SHAME!!! MAYOR & COUNCIL APPROVE SPENDING $25 MILLION FOR NORTHLAND SOCCER COMPLEX WHILST CORONAVIRUS BUSTS KANSAS CITY BUDGET!!!
Today Mayor & Council committed one of the most financially irresponsible misdeeds in Kansas City history during an economic crisis that's just getting started.
To wit . . .
WHEN KANSAS CITY GOES BANKRUPT, REMEMBER THAT CITY HALL SPENT $25 MILLION ON SOCCER WHEN EVERYBODY KNEW THERE WAS A BUDGET CRISIS!!!
As we noted earlier this week, there is no bailout from Missouri or the Feds coming -- A readers noted, given this kind of spending, economic help from above would probably be immoral.
Accordingly, KCMO is on the road to bankruptcy with a budget that has been structurally unbalanced for almost a decade and now will face horrific unemployment, evictions long with a worsening crime spike.
Here's a glimpse at willful political ignorance regarding these facts . . .
"Kansas City will chip in $25 million for a $43 million tournament-quality soccer complex in the Northland, a project advocates herald as bringing much-needed fields north of the river.
The City Council voted 9-3 on Thursday to issue special obligation bonds next spring. Katheryn Shields, Eric Bunch and Ryana Parks-Shaw opposed the measure . . . On the other hand, Councilman Dan Fowler supported the complex, pointing to what he said would be $250 million in investment from private developers near the facility, plus more than 50,000 hotel room nights each year."
More info here for subscribers . . .
KC Biz Journal: City Council greenlights $25M for Northland soccer complex
Developing . . .
Sounds like fun times.
ReplyDeleteWill there be a discount on hospital stays?
This is bad but I always thought the convention hotel was the last nail in the coffin when it came to bankruptcies.
DeleteNext up, increases in water bills.
DeleteSo much momentum!
Wow, just wow.
ReplyDeleteWhy did Brandon Ellington vote yes?
ReplyDeleteThere's no reason that anybody but Dan Fowler should be voting yes. I get that he's advocating for his district but everybody else deserves to be voted out of office for this.
DeleteBecause Dan Fowler and Brandon have a bromance.
DeleteThose who are fiscally responsible see the the cliff coming, and work to apply the brakes or turn the wheel before the bus flies over the edge. Those who are not fiscally responsible never want the party to end, and keep on the gas until destruction is assured. It's obvious which group most of KC's leaders are in.
ReplyDeleteE-tax and sales tax revenue are plummiting, tourism is all but dead for the next 18-24 months, the shortfalls on city-backed projects are about to explode, and we're writing new checks.
Business as usual even when things ain't usual.
ReplyDeleteTypical worthless democrats try them all for treason and execute them, worthless mentally ill scumbags
ReplyDeleteVote NO on the regressive fire safety sales tax.
ReplyDeleteFor once, the Northland actually getting something in return for the zillions in taxes they've paid to KC.
ReplyDeleteGood news!
Bullshit. You got your streets free.
DeleteNo, it’s bad news. I’m a Northlander and want our part of the city to have amenities, but the City doesn’t have the money for this. Bad idea.
DeleteNo one should be surprised. The engineers for this project, Olssen & Assoc., are part of the Sporting team and have a lock on City projects. With a former 4th District Councilwoman on their staff, the most recent former Parks & Rec Director also on their staff, and the head of their KC office a former member of the TIF Commission, Olssen is in tight with the City Council and staff. Add the glitter and glamour of Sporting and that feel-good Council narcissism of a signature project and you have a “yes” vote on an ill-conceived project the City simply cannot afford.
ReplyDeleteYet we have a hiring freeze at City Hall, a budget disaster and unforeseen issues due to COVID-19, and an upcoming Fire Safety Sales Tax vote (but no efforts made to cure the out-of-control KCFD overtime). So let’s go borrow tens of millions for soccer. Just don’t forget to put aside funds for operating shortfall and deferred maintenance. The City tends to forget that part.
Kansas City residents ripped off again.
ReplyDeleteWho will buy worthless bonds?
ReplyDeleteThere's an ass for every saddle.
DeleteCouncil turns KC credit into junk. Is this emergency spending?
ReplyDeleteNope, just more political back scratching.
And they want more money for the streetcar too. Why even have a budget when KC isn't ready to follow it?
ReplyDeleteWe don't need soccer stadiums in the Northland, we need sidewalks and better streets!
ReplyDeleteI think someone should point out that 6:43 is a mentally ill scumbag.
ReplyDelete"50,000 hotel room nights each year"?
That's funny.
I think someone should point out that you are profoundly retarded.
DeleteEveryone already knows Byron is a retard, but it is always worth repeating.
DeleteSomeone should point it out? Fuck Dood, do you do anything for yourself? Go ahead the floor is yours!!.
DeleteVote NO on the regressive fire safety sales tax increase.
ReplyDeleteSpeeches, selfies, press conferences, and spending.
ReplyDeleteThe Lucas administration is off to a typical KCMO government start.
Next we'll be hearing that Cleaver DEMANDS federal money to bail our "his" city.
And each decision is driven by a little narrowly-focused special group for their own benefit without any though by the electeds as to how each "project" impacts the overall city, its budget, or taxpayers.
The financial death of a thousand cuts.
That much money for a game only homosexuals and third-world countries care about?
ReplyDeleteTURD district council people voted for this?
ReplyDeleteAre they counting on the FED?
ReplyDeleteThe project has been in the works for years and is well planned and well funded. The kids will play soccer, good economy or bad economy. There is a segment of society that does get out of the house. The Northland will be the next 100,000 citizens in Kansas City while south of the river will be neutral. The timing of the vote isn't good but the project has been in the works for years.
ReplyDeleteYou’re full of it. This project is a vanity project and is NOT “well funded” at all. It’s all borrowed money. And it will be managed by Sporting who also manages the soccer complex in Swope Park that loses hundreds of thousands of dollars every year and needs hundreds of thousands more in deferred maintenance. Get your facts straight before you comment.
DeleteKatherine Shields and Eric bunch both voted against this, not on its merits but simply because it is located in the Northland.
ReplyDeleteJust to give you a hint of their value as City Councilpersons, 20+% (i.e. more than one in five) of the Kansas City Residents that the two of them are supposed to be representing LIVE IN THE NORTHLAND!
These two are probably the worst elected officials currently in Office in the Metro area!
Both 3rd district council voted for the soccer field. They need to be recalled.
ReplyDeleteShields & Bunch understand that the Northland’s sprawled infrastructure is massively subsidized by south of the River taxpayers. When this project goes bust because the sales tax projections are dramatically overestimated, Fowler will be long gone and probably working for Olssen!
ReplyDeleteSuckers!!!!! Keep voting Democrat!
ReplyDeleteComparing this complex to Swope is a terrible take. Many clubs will not schedule games at Swope simply because of the location...my daughter hasn't played a game there for three seasons. It was a vanity project, attempting to create demand by building infrastructure, and its failing as a result. This project is bringing infrastructure to the demand, as any good business model would.
ReplyDeleteThere are several large clubs based in the Northland which will practice and host games there, comprised of hundreds of families that are currently spending their money in Kansas while attending those practices and games at Scheels, OSC and WSF. This will make money, and more in the future as the Northland grows.