Tax Fighters Pledge Resistance Against Downtown Royals Stadium

We share this word from local tax fighter Preston Smith who has been one of the leading voices amid the current Jackson County Assessment crisis.

Here's why readers should take Preston Smith seriously: Without any campaign funds or even as much as an overwhelming social media presence . . . Mr. Smith and his friends were able to defeat the use tax by way of a word-of-mouth campaign. 

Accordingly, agree or disagree with the sentiments, here at TKC we think the words of this community leader are important:

"After more than a year of waiting, it appears that the KC Royals are going to announce that they want to build a new stadium where the old KC Star building is downtown.

"I think this is the absolute worst location they could have chosen, and one that apparently was not among their original search of locations across the county, or even among the final two they had floated last fall. There is no parking, and it is already hard to get to this spot, with the myriad of twists and turns.  The City of Kansas City already throws millions of tax dollars into the Power & Light district and that is all we need is another black hole to subsidize.

"Let me make this issue real clear for everybody, saying what we all already know: This new stadium is not needed because Kauffman is in disrepair. Each year Kansas City-based Burns & McDonnell does a complete evaluation of the stadium and its structural stability. Here is a link to see all their reports. Bottom line: Kauffman is just fine, inside and out.

"The only reason Royals owner Sherman wants to move the stadium is, seemingly, to create this massive 'destination' where non-baseball fans can go to high-class restaurants and supposedly spend a day shopping and spending lots of money. If they happen to buy a ticket to see a sub-par baseball game, even better. The Royals don't want true baseball fans who have supported the team all their lives, and live outside the urban core, to come ever to another game. They are writing most of us off because we wouldn't come and drop a few hundred dollars in liquor, food and Gucci shoes.

"I was one of the few people in Jackson County who fought this tax publicly in 2006 and I will stand up against it again, today, more than ever. The only reason the word "Chiefs" is mentioned in the ballot language is to try to balance the bad taste in our mouths that Sherman has left as a result of his clumsy press statements and awful public town halls. Don't be fooled. This tax is 100% about the Royals. The Chiefs are happy in Arrowhead and would never leave."

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