Urbanist Garbage Review: 'Kansas City Built A City We Can't Afford'

Recently, a thoughtful reader forwarded us what seemed like helpful info that might solve all of our problems in KCMO. Sadly, it was just more developer-centric garbage. 

In fact . . . 

The missive might be very much like most of the pseudo-intellectual b.s. that propagates in a world where social media keeps everyone inside a bubble. 

Thankfully, this blog was devised specifically to burst this kind of bubble-headed myopic thinking. 

First problem . . . 

It's hard to take a review of street maintenance seriously when MoDOT isn't factored into the equation. So many busted roads that run through this town are the responsibility of the Show-Me State that mostly treats Kansas City proper like a red-headed stepchild despite our leadership in Missouri population numbers. 

Moreover . . . 

Street maintenance is only one of many things busting Kansas City's budget. 

Anybody who knows even a little about this town's finances understands that unfunded liabilities/pension debt, Accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) & Projected benefit obligation (PBO) are MUCH BIGGER REASONS why this cowtown is going broke quickly. 

Do we have any "amateur urbanists" who want to confront pension probs and not worry about ending up in the trunk of a car somewhere in the East Bottoms?!?

Didn't think so . . .  

Still . . .

We don't want to be a hater and we appropriate locals thinking about the big picture . . . Even if it is the same old clandestine developer cheerleader chant . . . The note is DEFINITELY worth a read and we picked out this very insightful passage to share . . . 

"Today, only about 10% of Kansas City’s developed land generates enough tax revenue to cover its own cost of maintenance The other 90% is effectively subsidized by it. That imbalance is what makes Kansas City unaffordable to operate."

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

Kansas City Built a City We Can't Afford - And How We Might Fix It

For decades, The City of Kansas City, MO has been celebrated as one of America's most affordable and livable cities.