TKC BREAKING NEWS!!! COUNCILMAN TERRY RILEY JUST CHANGED THE GAME ON THE CITADEL PLAZA PROJECT -- NOW USING AIRPORT FUNDS!!!

News is coming down fast today on the Citadel Project Vote.

AT THE LAST SECOND COUNCILMAN TERRY RILEY JUST CAME UP WITH A GAME CHANGER BY NOW USING AIRPORT FUNDS TO FINANCE THE CITADEL PLAZA PROJECT INSTEAD OF PIAC MONEY!!!

It should be noted that there is some deep concern about this move as well.

Citadel Plaza critics say that any money taken from Airport Funding/Bonds must be paid back under the same terms . . . They also claim those terms are unknown.

I just got off the phone with Councilman Riley. He says Council people will be getting the details in just a few moments and he also claims that the Citadel Project will satisfy the Airport bond funding terms and the money will be paid back.

"We can pay it back" is a direct quote from Councilman Riley on the subject.

There are still SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF THE CITADEL PLAZA PROJECT!!!

Responding to those concerns Councilman Riley spoke of the soul-crushing blight of the surrounding neighborhood and the need to address the problem.

To be fair, it should be noted that there isn't anyone on the City Council who doesn't believe that something should be done to fix the area at Citadel Plaza. However, folks who strongly hold fiscal responsibility close to their heart don't believe the expensive project will provide a strong return for Kansas City. Also, in taking Airport Funds there's also a question of continuing to over-extend Kansas City's finances now that this town's bond credit ranking has been downgraded and overall the budget is still busted.

A simple comparison is being made: KC funding Citadel Plaza at this point might be akin to a broke person buying a brand new mansion.

On this point, Riley spoke in religious terms about his mission to try and do work to satisfy God's will and help the community and people in poverty. He spoke of the spirit of hope that swept across the country with the historic election of President Barack Obama. He also noted the extreme poverty surrounding Citadel Plaza and told a story of a woman he had just spoken with who is using a pellet gun to protect her home and fight off rats from the stalled project.

"It is a question of hope and taking that hope not just for its own sake but turning it into something substantial that can help to revitalize and build this community," Riley said.

Another Game Changer . . . Riley told TKC:

William Threatt Jr., CEO of the CDC (focus of a great deal of controversy regarding his management) is not only out (reported previously by The Pitch) but also . . . They're preparing a press release saying that he has no ties, no ownership and no involvement with the project. In response, some folks are suspicious of this claim and not only want to see Threatt's resignation but also want to make sure that he's no longer a member of the board.

So, TKC has offered a bit of a preview into the language that will be used during the debate over this project. At its worst, this debate has involved the divisive topic of local race relations, name calling (not just by me) and high finance scheming. Today at City Hall our Council people and Mayor must weigh the potential benefits and risks of this Citadel Plaza Project and determine if Kansas City can still afford to hope for change, renaissance and renewal with taxpayer funds.