Here's a bit of breaking news which reveals that NOBODY but the civic elite and paid consultants really cares about streetcar or the many empty promises made on its behalf . . .
The Kansas City Streetcar Authority (KCSA) today chose the first Executive Director of the KC Streetcar system.
Thomas Gerend will leave his position as Co-Director of Transportation Planning for the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) to accept this executive role. Gerend spent the last eight years leading regional transportation planning, streetcar planning, and public transit coordination across the eight county bi-state Kansas City region.
Here's the full presser
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The MARC connection confirms (once again) that the Toy Train deal has been rigged since day one ... Still, we celebrate this new appointment and the guy who will be forced to take the fall when the toy train tax doesn't pass.
Developing . . .
Yup buy a train and first thing is cram as many bureaucrats as you can into the plan. Your tax dollars at work.
ReplyDeleteIt should be noted that Gerend once had a toy train as a kid so that pretty much qualifies him to be anything in KC.
One of the director's first acts will be to purchase environmentally friendly safety briefs for the train crew at a cost of $367,284.59. Gerand will be flying to Paris next week to search out a supplier.
Thomas Gerend selected streetcar authority chief. God help us all.
ReplyDeleteHe lives in Overland Park. Doesn't pay KCMO taxes.
ReplyDeleteFurther proof city officials and their crony's are officially INSANE.
ReplyDeleteA kid from Rockford Illinois is now CK's TDD master of raising peoples taxes huh?
ReplyDeleteWill these people or whatever they are pay fair market price for us to leave KCMO or are we just prisoners now?
ReplyDeleteHe really live out in the suburbs? That's hilarious if true.
ReplyDeleteIsn't there a Parana infestation in Rockford?
ReplyDeleteI believe that's panera!
ReplyDeleteWill the train run in the prospect area?
ReplyDeleteNobody of any brains lives in the KCMO.
ReplyDeleteAnother white boy!
ReplyDeleteShit, you complain if it is a local, then you snivel when it's someone from outside the area.
ReplyDeleteNotwithstanding, the guy has worked at Marc for years, and does not use his position to gain insider leverage. I can name you at least 10 staffers from the City and the EDC who are in their position because of subtle (powerful) patronage or race.
This is a good pick.
I guess you would all have been supportive if it was a hipster doofus who was black.
At what point do you ask yourself, "WTF, we just gripe about everything"?
Were miserable.
ReplyDeleteYou don't get that?
Guy is a cook.
ReplyDeleteNot a crook, just a cook. Serving up corruption stew.
Delete"the guy has worked at Marc for years, and does not use his position to gain insider leverage."
ReplyDeleteSo that must mean that is EXACTLY what he does.
Our new hero. Who's going to come out in late July announcing rather then streetcar extensions, he's going to go with a $30 million modernized bus option for Main St. and the new Houston and Columbus approach of reallocating existing bus resources.
ReplyDeleteI hope he realizes that he's signed on to a sinking ship. KCMO is notoriously bad at actually implementing, building, operating, or maintaining anything even though they're great at the ribbon-cuttings and big announcements.
ReplyDeleteBig delays and cost overruns coming.
And MARC is a planning organization. No one there actually manages or runs anything. And that very big difference will soon become clear.
All aboard!
I was against the light rail, but if the ship has sailed, I can separate my personal feelings from the vote of the electeds.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't like the outcome, VOTE THEM OUT OF OFFICE OR RUN AGAINST THEM.
I sorry, but I work with people that if they don't get the decision they want from management, they do all they can to f-up the company call.
I very similar to the rail. By your on-going griching, you are marginalizing yourselves.
Yeah how much are they throwing down the rabbit whole for this guy yo work his ass off being Director of 2 miles of toy train? Oh wait he probably has responsibility for trying to shove another 2 feet down our throats and another 2 up hipsters ass.
ReplyDeleteMcgurk & Gerend. Kansas Residents. Leawood and OP.
ReplyDeleteAlmost feel sorry for him.
ReplyDeleteSo he's not planning on moving into the TDD prison zone. Just using his MBA to run it?
ReplyDeleteWarden Tom Gerend
4:39 and 9:34 comments THANKS!
ReplyDeleteMcgurk & Gerend. Kansas Residents. Leawood and OP.
Proof....yet AGAIN, that many who hold positions in KCMO are only foreign pigs at the neighbor's trough.
Perhaps an analogy I've used before is worth repeating, though crass, I won't be offending the readers found here. KCMO is like a big fat woman who serves as the local whore. She serves a purpose, though most are disinclined to be seen with her in public. For these men, it's enough to patronize her and use her for their personal gain and pleasure, but at the end of the business day they high-tail it out of the red-light district back to Stepford wives in safe suburbia.
Examples: Most of those pushing the Translational Medical Research tax hike including Bluford (TMC), O'Donnell (ChMercy), Chamber, etc.
Greg Graves and most the BurnsMcD Board.
KC Chiefs executives
KCPS Superintendent Dr. Green
KC Falling Star staff
During the workday, go in to see the fat lady and take your turn, but before the sun sets, return to the 'burbs and shower.
That's got about as much job security as, um, KC School Superintendent and Union Station director.
ReplyDeleteWow. Let him fail before you rip him to shreds. Pretty big bull shit that KCMO employees have residency but this TDD which takes city money doesn't
ReplyDeleteHe looks like a pedophile.
ReplyDeleteOK I'll bite. Who has their position at the "EDC ... because of subtle (powerful) patronage or race"?
ReplyDelete10:45
ReplyDeleteWhen you say "fat lady" at city hall, are you referring to Patty Hilderbrand who has a six figure salary and does nothing? Oh, that's right, Sherri lets her "work from home"
KC ATA already "reallocated" bus resources, a la Houston and Columbus. And it did it before them. And it was very successful, well orchestrated and efficient.
ReplyDeleteNext try, troll.
YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK!
ReplyDelete