Jun

21

Kansan in charge if KCMO’s incentives policy

June 21, 2007 | 6 Comments

Mayor Funkhouser made the abuse of tax breaks a central theme of his campaign, and it propelled him to victory. So, a task force to reform the city’s economic development policy is one of his most important acts early in the term.  But in a bizarre move the mayor has appointed Johnson County resident Bill Haw as the chair of this task force.

So, a Kansan is in charge of deciding how to use the very the tax breaks that KCMO uses to compete for business with places like Johnson County.  Isn’t that kindof like appointing a convicted felon to the Police Commission?

Categories: Business, KC Mayor, Politics


Comments

6 Comments so far

  1. Frank on June 21, 2007 8:00 am

    F@*# KANSAS and all the poeple that live there.

    PS. You guys drive like shit.

  2. DaveKCMO on June 21, 2007 11:59 am

    maybe it’s political genius? ever heard of olive branches? but you’re right, it does seem a bit odd. maybe you should email him a couple of questions about the appointment and see if he (or gloria) responds?

  3. Heidi on June 21, 2007 12:51 pm

    More info from the linked article to flesh this out: “The chairman is Bill Haw, who lives in Johnson County, but he restored the Livestock Exchange Building in the West Bottoms and has been a Kansas City businessman for decades. He said that he had never taken any tax incentives and that the past administration went too far with its development deals, without being straightforward with the public.”

  4. Tony on June 21, 2007 5:32 pm

    Holy Snap!!!!!!!

    Awesome find and I agree with the original post.

    It just doesn’t smell right.

    Smells Funky!!!

  5. mainstream on June 22, 2007 9:42 pm

    I think Heidi has a relevant point. If Haw has done a ton of business in KC proper, that gives him some level of credibility.

    And moreso if he’s done considerable development without tax breaks…

  6. Tim KC/OP ex-pat in Indiana on June 28, 2007 8:12 pm

    As someone who grew up in KC, Overland Park to be exact, I check in on KC happenings via the media and blogs now and then. I am glad to see Mr. Haw restored the Livestock Exchange Building and is now helping KCMO in other ways.

    I am sad to see that the usual resentment across the state line is alive and well in some people. That invisible Berlin Wall must not allow the advancement of greater Kansas City, with Kansas City, Missouri as its core. When people ask me what my hometown is I say, PROUDLY, Kansas City, not Overland Park. Though I am glad for the opportunties I had growing up in JoCo., I always valued the whole area. Kansas City is a great place and the more you all work together, the better it can become.

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