Kansas City Minority Contractors Suffer Northland META Betrayal

For better, worse and always, always for the LULZ . . . We know that many amongst our blog community "aren't too jazzed" about minority requirements for local construction agreements. 

However . . . Because TKC is a secret optimist and champion of the human spirit, we believe . . . 

EVERYONE APPRECIATES YET ANOTHER PEEK AT "PROGRESSIVE" CITY HALL HYPOCRISY ON THE SORDID TOPIC OF COIN!!!

First a glimpse a big money benefits for tech on the nice side of the bridge . . .

City Council members on Thursday unanimously approved a Chapter 100 industrial development plan and bond request that could see $8.2 billion in incentives granted over 37 years to developers of Golden Plains Technology Park, should it achieve its projected scale.

Remember that debate over this META deal and the firing of a 12th & Oak civil rights director targeted the city manager with a great deal of tough talk. 

However . . .  

DESPITE SOCIAL MEDIA THREATS, THE UNANIMOUS VOTE FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL WITHOUT MUCH REGARD FOR MINORITY CONTRACTING GOALS EXPOSES CITY HALL DUPLICITY!!!

Again . . .

Andrea Dorch, formerly one of the highest-ranking Black women at City Hall is on record with her concerns about this project that doesn't live up to expectations. 

Highlights from recent dox regarding provisions for minority contracting requirements . . . 

"According to the report, which was published by Kansas City’s Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity (CREO) department earlier this month, Meta refused to comply with those provisions. But instead of losing its lucrative tax incentives, Meta was allowed to continue the project without issue because Kansas City Council waived the requirements when it executed its contract with the developer.

“The Meta data center is a perfect storm (of) noncompliance and violations of local, state and federal laws for equal opportunity and protection under the law,” the report states.

Nevertheless . . .  

Mayor Q voted for the project without any concern for minority contractors.

Council lady Melissa Robinson signed on after social media tirades that proved meaningless given her vote.

And council dude Eric Bunch plays a progressive on Twitter but doesn't vote that way in real life. 

A bit more behind the scenes conversation . . .

There's now a worthless pledge that Mayor Q & council will "lean" on the project for minority contracting goals . . . But all of the adults in the room realize that's just election season chatter. Over the past four years we've seen Mayor & Council talk a big game and accomplish very little.

Meanwhile, our www.TonysKansasCity.com glimpse at where this story is going . . .

Black & Latino economic & construction leaders are sharing criticism with voters and rival candidates explaining that promises from Mayor & Council members pandering to minority communities are worthless.

Ironically . . . Rampant and worsening distrust of city hall seems to unite Kansas City residents across demographic lines. 

Developing . . .