Here's today's shrewd move by Mayor Sly to force a compromise from the ministers and activists who are demanding an MLK streets despite Parks Board policy which requires local residence for all honorees.
An important perspective on this crew:
"Only 2 women - Where are the young people's voices??? Where are the historians and academics? And lastly, do any of them actual live on The Paseo Blvd?"
Take a look:
Mayor Sly James Forms City Group to Identify Possible Martin Luther King, Jr., Designations
Today, Mayor Sly James announced a special group of trusted community members who have been asked to make a recommendation for a Martin Luther King, Jr., designation in the city. James will ask the group to engage the broader community to find a solution that truly honors Dr. King and his ideals of equity and respect and aligns with the City’s long-term planning goals and vision for an inclusive community.
“We all want to honor Dr. King. But rather than allow this issue to divide our city, we need to use this as an opportunity to bring our city together and work collaboratively,” James said. “I’ve asked this group to consider all of our options in finding the best way to honor Dr. King’s legacy.”
The group has been asked to consider this issue, engage the broader community, and after doing so, make a recommendation within 45 days.
The advisory group members are:
Stanley Archie – Behavioral Consultant
Jean Paul Chaurand – President, Board of Parks & Recreation Commissioners
Joanne Collins – former Kansas City Councilwoman
Wesley Fields – Counsel, Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Rev. Bob Hill – Minister Emeritus, Community Christian Church; Urban Ranger Corps
Bob Kendrick – President, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Rev. Modest Miles – Pastor, Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. Donna Simon – Pastor, St. Mark Hope and Peace Lutheran Church
Eric Wesson – Editor, The Call
Rev. Rodney Williams – President, NAACP; Pastor, Swope Parkway United Christian Church
Roger Williams – Principal, Hickman Mills High School
A public schedule of meetings is forthcoming and will be published on the city’s website.
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Developing . . .
That should make NOBODY happy.
ReplyDeleteWould've like to see more emphasis on ways the the public could also comment and send feedback to the group.
DeleteWhat I think is missing from this discussion is any estimates about cost and the burden that KCMO taxpayers are going to shoulder to bring this "dream" to fruition.
Where are the white peoples? Rigged before it even started
ReplyDeleteBetter yet where’s the Mexican peoples? You know, since the paseo was named after a street in Mexico. Blacks hate Mexicans so they don’t have a voice in this.
ReplyDeleteMLK Blvd. will end at the Atomic Bomb Plant. Will that say something about MLK?
ReplyDeleteDon't pick a street with falling down or vacant buildings. Unpainted houses and stuff. Why not State Line it is beautiful and will say something about MO and KS.
ReplyDeleteRe name a park, put up a statue, duh !!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWell of course the mayor is going to support this. No politician or public official is going to oppose this, because that would be political suicide.
ReplyDeleteBut I still do pose the question, why couldn’t the community in this area hold fundraisers to help offset the cost that the city and MoDOT Will have to incur to replace bunches of street signs; not to mention the large signs on Interstate 70 for “King Blvd.”
ReplyDeleteThe park idea is actually pretty good. An MLK park could also be a gathering place for activities and events honoring the legacy.
ReplyDeleteTroost lake would be my first choice.
DeleteRev. Hill can be heard on KCMO Religon On The Line on Sunday morning taking potshots at Christians that he thinks are not liberal or progressive...communist...enough.
ReplyDeleteI think Mayor James has jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire on this issue. A few of these members are going to be split on this decision and they'll go their own way and make a lot of noise doing so.
ReplyDeleteBlack Privilege........ plain & simple
ReplyDelete5:26 I heard that about him too, he spreads a lot of white hate to his congregation, the rev miles does the same thing
ReplyDeleteI claim historical preservation, let Paseo be Paseo.
ReplyDeleteAl Sharpton Blvd.
