The pitch to voters for freebie bus rides is soon to grow more divisive, complicated and part of the local culture war.
To be fair, the idea of freebie bus rides has overwhelming support in Midtown, East Side, Brookside and among progressives across the nation.
This morning Mayor Quinton Lucas is once again pushing freebie bus rides via his social media presence.
HOWEVER . . .
EXCLUSIVE AND EARLY POLLING DATA LEAKED TO TKC REVEALS RAMPANT OPPOSITION AGAINST FREE BUS RIDES ON THE NICE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE!!!
Homeowners, frequent voters and among men & women alike said they disapproved of measure by an OVERWHELMING margin.
Some of the top reasons in this smallish segment of a bigger survey said:
- 75% of all potential "no votes" reported they had not used the bus or streetcar in the past year.
- 1/3 of all respondents feared hidden costs and additional taxes.
- The wide-open "public safety" concerns dominated more than half of the street car opposition among frequent Northland voters.
Here's the word explaining the deets:
"This isn't a priority for Northland voters. They've already been burned very recently. They were promised more sidewalks after the GO BOND vote and the results haven't lived up to expectations. And a lot of people on this side of the bridge just see it as paying for other people since most families have two cars and bus service in this part of town is HORRIBLE. Without some kind of assurance that we'll get more access, stops and service, I don't see people here voting for free transit that won't help them but will eventually end up costing more money."
And so, at the outset of the campaign it's clear that proponents of freebie bus rides have work to do convincing skeptical residents that this time they'll keep promises should this decision go in front of voters.
Developing . . .
I think the goal here is to keep it away from voters. That's always the idea with something like this that's just a series of more taxes in disguise.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Most of the big budget items in KC want voters out of the decision as soon as possible. Why can't the public have more say in what happens at the airport?
DeleteVOTE NO Now and forever.
DeleteSo are you going to tell us that name of the firm that ran the survey? I am very skeptical of all polling data and I think the readers are entitled to more information!
ReplyDelete^^^ Oooo, entitled was not a good word choice.
DeleteRead or don't that's how most of us have approached this blog for years. But since you seem so far out of the loop, KCMO runs a poll on public transit every year along with ride kc. Phone calls asking about free bus service started before thanksgiving. Now stop being a lazy reporter and do your own homework.
Can't we just give away free electric cars? They would be used at a far greater rate!
ReplyDeleteHow about free scooters instead?
DeleteFree stuff for everybody, all the time and everywhere!
ReplyDeleteFree fire services. NO fire taxes.
ReplyDeleteGreat reason to move out of KC. I would argue with the methodology here but it doesn't take a rocket scientist (which clearly TKC is not) to know that Northland households don't want to pay for a bunch of KC bums when we barely see a bus in our neighborhoods.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, let's quit calling socialists and lefties "progressives".
ReplyDeleteStop drinking the AOC Koolaid.
Taken to its logical conclusion, after free bus rides for all, what's next? Free airfare for all?
Waaaaaaa. Socialist rescue has no end. Just.Say.No.
^^^ +1
DeleteGood for you Tracy! We need more people willing to tell it like it is!
How bout free Chiefs and Royals games!
ReplyDeleteWe pay for stadiums, so they should be free if busses are.
ReplyDeleteHow about a (temporary) wall along State Line Road for five years as an experiment, then we could see which side of the Metro had dried up and blown away.
ReplyDeleteMy bet would be on the side that produces, with the parasitic west side having lots of vacant cheap housing available.
isn't it "bi-State Socialism" for one side of a Metro Area having to pay for all the amenities that both sides demand?
Talk about your free shit! "Paris on the Plains" (very plain and full of parasites) DEMANDS having their cake and eating it too!
Free parking in downtown, the rest of the city is free.
ReplyDeleteI paid for date night and a movie. Sex is free?
ReplyDeleteI would say the poll for the free bus rides would be similar to the MLK renaming vote. 66 to 70% against.
