TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! KANSAS CITY BEHIND THE SCENES: INFIGHTING AMONG MAYOR SLY AND CITY COUNCIL BEGINS THANKS TO "WINNER TAKES ALL" MENTALITY!!!
As of late, Mayor Sly and the City Council have done their best to portray the appearance that they stand united on most issues facing Kansas City.
Nothing could be further from reality.
In fact . . .
KANSAS CITY INSIDERS HAVE NOTED INCREASING DIVISIVENESS AMONG THE CITY COUNCIL THANKS TO A "WINNER TAKES ALL" MENTALITY THAT HAS BEEN THE HALLMARK OF MAYOR SLY'S ADMINISTRATION SO FAR!!!
More . . .
PUT SIMPLY, MAYOR SLY HAS FAILED TO CREATE MUCH COMPROMISE AT CITY HALL AND HAS INSTEAD RESORTED TO DOMINATING THE COUNCIL!!!
Like it or not, one year into Mayor Sly's tenure he has yet to demonstrate any of the alleged skill he touted as a mediator during his campaign for the office.
I have examples . . .
- In his most stunning instance of FAIL, Mayor Sly was not able to build anything close to a coalition in the process of pushing his DOOMED MAYORAL TAKEOVER OF KANSAS CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Faced with varied interests, opposition from other powerful politicos (i.e. Victor Callahan) and a complex web of competing perspectives from parents and education advocates Mayor Sly simply gave up and moved on to a reading program that allowed him to tout all of the same PR points regarding education WITHOUT producing any legislative results.
- On the topic of redistricting, Mayor Sly unleashed a tirade in Council Chambers and bullied the rest of the Council into voting on a map endorsed by the Redistricting Committee. For the record, I approved of this map but I did note that The Indignant White People Of Waldo felt left out of the process. Usually, these conflicts are resolved in a compromise that doesn't make anybody happy and most people were prepared to see a bit of map tweaking that would convince everyone that a fight over a few blocks was nothing more than a waste of time. Instead, Mayor Sly pushed for his way, gave a (g)rousing speech and everyone but veteran Councilman John Sharp quickly backed down.
- The Downtown Toy Train - Downtown businesses have expressed their opposition to the special tax district for Mayor Sly's Silly Streetcar proposal. Fiscal conservatives denounce the exorbitant costs for what amounts to nothing more than a tourist line. Most transit experts consider the line far too frivolous to endorse. Nevertheless, Mayor Sly (unwittingly or otherwise) has made The Downtown Toy Train the centerpiece of his second year in office when far more important priorities remain neglected.
Now let's take a look at how the "Winner Takes All" Mentality of the Mayor Sly James Administration has impacted the City Council.
A silly and failed student daylight curfew by Council Dude Scott Wagner proved to be a remarkable FAIL. The newbie legislator made so many mistakes but the most obvious misstep was his attempt to duplicate the Plaza Curfew pushed through by Mayor Sly. At the end of the day, Council Dude Wagner just didn't have the influence to follow the (bad) example set by the Mayor. Interestingly, Mayor Sly simply left Council Newbie Wagner hanging out to dry and didn't bother to speak to the similarities of the daytime and Plaza curfew.
Even more interestingly . . . Council Dude Scott Wagner was completely unable to find support from any of the Council Members representing the urban core. The division between the 3rd, 5th and all of the other districts was never more apparent.
Let's go back just a bit further and note serious City Council divisions in the Council Lady Jan Marcason NTDF fund raid. This is important because the subject is set to resurface next month. Still, on this issue there wasn't even an attempt at compromise and instead Council Lady Jan was mashed like her famous potato salad and forced into retreat mode.
So, it doesn't really matter how many bowling trips these folks take . . . What we're talking about is an exceptionally weak City Council that has been given a horrible example by Mayor Sly's "Winner Takes All" mentality.
