was get off your asses and do something productive.
ReplyDeleteOnly here could that possible taken issue.
Where's the KKK moniker bear?
Sad day. Grandfather fought a war so an anonymous coward could hide his hate behind a KKK avatar in the name of free speech.
ReplyDeleteMaking judgement on character seems a past time.