Just awhile ago The KC Call concluded a Mayoral and City Council forum at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center.
The Mayoral forum (photographed above) was subdued compared to the intense conversation between the crowd and and their City Council Candidates.
Facts:
CITY COUNCIL LADY SHARON SANDERS BROOKS WAS SHOUTED DOWN BY THE CROWD AND WAS BARELY ALLOWED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT!!!
3rd District Candidates Michael Fletcher, Brandon Ellington and Jermaine Reed spoke to the audience to thunderous applause.
There was concern about campaign operatives in the audience or too much crowd noise taking away from the issues and Call Journalist Eric Wesson's "moderator privileged" received both positive and negative reviews.
Wesson answers the concerns this way, "I'm just happy to see people engaged. We need people in this community involved and today, obviously, that's what we have accomplished."
City Council woman Deb Hermann stood up to some tough questions. She says, "I have friends and supporters in this community and I think overall these kinds of forums are beneficial to let us know what's on the mind of our constituents."
Another perspective on the Deb Hermann questions: "Deb Hermann got a question about why folks are just now seeing her on the east side and a statement that she has not supported blacks, hispanics and other minorities. Go back north and stay there was the sentiment I picked up."
Mayoral Candidate Sly James answered this question about the mood of the crowd: "Obviously, people are frustrated and they want to let us know what they're feeling. It's our job to offer real ideas, answers and solutions to their problems. Yes, this was a lively debate but that's the kind of discussion we need."
Developing . . .
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ReplyDeleteWhy werent all candidates invited?
ReplyDeleteWesson is a moron who is paid by the James campaign.
ReplyDeleteWas it just 3rd dist candidates?
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind, not all candidates are invited to all these forums.... I being a voter want to know why are some being excluded?
ReplyDeleteLet me see - the Editor of the paper is a PAID Cleaver hack. The paper has bounced checks to employees. (fact) Someone take it off the resperator - The Call has become irrelevent. Period.
ReplyDeleteMaybe someone from the St. Louis American can show them how to run a REAL, award winning niche newspaper. Until then, Kansas City's African-American community continues to be led by the nose by the likes of Eric Wesson.
That Forum was the biggest joke I have ever been to. The people was Disrespectful, the guy running it was rude and disrespectful, and on top of all that who the fuck reads the call. Never will I ever go to another forum that the call puts togeather and is being ran by Freedom puckass INC.
ReplyDelete@ 4:54 Wesson explained that the notice was placed on the front page of the paper which really is public notice. I ran one of the school board campaigns and we did not receive emails inviting us to forums so I understand their point.@ 5:22 Whether the Call is relevant or not I know it was almost a full house. Don't really know about paid hacks for Cleaver or bounced checks I know that the Star sang Funkhouser praises and he spent a ton of money advertising in their paper as he did on television so all of the media outlets are hacks for pay.
ReplyDeleteMs. Marsha Bedford
Give me a break, all candidates have email addresses for the SOLE purpose of receiving notices of these types of events. Not everyone in KC reads all the various papers. The excuse regarding not sending our emails sounds more like an attempt to exclude people.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it was an out of the box forum. You white politicians think you can come down here and tell us any damn thing. I'm glad the Call weeded thru the bullshit and made you keep it real. Ellington did a great job! Fletcher did a great job and so did Sly James. They all won my vote! Fuck ya'll good job Call. Great job Wesson. Fuck what they saying.
ReplyDeleteSo why did Wesson tell people who called ahead of time to rsvp that they were not welcome? Public notice my ass. The deck was stacked. It's going to be fun to watch Wesson try to get interviews from some of the people he offended. Guess it doesn't occur to him that it might be in his community's best interests to have good relationships with anyone who might get elected. Reminder to the african american community....it takes seven votes to get anything passed on the council. At some point, you need to get past the notion that all white people are against you and work together for the betterment of all of Kansas City's citizens. And surely you don't think President Obama got elected without support from the white people in this country? What a backwater, dirty way to conduct yourselves. I hope all the people who were disrespected today have long memories. We'll see what your unprofessional tactics get for you.
ReplyDelete7 out of 7 mayor candidates
ReplyDelete13 at large candidates
7 in district candidates were on the panel. I counted them. How did they know? I'm just saying. I agree with 6:21 Fletcher kicked Brooks ass and Ellington kicked Curls ass. It was not a forum for the weak at heart. Can't wait until the next one. I'm ordering a life subscription to the Call.
6:21pm....what a bunch of racist bullshit. Since that is the way things are, I will NEVER AGAIN vote for an african american candidate. I'm tired of doing the right thing, only to be insulted over and over again. So all you "black people" can just shut up. I don't want to hear anything you have to say. Now... how does that feel?
