CLAY CHASTAIN STAYS LOSING!!!

And so we conclude another chapter in Kansas City history with a Clay Chastain lawsuit being tossed.

Not before some nasty allegations, hurt feelings and insults everywhere.

Here's what we're taking from this . . .

LIKE IT OR NOT, MAYOR SLY'S LATE PAY TAX HOT MESS IS NOW PART OF THIS ELECTION CYCLE AND PRETTY MUCH TAKES HIM OUT OF THE E-TAX DEBATE . . . THAT'S PROBABLY THE ONLY REAL THING ACCOMPLISHED BY THIS FUN LITTLE EPISODE!!!

Other than that . . . What we learned is that the news industrial complex is just as dependent on the Mayor as anybody else.

Here's the round-up now that the dust has settled.

KC Biz Journal: Judge dismisses Chastain's lawsuit against Mayor James

Pitch: Clay Chastain's bid to get Sly James off the June ballot, predictably, fails

Newspaper: Mayor Sly James can stay on the ballot in Kansas City

KMBC: Judge dismisses Clay Chastain's lawsuit against KC Mayor Sly James


TKC EXCLUSIVE . . . Here's what we were waiting on . . . Last word for Clay!!!

Chastain's final press release as mayoral candidate

Given the fact...

* I am not likely to ever become mayor of Kansas City;

* The misguided city continues building a misbegotten downtown streetcar system that operates slowly and in traffic (not a citywide light rail spine that operates faster, goes further, operates in its own right-of-way, and with higher capacity to match the higher capacity of in-coming commuter trains) for our new modern transit foundation;

* Union Station's north wing is not slated by the incompetent city to be utilized as a multimodal regional public transportation center (its highest and best reuse; and

* Mayor James (who neglected the eastside for 4 years) is now trying to placate those voters by offering them crumbs (in the form of putting a face lift on the Linwood Shopping Center) that is far too little, far too late, and ain't by no means going to cut the mustard in terms of uplifting this disadvantaged part of our city....

I leave this comprehensive transit plan and associated ballot language(which should be placed on the November 2015 ballot so as to capture available federal matching light rail funds) to the people of Kansas City, eastside leaders, and to KCMO Mayoral Candidate Vincent (the General) Lee in hopes he will consider adopting it to help him become Kansas City's next mayor:

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BALLOT LANGUAGE

In order to modernize and make more successful Kansas City's current transit system, by adding to it a multimodal citywide light rail-based transit system (headquartered at the north wing of Union Station), shall the city of Kansas City, Missouri repurpose and extend the existing 3/8-cent bus sales tax, effective January 1, 2016, and extend said tax through December 31, 2040, to fund the following improvements to Kansas City's public transportation infrastructure:

* Construct a first phase light rail train spine operating from a Park & Ride lot at or near Kansas City International Airport and terminating at the Cerner Campus at Bannister including station stops at the Kansas City Zoo, the Plaza / UMKC/ Nelson Atkins Cultural District, Union Station, Downtown, and three scheduled stops in the northland;

* Construct a Prospect Avenue streetcar line that will connect to the light rail spine at the Kansas City Zoo and at Union Station;

* Construct a first phase commuter train line that will feed into the light rail spine at Union Station and provide service to a Park & Ride lot at the Truman Sport's Complex;

* Establish a fleet of quiet, low-emission shuttles and bikeway network connecting to the rail stations and expanding the service area of the rail lines; and use the tax proceeds to finance bonds and secure federal matching funds?

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ESTIMATED CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS:

* 25-mile light rail spine.....................................................$1.250 billion

* 7-mile streetcar line........................................................$0.225 billion

* 8-mile commuter rail line.................................................$0.096 billion

* Shuttle buses, bikeway network, Union Station hub.......$0.500 billion

Total...................................................................................$1.621 billion


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ESTIMATED REVENUES GENERATED:

* 3/8-cent sales tax for 25 years..........................................$1.250 billion

* Federal matching funds (50% of $1.621)..........................$0.800 billion

* Developer, private, and other contributions.......................$0.300 billion

Total......................................................................................$2.350 billion



Surplus generated for finance charges and O&M ................$.729 billion
($2.350-$1.621)


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CONCLUSION

Kansas City will not grow, prosper, and progress unless it changes.

Kansas City's stagnated condition is self evident. Overall, the city is not growing in terms of jobs, economic growth, or population. Kansas City's population remains what it was 55 years ago while other cities have boomed, many around modern rail-based transit systems.

A modern rail-based transit system is not only a major selling point these days but a necessity if a city is to compete for people, jobs, and business.

Some will complain that my idea to repurpose the existing 3/8-cent bus sales tax (so we do not have to raise the public's taxes any further) to fund this modern rail system will hurt the bus system. Initially there will be some loss of service. However, in the long run it is worth the sacrifice for the following reasons:

#1. Kansas City is able to leverage the 3/8-cent bus sales tax to bring to Kansas City perhaps $800 million in federal matching funds to help construct a modern rail-based transit system. (Note: Phoenix received $1.0 billion from Washington for their highly successful 20-mile light rail line which they are now expanding further)

#2. Kansas City will have an attractive rail system that will be used by most everyone many of whom will take the bus to get to and from the rail lines thus boosting bus ridership over the dismal levels of today.

#3. Transit riders will now have a bigger more comprehensive citywide transit system with which to get to and from jobs and move about the city without having to take 3 buses and 3 hours to get to a job or major destination.

#4. Though the light rail spine may seemingly lack the initial density to support high ridership levels (even though it will connect to most of Kansas City's major job centers and destinations), it can still meet that measure via travel density. Travel density is achieved by feeding into the light rail spine other complimenting modes of transit, especially suburban commuter trains. That high ridership will in turn generate more density along the light rail spine via new residential and commercial construction.

And if anyone has a better idea to get Kansas City going, other than a downtown "Touristy Frou Frou" streetcar system and up graded Linwood Shopping Center, then let them come forth with it.

Mayoral candidate Clay Chastain