ReplyDelete^^^ Truth. Even some of the people on the east side would object because they don't want to have to ride with all of the crazies.
ReplyDeleteGo Bonds a joke for the Northland 2 projects while South of the
ReplyDeleteRiver get many . Fees for water keep going up and now the want more taxes for Fire and Police . Power & Light District get $15 million or more from our General Fund poor poor management at City Hall
Logical conclusion, Tracy or reductio ad absurdum?
ReplyDeleteLet's give the poor a break. We've already approached reductio ad absurdum with all the developers, streetcar constructors, etc., most of whom don't even live in the city where they get their graft. Besides, JOCO is not offering free transit, so you won't have to worry about the riff raff cluttering up your neighborhood.
With the minimum wage increase that should pay for the bus fare . Use the $8 million to pay off the water / sewer fee.
ReplyDelete7:26 it was probably wickham and James!
ReplyDeleteActually, 8:24, Joco is looking at free transit. Dreadful idea. But the "Progressive Girls"--Becky Fast and Janee Hanklick, (not Flo!!!) on the BOCC are pushing Jim Allen, my commissioner and former mayor of Shawnee, who is in charge of transit initiatives.
ReplyDeleteIn Joco, it would actually be cheaper to buy cars for the poor than to run our busses. The only one that is ever full--in the least-- is the one to KU on K10.
Tony posted a good story on joco transit about 2 days ago.
Smiling Selfies Lucas's spirit cookers in his PR department need to get busy to counter the Northerners.
ReplyDeleteMore people taking the bus = Less traffic for you drivers.
ReplyDelete^^The muddle class hates the poor.
ReplyDeleteWhat a surprise.
We don't hate the poor. Some of us were poor. We just know giving away free shit via Democratic leaders isn't how we EARNED something. People that grew up in that worthless cycle hate the promotion of it! Ask me how I know.You
DeleteThe middle class hates paying taxes for deadbeats like Byron to abuse.
ReplyDeleteFirst off when relating to public transportation nothing is for free. Someone is going to pay for it and it probably won't be those that ride it. Plus if you give all the poor people too many free things there will never be a reason for them to better themselves. While the current bus system is maybe not the best make it all free and watch how quickly it erodes from what it is. Plus free rides means the system will be a free for all for sure. You want thugs riding free scoping out who they will get off with later and rob. Nothing good can come from free bus service,
ReplyDeleteOnly folks who should get to ride free are seniors. If you don't have state issued photo ID no freebie.
Great points, SuperDave.
ReplyDeleteI also just read Tony's link about the reporter who interviewed bus drivers--and THEY oppose free busses because they will become rolling homeless shelters, all day and all night.
the reporter thought the drivers would be glad not to have to mess with tokens and fares. But this prospect is far more relevant. If every bus is free every time, there is no way to enforce departures...so that changes the nature of it from Transportation to Social Rescue Net. There are no bathrooms on busses. What do you think is gonna happen after a drunk or a druggie spends all day there?
Put this to a vote. Can someone start another petition like the MLK thing so we can end this free busing thing? I don't know much about procedure but it seems like this is something we should be targeting
ReplyDeleteFirst off stupid dave...you don't live in KC and either does that shrew Tracy. Neither of your geriatric opinions are worth a shit. Please go find blogs in your cities, and go waste time over there boring everyone to death.
ReplyDeleteThe City Council should work for free.
ReplyDelete^^^^^Hey you whoever the fuck you think you are, prove where you live. At least the two you are attempting to ass rape have the courage to put their names on what they say.
ReplyDeleteIf you vote for the Fire tax increase, you are really voting for free busses. This allows the city not use general fund money for the fire department but allocate it to the KCATA.
ReplyDelete@ 8:14, if you build the wall, JOCO will figure it out pretty quickly. That is where the money is and within 5-7 years, The Chiefs, Royals, Mavericks would be playing in OP. The Nelson would be in Leawood, and the airport in Gardner. The people on the west side of that wall are pretty sharp (Tracy Thomas Included!) and they would be able to figure it out much sooner than those on the east side of that wall, who still haven't figured it out.