ReplyDelete@6:24 Who rsvp that was not allowed on the panel? I was there and I did not see any disrespect. I saw some people getting called on their bullshit.
ReplyDelete6:24 And who, may I ask, determines what is bullshit? Learn some basic manners. I'm pretty old and can remember the day when most folks...black AND white....had some home training. You cannot insult someone and then expect them to respect you or do anything for you. That's basic human nature.
ReplyDelete@6:24 so Eric is suppose to kiss white people's ass to get an interview? And hope that you white people in office give us a cookie? I wasn't there but it sounds very racists for what people to say that a grown ass Black man disrespected them. That is planntation mentality. "How dare him talk to massa like that." Maybe he he isn't bought and paid for after all.The Black community has been "disrespected" by white elected officials for decades. Black people are getting killed in record numbers.
ReplyDeleteWho said it was white people that were disrespected? These ethnic comments are ridiculous because were all people and should be equally treated with respect.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't just the White candidates that didn't get to sit down at least 3 Black candidates didn't get a chance to speack at the forum. Truth of the matter is you should rsvp most forums ask and requrie this. And so you know it was an equal opp. ass kicking both black and white candidates were attacked for their lies.
ReplyDeleteFor 6:24pm who wants to see what this kind of victimization/entitlement/.threaten/extortion approach has achieved, just drive around the east side. A handful of the self-appointed "leaders" do very well for themselves and their friends the white folks at city halol throw money at them to get them to go away, and the regular folks in the black community get screwed. It's been going on for decades, but maybe some of these new spokesmen and leaders with actual constituencies will bring a change to 12th and Oak.
ReplyDeleteSame thing is desperately needed in the white community, by the way. Both political sides of Troost are stuck in their own dysfunction and are like two poeple who can't swim hanging on to each other as they both drown.
All the candidates were invited even CJ Gatlin and she didn't get her signatures.
ReplyDeleteIt was an excellent forum and Eric deserves a lot of credit for making it happen.
ReplyDeleteFuck the Zeitgeist, free the people!!
ReplyDeleteEric and wesson should be ashamed for that bullshit I witnessed. And some of the questions by the people in the crowd SMH. And even if you don't RSVP and you show they should have let everybody talk. And I talked to the two young men outside that was running for city council and I understand thier concern. And 1/29/11 6:43 PM
ReplyDeletedumbass it has nothing to do with black and white, its about dumbass people like you. People like you is the reason the black community fucking sucks. All that backward ass thinking.
Those to young men either didn't RSVP or if it was Mahlon Davis, he isn't a candidate, he didn't have enough signatures. And no they shouldn't be allowed if the didn't RSVP . Look this was Eric Wesson's forum so he can and did call the shots.
ReplyDeleteThe audience was given the chose who they wanted to answer their questions. It was obvious they didn't know any of the other candidates and wasn't interested in anything they had to say. It the 3rd district you have to be seen and involved in it. I'm glad that the residents are standing up and having their voices heard, no longer with you be able to come in a duke them anyway you want to. Good forum.
ReplyDeleteBrandon Ellington showed that hard work is paying off. To bad the so called leaders slept on this young man. I believe he will be good for the 3rd District and all of KCMO because he is well informed,connects with the people. He showed Curls that she should have campaigned.
ReplyDeleteBrandon Ellington was the most impressive along with J.Reed & Fletcher.
Alot of people got called on their bullshit.
ReplyDeleteMelba Curls, when asked about taking special interest money, she replied, I am proud to take their money and you should be happy that I do cause alot of you I take that money and write checks to many of you! How in the hell can she take campaign money and write personal checks to people? Liar, liar, go home draw a pension its over.
I left the forum wishing we could vote tonight, no way in the world would I do four more years with Sanders Brooks , Melba Curls or Cindy Circo. Who is running for against Circo?
ReplyDelete@10:06
ReplyDeleteMahlon Davis, Jr (as a WRITE IN candidate!!) is running against Circo. He was one of the young men they wouldn't allow to speak. I guess that you have to be "in the know" to be at some of these forums. Such a sad state of affairs when all aren't invited or allowed to speak.
Great forum period, Eric Wesson, if you didn't know him then you write the things you do about him. In the community that has been messed over,leaders making backroom deals and keeping their friends,family with an income. We are tired,fed up. People spoke from all the eastside districts, it may appear to outsiders that they were rude but what do you expect when they realize that everyone that was elected in the last 4yrs with the exception of maybe Funkhouser has ignored them. So now those wanting to be re elected has no snow ball chance.
ReplyDelete1/29/11 10:18 PM- Mahlon Davis you hadn't turned in your signatures when Wesson sent out the invites. Wesson did what was right, if you had gotten your act together sooner you would have been allowed to speak.
