TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! NO PROGRESS ON GUADALUPE CENTER VS. JACKSON COUNTY CONFLICT OF INTEREST FUNDING FIGHT!!!
It's going on two weeks now that Jackson County has been set on holding $200k from Kansas City's largest Latino service agency.
Quick Review: Jackson County Legislator Theresa Garza Ruiz is married to Former aide of Congressman Cleaver Genaro Ruiz. Genaro took a job with Guadalupe Center and Garza Ruiz moved to clear it with the County Counselor in terms of her votes on funding.
County Counselor W. Steven Nixon offered an opinion noting that any funding for Guadalupe Center was inappropriate as long as Genaro worked for Guadalupe or Garza Ruiz sat on the County Legislature.
Subsequently, Jackson County voted on a budget with $200k worth of funding for Guadalupe Center "suspended" for lack of a better word. All of the legislators spoke of their support for GCI but nobody offered to do anything concrete to help.
Genaro Ruiz moved to a different position in the GCI organization that is funded through a separate 501(c)(3) and opinions from different lawyers were offered in support of the move.
AS OF RIGHT NOW NOTHING HAS CHANGED AND TKC TIPSTERS SAY THAT THEY DON'T EXPECT THE COUNTY COUNSELOR TO REVERSE HIS POSITION AS LONG AS GENARO RUIZ IS AFFILIATED WITH GCI!!!
Aftermath . . .
All of the Jackson County politicos (yes you too, Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders) should know that they don't have any business coming to KC's Latino Community for support (which they often do) when they have yet to lift a finger for social services funding that was previously committed.
Even more interestingly . . . The many conflicts of Newbie Jackson County Legislator Crystal Williams have come to light. Word is she's already had to recuse herself from one vote and the so-called "reformer" is facing even more conflicts of interest in the future.
And worst of all . . . Without $200k worth of funding GCI can only last a few months without some significant cuts. These cuts represent fewer services in Kansas City's Latino Community. So, because of a fight that so many have called political . . . GCI is going to have a tougher time all around and that willl impact anti-drug programs directly but also translate into fewer resources for old ladies who do their exercises and kids who get help doing their homework. In the final analysis, this entire Jackson County hot mess in the Legislature has overlooked the importance of the people served by this funding while weak politicos seem far more concerned with saving their own neck.
DEVELOPING . . .
They'll get it eventually.
ReplyDeleteExtortion is such an unpleasant political tool, especially when it comes to the public's attention.
ReplyDeleteWhat the Latino community is REALLY saying is that conflict of interest and nepotism is perfectly fine, just not for other individuals and groups. That's been the approach of the black community for a long time, and just look at all the successes on the east side.
TKC would do better for everyone if he sent his "awesome tipsters" our to find ALL the under-the-table deals where husbands and wives shuttle the taxpayers' money to each other. Cathy Jolly and her husband would be a good start.
Playing htis game can only be a big loser for everyone. Why not elect people who try to change the rules? Garz Ruiz was supposed to be one of those. Surprise!
Maybe Chris Moreno can bring his good Republican buddy Speaker Tilley in to straighten out these Democrats on the County Legislature.
ReplyDeleteLet's expand on this analysis. Compare the viewpoint on conflict of interest by two distinct agencies......Jackson County and the Port Authority. How different would the outcome have been for each recent conflict of interest incident if they both had the same outlook on the matter? Why is it that public entities struggle so much with what constitutes a conflict of interest? More importantly, why does the public allow these entities the leeway to interpert fundamental principles, (for their own benefit) differntly than what we were all taught about honest by the time we were 3rd graders?
ReplyDeleteIn KCMO, the public allows well-commected organizations and their elected benefactors to behave pretty much anyway they want. In fact, that IS the purpose of electing someone: to get your own nose in the trough, and to do it as quietly as possible out of public view.
ReplyDeleteThe KC school district became a master of graft, nepotism, and corruption for decades, and now all the grifters who made good livings for doing nothing are attacking the new board with everything they have.
Is that really the road the Latino community wants to travel?
JJ Rizzo is a State legislator.
ReplyDeleteHis parents are either employed by or receive financial benefits from Jackson County.
JaxCo should therefore refrain from accepting any money from the state because it is a conflict of interest.
