The people of Kansas City are polite to a fault.
There are so many examples of this strange phenomena. Rather than raise a ruckus, the people of this town would rather let murder run rampant on the Eastside than address the problem directly. TIFS and other tax subsidies for the rich continue despite promises of reform and the complaints are mostly political and don't really get to the point of fighting welfare for the rich on the dime of local taxpayers.
So I guess I shouldn't be surprised that nobody has called out the Co-Mayor.
BUT IT'S JUST HARD TO BELIEVE THAT KANSAS CITY IS GOING TO IGNORE THE FUNKY ADMINISTRATION'S SUPPORT GLORIA SQUITIO!!!
Even if it were possible to forgive $675,000 in legal settlements because of Squitiro's behavior toward the mayoral staff . . . That still doesn't count all of the work hours and other costs dedicated to the losing effort.
Let's not forget according to court documents Co-Mayor Squitiro was walking around Kansas City's hightest office carrying a smudge stick and pretty much violating the Civil Rights of the Mayor's Staff by making them take part in her particular brand of voodoo at at time when X-mas displays aren't allowed in most municipal offices without a fight.
Then there was the "Mammy" comment that was stupidly spun with an unlikely, implausible and ultimately unsuccessful "Yes Ma'am-y" excuse.
So, given that forgiveness is not what's hot on the street . . . I just can't believe that the Co-Mayor isn't under more scrutiny especially since she's playing such a big role in his campaign AND Mayor Funky is very forthright about noting her role as his #1 political adviser.
You're right, T, "Kansas City Nice" is destroying this town. You wouldn't want to hurt somebody's feelings by pointing out that they go contracts with the school district for years without actually doing anything. That would be racist. You certainly shouldn't criticize insider deals with not-for-profits in which family members are offered $100,000/yr salaries. That would be anti-Latino. Don't mention the appalling murder rate. If you do you'll be being unpleasant to the swells that make up the police board and be criticizing the city council for apathy and incompetence. And don't criticize the business community for exclusively looking out for their own interests and being too cowardly to really become involved in the challenges and opportunities in their own communities. They're "important people" and they're "creating jobs".
ReplyDeleteBut if you're a self-serving loud mouth who is pefectly willing to roll over all the "nice" folks, the world of KCMO is your oyster.
Maybe this election will be the time actual residents take back their city. There are some candidates who are certainly willing to give it a shot.
Tony's doing his best to keep the story alive. And his blog.
ReplyDeleteJust another reason to Say Goodbye to the E-Tax.
ReplyDeleteI think Funk's people have told her to lay low and the people of KC have already written off Gloria's husband and, therefore, Gloria as well.
ReplyDeleteIf Funky makes it through the primary she will be front and center.
Joan Pu has replaced GloSquit as the woman in Funk's life.
ReplyDeleteThe relationship(s) between Funk and his staff (like Joan Pu) are incestuous and reek of conflicts.
ReplyDeleteWhen Funkhouser was her boss at City Hall and her Professor at UMKC, Joan Pu coauthored a paper with Funkhouser that he pedaled to academia (they need to be published), to his fellow auditors, and to Chinese businessmen interested in trade with the West (e.g. Benny Lee).
Joan Pu, for her part, got the royal treatment as a City Employee, including trips to China on behalf of the City (HUH???).
Funny how Pu's travel itinerary for her boss Funk just happens to coincide with the topic of the paper she coauthored with Funk at UMKC. (And by the way, this paper is the basis of many newer joint shakedown ventures a la ICPA.)
http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/ASPA/UNPAN004233.html
Joan Pu is the reason why Gloria INSISTED on "volunteering" in the Mayor's office.
ReplyDeleteFormer or current City Auditor staff are also directors on Funkhouser's International Center for Performance Auditing.
ReplyDeleteFunkhouser was Pu's supervisor when Pu worked in the City Auditor's office.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, Pu was Funkhouser's grad student at UMKC.
AND at the same time, Funk and Pu co-authored a paper that formed the basis of their joint venture in China.
AND at the same time, Funk approved and the City (taxpayers) paid for Pu to travel to Beijing, China, ostensibly on auditing junkets (I'm sure she did no research or shilling while there.)
No good jobs are really being created by the development incentives. No clawbacks are being enforced (even if they exist).
ReplyDeleteSimly take a look at the campaign finance reports and you can understand the game.