ReplyDeleteI agree Circo needs to go, did you hear the comment from Ron Hunt when he called Circo out?
ReplyDeleteThe Calls forum was the best one that I have attended. Lets hear from the people.
ReplyDelete10:21, if Circo needs to go - where was your lazy community in finding someone to run against her? How hard could it be to get 500 signatures? Nobody cares, they just want to complain about who is doing the job.
ReplyDelete1/29/11 10:55 PM-not only does Cindy needs to go she is going! Count her and her hotel a done deal.
ReplyDeleteEveryone knows the Circo, is going, how come no one is asking about the Mast pension? The current city council knows that this would not get them re elected. Sharp is a done deal.
ReplyDeleteLMAO Melba Curls sees now that stating she is a nice person isn't pulling any voters her way. She would not address anything that she has done,maybe cause she hasn't done anything her whole term. She's counting on the Freedom Inc. ticket to get her elected.(lmao)
ReplyDeleteWas really good forum. Hope I can go to others. The only disrespect came from current city council people who were rude and had attitudes.
ReplyDeleteTwo thumbs up for Melba Curls addressing Rice moving into the 3rd just to run. Melba why are you just now calling Rice on this? Rice doesn't live on Benton Blvd, he stated he lived at 26th Agnes when did he move? Melba Curls you need to challenge Durwin Rice on his residency, if you want to make it to the primary if not then its Ellington vs Rice.
ReplyDelete*Mahlon Davis your name is not on here so why are you whining? You couldn't get signatures cause you can't beat Circo.
ReplyDeleteNow it’s official: 40 candidates will be on the Kansas City primary ballot Feb. 22.
City Clerk Vickie Thompson-Carr on Friday finalized the official list of mayoral and City Council candidates.
Two candidates are running unopposed, and five races have just two candidates who will both automatically get into the March 22 general election. Some races feature multiple candidates and could be hard-fought, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election.
Here are the candidates who filed enough signatures to be on the ballot:
•Mayor: Deb Hermann, Mike Burke, Sly James, Henry Klein, Jim Rowland, Mark Funkhouser and Charlie Wheeler.
•1st District: Dick Davis (unopposed).
•1st District at large: Scott Wagner and Daina Kennedy.
•2nd District: Russ Johnson and Aaron Benefield.
•2nd District at large: Ed Ford and Allen Dillingham.
•3rd District: Michael Fletcher, Jermaine Reed and Sharon Sanders Brooks.
•3rd District at large: Melba Curls, Brandon Ellington and Durwin Rice.
•4th District: Jan Marcason (unopposed).
•4th District at large: John Crawford, Anne McGregor, Edward Pace, Jim Glover and Annie Presley.
•5th District: Ken Bacchus, W. Ruth Turner and Michael Brooks.
•5th District at large: Cindy Circo and Richard “Charlie” Angel.
•6th District: Terrence Nash and John Sharp.
•6th District at large: Michael Brown, Scott Taylor, Rick Earl Abel, Tracy Ward, Chuck Eddy, Delmira Quarles and MD Rabbi Alam.
I was severely disappointed in the behavior of the forum. There is a difference in being passionate about your community in a community forum, then there is flat out disrespect. Eric Wesson is rude, disrespectful, and claims to be "real" but that isjust a cover to act out. Also, his idea to just communicate the forum to the candidates through the Call was completely unprofessional and a "i told you so" approach. Eric knows better. He should have emailed all of the candidates. Then he says "well, you should have read the Call" I would like to know if Eric Wesson has read the front page of Dos Mundos lately? Probably not. Furthermore, the attitude of the Call is that white people dont care about racism.Racism isn't just white against black, it is black against white too and to assume white people don't care, LIVE, or participate in improving the blakc community is outrageous. I am disappointed in Mr. Wesson and his rude staff. The Call and black community deserves better.
ReplyDeleteThe moderators for the most important forum in the African-American community were a "reporter" who beats women and a "reporter" that calls women broads and posts almost nude pics. What a sad day.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I understand Mahlon Davis is a write in candidate, We talked about this at the call forum. It is final, so again MAHLON DAVIS JRis a write in candidate, so come Feb 22 all you have to do is write in his name on 5th District At large spot. And it will be him and circo in the gerenal.
ReplyDeleteMahlon left the forum crying after Wesson told him he wasn't going on and that was that.
ReplyDeleteHere's the new boss.
ReplyDeleteSames as the old boss.
