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Sep
15
A tainted debut
September 15, 2007 | 18 Comments
This fall was supposed to be a coming out party of sorts for the city and our rehabbed Downtown. Unfortunately that plan is quickly unraveling. The Power and Light District has been delayed until spring, and now we are becoming the center of impending immigration showdown. The Star reports that the Minuteman vigilante group has decided to hold it’s first-ever national convention in KC, in response to criticism over Minuteman member and Parks Commissioner Francis Semler.
It’s really quite amazing how big this disaster is becoming simply because the mayor is apparently too stubborn to admit he made a mistake by not properly vetting Semler’s appointment and then refusing to reconsider it.
Categories: KC Mayor, Politics
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What a disgrace. Way to go, Funk. This is going to sink his popularity in a strongly progressive city like KC. If this doesn’t get resolved in a good way, I for one won’t vote for him again. Hosting the Minutemen makes the city look really, really baaaaad.
Seems to me some people need to sit down and talk it over. How can people say something about someone who they don’t know.
Get La Raz and J Bond talk to Francis and see if they feel the same or just out to get their mane in the paper.
Tim on September 16, 2007 8:09 am
This is going to sink his popularity in a “strongly progressive city like KC.”
He He,, strongly progressive city like KC. hahahhaha!!
Larry T on September 16, 2007 9:07 pm
“Get La Raz and J Bond talk to Francis and see if they feel the same or just out to get their mane in the paper.”
I don’t know if that would work. Frances called the cops on the last group of people who tried to talk to her.
And to be fair to Funkhouser, it’s not his fault the Power & Light District has delayed its grand opening until next March. The city won’t see any additional benefits from the Sprint Arena with a shuttered and dark entertainment district.
Kingston, why do you find my comment funny? KC is a progressive city. And no, Funkhouser isn’t responsible for the delay of the Power & Light district. I’m just not happy with the Frances Semler mess, it looks like a no-win situation. Funk never saw it coming, didn’t handle it properly, and now there’s no graceful way out.
Tim, can you define the “progressive” character of Kansas City?
Where’s the disaster? The Cordish delay and the Minutemen-La Raza spat have nothing to do with each other.
Patrick,
There are lots of obvious signs the KC is a progressive city. For over ten years, we’ve had strong anti-discrimination laws that a lot of our contemporaries still don’t have. Look at who we elect: A former mayor, now in Congress, who votes progressive on virtually every issue (and was our first black mayor 15 years ago); a female U.S. Senator who does the same; a State Senator who got elected even though she’s openly gay; a mayor who posed as June Cleaver on a gay pride magazine; vision of the people to revitalize and modernize our city with a new arena and rebirth of downtown and approval of modern transit; one of the top arts communities in the nation and one of the greatest architectural marvels and finest art museums in the world, for starters.
“It’s really quite amazing how big this disaster is becoming simply because the mayor is apparently too stubborn to admit he made a mistake by not properly vetting Semler’s appointment and then refusing to reconsider it.”
Mr. Nelson you just dont get it do you?
The Mayor has actually stood up to the blackmailers who DO NOT live in this city. For once we have an elected official who has the kahonas to put his foot down and not waiver. Stubborn? We NEED more stubborn politicians like Mayor Funkhouser! Leaders who will stand up for whats right and not cave in to every little breeze that comes his way. Thats what good leaders do, they take a stand! Im glad he did.
Let the blackmailers go somewhere else…like their own hometown. At least we have someone who will stand up for the rule of law
Not Tim on September 18, 2007 4:09 pm
“We NEED more stubborn politicians like Mayor Funkhouser! Leaders who will stand up for whats right and not cave in to every little breeze that comes his way. Thats what good leaders do, they take a stand!”
Because that seems to be working for George W. Bush right about now.
Tim,
One, voting Democratic or voting the Democratic Party Line does not make you “progressive.” There is a difference, and I’ll leave it to you to figure that out. Of the politicians you name, only one, Jolie Justus, could even begin to be considered “progressive.”