With the exception of James and Funkhouser, the beat goes on.
The Co-mayor will soon be back to being regular folks like the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteThe mayor's entire staff is surprisingly low-level in terms of knowledge, education, helpfulness--and some of them are simply Jeff Roe's people. Ick. The 29th floor is tainted...and the city is not being served.
ReplyDeleteWhen is Joan Pu's trip to Cambodia? That's a great way t0 spend city funds...
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong with Gloria. You people are the problem. You focus on a woman who is serving the public for free. In the mean time crooks like Mike Sanders line their pockets and surrond themselves with perverts on the public payroll.
ReplyDeleteGet over it losers!
I want to know more about the story of Mike's sister Diane making sexy-time in a Plaza bar with her hubby watching. That is much more interesting than Gloria's bare feet.
ReplyDeleteDear Kansas City voter:
ReplyDeleteDo not forget that $675,000 Gloria and 90-IQ Doofus Mayor called Kansas Citians "the beige people" because we do not genuflect in their direction.
Screw them...they need to go back to the Ozarks or the WVa hills or whereever it is stupid obnoxious people go when they are obsolete.
The cruelty shown to Gloria by this blog should be illegal.
ReplyDeleteIf Gloria were a private person, I would agree that she was "off limits".
ReplyDeleteAnd just because she is the Mayor's wife doesn't mean that the public/private line has been crossed.
What DOES cross the line is when she inserted herself into the role of co-mayor, with her decisions carrying the weight of Mayoral decisions; that she portended to represent the City vis a vis the Mayor with both public and private interests; and that she insisted on using her personal residence to conduct City business after her banishment from City Hall, all make her a public person and fair game for whatever pejoratives may come her way. (Keep in mind that many of those pejoratives have been hard-earned or well-deserved, even in "POLITE" Kansas City.)
These are choices she and Funky made on their own and against the advice of sage and experienced counsel. Let them stew in their own juices.
On a blog near you.....
ReplyDelete"GLORIA THE VICTIM-Part 8"
GLORIA SQUITIRO MOST CERTAINLY DID NOT SERVE THE PUBLIC FOR FREE.
ReplyDeleteConsider:
- $675k in legal settlements directly attributable to her actions.
- Loss of Wizards Stadium/Cerner at Bannister and the associated 4000 jobs
- Time/Money/Effort WASTED on the Volunteer Ordinance
Besides, if the "cost" of the public service is the only criterion, then posthumous amends are in order to Typhoid Mary.
Cruelty shown to Gloria? By citing facts, like what she said to & about people? LIke the cost of the legal issues? Cruelty, or truth?
ReplyDelete9:26 The Wizards / Cerner were NEVER going to Bannister. Was not going to happen. And however many jobs they created are a short drive around 435.
ReplyDeleteBarnes love life cost us millions.
ReplyDeleteUnti. KCMO at least tries to do something about the appalling murder rate, NOTHING muchgood is going to happen south of the river. Why would anyone want to live, work, send their kids to school, or own a business there when at least two homicides take place every week of the year without the police board, the city, or the KCPD even trying to do anything about it?
ReplyDeleteMayor Funky's Defense behind the scenes has always been that he's not quite as bad as Barnes.
ReplyDeleteThat wasn't why we elected you Mark.
You needed to be better and you weren't up to the task. Your wife ruined your career and not only did you let her, you were too stubborn to take advice from friends who supported you.
That's why a vote for anybody but Funk is what most of his former supporters like me think.
Barnes was about the best thing that ever happened to City Hall. Bring her back.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Herb
ReplyDeletePoor, Poor Gloria can't take it when the blogs get on her. It's called what goes around comes around.
ReplyDeleteYou think he will dump that bitch?
ReplyDeleteIt's obvious when Gloria comments on here. She can get really mean.
ReplyDeleteFeel sorry for Funk.
I don't feel sorry for Funk. I feel sorry for US! He chose to let her get away with disruption of city operations. We didn't elect her but we ended up paying for her.
ReplyDeleteThe Cerner jobs may be a short drive away but they are not in KCMO!
Only Herb Kohn and Steve Glorioso loved Barnes. One got a paycheck from her, and the other got everything else (eww, sorry).
Dump the Funk and Gloria too!
ReplyDeleteChildren playing with crayons and finger paints. And by that assertion I mean the people commenting here. And originating here.
ReplyDeleteGrow up you'all.