Contact and Tips
Yahoo Upcoming KC Events- Nov 22, 2008: Mudvayne at Uptown Theater
- Dec 12, 2008: Buddy Guy at Uptown Theater
- Nov 22, 2008: At the Left Hand of God at Hurricane
- Nov 23, 2008: Parking: Game #6 at Arrowhead Stadium
- Nov 28, 2008: Nug Life Crew's Having A Party at Mike's Tavern
- Nov 28, 2008: Shooting Star at Ameristar Casino-KC
- Dec 5, 2008: KC Magazine's Sexy Singles Auction at Uptown Theater
- Dec 31, 2008: New Years Eve With Dread Zepplin at Knuckleheads Saloon
- Dec 10, 2008: Night the Buzz Stole Xmas at The Midland by AMC
- Dec 6, 2008: Brody Buster Band at Mike's Tavern
Apr
5
Stadiums, Yes. Roof, No.
April 5, 2006 |
Question 1 passed throughout the county, while Question 2 surprisingly failed in the E-Jack. But with the close margin on #2 we’ll be sure to see the Rolling Pringle back on the ballot, likely in August or November.
“I think the campaign struck the right balance between keeping the teams and the subtle threat that they might leave.” - Steve Glorioso
Comments
50 Comments so far
How stupid can people in this city be? Then Hunt Oil, I mean Lamar, was greedy enough to still ask for the roof! The same people that voted yes for this are the same people that think the US are bringing “peace” to rest of the world. Steve Goloriso, “gee can I get on Hillary’s coattails and move to DC’ and his Stalinist tactics, of “annoyed” with bloggers. At least the the rolling roof did get defeated, that means the JOCO morons will have closed in luxury boxes, but will still have to deal with rain, like the rest of us commoners. Let’s see, KC school district sucks, we have rampant crime (yes, even in Independence and Blue Springs), and do you think companies are going to move to KC just because we have below average sports teams?
What a bunch of whiners. Its all somebody elses fault. Get over your JoCo envy and get a life.
Envy? What the hell is there to envy in Johnson County?
High taxes? Traffic congestion? Intolerance? Failing schools? Yes, even the legendary Joco schools are coming apart. The state is determined to destroy them, and the precious Shawnee Mission district is facing a downward spiral of falling enrollment, falling incomes, and rising taxes.
Why envy Joco when you can get the same McMansion in the Northland for less money, along with less congestion, lower taxes, and equal or better schools??
That’s ok Buchanan, if you are stupid enough to let these politicians “pick” your pocket, more power. I just hope your children have a better quality of living, when they get to the point of finding a job and raising children. But, when the sewers go, and they pass a tax, the roads need paving, and they pass a tax, and the police need more money, they pass a tax, who is going to be able to afford to live here?
Maybe we’re just stupid enough to get what we deserve: Shitty leadership, shitty schools, shitty government services, shitty infrastructure …
All so we can “keep” our mediocre teams, subsidize the suburbanites leisure time, and build vanity projects. Stupid is as stupid does.
I ain’t paying for the Truman Sports Complex renovations. The schools, although not as good as they once were, still beat the heck out of those in Jackson county. I’ll worry about my own children. As for my leisure time, I spend my time and money where I live. Haven’t been to the sports complex in ages. Not likely to spend my money in Jackson Co. anytime soon either. Enjoy your declining property values. Mine have tripled and my taxes remain quite reasonable. For the record, not everyone in Johnson County lives in a McMansion. Maybe if the great minds of Jackson county had a plan to develop the area directly around the Truman Sports complex (ala Wyandotte County and the race track) they wouldn’t have to beg their neighbors to fund their leisure activities.
WTF is it with this false belief that all of Jackson County has bad schools? 75% of the county is outside of the KCMO school district, 55% of it is outside the KCMO city limits. Independence, Lee’s Summit, and Blue Springs all have top shelf school systems that now outrank Shawnee Mission.
It’s KCMO’s schools that stink to high heaven quality-wise. Thus why alot of parents want their children to go to Lee’s Summit, Independence, and Blue Springs, etc.
Least Wyandotte county didn’t have to grovel for public funds in the way that Lamar et al has done. Also, many of those private businesses in Village West pay their own leases out of their own pocket.
I live a few miles directly south of there and it’s booming like crazy. Our property taxes aren’t too bad. (I don’t know personally about houses, but the property tax for my car is relatively low).
Shawnee Mission is hardly all of the public school systems in Johnson County. At the very least, no JoCo schools are fighting accreditation problems.
William, I haven’t heard of any JoCo schools (least in the immediate metro area) with accreditation issues either.
