TKC BREAKING AND EXCLUSIVE NEWS!!! KICK-ASS TKC READER QUESTIONS MAYOR SLY ABOUT DOWNTOWN CONVENTION HOTEL DEAL!!! READ THE REAX!!!
Like it or not, citizen media leads the discussion in Kansas City about a questionable downtown convention hotel deal and an effort to silence thousands of voters.
To wit . . .
CHECK THIS KANSAS CITY VOTER Q&A WITH MAYOR SLY ON THE TOPIC OF THE DIRTY DOWNTOWN CONVENTION HOTEL DEAL!!!
The message from one of our brave readers to the mayor:
"I would very much like to see this project put to a public vote.
"I may well vote for it, but it would be nice to see the actual agreements, cost projections, and cost/benefit analyses rather than just being told to trust those who know what's best for the city."
And now . . . Check the form letter response from Mayor Sly explaining his viewpoint to a voter . . .
Mayor Sly Seyz: "Thank you for contacting my office regarding the Hyatt convention hotel project in downtown Kansas City.
As you are aware, a petition has been filed asking the City Council to put the project to a public vote. The City Council will vote on this matter on Thursday, November 12. The City has already entered into a binding, legal contract with developers of the hotel and, therefore, breaking this agreement would potentially cause legal challenges as well as an increase of construction costs.
"I voted in favor of the contract and believe that a downtown convention hotel will boost the City’s economy and attract a wide range of conventions and visitors to our city. A variety of proposals have been put forth over the past decade, but this agreement poses the least amount of financial risk to the City. I make my decisions based on facts and data, and the data shows that Kansas City is losing conventions to cities of a comparable size because we lack hotel rooms. In the decade from 2005 to 2015, Kansas City lost 665 convention groups, representing 5.5 million room nights and $3.9 billion in economic impact.
"Kansas City has a lot to offer, especially in our growing downtown. If we don’t move forward, we will continue to fall behind and lose conventions that will help our city prosper. Again, I appreciate you sharing your concerns with me. Please do not hesitate to contact my office in the future."
Click the image or this link for a screen cap of the Mayor's response . . .
This may not be direct democracy or transparency but thanks to KICK-ASS TKC TIPSTERS, it's a nice look at how the Mayor's office politely responds to real questions about costly downtown deals underway without a public vote.
Developing . . .
The king has spoken.
ReplyDeleteFor weeks and weeks you have been reporting that the mayor has made a deal already. Looks to me like the mayor has made the deal already. The mayor does this kind of shit because he knows he can and the numb nuts voters of KC won't do much more than snort, grunt and change the TV channel. What else needs to be said. These fucking Missouri hillbillies would rather have their pockets picked than establish even a hint of accountability instate or local government. They will gossip, piss and moan about some stupid shit like the intern scandal and then watch as the cronies dispose of millions of their tax payer dollars - no questions asked. Seems to me the fine citizens are getting exactly what they deserve.
ReplyDeleteThis guy is so full of bullshit it's unbelievable. An 800 Room Mike Burke's Hyatt Hotel is not going to draw conventions to KC. At most it will create temporary short term construction (shovel ready) jobs and taxpayers will be expected to support and bail out this deal in 10 or 20 years.
ReplyDeleteWhat on earth did this guy think that Sly was going to say (or do)? Did he honestly think that Sly was going to tell him he was right, apologize for all the backroom deals, and offer to back the petition? Maybe just go ahead and kill the deal now?
ReplyDeleteTHERE ARE A LIMITED NUMBER OF STRATEGIES THAT HAVE ANY CHANCE OF SUCCESS AT THIS POINT:
1. Sue the City for not recognizing the petition. The ordinances state that the City can set aside the results of a public vote resulting from a citizen-led initiative, but not that they can ignore the petition prior to public vote.
2. Convince Clay County to sue the City, as a party to the Zoo Tax whose revenues are being used to partially guarantee the bonds for this project. The original Zoo Tax was very clear that it's collection was solely to serve the needs of the zoo, and is now being used by the City to back bonds not related to the needs of the zoo.
3. Finally get the "confidential" consultant reports issued for public review, which based upon how quiet they are being kept, likely are either full of gross inaccuracies or tell the true story about how little this hotel is needed. Perhaps a glaring report that contradicts the almost-too-impossible-to-believe claims of massive increase in room need will wake people up to just how ill-conceived this deal is.
4. Circulate citizen petition to recall the mayor and any council person who votes to set aside the hotel petition. It would be hard for the council to find a legitimate reason to set aside any petition of this sort (and if they did, would be quickly rebuked by the state), and let's face it, self preservation is the first priority of almost everyone in City government. Threaten their position, and they may quickly have a change of heart about backing Sly's backroom deals.
11:16 comment
ReplyDeleteYour #4 is the winner.
Politicians love a passive citizenry. Make a little noise, protest at their office/residence, get some media coverage, threaten a recall, and most will quickly reverse course and claim that they were "studying the issue" all along.
Sly is a crook, get him out of office.
ReplyDelete"Politicians love a passive citizenry" That's right 11:49. I have felt for years that the antipathy toward Clay Chastain resulted from a desire to keep the citizenry away from directly acting.
ReplyDeleteI applaud this man/woman for writing to the Mayor. Speaking to your representatives is an integral part of our democracy. You would be surprised at the power 100 letters has.
ReplyDeleteAnd kudos to the mayor for responding.
...like you are going to find 99 more people in KC who can write....
ReplyDeleteRare instance where mayor and voter did the right thing. It doesn't happen often but I'm happy to see it.
ReplyDeleteCan we have a list of the 665 conventions that we lost from 2005 to 2015. Just by throwing numbers and dollar amounts out do not make it true. Mayor Sly or someone from City Hall please give documentation that we lost that much money from lack of hotel rooms.
ReplyDeleteWow a two-fur. I can jump on the sleek, modern, Super Sonic Toy Train for a 5.4 second ride to Union Station, jack a load on those new vinyl seats and then grab a Starbucks at Union Station, take a quick vid of George Gustello sucking cock in the back parking lot, jump back on the Super Sonic Toy Train and ride down to that gleaming new Hyatt Convention Hotel and jack a load on those nice, new, ironed sheets and hope that Pergirine Honig rolls in my cum.
ReplyDeleteYummy.
In the end the CFRG will lose. And it's a shame that Sly and his minions think they can just play willy nilly with tax payer funds. All this is is an attempt by Sly to do what Kay did. Build a legacy. He just wants to look out and say, "See, I got that built" Too bad the legacy for both is built on decades of debt that KC tax payers will have to pay.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I just love all these arbitrary numbers that Sly and the supporters throw out. 665 conventions lost for $4 billion dollars? Please. This is the Show-Me State. Show me the proof behind these numbers.