TKC EXCLUSIVE: COUNCIL LADY SHARON SANDERS BROOKS ACCOMPANIED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY TO A MEETING WITH THE KC CALL CREATES CONTROVERSY!!!

A recent meeting between Kansas City Council Woman Sharon Sanders Brooks and publishers at The KC Call has created a firestorm of questions regarding management of City resources on the Eastside.

According to KICKASS TKC TIPSTERS the meeting was sparked by a brilliant series of investigative articles from reporter Eric Wesson which called into question leadership and investment East of Troost. The article highlighted an important topic that deserved the interest of ALL the City Council and Mayor but Council Lady Sharon was the only politico who rushed to meet with the small publisher.

Comically, there is talk that Brooks took The KC Call to task over a photo in which she was cropped out and not the hash indictment over the lack of Eastside leadership from reporter Eric Wesson.

Whatever the case, what's most important is this:

CITY ATTORNEY GALEN BEAUFORT WAS ALSO CALLED TO THIS MEETING BY THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL WOMAN SHARON SANDERS BROOKS!!!

Why is this important?

Because the issues discussed at that meeting weren't related to legal issues facing Kansas City that would require the services of The City Attorney, there was no lawsuit or reaction to The Call Article on the table. The office of Council Lady Brooks simply called The City Attorney out on a task that seems related to her campaign and NOT City business.

It gets worse:

IN A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH TKC, CITY ATTORNEY BEAUFORT CONFIRMS THAT HE SHOWED UP TO THE MEETING AND WAS TOLD THAT HIS SERVICES WEREN'T REQUIRED!!!

Beaufort said that the meeting was scheduled by his staff and he doesn't have any idea what issues might have required his presence.

"My office schedules many meetings with Council members outside of City Hall," Beaufort said. "There is no specific policy that determines how or when these meetings are arranged."

The first question raised by critics of Brooks wonders if the presence of City Attorney Beaufort at this meeting for an issue unrelated to City business might not qualify as a "theft of services" from KC Proper. That's a bold claim and it's also a SERIOUS political charge that has sunk quite a few political careers.

In response to his role at the meeting or with any Council member, Beaufort makes his position clear. "I don't handle personal business for The City Council or any City official."

Again, it's important to reiterate that Beaufort wasn't actually present at this meeting but was only called to it. However, Kansas City political denizens know that there are many ways to communicate a message and bringing an attorney in tow can be intimidating. To this, Beaufort replies, "I don't think my presence at any meeting has ever intimidated anyone." It's a good line but a small time publisher facing The City Attorney and all the resources he commands might feel differently. Nevertheless, Beaufort reiterated in a more serious tone, "I don't attempt to intimidate people."

Finally, the fallout from this meeting brings for a simple question of stewardship of Kansas City's dwindling resources. If Council Lady Brooks is going to call the City Attorney to meetings at which he's not even needed . . . What does that say about her judgment or respect for Kansas City's taxpayer money on the clock?

At worst, don't expect the critics of Kansas City Council Woman Sharon Sanders Brooks to drop their allegations and serious questions aimed at her office. At best, this is yet another example that any new ethics policy at City Hall must deal with reforms and regulations as to how The Council should appropriate and monitor their access to City resources since a lack of leadership has so many playing fast and loose on the taxpayers dime.

Developing . . .