So now get ready for the Sports backed Shields for Mayor campaign. Remember this started with Shields giving away the naming rights before the BI-State election. It will end with her in Kays seat giving away the rest of the City to the special interests.
Maybe Johnson County isn’t so bad a place to live after all.
i hear denver is nice this time of year. hmm.
Yes Shields will be back as Mayor, count on it. Yael and the rest of her Star cronies will have their lips planted on her substantial rear, just as they endorsed Emanuel for the House even after he ran KC’s finances into the ground and failed to pay taxes on a business he owned. Oh well, at least we are a MAJOR LEAGUE CITY!!!! The 12,000 fans at every Royals game will have comfort by Gawd!
LOL… Shields as Mayor? I have to wipe down my desk from laughing so hard.
If she doesn’t go to jail, first. Which is where she belongs.
Leave it to the voters to implement the WORST possible scenario. Millions of dollars for renovations and NO roof. It seems especially curious since most of the ads were promoting the roof and nothing else.
It must have been the dimwits who thought that we needed to Save Our Teams™. However, the only thing that has been saved is money from David Glass and Lamar Hunt’s pocketbooks.
I was hoping that if the people of Jackson Co were stupid enough to pass this idiotic measure, at least it might end up getting a few cool things for KC: Super Bowl, All-Star Game, etc. But, they managed to throw away a ton of their own money and NOT get any real benefits.
I just wonder how long it will take before we find out what these owners are REALLY going to spend all this money on. Since the money is supposed to be for updating the infrastruture (plumbing, electrical, bathrooms, etc), my guess is this money will be spent more on building crap that makes the teams more money! (Seriously, do the Royals need an AMPITHEATER?!?)
Maybe next we can tell Jackson County to vote Yes for a Road Improvement tax, or the county will outlaw the driving of 70s era muscle cars. They could call the campaign “Save our Camaros!”
Just kidding!
I am glad that question 2 failed. I am surprised that question 1 passed. In an incorrect world, at least we have that much less money to worry about. Can you envision the upcoming scenario… our beloved if really old Charlie Wheeler becomes County Executive, (thanks to Shields finally taking her leave) and Henry Rizzo retains his Chairmanship of the County Legislature, (thanks Al Riederer for NOTHING!) and here comes the redoubtable Rev. Tindall, fresh from his stint in the Federal Penitentiary. Wake up Charlie, the foxes are in the coop, led there by Glorioso. Why, oh, why doesn’t Glorioso do his civic duty and move back to New Orleans? Oh but wait, I worry needlessly, the biggest bore ever to hit City Council has left and is now in charge of the Jackson County Sports Authority. You do remember Jim “I wish I was a Jesuit” Rowland? He so much wants to be taken a thinker, too bad he is who he is.
I think there should be toll roads on every major road from KS into MO in the KC metro region. Every time a JO resident needs to 1) use the airport, 2) go to a local place with some high culture (a la the Plaza, the Nelson-Atkins, the Symphony, Ballet, Lyric Opera, or attend a theater that doesn’t feature a burger and fries as its main attraction), or 3) go to some local places with folk or pop culture ( i.e. the Stadiums, 18th and Vine, Westport, Downtown Arena, Worlds of Fun) they can pay us a dollar or two on their way here, and if they have a JO (Jack Off) KS tag on their car, they can pay us a dollar or two on their way back. They can just consider it the price they pay for living over that rainbow in the beautiful land of OZ. And in case you might forget over there - ITS KANSAS - NOT CHICAGO, NYC, LA, WASHINGTON DC - ITS KANSAS. Loose the Pretentious Attitude!! Geeze.
eeerrr LOSE the pretentious attitude too I meant! How anti-Climactic of me! Geeze!
Okay, as a form of self-torture, I read the Star column of that idiot Yael Abouhalkah. He is celebrating the tax passing, and talking shit on anyone who opposed it. His talking points are: A) Jackson County took the high ground and did what Johnson County wouldn’t, so they owe us. Yes Yael, we really showed them…bend over, they are going to pay us back for it. B)Katheryn Shields is a great leader and not a political hack who just secured millions in patronage. This is the same guy who called Steve Glorioso “straight forward.” He also talked about how poor Katheryn had to withstand anonymous web sites mocking her. Only this moron could make the people who spent millions look like the underdogs. C) Thank God we avoided an expensive Downtown stadium and this is a better deal than the 1990 lease agreement. Um..Yael, you opposed the Downtown idea, saying at the time that the teams would settle for $80 million in improvements (rrrrright!) which was all the leases required. After worrying so much about costs downtown, you grabbed your ankles in style for Lamar and David. Also, Yael supported the 1990 lease agreement, as did the Star Editorial Board…see Yael, some readers do not have alzheimers yet.
