Kansas City 'Zero Fare' Hypocrisy Explained

This week, without much fanfare . . . Our local progressive activists demanded the continuation of freebie bus rides despite safety & cost concerns of frequent riders and the bus driver's union. 

This callous bit of advocacy inspires two questions from our vantage.

Let's make them loud & clear . . .

WHAT KIND OF MONSTER WOULD DEMAND "ZERO FARE" HAZARD IN A CITY THAT JUST BROKE YET ANOTHER HOMICIDE RECORD?!?!

Again . . . 

This "progressive" view merely dismisses the valid concerns of so many people who have explained that freebie bus rides have degraded service and made the bus more dangerous for everyone. 

Secondly . . . 

WOULDN'T BE EASIER TO CHARGE FOR THE STREETCAR THAN SUBSIDIZE FREEBIE BUS RIDES FOR OFTEN UNRULY HOMELESS VAGRANTS?!?!?

Municipal politics is about priorities. 

For most reasonable people . . . Public safety is the top priority. Sadly, many "zero fare" advocates prize illusory "social justice" concerns over the safety of bus riders.

And that mistake has brought us to this impasse.

Here's a recent update on the sitch . . .

"Might this mean the end of zero fare? That depends on whether the Kansas City Transportation Authority can close a $10 million gap with new funding from local, state and federal sources. They have no assurance that the money to keep rides free will be there in 2025.

"The KCATA made that clear late last year when it raised the possibility of needing to reinstate fares, which led to a groundswell of public support for keeping transit free."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Kansas City won acclaim for free bus fares, but the money's drying up. Who will pay now?

Kansas City's zero fare bus policy was supposed to be fully funded with local dollars, but no one ever crafted a plan to sustain it.

Developing . . .