Right now Kansas City media is awash in even more end of the year congratulatory "news" coverage that doesn't offer much room for discussion. Moreover, mention of so many metro influencers is more often based on connections than accomplishment even when subjects featured in these stories are impressive.
To wit . . .
CHECK DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY CELEBRATION OF 'URBAN HEROES' FEATURED IN A RECENT VIDEO BLAST!!!
Roundup and quick description . . .
Tech Dude Working To Save Old And Busted Buildings By Way Of Computer Drawings
Local Banking Lady
Kansas City Streetcar Toy Train Champion
Admittedly, all of these power players have accomplished important things and they are UNDOUBTEDLY IMPRESSIVE given their achievements.
However, it's worth considering that the so-called "progress" in Downtown Kansas City has come at the cost of HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS in debt and a continued focus on gentrification luxury living spaces amid ongoing neglect to other parts of Kansas City in desperate need of attention from a distracted City Hall that has FAILED to make any progress in curbing local homicides or repairing so much decaying infrastructure in neighborhoods outside of the loop.
You decide . . .
Don't be too nice.
ReplyDeleteMost of the Downtown "accomplishment" was funded by KC taxpayers.
^^^Yep, that why all those "heroes" are grinning. They got away with cash payouts.
ReplyDeleteYes they have done great things or at least in their own minds they have. But in the end it will all come falling down as these fads will fall victim to the not enough care to make it work crowd who by the way in the end will be the ones stuck with paying for it all.
ReplyDeleteTaxpayers shouldn't have to pay for a few peoples dreams.
For all the downtown "development" has there been a business employing more than 50 people that has moved into the urban core from outside the metro?
ReplyDeleteCorruption City. That is the Kansas City way.
ReplyDeleteIf these are the leaders that we're counting on, we are in real trouble.
ReplyDeleteFrom 2007 to 2011, job growth in Kansas City's city center decreased by 0.4 percent. Since 2011, KC has matched jobs but overall there are more than 10,000 fewer jobs now in KCMO's downtown than there were 20 years ago.
ReplyDeleteLet's just keep following the Richard Florida game plan and believe young creatives will flock to KCMO for the streetcar and luxury apartments.
ReplyDelete^^^luxury apartments at $1300-2000/month. How young creatived can afford that is a mystery.
ReplyDeleteIt's just a real estate pump and dump scheme. Don't get caught holding the bag.
ReplyDeleteSuperDave is right on the money about fads and how quickly they fade.
ReplyDeleteTwenty-two year olds without responsibilities and who can spend time and what little money they have on cold press coffee, overpriced farm-to-table meals, and superficial events have the bad tendency to become 30 year-olds with families and who then are concerned about the quality of schools, safety of neighborhoods, and other basics.
And they buy a house in one of the many many suburbs in the metro that have what they're looking for.
The "creative class" downtown fad is already fading fast, but since most of the exciting development has been debt-financed by the taxpayers, the bills will continue for decades.
These downtown boosters live in their own little self-created bubble surrounded by the reality that's enjoyed by the 84% of residents in the metro who don't live anywhere in KCMO, much less downtown.
Maybe Sly should just foot the bill for some of these folks to visit a real city to see what an actual urban environment is like.
It certainly would be less expensive than what's been going on for the last six years!
Sorry for the long post but damn! Tax Money goes to stupid projects that don't help the real citizens of KCMO. Email from the city:
ReplyDelete"City working with Bishop Sullivan Center to ``Drive KC to Work’’
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 27, 2016
With cooperation from the City of Kansas City’s Tow Services Department, Bishop Sullivan Center’s Drive KC to Work program is helping more people get to work and stay on their feet.
Drive KC to Work provides affordable transportation to individuals without a reliable way to get to work.
“Many of our lower-income clients had job opportunities but could not take advantage of them because they had no way to get there,” said Phil Smith, Bishop Sullivan Center’s Drive KC to Work coordinator. “Unless the job was on the bus line or relatively close to their home, taking it was not an option. So, we created Drive KC to Work.”
The program provides working individuals with a car at a deeply discounted price. Smith said Drive KC to Work helps people who, because of their struggles, would normally not qualify to purchase a vehicle at ‘Buy Here, Pay Here’ car lots. He said once the city’s Tow Services Department heard about the program, they immediately wanted to participate.
“The city came to Bishop Sullivan Center and offered, at no charge, to store the cars at the tow lot until we paired the car with a deserving owner,” Smith said.
“It’s such a great program,” said Nate Pare’, Tow Services division manager, “and we have a safe, secure facility that’s monitored 24 hours a day, so we were more than happy to help.”
“Drive KC to Work subscribes to the ‘rather than give someone a fish, teach them how to fish,’ theory,” Smith said. “That’s the impetus behind it.” He said the center is always looking for late-model vehicles in good condition. Anyone who would like to donate a car can contact Smith at phil.smith@bishopsullivan.org or call (816) 231-0984, ext. 113.
For more information, contact Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department Communications/Community Liaison John Baccala at (816) 513-3202."
Way too much spent on toy train that doesn't get working people to real jobs. Just a carny ride up and down main Street. Cost? Less bus service.
DeleteToot toot. Oh, isn't our streetcar cute? Aren't we precious? Ice. Snow. Clunk.
ReplyDeleteLuxury apartments down at the city market and yet there's a big taxpayer cash dump at 2nd and Delaware for low income housing.
ReplyDelete