Whee… the SOB campaign wanting to shove the roof question down our throats again in August or November. If I lived in Jackson County or if it comes up to a bi-state vote, I’ll be pushing it back out the other end voting no against it.
Yep…. JOCO envy at its best. All you want is our money. Guess we’ve already forgoten the BiState tax issues. Still they want more.
ChrisM70’s comment about us Jaxco voters choosing the WORST possible scenario is absolutely spot on. Leave it to the idiots to not only pass a regressive tax that hurts us the most, but also shoot down the one aspect of the deal that could actually have created some financial benefit.
As I’ve always said, nobody ever lost a dime betting against the intelligence of Jackson County voters.
The thing that burns me the most is that even though the cards are stacked against the possibility, there is the hope that civic leaders, politicians, businessmen, and corporations could all be held accountable for their actions. But who hold voters responsible for theirs? 20 years from now, when the Chiefs and Royals are gone, and downtown KC is a wasteland because of all of this frivolous spending on credit, who gets to answer for that?
And yes, I’m for building a 20′ wall around KCMO and charging everyone who wants to enter for any reason. Of course, I also support the annexation of KCK, Eastern Wyandotte, and Northern Johnson County into KCMO and making them start paying their fair share into the community. Imagine a giant wall around the I-435 loop. Then we can secede from the union! Go city-state!
Bob Asher and ChrisM70’s comments are exactly right. You cut off your nose to spite your face. The roof would not have been directly paid for by the residents, the roof would have created the events that would put some money into the local hotels, restaurants, bars, stores, gas stations and casinos, a portion of the naming rights for the roof would have gone to local charity, and so on and so on….
The smart vote, if you were against the stadium renovations, would have been NO on #1 and YES on #2. If #1 failed you would have got what you wanted. If #1 passed anyway at least you would have gotten the benefits of the roof. But then again, as was mentioned by previous posts, no one has ever accused the voters of Jackson County of thinking things through.
If you are smart now you will negotiate a better deal with the owners and get it back on the ballot quickly so you can recognize some of the benefits.
It is also funny, and indicative of the scattered thoughtless masses in Jackson County, that they want to somehow blame this on Johnson County. I live in the northland and love to watch the feud – but again, you are so focused on your inferiority complex with Johnson County that you can’t make your own bed as comfortable as you want it to be. Wyandotte County simply put their nose to the grindstone and figured out how to get more Johnson County (and other metro counties) to spend their money in Wyandotte County. Jackson County acts like other people coming into their county to spend money is a bad thing. Go figure.
When you guys build that wall, do you promise to pay for it by imposing yet another tax on yourselves? That would be wonderful.
BTW, nice work on proving every smug JoCo snob correct: why should we pay for “renovations” to the stadiums when the idiots in Jackson County will bend over all by themselves.
Just so we’re clear, the County explained before the vote that if the roof passed, but the renovations failed, that NEITHER would be done. So voting just for the roof would have been a hollow victory.
What you people in JOCO forget is the “urban” core affect you and you should give a damn. What happens when little Johnny’s parents get tired of the KC school district and move to Indep, Lee Summit, and Shawnee schools? Your little Ashley doesn’t get the attention from her teacher, because Johnny needs extra help. Then you don’t have the funding from the state, so your teacher/student ratio is screwed. So little Ashley is now on the 6-7 year KU program, instead of 4-5, like the rest of her peers. The Hallmark (whose TIF is more likely about ready to expire at Crown Center) decides there is not enough culture (museums or theater), educated employees, and tired of crime seeping into the Crown Center. They move to Denver or Minneapolis, where the citizen in all areas give a damn. (Oops, there goes you triple appreciation on your home. When other cities homes have quadrupled, JOCO has been stagnant for the past five years) Has anyone bothered to ask why execs at Sprint are in Reston,leased buildings, not at a 2/3’s full, wholly owned campus in OP? Surely, the good citizen of JOCO can come up with some prop tax or sales tax to build something comparable to Lincoln Center? Or, no, let’s get the poor bastards in the urban core to pay for it, since they will never use it nor can afford to even buy a ticket.
Perhaps it is because we in JoCo have cared about the city core. We’ve been bailing out Jackson Co. for years. Will Jackson Co. do the same when the tide turns? Thjanks for nothing.
