The Light Rail dorks are out in full force now that the dismal economy is defeating their multi-million dollar swindle.
The latest missive comes from Mike Hendricks, who lives in Johnson County and would have to pay nothing if the tax passes. His column, which I hate to link:
"Light rail would keep KC working"
The points of this dumbass column are elementary and not even worthy of a high school newspaper.
However, what's more important is the underlying tap dance that is now being perpetrated by the pro-light rail tax crowd.
LIGHT RAIL WAS ONCE ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AND NOW IT'S BEING TOUTED AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY!!!
And to prove once and for all that Mike "Human Filth" Hendricks is probably the worst source for opinion in all of Johnson County . . . THE D-BAG COMPARES MAYOR FUNKY TO TRUMAN!!!
Kansas City is now beset upon by some of the most detestable strategies (and people) ever put forth by construction companies and architectural firms . . . And once again, JoCo is cheering this town onward (into financial oblivion) while offering no help to pick up the tab.
lolzers
ReplyDeleteActually mike is an idiot
ReplyDeleteI talked to him once a long time ago and I won't make the mistake again.
You talked to him? That's rare treat for anybody in Kansas City. He usually never stops by here which is kind of weird for a local journalist.
ReplyDeleteHe rides his bicycle to work from Johnson county.
ReplyDeleteHe is incapable of understanding that maintainence costs of Light rail will preclude the development of many city programs, just as it has in other cities.
The overhead of running the system becomes a millstone around the neck of the City. It will never go away it will never be completely paid and with the crazy talk of the Mayor we will be building "REGIONAL" light rail until the end of time trying to include Cass, Clay, Platte, Jophnson and Wyandotte Counties in the Light rail service areas.
We've gort a crazy ass Co-Mayor and a room of Looney Tune City Councilpersons.
Mike Hendricks, STF UP! Read the article in your own paper on ridership forecasts.
ReplyDeleteThe ridership "forecast" (are they as reliable as weather forecasts?) won't be finished before November 4th? How convenient.
Other light rail items that also won't be "finished" are:
The final route.
The final cost.
Federal funds availability.
The start date.
The finish date.
The true cost of this stupid boondoggle, including debt service.
Fare-box revenues.
The cost of maintenance.
The cost of operations.
The cost of equipment.
Eventual, unending, and certain annual subsidies from the taxpayers.
Station locations (on land that will be acquired via eminent domain).
The cost of employees (would you trust your average ATA driver with a 270-foot long toy train set whizzing at the break-neck speed of 15-mph down our streets? Didn't think so.
When the outlying areas being suckered into this scam, yet not on the route (it goes where?) will see light rail service.
The opponents of light rail, no wait, every voter and taxpayer, have a right to answers to these, and other questions BEFORE Nov. 4th. So far, they aren't getting them.
Why aren't YOU asking these questions Mr. Brad Cooper? Could it be that you are the Star's cheerleading lapdog on the issue, now that Jeffrey Spivak has taken the buyout and is no longer available to spout his nonsense? Looks that way to me.
All of this deception, skirting of relevant issues, and outright lying also proves that mayoral puppet Russ ?We are looking at the most analyzed corridor for light rail in the history of the city? Johnson, the ATA, Mark Huffer, John Dobies, HNTB, Pat McLarney, and all other light rail proponents are full of steaming dog feces right up to their eyebrows.
Which makes the Nov 4th decision clearer than ever:
DEEP SIX LIGHT RAIL NOW AND FOREVER!!
These people just don't get it. Money not spent on light rail will be spent somewhere else in town.
ReplyDeleteSame with the Casinos...it's not a great deal...just puts people in debt. They'd spend their losses on other things in town, including sales taxes when they buy cars, clothes, food.
It's all about transferring wealth to the wealthy. They spend all their time trying to collect our money.
Regarding ridership estimates, the story quotes HNTB's John Dobies as saying, “Our numbers have to pass muster with the Federal Transit Administration. They have to be credible.”
ReplyDeleteOne wonders why the VOTERS OF KANSAS CITY don't deserve numbers that "pass muster."
Because John Dobies, Russ Johnson, Mark Huffer, and all the other light rail advocates are FUCKING LIARS!!!!
ReplyDeleteHow strange that ridership estimates are not available to the public. During the time of the Citizens Light Rail TAskforce, we were told that the route that was recommended by the taskforce had only a few spots were the ridership marginally supported light rail. Light rail advocates or zelots said that this was about development in the future to force density along the route. In a word, there never was enough density to justify the hugh expense of light rail. But they want now to justify it as a tool for unemployment. The recession will be nearly over when this project would kick in.
ReplyDeleteIf light rail passed tomorrow, the only employees for the next four years would be the engineers, since construction will call for detailed planning and waiting to see if the feds give a match. Where do the engineers live. What engineering firms will be used to do the technical work of developing this project? Will those firms even be local. All sorts of unanswered questions.
Rdiership projections will be proviced by the same company that estimated Science City attendance.
ReplyDeleteAnother little scam on ridership - each boarding is counted as a rider. If someone takes two trains each way to work that is four trips each day. Makes people think many more people ride than actually do.
I one time talked to Hendricks. I called him to give him a tip. He was more interested in who gave me his cell phone number than the tip. I didn't tell him it was one of the editorial writers. And I didn't give him the tip.
ReplyDeleteDid you see the way the Star placed his piece next to the story on Light Rail. They played him big time. Typical Star bias during a campaign. Watch the way the Star handles this LR stuff.
ReplyDeleteI want to be like Portland Oregon!!
ReplyDeleteGive us our trains!!
KC will get light rail or it will die... I'm not saying THIS plan is the way to do it, but it is an absolute need for the future of the city. And, yes, it is needed for economic development. BUT, everyone who benefits needs to pay their fair share.
ReplyDeleteYou can either have light rail or a modernized sewer-system that doesn't pour feces and sewer rats into your basements.
ReplyDeleteIt's your choice Kansas City, because you can't have both
We can have the light rail and sewer backup in the basement. Ask the City council. Ask Deb Hermann she is supporting the light rail over the sewer. She like Johnson and the others, do not want you to know about the sewer tax issue until you give them a shine train.
ReplyDeleteCities all across the country are having financial trouble. KC has growing unemployment, declining property values as a part of the mortgage crisis. The tax income from sales tax will fall. Bonds will get expensive.
Personally I see no reason why Mike Hendricks should feel bound to live in or work in KC to write about it. Accuracy only hurts people like me so I love guys like Mike!
ReplyDeleteI betcha he can see KC from his house!
I always thoiught that Hermann was a couple steps ahead of the rest of the Council. She is the one who puts the budget together and argues with Cauthreren about the miss use of funds.
ReplyDeleteShe didn't want the giant TV in her office but she is still backing Light rail so something is wrong.
Maybe ol Russ has something on her that he is keeping her quiet with.
Interesting! I forgot about her turning down a tv for her office to save taxpayers. Hell, I'd rather her have taken the tv than force a billion dollar train ride on the ballot. Come on Deb! Set some real priorities. Why do you remain silent when Rus is bullying business men in the community?
ReplyDeleteI do not believe Deb supported the light rail initiative.
ReplyDelete