Two, the fact that it has only been 10 years since “strong” anti-discrimination laws have been in place is a sad indictment not a reason to cheer. Kansas City remains one of the most racially segregated cities in the nation. The town pretty much set the standard for racial covenants in neighborhoods. Any “progress” comes at the expense of services for poorer neighborhoods and vast swaths of the city. And as you’ve demonstrated on other posts, Tim, the average KC mindset isn’t the most “tolerant.”
Third, a thriving downtown is a necessity for the survival of city and not necessarily a new idea. It’ll be nice when it comes to fruition, but it’s also a matter of playing catch up and “me too” with other cities.
Fourth, our stab at modern mass transit is laughable, and comes at the tremendous expense of a workable, but not perfect, existing transit system.
I’ll give you the arts community, including the Nelson Atkins. But you’ll have to elaborate on the architectural “marvel” (don’t say the Sprint Center).
Patrick,
The Bloch addition to the Nelson-Atkins, much maligned by locals, is one of the architectural marvels of the 21st Century according to architects around the world. And sorry, Cleaver, McCaskill, and Justis could never be elected from a city as backward as you percieve KC to be. The term “democratic” came from you, not me. Joe Lieberman they’re not (and he’s from the supposedly progressive East coast). If you think KC is so backward (which it’s not), why continue to live here?
Tim,
It’s clear we’ve exhausted this topic with your “KC: Love it or leave it!” argument. So this’ll be my last comment on the topic.
If you’ll notice, Tim, I never said KC was “backwards.” (Independence is, however.) I just took exception to your characterization that the city is “strongly progressive.” It’s not my fault you can’t back up your assertions when challenged.
Kansas City has its charms. It’s fairly inexpensive, there’s enough going on to keep most people occupied and I guess it could pass as nominally “liberal” sandwiched between two conservative states. But I’ve also lived here most of my life. I can tell you beyond the thin veneer of downtown “progress,” many long-time city problems — infrastructure, education, crime, the growing disparity between the east and west of Troost — haven’t been addressed and continue to worsen. It’s a tad frustrating.
So you’ll excuse me if I don’t adopt the breathless boosterism you do when talking about this town.
Patrick,
Many, if not most, cities have similar problems. I continue to be impressed with the willingness the people of KC to face those problems. No, we’re not L.A., but go visit the real neighborhoods there and come back and tell us WE’VE got racial tension, for example. I don’t apologize for being proud of KC. I think it’s a model of a progressive city. There will never be any such thing as 0% conflict, but I think KC’s doing pretty well as far as vision and tolerance are concerned compared to a lot of other places. Don’t base your opinion of any city because you vacationed there. When you visit a city, they all seem great because A) You don’t have to work tomorrow B) You brought lots of money so you can eat in the “best” restaurants in the “good” part of town C) All of the above. Read this twice, then tell me KC shouldn’t be proud. Then watch the movie “Crash”…
Patrick-
Do you define “progressive” as missions to other planets? What do you expect of a city? I think KC is working pretty well with what we have, and I believe the best is yet to come. Personally, I don’t understand why most people who live here think they’d do so much better somewhere else. Yes, I’m proud of my city and make no apologies. I’ve lived in a number of cities and never felt the affection for anywhere else that I do for KC. I just hope more residents will grow to appreciate what we have here.
AND Patrick,
Since you brought up Sprint Center, the Elton John concert on opening night is being taped as a special for CBS celebrating the venue’s opening. It’s also getting a huge write-up in the New York Times. Yes, it’s a big deal, and another turning point for our beautiful, pleasant city. What do you want from a city, and where else has had the kind of year KC has had? I’m not originally from here, but I’m glad I found it. Thanks for everything, KC. You’re not perfect, but nowhere’s perfect. I, for one, plan to stay, so I have an interest in making us everything we can be. And I’m a Denver native, but KC is home now.
AND Patrick-
Even though we may be playing “catch up” with other cities, with all other things being equal, we have some distinct advantages, such as being very accessible and centrally-located, and not being insanely expensive. These are huge selling points, now if only you didn’t have to rent a car…