I loved the forum, it is what I saw as Democracy In Action. WE THE PEOPLE CAN SPEAK, WILL SPEAK, GOD BLESS AMERICA. Anyone, ANYONE wishing to throw the race stuff into this should get off the surface matter, dig deeper into the mess, some of the MOST HURTFUL THINGS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY OF SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND MORAL WRONG are committed by BLACK FOLK, AND BLACK LEADERSHIP. OH MY HOW THE TRUE HURTS, THE MIRROR OF DORIAN GRAY IS BROKEN...THANK YOU! HOTEP
ReplyDeleteMaurice Copeland
I agree with you Maurice Copeland for you are a true leader. Hotep
ReplyDeleteI guess some of you are attending a different forum than me because Brandon Ellington cannot speak to the issues. His comments are very generic and its the same thing over and over 'save the 3rd district - return it to the people' blah, blah,blah but he has not been specific about anything he would do. He is simply a lot of hot air that needs to blow away.
ReplyDeleteJermaine Reed - please take time to find out what the E-tax is about - you have not really spoke specifically on this or any issue. Its one thing to be young but to be young with no knowledge - its just embarassing. You should be more of a credible candidate than you have been presenting yourself.
ReplyDelete1/30/11 8:24 PM-lol-I know who you are..it's time for you to take your meds..lol
ReplyDelete1/30/11 8:24 PM whats up with all the hate, 1st you're hating on Brandon now 1/30/11 8:27 PM-now you're talking about Jermaine. We don't care, we got you guys spending your time on Tony's,keep making them famous, we love it!
ReplyDelete1/30/11 8:24 PM-how stupid or you?Brandon Ellington cannot speak to the issues-Durwin tell us how can you speak to the issues?
ReplyDelete1/30/11 8:24 PM-you must either be the Brandon Ellington's biggest fan or working for Curls or Rice, they say they are the same campaign. Why else would you be at every forum? Gee Monica.
ReplyDeleteThe forum was great. Eric Wesson and Elder Bell did an excellent job as moderators. My thanks to them. The candidates that were there were engaged with the audience mostly made up of the 3rd and 5th districts. The information shared was rel...evant and on point. The candidates that did not speak, got a chance to listen, and at this point in time that is a good thing. Ellington, Fletcher and Quarles as well as others who are new got a chance to express their concerns and articulated what they plan to do about those concerns when in office. The incumbants got a chance to speak about what they have accomplished, or not. The audedience got a chance to question the incumbants and express their concern for lack of resources and adequate basic services. The audience engaged with the new candidates that are campaigning. I am so proud of the 3rd and 5th. The room was filled, and given the poor quality of service those who live in the neighborhoods have to put up with I thought they managed themselves very well. The mayorial candidates were also very engaged with the audience. Concerns about the need for basic services was expressed, as well as incidences of discrimination, and unfair hiring practices. None of the mayorial candidates seems to have a clear plan for solving the many problems, to include the lack of businesses within the inner city. Loss of the Wizards, the Bannister project the conditions and expenses associated with the power and light district as well as the 18th stree district was discussed. I'm not sure if any of the candidates have a clear plan for bringing the economy up, with jobs, transpotation, activities for the youth, elder care, and other basic services needed. They expressed the need, but I'm not sure that any of them really came with a concrete solution. Brandon Ellington and Michael Fletcher, and a young lady who is a civil engineer were the three council candidates that expressed a solution. (I apoligize for not remembering her name). She has a passion for positive change. Fletcher has a model of a program that has been utilized in other cities that cuts crime by 50% in a very short period of time. Ellington has a plan to engage the community in taking back the neighborhoods, through development, utilizing some of the buildings and other resources that are already available. He has a plan for opening recreational facilities within the neighborhoods. His plan involves the community at arge and he expressed his desire to always seek the assistance of and the ideas of the community. Now its up to the citizens to continue to be engaged, and hold the elected officials accountable. It's your government. please get out the vote, and continue to attend the forums.
ReplyDeleteWho's giving the go away party for Melba Curls? I just received my invite its from Durwin Rice at the current no one lives in the house on Benton.
ReplyDeleteRice is going to stop crime by planting tulips on Troost after the forum Sat, he had no idea what he was doing. HELP
ReplyDeleteBrandon Ellington keep speaking out for all of us on the East side of Troost, its about time someone took notice. Melba Curls didn't do it until this past week and Sharon Sanders Brooks is so rude and mean I can't wait until Michael unseats her. You guys have my vote hands down.
ReplyDeleteBrandon Ellington is wise enough to know that he can't do anything without the people. Maybe you should take city government 101 and you will find out what the real duties of a council person is. You let us know that you don't know a damn thing about being a city council person,this is why your old ass 72 years old is getting out of office. Stop filling the bottle.
ReplyDeleteSyl James isn't speaking on any issues he is avoiding them but yet you don't question him. Stop hating we are changing the faces at city hall, from the Call forum people told you that don't want 4 more years of nothing. Freedom can't get you elected, you should have been out in front of the people.
ReplyDelete