ReplyDeleteSo are we going to destroy a memorial to one to give it to another? You want to rename The Paseo to someone who has no connection to our city. Why not give him 6th Street or 7th Street - that wouldn't destroy the history of our great city.
ReplyDeleteLOL
ReplyDeleteWhy not rename a numbered street? Who could object to that?
ReplyDeleteBeing full blooded Mexican I’m offended, we don’t get anything free, we work our ass’s off and yet they want to rename a street that has Mexican roots to it. They don’t work, suck the government dry, get away with murder and they some how have all the power.
ReplyDelete@754 Don't hold back Tony
ReplyDeletehows bouts a Louis Farrakhan Blvd........ the Rev Car Wash and his Black Caucas seem to be pretty proud of him.....haven’t heard any condemnations regarding hate whitey but hate the jew more talk. Shit people, that’s the direction this city is heading with these communist clowns running the show. When is the last time a “democrat “ voted for a tax cut? If you guessed Ted Chappakennedy, pat yourself on the back. Ask yourself why this city hasn’t had an MLK BLVD , and then ask, why now?
ReplyDeleteHey there HOMOSEXUALLY ABOUNDS TRANNY BITCHES , just name the Plaza shit hole " MLK PLAZA " Encouraging the diversity and inclusion people to inhabit the Plaza dump and have a Churches fried Chicken , Nike outlet , free SHIT BANANA REPUBLIC , free movie theater , free ammo , free phones , EBT accepted at all high end restaurants , free shifty bluntz at the homosexual dump Diebels queers hangout !¡!!¡ This post will be deleted ASAP Cause the moderator can't handle the truth !¡!¡
ReplyDeletePlease, just go ahead and re-name the street and get it over with. It's not going to make a bit of difference if you change the name. The street will still be a mess along with the neighborhoods it cuts through. No name change is going to magically improve anything.
ReplyDeletefact: Dr. Benoist Troost(Slave owner) owned a 300 acre slave plantation east of Troost(Namesake). Why in the HELL are you not renaming that pothole infested avenue? Leave Paseo alone
ReplyDeleteShould be an East-West street like Linwood Blvd
ReplyDeleteThe MLK Gateway Project ???
ReplyDeleteNot very diverse.
ReplyDeleteGood point Joseph, but democrats NEVER think about those things. As long as they get to spend the money of your average white, middle class american to push their agenda, they're happy.
ReplyDeleteI believe the right way to conduct the project for renaming The Paseo for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr should be like the street car vote. Establish a voting district of only the people that live on the street and have them vote on the options. I would then say "look if you vote yes to rename the street the whole universe of KCMO tax payers (plus matching federal funds from Beaver Cleaver) will pay for it".
ReplyDeleteMaybe just rename it "The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Paseo", or just leave it alone.
Why is this "Advisory Board" 100% black? What is the percentage of blacks in Kansas City? Why would any advisory board not reflect the racial diversity of the City? Where is Gwen Grant on equality on this? Is this fair or does this leave the door open to lawsuits for fairness. I think it is racist or at least in poor taste and execution.
ReplyDeleteupvotes galore ^^^^^^^^
DeleteJackson County needs a new jail, why not name it after MLK? The “I no longer has no dreams center”.
ReplyDeleteWhy isn't Anita Gorman on this committee? She's the ex Park Board commish who is all upset about it? Joanne Collins couldn't raise a dime toward the Women's Fountain. Why is she a part of this group? And Modest Miles? The number one grifter at City Hall. What a group. This will be a perfect cluster.
ReplyDeleteNo, no, no, no, and NO. This has nothing to do with race, black vs. white, or even how people may feel about Dr. King, who, by the way I absolutely believe is a hero. It's about a lame-duck mayor wanting to leave his mark on our city, it's about jumping on a bandwagon that left the station a long time ago, and it's about spending what could undoubtedly be millions for a project most people do not support. The idea to name/rename a park in Dr. King's honor and designate that as an area to hold events to celebrate his legacy would be perfect.
ReplyDelete