So many people refer to politics as the art of compromise. Instead, KICK-ASS TKC TIPSTERS tell us that what we're seeing is nothing more than long standing divisions in Kansas City thinly veiled by PR hype and forced smiles.
DEVELOPING . . .
I thought everybody loved Sly?
ReplyDeleteFunk Wins.
ReplyDeleteWagner is a D-bag kissing Circo's ass trying to move up. Sold out the neighborhoods he won't be re elected for sure.
ReplyDeleteActually, a mayor SHOULD dominate the council, push particular issues, and build coalitions to get things done.
ReplyDeleteSly's big mistake is the issues he chooses to hang his hat on. When he bets the ranch on the ridiculous streetcar project and gives a sunny state-of-the-city address without so much as mentioning public safety, he's tied himself to an anchor that's going nowhere but down.
He need to remember he's the mayor of a CITY, not one of the Chamber of Commerce swells.
Sly payback will be no second term , he is playing only to the rich and powerfull ,he is a classic Uncle Tom
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that Sly has not done much for the people, he is playing to a broad base of power brokers. He's given power to the Northland (PIAC chair, P&R board, Burke) and endorsed their pet projects (new airport and sewers for more large greenfield development); he ramrodded through the Citadel settlement, the UNI and more money for the GIZ for the East siders; didn't fuck up the Polsinelli deal for the Plaza crowd; he'll play up the far East side during the All-Star game; and will continue to support the marquee projects pushed by the power elite in the other areas.
ReplyDeleteThe really sad thing about Sly is that he is sending money to those who already have it and/or don't need it or deserve it but for the residents who have lived and/or worked here for years, paid their taxes but need new infrastructure (streets, water lines, sewers) he says essentially, "if you want, you pay for it" by to soaking us with the largest tax increase in the history of the City. And the first fruits of that money will be pealed off and go for more unnecessary TIFs, unneeded greenfield development, downtown hotels and the like.
As my dad used to say, "Feed the monkey and watch him shit." That's not a racial reference- just a reality check. As in what did you expect, anyway?
Sly has a lot of positive moments but there's a dark side to him that the CC is starting to see. It's his way or the highway politically which shows his political amaturism. Let's see if he can roll the biz community on the Toy Train (NOT)...most people are guessing Russ "odd ball" Johnson will be the scapegoat.
ReplyDeleteStrong Mayor is great, but support Public Safety. It is what the people want and need most.
ReplyDeletePublic Safety cuts is why Businesses will keep leaving Kansas City.
Funding Public Safety is what will bring Businesses and shoppers back into the city.
Cops, Firefighters and Public School teachers are the best Public Relations tool a city has to offer when it comes to economic development.
If you feel safe in an area, you don't mind going to that area. It's a Human nature thing.
And if you feel unsafe in an area, you carry a gun and shoot the most likely potential threat.
ReplyDeleteTrue dat.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't take courage to put money in your own pocket.
ReplyDeleteJust like a bunch of monkeys fighting over the last 'nanner. Guess who has the natural aptitude to win THAT contest, LOL.
ReplyDelete3/23/12 7:53 AM
ReplyDeleteBoth Circo and Wagner are puppets of the lobbyist Kim George, formerly Kim Carlos until she trashed her marriage.
Dear 8:54 AM:
ReplyDeleteIf your Dad used to say, "Feed the monkey and watch him shit."
Then your Dad sounds like a crude ass.
Public safety is sufficiently funded. They are greedy.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we'd all feel better if Tony would post a picture of London Andrews' enormous ass.
ReplyDeleteThese are strange times we live in
ReplyDeleteHard games we play
Wager very carefully
And play'em as they lay
But don't play no cards ain't in your hand
So long Harry Truman
Goddamn it's hard to find an honest man
One term. Then a new crook.
ReplyDelete12:16 - Having grown up on a farm natural functions were a natural part of daily life. And you are correct, he could be quite crude at times, among other things.
ReplyDeleteTold ya so.....NFUE!!!!!
ReplyDelete