Yael T. Abouhalkah is the veteran Kansas City Star columnist who gave us Mayor Funky and only stopped stubbornly defending the infamous Co-Mayor and his wife long after the guy's political career turned out to be doomed.
And now . . . Yael is touting Mayor Sly's messed up budget that cuts public safety but spends lavishly on toy trains, impending eco-devo disasters and maybe even a bit more TIF.
Still . . . It's just strange to see a grown man work so hard to gain the favor of Mayor Sly in an attempt to remain relevant as circulation and advertising revenues for Dead Tree Media continue to dry up.
PERSONALLY, I'M STARTING TO GET TIRED OF MAYOR SLY'S (EMPTY) HAPPY TALK AND RAMPANT SPENDING/BORROWING!!!
Also . . . It's clear Mayor Sly's Kansas City Public School Takeover Plan was nothing but an exercise in arrogance that failed miserably.
And this constant PR spin on every sneeze the Mayor takes is getting old real quick. I understand that Mayor Sly's elocution and rhetorical skill are superb but that still doesn't change the fact that he's not really saying anything important.
And when Mayor Sly gave his State Of The City Speech and failed to even mention the word "murder" or "homicide" . . . I could help but thing that he seemed like nothing but an empty suit.
Sure, Mayor Sly is a nice guy . . . But his leadership hasn't really given Kansas City anything substantive.
Mr. Abouhalkah believes this budget battle is crucial for Mayor Sly.
MEANWHILE . . . TKC CONTENDS THAT MAYOR SLY IS PRETTY MUCH STABBING A GREAT MANY SUPPORTERS IN THE BACK WITH THE BUDGET THAT ONLY SEEMS TO FAVOR DEVELOPERS!!!
Sorry Firefighters . . . Mayor Sly isn't standing up to keep KCFD jobs.
Despite so much talk about encouraging public safety . . . Mayor Sly isn't willing to stand up for police who are soon to take a benefit cut and get busted down to City Hall's insurance.
The Eastside loses in this budget that's directing a great deal of cash to the Northland . . .
Like it or not, some of the folks who put Mayor Sly in office are taking a hit on this budget.
But, some of the most knowledgeable TKC TIPSTERS really tell us that next year will determine the course of Mayor Sly's tenure. He's going to have to start doing something more than delivering nice speeches.
I'm offering these opinions and tidbits because I'm slightly curious about the future of Kansas City whereas it really seems like Mr. Abouhalkah wants to garner favor from Mayor Sly.
I don't really care if Mayor Sly likes me and he's already given me a hard time the last couple of times we've talked as a few onlookers can attest . . . Winning favor from a politico is pointless. What's far more important is holding Mayor Sly accountable for his actions or lack thereof.
DEVELOPING . . .
The school takeover was an embarrassment. The streetcar plan is a ridiculous thing to hang his hat on. The feathering of insiders' nests at city hall continues unabated. There is STILL no professional director hired for the water department. And there has been no serious focus or command attention given to the ever-increasing homicide rate.
ReplyDeleteWhat we have is an amateur real estate developmnet company, but NO city government.
A city that works.
Just not for you.
6:59am Well said!
ReplyDeleteIt will take the silly voters of KC two more years to come to the same conclusion.
Yael is an idiot.
ReplyDeleteMore telling than anything in the column is the lack of comments. Not one.
ReplyDeleteFael should stick to picking horses and stop trying to train them.
ReplyDeleteYael sucks the sack.
ReplyDeleteYael will doom Sly just like he did Funk and then he will turn on him. And just what is Yaels resume on running City government especially his knowledge of the police and firefighters to recommend cuts. He is a writer who is failing at his job whi is trying to show his worth to his new bosses by showing Sly is his puppet.
ReplyDeleteYael needs to go. I hope the Star is reading this you need a fresh face ,fire Yael
ReplyDeleteYael the Murder rate. Do your job
ReplyDeleteYael the murder rate? What the hell is that supposed to mean??
ReplyDeleteLMAO... "exercise in arrogance that failed miserably." Tony, most displays of arrogance is little more than a pony show to camouflage failure. Rember Chalie Sheen's "WINNING" statement. He's no more winning than the man on the mood. That's why this statement is absolutely comical. ROTFLMAO And seriously, what can be expected from a fat, Black man with a menacing grin who self-describes himself as sly? It seems Kansas Citians love to ride the slow, short bus without their helmets!
ReplyDeleteTony -- I don't think Yael is trying to win anybody's favor -- never has. He's been looking out for the public interest at City Hall for more than 20 years. If it wasn't for him, the city probably would have gone broke by now. Yes, Funkhouser was a big mistake, but at least Yael's head wasn't so big that he clung to the ship as it sank into the depths. If he had, he would have lost his credibility. But, lo and behold, he still swings the biggest stick in town because a majority of Kansas Citians realize that he is not afraid to take on the vested interests, like the firefighters, police, developers and development attorneys. When he speaks, the voters listen closely.
ReplyDeleteWaa...........the star's opinion writer is a whiner who happens to have access to a forum in which he controls all reponses to his unending criticisms of public safety. He only provides information that supports his point of view. He advocates for anyone who seemingly shares his particular bent, even in a subtle way. Most sophisticated, intelligent people pick up quickly on his agenda and dismiss his rants as polarizing and/or divisive. He is similar in all ways to every nut who ever felt they had a first amendment right to a published opinion. Interestingly, he seems to believe how right or righteous he is and that should raise all kinds of alarm bells for all us. In his mind, he is a crusader for all things right - according to him.
ReplyDeleteWow, Fitzpatrick, your credibility just slipped several notches in my book. But not quite to the depths of Fael.
ReplyDeleteAnd actually, I seem to recall that Fael was one of the last rats off the H.M.S. Funk-tanic.
And excusing Yael's Funk-tastic mistake by saying at least he didn't hold on to the sinking ship to the end is kind of like saying at least the captain found himself a lifeboat after running the Costa Concordia ashore. Fael should be removed from the editorial board until that captain is given his next command.
So Tony how do you feel about Obama's rampant spending and borrowing?
ReplyDeleteOther than Yael's co-worker, Mr. Fitzpatrick, is there ANYONE out there at all that regularly agrees with Yael's views? Anyone? Anyone at all?
ReplyDeleteYael is NOT in touch with the people in this community and a big reason the STAR is suffering is due to their continuing to promote the out-of-touch views of people like Yael. What a shame.
People don't move and/or come to areas because of fire departments; they come based on the number of available fast food places.
ReplyDeleteTKC, you often make very good points, but you are dead wrong on this budget issue. The budget is a good one. The firefighters are greedy and cannot be trusted. Even with the budget cuts this year, they will spend their money early and then come back and say they need gas money for the pumpers. You watch, they'll get their money somehow, or at least what they perceive as their money. It's really OUR money.
ReplyDeleteSly owes them nothing. He owes the City a balanced budget, and that's what we've got.
2:09,
ReplyDeleteNice try at being anonymous, Yael.
Fael or not, 2:09 is right....
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to unbias and fair reporting?
ReplyDelete5:38: He's a columnist. You're supposed to be a little biased in that position. Your job is to share your opinion.
ReplyDeleteFunny how all six of the people who like Sly and his budget are always on here posting about how great he is.
ReplyDeleteSuper Dave= Super Dumb
ReplyDelete