Yea, JOCO has a airport, stadiums, museums. No, you have done nothing except shop on the plaza. That’s okay Buchanan, when you start cry because your mortgage is more than worth of your house, (Denver 85-86, LA 90-95) you will probably still have that pompous attitude. Tell me when Sprint goes through another series of layoffs, how great life is. Since you neither shop here, go see the musuems, go to the stadium, hell you may not even fly anywhere. I would not want to be like Mr Gloriso, your neighbor in Leawood, and limit your insightful comments (free speech)on this blog. But maybe you should start an OP Blog, you don’t really have a dog in this fight.
I am from Johnson County and I love the fact that there is so much development going on in KC. When everything is said and done…money from Johnson County residents will be pouring into KC. Can’t we all find some common ground and stop the KC/JOCO bashing?
Who needs a mortgage?
As for the Plaza… Isn’t it one of the highest crime areas in Jackson County? Personally, I prefer to shop locally. About the only thing that draws me across the state line (other than the airport) is the jazz and that is sadly a disappearing commodity. Jackson county needs Johnson county a lot more than the other way around.
William, the Plaza isn’t even on the radar screen for crime in KC. Where did that come from? The crime stats are published regularly by the police department if you’d care to check your theory. I am still amazed at the mindset in Kansas City, though I have now lived here for 20+ years. Whenever someone from out-of-town takes a swipe, people stand up for all that is good in KC: liveability, costs, highways, blahblahblah. Whenever there is an internal discussion though, people from Kansas have nothing good at all to say about KC. What’s that about? You don’t hear people from Lake Forest bashing Chicago, or Nassau bashing NYC. I live in KCMO and accept it’s shortcomings. I don’t care if you don’t want to live here, get over it. Before you go off about how Johnson County was attacked first on this site, understand that KC is bashed regularly by suburbanites and we are just expected to suck it up. Whenever anyone makes an aside about traffic, sprawl, or people not chipping in for metrowide attractions, you get all pissy instead of just saying “okay don’t live here then,” as we do to you.
The fact that he only comes into Kansas City for the airport says it all. If Johnson County doesn’t need KCMO, then why didn’t huge development spring up in Salina, Goodland, or Fort Scott? Why only next door to KCMO? I am just guessing here, but maybe, just maybe, people can live in Johnson County and still enjoy the amenities offered by KCMO, which was originally posted and got you all up in a knot. Tell me that (after braving the scary crime-ridden streets between your home and KCI) when you travel to other parts of the country, you don’t tell people that you are from Kansas City. Also, it’s true that crime is actually low on the Plaza. Sorry William, but seeing black people in the area and the crime rate are not related.
Check the crime rates again. The crime statistics show that the Plaza is not as safe as you would have us believe. The JoCo …. er I mean the KC Star and the city leaders keep that fact well covered up. Please don’t imply a prejudice where there is none. I never said a thing about race nor have I stated a fear for my safety from the residents of Jackson County. That is your Fruedian slip. How about that Sprint Center. Lots of hope but only one relatively real tenant so far. How many games have the Brigade won so far? I can shop at Town Center Plaza and get the same brand names as I could on the Plaza. What other ammenities are you talking about? The pot holes in the streets? Why should I hock my home for “ammenities” I neither use or need. That seems to be the methodology of KCMO and Jackson County. Good luck with it.
Cheeseandrice People! Why are you trying to argue with William - KCMO needs JOCO’s residents to come to the attractions and spend money and JOCO needs KCMO attractions to keep attracting people who have money. Why we bicker like this is beyond me.
Of course, you are right, MARC. But I must make but a few more points.
re: Plaza crime. I believe that the immediate area has one of the highest smash & grab rates in town. It is a matter of opportunity. One need not be a rocket scientist to figure this out. But these ‘non-violent’ crimes don’t sell papers or TV ad time. Any way you look at the data, I’m safer in Johnson County.
Like I said Buch, OP Blog. You can complain about how dogs are crapping on the bike trails and there is not Starbucks on every corner. My guess is you have a zone, between College and 151st, to State Line to Antioch. Lord knows, you would never go to the Walmart at State Line & 135th. You would have to talk to the greeter that only makes $7 per hour. And, you would have to pay a KCMO sales tax, that contributes to a city and stadium that you never use. Marc, the point is that Jackson county cannot afford a stadium, renovations or upkeep. (See the 30sec clock going out at Chiefs games) I say build it in WY, by the raceway. Parking, restaurants, and hell, you can even buy a new fishing rod. Even Desoto munitions plant, never really liked that OZ idea. And, I was wrong before, there is a museum in KS. Not in JOCo, WY, Ag Hall of Fame. Twisting, yes twisting history of barb wire. And the history of farm implements, puts a shame to the Smithsonian. I’m sure tourist drive right past Cabelas and the racetrack to see that one.
