Second Look: Explaining The Mayor Sly James Kansas City Minimum Wage Increase Ordinance 'Fight For $15' Double-Cross

While Kansas City Mayor Sly James attempts to equivocate and explain his convoluted support and objection to another minimum wage increase, the backstabbing political move should be familiar to those who have followed his career and continued treachery against every interest but his own.

There are quite a few theories regarding Mayor Sly's recent BACKTRACK on the minimum wage increase vote coming up this Thursday but none of them consider the big picture given that this blog has literally written the book on one of the most duplicitous leaders Kansas City has seen in a generation.

What's important to understand is that OUR BLOG COMMUNITY PREDICTED THIS MOVE and has leads local news in understanding the double talk of this politico.

A great line from recent comments:

"It was cynical and manipulative for anyone in leadership to "support" the $15 minimum wage, all the while knowing it wouldn't happen in real life."

Meanwhile, the Mayor continues to dance and two-step around the issue . . .

KC Biz Journal: James: Minimum wage ordinance is 'good theater,' nothing else

Money line . . .

"A lot of people believe it's time to raise the minimum wage, and I'm one of them. The only problem I've got is, passing this ordinance in a hasty manner might be good theater, might be interesting politics. It's not what I would consider to be great leadership, and it's not effective."

"James pointed to the Missouri General Assembly which is already working to stop any local minimum wage ordinances. The bill, which should move smoothly through the Republican-controlled chambers, would likely be signed my Gov. Eric Greitens. That's why James says an ordinance in Kansas City would be ineffective.

"Instead, the mayor supports a petition initiative."
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Accordingly . . .

The problem here is that the Mayor STILL voices his support for a controversial and costly effort that many small biz owners and Conservatives decry. But he won't take any real world action to back up his statements. It's the worst of both worlds for the Mayor and a rare public display of TOTAL  POLITICAL COWARDICE on a divisive local topic.

The problem that local advocates of the upcoming KCMO Fair Wage vote confront is that they don't know how the Mayor will vote . . . Given that support for a Missouri fair wage petition and a vote approving a KCMO minimum wage increase aren't mutually exclusive.

As always, we'd like to help . . .

Mayor Sly typically finds an excuse to temporarily step out on the most controversial local votes whilst claiming some kind of emergency or previous commitment. He usually doesn't like to vote YES OR NO against these kind of things and will instead play hide & seek with voters, the media and the public as few "journalists" hold him accountable for his often confused legislative actions.

Developing . . .