TKC SUNDAY SPECIAL!!! CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC PROVES BUILDING DENSITY AT ALL COSTS THREATENS KANSAS CITY!!!
For more than a decade Kansas City leaders have used taxpayer subsidy to promote the idea of "density" in downtown Kansas City. Now densely packed American urban population centers confront increased threat from the coronavirus pandemic.
Here's a quick MSM headline survey of this problem from across the nation . . .
New York Times: Density Is New York City’s Big ‘Enemy’ in Coronavirus Fight
The Times quickly had to write an apology editorial for that but the damage was already done.
Westworld: To Avoid the Next Coronavirus, Don't Be Dense, Denver
CNN: Why has the outbreak hit New York so much harder than other places? Health experts said the answers are largely specific to the New York metropolitan area -- its density and population, primarily . . .
Politico: "As Californians grow accustomed to 6-foot social distancing, the coronavirus could have a chilling effect on the state's efforts to build more apartments near public transportation to solve its housing crisis."
In fairness, there's some opinion attempting to dispute this argument but so far urban planners simply can't argue with the stats coming from New York and bigger cities.
To wit . . .
BUILDING ARTIFICIAL DENSITY IN KANSAS CITY WAS ALWAYS A DUMB IDEA BUT NOW THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC REVEALS THAT CRAMMING PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR NO GOOD REASON CAN BE DANGEROUS!!!
Don't get it twisted, in places like New York and other cities across the world densely populated areas are a function of natural market forces. Whereas Downtown Kansas City "density" is artificial and has been built on the backs of taxpayers, propped up by an array of corporate welfare and tirelessly promoted through the questionable management of federal funds.
Now, the world economy tanks and the dream of the so-called "Downtown Renaissance" has been rejected by voters and a virus the preys upon large gatherings of people.
Accordingly . . .
A historic international health crisis offers us an opportunity to rise to many challenges including a much needed rethinking of the local density agenda and the desperate need for a more sustainable vision for the future of Kansas City.
You decide . . .
But without all that density, we don't need as many bike lanes. Then again, we didn't really need very many bike lanes.
ReplyDeleteYou know, in cities with real newspapers, they talk about this kind of stuff. They don't just rely on bloggers to bring it up.
Delete^^^ I guess that's a thank you. Lulz.
DeleteHuh? How does less density diwntown mean we need to waste even more money on the huge road net for cars that we already can't maintain??
DeleteHere's what's more important: You can't practice social distancing in a densely populated area. It's impossible to stay 6 feet away from people on a crowded street, bus or streetcar. We've got to plan for the future and density isn't really part of the equation anymore.
ReplyDelete^^^ +1
DeleteJust wear a fucking mask instead of listening to the experts who are trying to compensate for the authorities' failure to prepare.
Deletebrookside! prairie village!
ReplyDelete838 deaths in spain yesterday translates to 3,700 per day in usa. that's a 1.4 million annual rate.
ReplyDeleteExcept that different countries, even different areas within countries, show drastically different death and infection rates.
DeleteFear porn elsewhere please.
TOP PHOTO -- SAND HILL CRANE
ReplyDeleteWith KC's "downtown Renaissance" built upon an unstable foundation of taxpayer subsidization, tourism, and convincing hipsters to buy luxury sky-boxes, the economic winds of change have the cranes prepping to migrate!!!
Guess viruses pathogens don't buy and read the latest books from Richard Florida and other "urban futurists".
ReplyDeleteMaybe they're smarter than some of the local politicos looking to make names for themselves by wasting taxpayers' money on their own legacies.
But don't expect any changes in the behavior of KCMO "leadership".
They'll be right back to their old subsidizing upside-down priorities and wasteful ways in no time.
"We'll" need that downtown baseball stadium and expanded Bartle Hall more than ever if "we" don't want to be left behind.
It never changes.
Right pandemics don't read smarmy books. And pandemics don't listen to politicians trying to save the stock market. At least our mayor got in front of that curve. Now we need to get it through his thick skull that the old ways need to die.
