Probably the most important community journalism series over the past few weeks . . . Even more relevant than Lindsay Lohan's boob.
THE NORTHEAST NEWS HAS DONE SOME GROUNDBREAKING WORK COVERING A NORTHEAST LIQUOR LICENSE QUESTION SOON TO GO BEFORE THE COUNCIL!!!
Last week there was a bit of great objective reporting that offered all sides a chance to comment on the liquor license issue . . . This report really got things moving among insiders at City Hall.
And now . . . The Northeast News publisher isn't pulling any Michael Bushnell isn't pulling any punches on the issue. Today he writes:
Bushnell writes: Planting a liquor store across the street from the projects does not qualify as “economic development.”
Right now . . . Council dude John Sharp and (Former KCPD) Regulated Industries Manager Gary Majors stand against the controversial liquor & smoke store . . .
This begs the question . . .
WHY ARE 3RD DISTRICT COUNCIL FOLKS MELBA CURLS AND JERMAINE REED "LOBBYING" FOR YET ANOTHER LIQUOR STORE AND CIGARETTE SHOP IN THEIR DISTRICT?!?!?
The argument about "convenience" is laughable at best and a zoning variance for folks who don't even live in the 3rd District should raise concern from their constituents as well.
For the most part, TKC is pro-small-biz but . . .
GIVEN THE SPATE OF RECENT KANSAS CITY VIOLENCE IN THEIR DISTRICT IT'S A SHAME TO SEE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS CURLS AND REED FIGHT FOR THIS PROJECT BEFORE MORE PRESSING PRIORITIES!!!
Developing . . .
Easy to agree with mike on this one.
ReplyDeleteSharp is bitter about his lack of power. This is him lashing out at others on the council rather than standing up against a bad idea. He established a huge liquor zone in the old Bannister Mall area including a new liquor license at Bannister and Blue Ridge Blvd. where the area is already saturated with liquor.
ReplyDeletedem ganna sell bulletz?
ReplyDeleteDamn it! No! We don't need another liquor store! Damn it! Why!?
ReplyDeleteWhy in the name of God would Curls and Reed fight for this!? I cannot convince them to do urban gardens and they are swooning for beer and smokes?
Bitches all. To their own demise they go, as the smoke of yesterday's news.
Tracy Ward. Tony B. New leadership. The youth. It shall come to pass.
Sharp's objection is pretty easy to gauge.
ReplyDeleteThe beneficiary of the Bannister exemption sponsored by Sharp is Intercity Oil.
http://www.tonyskansascity.com/2011/03/tkc-breaking-news-new-south-kc.htm
Intercity Oil has a reputation in the community for selling items that facilitate the abuse of illegal drugs, as seen in the TKC comments and the Northeast News link that follows.
http://northeastnews.net/pages/?p=1509
There is an Intercity Oil station directly across the street from the location in question.
The folks who want to re-open the former Git-N-Go have privately offered to sign a legally binding agreement with the neighborhood that would give the neighborhood the right to review the sales inventory and restrict any items that they don't want sold (like Chore-Boy).
They would also underwrite the development of an independent CID that would add a 1% sales tax to their sales and those of Intercity Oil that would pay for enhanced security services in the neighborhood.
They would also escrow a fund or underwrite a performance bond that would provide the neighborhood with a source of funds to review any attempts by other parties to get a liquor license in the exempted area as a result of this exemption.
The penalty for non-performance? Voluntary surrender of their license.
Wonder if Sharp is prepared to secure similar concessions for his neighborhood constituents from Intercity Oil?
Why not a yogurt shop or something?
ReplyDeleteYoung Mr. Reed does what he is told and Melba does what those paying her off want done. It's as simple as that.
ReplyDeleteSharp is a bitter bully. Sharp wants more liquor stores in the 6th district.
ReplyDeleteIs this the proper role of government, to assure there is no market competition?
ReplyDeleteSeems to me they should stick to streets, sewers, water, trash and snow removal rather than hassle people who can't afford cars and insurance to get the vices they will get anyway. We all know poor people are poor mostly because of their vices and that's the way they want it. Sounds like south Kansas Citians telling poor people how to live.
Guess the mood here is that sex for sale in a titty bar is okay, but not smokes and drink.
All these sin taxes have just made poor people even poorer. And haven't done a thing to make Kansas City the Pleasantville the city brain trust wants to make it.
Seems to me the best way to keep drive by shootings from happening is to make their vices accessible so they'll stay out of cars, get their smokes and walk home.
And who knows, if there's competition, maybe those stores will expand and turn into grocery stores to draw profits.
I'm always amazed how the media will - for readership and ratings - yank the chains of those who would legislate morality.
Hardly a liberal press. No such thing. Just a profit press.
Sharp is AGAINST the liquor store. That's a good thing right. I think the comment about how he wants to prevent competition is more interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe station you are referring to by Bannister was an empty eye sore. John Sharp did the right thing when a gas station owner pledged to invest $1 million dollars and create several jobs in his district. Good for John Sharp.
ReplyDeleteGo Bushnell!!!
ReplyDeleteJohn Sharp just put a THIRD gas station at that intersection which will sell liquor and maybe the designer drugs.
ReplyDeleteThey touted the creation of 10 jobs, so of course it will be 4 to 6 and they pay poorly.
Plus of course the enterprise will either fail or drive one or both of the other gas stations out of business.
Shame on John Sharp.
And once the other gas stations at that intersection fail,10:43, Intercity Oil or one of it's affiliates (Hussain, Chaudhri, US Fuels, Premier Petroleum, etc. etc.) will be there to pick up the pieces (and the liquor license) to continue to spread their brand of retail operations and it's "dual use" inventory to the distressed neighborhoods of Kansas City.
ReplyDeleteThe eyesore should been torn down. Another gas station is not economic development. Sharp just wants to meddle in another districts business.
ReplyDeleteBooze, cigarettes, government entitlements, 10 children, ah, third district life.
ReplyDelete"Nuts."
ReplyDeleteAnd then win it.
How about the retention of small businesses for a change. You know, the one's that really provide local jobs.
ReplyDeleteYeah, we need more small business. MAke the conditions easier to establish restaurants and coffee shops and boutique stores.
ReplyDeleteBut don't go to bat for a F- Liquor Store gag. C'mon. It just looks bad. It looks like misplaced focus.
It IS misplaced focus. That is the problem with lobbing for it at this time! Vanity culture and drunken abandon rule the agendas of our City Council. All the while their people suffer. And I am not saying that city involvement is a good thing, I am saying that it is indicative of a huge disconnect on the part of the people supposedly representing the 3rd District.
Lollipop Guild, for sure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_CAs3q7G48
Know what I am sayin'?
Give me my smokes.
ReplyDeleteThe Siragusas write checks to candidates. They buy candidates. Shame on Reed and Curls for trying to play this up as a "small business" when in reality it's a liquor store and check cashing establishment (read Bushnell's article, it's all in there), and it will carry very few grocery items. I hate to say this, but Sharp is right on this issue.
ReplyDeleteJohn Sharp (former KCPD)?!? REALLY??? I find that hard to believe!!!
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you open an adult bookstore there? According to code you can! How does that sound? Better than a convenience store?
ReplyDeleteI vote for a Dairy Queen.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to open a yogurt shop or dairy queen, don't just speak hypothetically about it, DO IT! Because otherwise, hypothetically, it's bullshit.
ReplyDelete