Airick is about to throw away his career for the sake of the children. TKC wishes him good luck on the KCMO School Board!!!

If TKC readers don't know him already (doubtful) Airick Leonard West is probably one of the most talented, capable and brilliant people involved in Community politics in Kansas City Proper. Local condescending Kansas City middle-class folk might even note that he's well spoken . . . I heard him talk once and he was great right before I passed out due to the heat and a bad hangover.

One of West's achievements has been to help to transform the Ivanhoe neighborhood into a place that's getting rave reviews but still remains somewhere I'd never want to reside.

Sadly, when he could be making that pay off for him big time in some other field he has dedicated a great portion of him time to volunteering and getting involved in this town.

He's currently running for school board.

In fact, there's a kickoff party for his campaign coming up soon.

Durwin Rice Gallery
5516 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64110 US
Tuesday, January 8, 6:00PM

And while he may be a great candidate, a good guy and a clear sign that this town isn't headed down the crapper because young people are getting involved . . . I, of course, see the downside.

As far as I can tell the KCMO School District is an unmitigated disaster that cannot be fixed. Any attempt at reform amounts to rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic as far as I'm concerned. The district has a record of failure that goes back almost a generation. The so called "bright spots" amount to nothing more than PR copy and people looking to get a promotion, sell a book or somehow step up on a backs of students who have been abandoned by most of the white people in the Greater Metropolitan Kansas City area and a lot of minorities as well. For the most part, anyone who could have made their way out of the place already has . . . Think Mexico or Escape for New York if that helps.



TKC is the Duke! TKC is A-Number One!!!

Anyhoo . . . Obviously, from my basement abode I shouldn't be giving anyone career advice. I just don't want to see yet another bright career cast into the hopeless abyss of the KCMO School District.

And let's not forget the racial angle (there always is one) . . . West will run against the incumbent white guy and another Black dude - They could split the vote and keep the status quo in charge. Either way, there's no denying that parents would be wise to invest in a U-haul if education is really one of their top concerns.

Obviously, TKC wishes the best to anyone brave enough to tackle a situation when the only certainty is a lot of fighting, NO PAY, and the inevitable damage done to a career by the mere association with one of Kansas City's biggest embarrassments.