Jackson County (KCMO) has a much larger population than Johnson County. Why is it that this huge population must rely on income from Johnson County. Instead of trying to insult me try to convince me that I’m missing something of real value. You mention Cabellas. How come Jackson County can’t replicate Wyandotte County’s success around the sports complex. That has nothing to do with Johnson County, merely the ineptness of the chosen leadership of Jackson County. BTW, I live quite a bit north of College Blvd and west of Antioch. No McMansions in my neighborhood.
As for starting my own blog… My interests could hardly be contained by such snide suggestions so supplied. Believe it or not, I DO care about the city core. But when met with such vitriol from so many Jackson countians I am hardly encouraged that all that is really wanted of mine in Jackson County is my money.
You should’ve mentioned that NEITHER THE MAYOR, GLASS, OR HUNT COULD VOTE FOR THIS! Maybe you should poke fun at that, instead of Johnson County. And also, you should realize that some of your MO friends in Clay, Platte, and Cass counties can all say the same thing in that dumb cartoon. And besides all the other counties (except Jackson) shut down the Bi-State 2 tax. That should tell you something. My point is, Johnson County should not be the only county poked at. There are plenty of counties on the MO side that went against Jackson County. To the creator of this blog, this whole “make fun of the Kansas side” thing is not helping with making Kansas City one Metro area, you’re just dividing it more.
Amen, Andrew, Amen!
Interesting post on Greg Reeves’ Crime Scene blog re: crime on the plaza. Pretty much supports my theory about the crime rate in that area of town.
Uh William…I am a KC cop assigned to the Plaza District. The crime rate is low there, end of story. It is lower than any area of the city with an equal daytime population. Is there crime on the Plaza? Yes. Is there crime in St. Peter’s Square in Rome? Yes. Is there crime at Oak Park Mall? Yes. Is there crime anyplace where people gather in large numbers? Yes again. There is simply not an overwhelming amount of crime on the Plaza. You have made the claim several times, now quote your source. I would say that if you are the kind of person who lets crime keep you away from the Plaza (or all of KCMO, didn’t you say?), then I assume you also refuse to ever visit New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, etc. You must be a real blast to hang out with.
Most other areas of town lack the amount of private security. Made the claim only twice. I never said it was overwhelming just that it is underreported and higher than city leaders would have us believe. Maybe a chat with Louis Duiguid would help. He rightfully points out that you are safer at 18th & Vine despite its ill-deserved reputation because of its locality in the city. Never claimed that crime kept me away from KCMO or the Plaza. You are simply reading too much into my comments. I love NY but I don’t ride the subway at night. *shrugs* And as more than one poster has indicated, plenty of the non-violent crime on the Plaza is never reported. What is the typical cop presence on the Plaza as opposed to other, less affluent areas nearby. As for reference, I already provided Grteg Reeves blog post re: this very subject. Maybe it is easier to look the other way on the Plaza. And what about the vandalism to the Chinees statue there on the creek. That must have happened on some elses shift.
William, you better look over your shoulder or you might hurt yourself while back-peddling like that. You said the Plaza had one of the highest crime rates in KC. I simply said that it was not the case. I never said anything about it being crime free, or that there were mitigating factors like a high officer presence that could effect potential crime. Now you are babbling about statue vandalism…okayyyy and your point is what? Kids vandalizing statues scares you from the Plaza, fine, whadevah. We have come a long way from the “one of the highest crime rates” claim you initially made. I see now that you are one of those guys who posts on blog comment sites 24/7 and I have no interest in having a 100+ comment chain going here, so I’m gone. Share your wisdom with those who remain.
He really is backing up a lot. We are reading too much into your comments? You never said crime kept you away from the Plaza?
William M. Buchanan, III Says:
April 7th, 2006 at 10:00 am
As for the Plaza… Isn’t it one of the highest crime areas in Jackson County? Personally, I prefer to shop locally. About the only thing that draws me across the state line (other than the airport) is the jazz and that is sadly a disappearing commodity.
Are you bi-polar or are three different people posting under your name?
Are you trying to be an ass? Not back-pedaling, just filling out the calculus for those of you who aren’t as quick on the uptake but so quickly insulted, (not to mention that cop superioritry mentality.) If you can’t contropl the youthful vandals how are you gonna take of the hoodlums with guns?
I always have terrible trouble with comment-related plugins that require me to put some line in the comment loop; I can never seem to find the right spot. Can anyone tell me where I should put the php line in my comments loop? I haven not modified anything much, and I would be very grateful. Thanks!