Henry Rizzo and Sylvia Rizzo should return their salary and pension to Jackson County taxpayers.
ReplyDeleteStephen Nixon should have his wife return her county salary while serving on the Merit Pay Service Commission
ReplyDeleteI guess Garza doesn't care what she is doing to the west-side?
ReplyDeleteOnce again the people must pay for corruption.
ReplyDeletePublic service NO.
Selfish Political Service YES.
Once again, wake me when this is of interest to those of us in the Northland.
ReplyDeleteLooks like Ms. Garza is no better than her counterparts she attacked during the last election. I should have known better, but I won't forget.
ReplyDeleteFor those folks in the northland who think this is someon'e else's problem: A lot more tax money comes from up north for both KCMO and Jackson County, so you might waqnt to know how and to whom it's being distributed. Here's a hint: You're losing!
ReplyDeleteIt's all a RACKET!! Too BAD Guadalupe Center is suffering for it, they actualy, do GOOD in the community. Just politicians being politicians.
ReplyDeleteWhy give any money to GCI in the first place? I have no services at all from Jackson County in South KC. So maybe if GCI doesn't get any money maybe I can see some services.
ReplyDeleteThese pricks have more money than they could spend in a lifetime, yet they still have to plunder the working classes for what little they have left.
ReplyDeleteThat should obvious by now.
Well FIRST, TKC needs a photo of Guadalupe Center that doesn't have 2 Mexican flags out front. It looks more like a Mexican Consulate than a (partially taxpayer funded) Community center in the USA for Americans who might happen to speak and like Spanish culture.
ReplyDeleteThat said, lets move on.
TONY. TONY. Time to quit evocating. Time for you to write an essay and tell us where you stand point-blank so youre honest about your attitudes and your journalistic judgment, if there is such a thing. Among things I'd like to know about you:
1. Are you an American Citizen by birth, or were you naturalized and is your MOTHER an American citizen. That will clear up the basic suspicions of your own status related to your political opinions, expecially those related to immigration issues.
2. What's your vision about dealing with the millions of illegals in the US from Mexico?
Do you want a path to citizenship, do you want things to be left informal and ignored or more formalized which is the American philosophy?
3. Are you willing to accept an underground, nearly slave wage population working for what they can get and mooching services from schools and hospitals...(the way things ARE NOW) or rather bring illegals (er, undocumented, anonymous residents) into the light, the registered, recorded, identified as most American citizens are in the US (where all citizens have a social security number, legal residence, and citizen accountability?)
4. Do you support formalizing the US Mexican border (all the way across)--as in a fence or some mechanism so that entry into the US can be filtered and monitored officially so that entry can only be made through gates supervised by officialdom?
5. What vision do you have for those here illegally?
6. What is your sense of what most citizens of Mexican descent think should happen with undocumented workers?
7. Do you see any demands the US should make upon Mexico for the repatriation, expatriation of its citizens to the US? Should the Mexican government be billed for education, health care, or should it be required to accept a US policy of repatriation of illegs, a 'drop point' where Mexico formally accepts its citizens back if the US physically deports them in large numbers?
So...Tony... tell us where YOU STAND. Are you a Mexican or an American? Just askin!
Radioman are you an asshole or not?
ReplyDeleteRadioman, Radioman time for you to come clean and tell us where YOU stand.
ReplyDelete1. Are you really Krazy Kris Kobach's twin?
2. What is your vision about dealing with the roofs that won't be repaired if there are no Mexicans?
3. Are you willing to bus your own table?
4. Do you support a formal and secure border that can be monitored officially to prevent Radioman's constant crossing onto Tony's site?
5. What's your vision of those sexy newscasters on Univision?
6. What's your sense of what most citizens of Mexican descent think should happen to Snooky?
7. Do you see any demands Mexico should make for compensation for widespread consumption of the chalupa?
Please write an extensive essay on this subject and then send it to me so I can wipe my ass!
There's a big difference between the history of black people in this country and those who have come here by choice. The tired old tale of victimization and entitlement doesn't cut any ice for African-Americans in 2011; and it has never made any sense for the Latino community.
ReplyDeleteTKC is encouraging exactly the wrong behavior and point of view. If you really want tohelp, go to schools like Alta Vista and others and put an oar in the water.
Bullys are the only ones who always use the I'm tired of the "victimization" argument. And, WTF?, what is this expression, "put an oar in the water?"