ReplyDeleteHey 11:07AM(Stupid dave)-the only person attempting to ass rape you is chuck, and you like it!
ReplyDelete11:17 you're a very disgusting vile person and why Tony lets you say what you do in here all the time tells me Tony is just as disgusting as you or he hates Chuck and Dave and likes seeing your vile comments.
ReplyDelete^^Everybody hates chuck & stupid dave. Easy.
ReplyDeleteDo most other chimps share that opinion?
DeleteCities preparing for when the Food Stamp cuts go into full effect in April and the shit basically hit's the fan in KCMO this spring and summer when stomachs begin churning. "Rob or Job" will become the new logo pasted on the side of each bus.
ReplyDelete11:44 everybody loves chuck and super Dave, you’re the one that nobody likes, you’re right up there with bLIEron on the hate scale! Hahahahaha!
ReplyDeleteMidtown property voters are against free rides too. We know that we will eventually have to pay for it, and anything free is never appreciated!
ReplyDeleteFree rides...groovey. Now nobody will have an excuse to not work and be on the take...right?? Low unemployment rate, great economy, so no excuses..keep dreaming.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget free food!
ReplyDeleteShouldn't the city, which subsidizes Kordish for all their properties in the Power and Light district to the tune of $15 million a year, provide Free Food Fridays to any resident who asks at those restaurants and pubs?
The west side of KCMO would very much be in favor of a significant downsizing of the bus service in general. Buses on this side of the city are generally empty, one passenger if you count the driver.
ReplyDeleteI do think the city looks at the bus driver employment as being a key aspect of the service.
The city can keep taxing its well to do for projects with zero or negative benefit to the city. At some point these folks will move away to a location in Kansas which offers superior city services, schools, lower taxes and a safer community.
ReplyDeleteA council vote for $10 million for "free" buses but a vote of the people for $10 million for "free" fire protection.
ReplyDeleteSince when does KC give a shit about what the ignorant bigots in the Northland have to say?
ReplyDeleteWith the homeless bums riding in the warm buses all day, where will the taxpayers sit?
ReplyDelete"Only folks who should get to ride free are seniors." I do not agree. As a group, seniors are richer than other age groups. Most can better afford bus fare than, for instance, young adults who are starting their first jobs or are still looking for one.
ReplyDelete4:36 what world do you live in? Seniors as group are not richer than other groups. They just don't waste what little money they have on fast food and other crap. You try living on 1300 to 1800 a month or less.
ReplyDeleteNobody and I mean nobody wants the koloreds getting free rides north of the river, all they do is rape, rob, pillage and murder, we didn’t move up north to have those people ruin it, keep them out!
ReplyDeletePoor people already get tons of free stuff. Free food via food stamps. Free housing via section 8. Free cell phones via lifeline. Free money via the EIC credit. Now free bus fare. Of course poor people are for it, they aren't paying any taxes that pay for all the free stuff.
ReplyDelete4:59 - does your world have unicorns and dragons? Here are some stats from my world, showing that seniors without question are the wealthiest age group. (That does not mean that every senior is wealthy, but it does argue against giving free stuff to seniors just because they are seniors.)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.stlouisfed.org/on-the-economy/2017/october/long-term-income-wealth-gains-favor-older-americans
POT HOLES
ReplyDelete8:05 you miserable ignorant fuck. Seniors who have money are not the ones riding the bus. They also probably need to work some to make up for the shitty check they get each month while a black lady with kids gets proportionally more money each month. I know you hate old people but you best get the fuck over it as you will be old yourself faster than you think and be interesting to see how rich you are then.
ReplyDeleteWhile we are on the subject why does some black lady with coupons get free medical coverage and dental and our retirees have to pay for theirs if they want any decent coverage at all?