Kansas City ICE Detention Cancellation: Winners & Losers

This week in Kansas City, the sordid topic of ongoing American mass deportation of illegal/undocumented immigrants and a proposed detention facility finally reached critical mass. 

For now, developers have halted the sale of a warehouse for an ICE detention center under rising public pressure.  

But, per ushe, the politics of the debate is far more important than real estate speculation that ALWAYS turns out to be wrong. 

And so we ask . . .

WHO STAYS WINNING AND/OR LOSING IN THE AFTERMATH OF THIS KANSAS CITY ICE MEGA JAIL SLAP FIGHT?!?

 We have a few suggestions to start . . . 

WINNERS

Jackson County Legislature Chair Manny Abarca - In the span of about two and a half weeks Abarca erased criticism from progressive white ladies and became a champion of their favorite pet cause. Even better for his political future, progressive media have embraced the young elected official as a grassroots leader with the ability to rally locals to his cause. Despite longstanding critics, there's no doubt that Legislator Manny Abarca gained the most from this exchange. 

Mayor Q - Not to be outdone, Mayor Q garnered national news coverage and a leadership position with the Democratic Party amid his ICE opposition and "moratorium" against the proposed facility. Without breaking a sweat, Mayor Q pushed to the forefront of the discussion and scored a decisive political victory. 

Congressman Mark Alford - Some might call it a push because the conservative congressman supports the MAGA mass deportation agenda but in this instance he seemed pragmatic and quickly proposed Cass County as an alternative for federal investment and jobs. 

Alternatively . . . 

LOSERS

Developers Terry and Ryan Anderson - The Brookside bros likely took the biggest reputational hit and it must be disheartening to garner so much success and still have broke-ass journalists act like they can push you around . . . Newsies even attempted to turn their church against them which might have been one of the most self-righteous flexes in local memory. But, in the end they gave up and gave in . . . Which their biz associates will also remember. Bright side: The vast majority of locals will forget them by the end of the weekend. 

PortKC - This defeat stung the shady development agency which now counts progressives amongst their critics amid so many sketchy deals that are actually much worse than this one. 

Substack Scribe Dan Margolies - The longtime local newsman claimed the ICE facility was a "DONE DEAL" and it's clear he was just speculating. Despite a career spent in local journalism, it seems he didn't have any real connection to breaking news. It's probably not worth calling him out given that he only has a few hundred subscribers after 37 years of reporting . . . BUT we're actually doing a public service by reminding locals that independent online publishing is mostly a waste of time. 

The Warehouse Burning Lady - Arson charges AFTER a controversy is a bad look, it's nearly as bad as getting shot after a war is over. We don't know if she'll ever meet with justice but the attempted destruction was a HORRIBLE DECISION for a situation that seems resolved for the moment.  

As always, our www.TonysKansasCity.com listing is offered merely to inspire readers to share better perspectives in the aftermath of yet another local immigration anticlimax.

You decide . . .