ReplyDeleteSo...The west side supports the narcotraficante's and hinders their prosecution.
ReplyDeleteHow's that been working out for you guys over there?
What? You need money? Ah...You need 200k for tortilla's and beer. Mmm.
I bet at least one of those narco's that you're supporting over there will give the center the cash.
Not.
So as Tony goes, so goes the nation? No wonder he is KC's favorite blogger!
ReplyDeleteOr. ask the consulate for some cash.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they appreciate your mexican flag waving.
I know you guys are new here, but our government tends to only give community money to those in our community.
They don't give money to mexican satellite neighborhoods.
I hope you guys realize that you're beginning to sound like the average Hitler era German citizen. This should tell us that it is possible for popular national sentiment to be totally and completely wrong!!
ReplyDelete"All of the Jackson County politicos (yes you too, Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders) should know that they don't have any business coming to KC's Latino Community for support (which they often do) when they have yet to lift a finger for social services funding that was previously committed."
ReplyDeleteThat is one stupid paragraph Tony.
"All of the Jackson County politicos (yes you too, Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders) should know that they don't have any business coming to KC's Latino Community for support (which they often do) when they have yet to lift a finger for social services funding that was previously committed."
ReplyDeleteThat is one stupid paragraph Tony.
Hmmm if the choice is that GCI loses 200k in funding that actually helps people OR losing Genaro I think the choice is easy. Dump Genaro, make him and GCI out to be victims, but still keep the 200k that really helps. I mean principles are nice, but they do not feed, house, or provide care like 200k does.
ReplyDeleteIf Genaro cared about his community he would quit. Theresa should be ashamed with the decision to pick her personal payroll over hurting her entire community.I voted for her because she present herself as caring ,it will never happen again.
ReplyDeleteActually, bullies ae people who try to intimidate others who have the responsibility of dispursing limited public funds to good causes and well-run organizations who accountably spend the money on services for those who qualify for and need them. Whining that you're "owed something" because you're Latino or anything else is a loser.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for not understanding what "put an oar in the water" means, if you're in a boat and it's moving and you're not doing anything, someone else is carrying your dead weight butt.
Crystal Williams has nothing but conflicts . But at least she is only taking money for herself not double dipping like Genaro and Theresa.
ReplyDelete3:28. Ha! I don't know of any elected official, City or County that can be intimidated. Bastards are so full of themselves, once elected, they think they are gods.
ReplyDeleteSo, Anonymous 3:41 PM, this morally vindicates Crystal?
ReplyDeleteWhy attack Crystal but defend Teresa and Genaro? Hold them both to the same standard. And please if the CGI needs to make up the 200k then fire Genaro. Theres 100k plus benefits right there! So please explain to me how a non-profit can afford to pay someone who's not the director 100k plus about 50K in benefits then complain when the county withholds funds? His position pays double the average non-profit salary in this town. Seriously. CGI doesn't need one more red cent of my tax dollars. Period.
ReplyDeleteif the CGI needs to make up the 200k then fire Genaro. Theres 100k plus benefits right there! So please explain to me how a non-profit can afford to pay someone who's not the director 100k plus about 50K in benefits then complain when the county withholds funds? His position pays double the average non-profit salary in this town. Seriously. CGI doesn't need one more red cent of my tax dollars. Period.
ReplyDeleteif the CGI needs to make up the 200k then fire Genaro. Theres 100k plus benefits right there! So please explain to me how a non-profit can afford to pay someone who's not the director 100k plus about 50K in benefits then complain when the county withholds funds? His position pays double the average non-profit salary in this town. Seriously. CGI doesn't need one more red cent of my tax dollars. Period.
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget how this all started. The husband of a County Legislator took a job at a not-for-profit which works with low-income folks for $100,000/year. And the legislature funds the organization at the rate of $200,000/year.
ReplyDeleteSeems like mighty good pay for a not-for-profit that works with the poor.
Seems like mighty sleazy insider crap that the guy is a legislator's husband.
And besides being #2, what does he do to earn $100K?
That's the story, reagardless of race.
3:42
ReplyDeleteYou're right that the electeds treat regular folks like crap, but that's because they know the voter turnout is so low in KCMO that they just have to schmooze their particular contributors and supporters. They really don't need the residents, so have no reason to either talk with them or worry about spending money to benefit the neighborhoods.
