TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! CLAY CHASTIAN REAX TO KANSAS CITY UNNAMED LIGHT RAIL BALLOT QUESTION: MAYOR SLY JAMES IS AFRAID!!!

TKC NOTE: Here's an important statement for the afternoon from Kansas City's foremost transit activist on the topic of his ballot issue that he contends is being SABOTAGED by City Hall. Check it:

CLAY CHASTAIN: Mayor James wrong. Law department refused to negotiate light rail ballot language

I don't know, maybe City Attorney Bill Geary forgot to tell him, or perhaps he's having a senior moment, or maybe he gets confused easily, but Mayor Sly James said something to the council Thursday, before they voted to sabotage the light rail ballot language by not even mentioning what the taxes are for, that is totally untrue.

Here is the lie as it reads in today's Kansas City Star: "Chastain claims the city legal department refused to negotiate. On Thursday, James claimed it was Chastain who wouldn't talk and criticized him for lobbying council members instead."

I wouldn't talk huh, and why wouldn't I when all I have now is a light rail initiative ballot language that doesn't even mention the light rail plan 4,000 voters signed in behalf of, and that I designed to make a better Kansas City for the people.?


Read below what my attorney wrote to me a few days ago after being told by the City's Law Department they were not interested in responding to our earlier request to work out compromise ballot language, as Judge Midkiff had suggested. Then tell me who is lying to the City Council and the citizens of Kansas City.

"Mr. Chastain:

"The judgment of the trial court becomes final today. My inquiries regarding potential compromise language were refused by the law department (Ms. Sarah Baxter).

"It is my understanding that there is some interest in exploring compromise language. It is my opinion that the Committee and the City can still reach agreement on substitute ballot language so long as that agreement is finalized in time to submit ballot language to the election authorities. If substitute language could be agreed upon, the Committee could agree not to enforce the Judgment in exchange for the City’s agreement to submit the stipulated ballot language. I am not aware of any third party that would have standing to enforce the Court’s Judgment and, therefore, the parties could agree to alter its mandate. Let me know if you have any questions."

Sly is trying to foul up a vote on my light rail plan because he's afraid Clay Chastain will move the city forward with light rail, and not him.

I ask the City Council members to act independently of Mayor Sly James, and reconsider amending their light rail ballot measure at next Thursday's City Council meeting; and do as the Star editorial (07/14) demanded, "Kansas City voters must keep trust with voters on Clay Chastain's transit plan."

Clay Chastain
###########################