DeleteThe racist-baiting liberals are totally responsible.
ReplyDeleteThe said people going to the suburbs was white flight.
Turns out they are the racists for keeping this spotlighted so the herds would die during Corona.
There is no successful socialist society.
While the liberal left follow their Passions and the herd jumps off the cliff with them- history will record them as dim-witted morons who didn’t have a clue.
It’s so telling that newspapers failed with zero leadership on a continuity plan for the future.
And those that retired and write continue to show us how left of center they always were when they promoted being fair and balanced.
Karma.
**yawn** so 2019.
DeleteIs Olathe the future?
ReplyDeleteDying of boredom is far worse than urban density.
DeleteYes Sly conned people into believing KCMO could be the pillar of modern urban civilization with a vibrant, robust, and frosty Entertainment and Tourist based economy.
ReplyDeleteThe American dream has always been a house, be it large or small.
ReplyDeleteCombined with self-reliance and self-sufficiency.
Maybe that was all right.
So I'm slightly annoyed with the fact that so many people want to defend china, and act like this pandemic isn't their fault at all... China literally silenced a Dr back in December who was trying to earn WHO and CDC of this new virus, then they acted as if there wasn't any thing bad happening for a couple months, then they tried to say it didn't start there. I'm not endorsing any racism at all, but all this bull shit about "ok Boomer" and calling people conspiracy nuts is ridiculous. The virus started in China and had they not tried to hide that in December we wouldn't be this bad off today...
ReplyDeleteWe also wouldn't be this bad off if our own so called leaders hadn't done basically what China did: lie, deflect, lie, self-congratulate, lie, do nothing, all to pretend everything was just fine. So you can STFU about the CIA/Trump campaign to demonize China for the same stupid shit the USA did.
DeleteEveryone is getting a semi taste of what socialism is like. Now you see why so many of us are against it.
ReplyDeleteLiar, we all know you are not going to send back your check.
DeleteStupid Dave...how are you coping with the death of chuck???
ReplyDelete^^^^^^^^WTF ????????
ReplyDelete12:50, if Chuck were dead, Tony would acknowledge his passing, even if it meant not allowing comments on said thread. So until someone, other than you, says he's dead, I'll assume he isn't.
ReplyDeleteChuck is dead, Byron. Dead, dead, dead. Deceased. Six feet under. Dear ol chuckie is a sleepin', sleepin' in the cold cold ground. And the world is a better place because of it.
DeleteRejoice. The grippe got the ol' boomer.
I said so.
is there a way to social distance on a web site?
ReplyDelete^^^^Yeah no shit, that would be nice.
ReplyDeleteTo bad we can't block assholes like Byron on here like we could if he were on FB. That's why Byron isn't on FB, everyone would have him blocked.
ReplyDelete2:50 you wish, even all that soros money you get for lying still doesn’t add up to you getting your ass kicked by chuck every time he post something, I guess that’s the price you pay for selling your soul to the devil.
ReplyDeleteYes, George Soros is paying somebody here to post something about a crackpot nobody cares about. Right. 10-4. Got it. Ok.
ReplyDelete^^^^I only see one crackpot here and it's you!
ReplyDelete“We have to take care of the cure that will make the problem worse no matter what.”
ReplyDeleteByron does not exist. He is a hack traffic court lawyer in Raytown. Everybody out here knows it.
ReplyDelete^^^ just another of bLIErons multiple psychotic extreme left wing personalities
ReplyDeleteJOCO too! Even environmentalists preach high density development at any cost!
ReplyDelete6:39 that sounds like some crazy ass shit bLIEron would say, anything out of his mouth is a lie, all day every day.
ReplyDeletePandemics don't come around that often, every hundred years or so. Density is fine and people are free to live in a dense environment if they choose, or live in the country and avoid other people and the problems that come with it. There is a trade off. Different strokes for different folks.
ReplyDeleteNo more sporting events either. Can't have 80K people elbow to elbow at Arrowhead anymore - way too much density.
ReplyDelete