But why do you think Jim Ropwland paid Freedom Inc off?
That's a whole different story!
And TKC's talking the same extortion from the Latino community.
Tiresome and counterproductive!
Let's not forget how this all started. The husband of a County Legislator took a job at a not-for-profit which works with low-income folks for $100,000/year. And the legislature funds the organization at the rate of $200,000/year.
ReplyDeleteSeems like mighty good pay for a not-for-profit that works with the poor.
Seems like mighty sleazy insider crap that the guy is a legislator's husband.
And besides being #2, what does he do to earn $100K?
That's the story, reagardless of race.
1/31/11 4:25 PM
Really, what the fuck does Genaro do at a NON PROFIT to earn $100,000? That's shameful in and of itself.
ReplyDelete1. Are you really Krazy Kris Kobach's twin?
ReplyDeleteDON'T KNOW HIM, DON'T CARE ABOUT HIM BUT IF HE'S PRO AMERICAN AND NOT MEXICAN, IM FOR HIM IN A LIMITED WAY.
2. What is your vision about dealing with the roofs that won't be repaired if there are no Mexicans?
I'VE REPLACED ROOFS ON MY HOUSE BEFORE MEXICANS. IVE NOTICED THAT I NEED TO REPAIR LOWER LEVEL WORK AFTER THEY LEAVE. THEY USE WAY TOO MUCH CAULK TO COVER THEIR MISTAKES.
3. Are you willing to bus your own table?
UH, WHAT? I DROVE MY KIDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOL ON MY ASSIGNED DAYS.
4. Do you support a formal and secure border that can be monitored officially to prevent Radioman's constant crossing onto Tony's site?
I'M GOOD ON THE SECURE BORDER. BUT OBVIOUSLY TEE'S SITE NEEDS MY SUPERVISION ELSE IT WOULD BE JUST PROPAGANDA!
5. What's your vision of those sexy newscasters on Univision?
I DONT' WATCH THEM OFTEN, BUT I'VE NOTICED THAT MEXICAN TELEVISION FOSTERS MALE DOMINANCE AND VERY SEXY CHOCOLATE FEMALES. THEY'RE ABOUT 30 YEARS BEHIND U.S. TEE VEE.
6. What's your sense of what most citizens of Mexican descent think should happen to Snooky?
SNOOKY LOOKS LIKE A MEXICAN WITH HANG-DOWN TITS. I FIGURE THEY PROBABLY LIKE HER. I DON'T WATCH IT... TOO TRENDY TOWARDS YOUNG MORONS.
7. Do you see any demands Mexico should make for compensation for widespread consumption of the chalupa?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT 'CHALUPA' IS. BUT I LOVE MEXICAN FOOD AND EAT IT TWICE A WEEK! BET I CAN EAT MORE JALIPINOS THAT YOU CAN WITHOUT HEARTBURN!
Please write an extensive essay on this subject and then send it to me so I can wipe my ass!
YOU'RE WAY TOO ANAL RETENTIVE. I CAN'T IMAGINE YOU EVEN NEED TOILET PAPER.
Wow Radio man. You come off insane and bitter. Cheer up, you'll be able to build a snowman soon.
ReplyDeleteOh no, I'm not insane OR bitter. I think Mexicans (brown people) are attractive... but they do tend to think they're owed something that maybe they're NOT!
ReplyDeleteInsane? Well maybe, but you must admit it's such an insane world. Very hard to be satisfied with ANY common points of view, politically. Whether in the US (Repubs, Libertarians, or Progressives) or the wild numbers of International viewpoints (whether arabic conservative (terrorist), arab liberal, Asian of it's 57 Varieties, Indian nation, or the stupidities of all the American Christian sects (some are acceptable, some are nuts and even, sigh, homocidal!)
I'm tending to RadioMan's point of view.
ReplyDeleteAnd since there is not a GICB$ (German integration center for big dollars ((pre Hitler, mind you), I am insulted that.....
(typical bullshit continued ad infinitum). There's a real bunch of idiots here.
I bet little Annie Presley wouldn't mind helping her friend Emmanuel Cleaver by privately raising the cash to pay for Genaro.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure her GOP friends would be happy to pitch in.