All right, I'm gonna make this short and sweet because I've covered this story as if it was the second coming.
Mayor Funkhouser stood his ground. As I sat in the balcony of the place I was just amazed at what a difference a few months and winning a narrow victory makes. Earlier in the year he came to the exact same spot and told Latinos in Kansas City he would listen to their issues . . . On this topic he simply said he wasn't going to change his mind and then looked bored as people from the Latino community expressed their concerns.
The best part of the story is covered by The Star: The Mayor's wife felt he needed police protection for the Westside Latino event and another previous engagement in "The Black part of town," apparently the only place the Mayor's people think he's safe is the Northland. This is just sad for two reasons 1.) Once again it highlights the talk of nepotism at City Hall because nobody elected that lady, her role is not clearly defined and she's making personal requests of top police officials - Her behavior is unprecedented as far as the spouses of past KC Mayor's go and her influence obviously runs deep. 2.) I've been on this blog typing that Mayor Funky doesn't know the first thing about minority communities in Kansas City since before the guy was elected - The fact that the Mayor's Administration thinks he needs bodyguards when he comes to our community and not in the Northland shows their elitist and hypocritical thinking. Clearly the guy was posing when he initially refused police protection. As far as the slight to the minority communities he has talked to, it's nothing I didn't suspect before but he really should have just taken the bodyguards in the first place instead of pretending he didn't need them . . . Once again this either demonstrates the horrible advice the guy is getting or his stubbornnesses.
It was nice to see the Latino Community united . . . This time around it wasn't just the leadership but people from the neighborhood who came to speak (plead) with the Mayor to reconsider his endorsement of a hate group. By the way, auto shop owner Charlie Lona is one of my new heroes. There wasn't any talk of immigration or amnesty or any of the buzz words that rile up the white people who listen to talk radio. Nope, it was just a number of pleas from Latinos to their mayor about the de facto endorsement of a hate group which were subsequently ignored.
Money line from The Mayor: "If this is your number one issue, you're entitled to it and if you want to talk about this for the next four years you're entitled to it." Obviously yet another sign that he doesn't know minorities in this town and especially the Latino Community. My Grandmother is still yelling at me for chair I broke in 1979. My 83 year-old barber still reminds me of the times I sang my kindergarten songs in his shop. Mexican-Americans have long, long memories. I'm assuming the guy is going to find more votes somewhere else because I know these people and they really can hold a grudge.
Small point here: There is no division in the Latino Community in KC Proper about this one . . . From what I witnessed and even from a couple of people I've talked to in Northeast . . . The only Latinos standing behind Funkhouser on this issue are those who stand to benefit personally. And that's cool, I know that I'd gladly cash in my credibility (If I had any) for a little bit of coin or a cushy position . . . Sadly, no one has offered. Still, it's hard to argue that anybody deserves a pat on the back just for looking out for their personal interests . . . Now the ability to juggle or play the harpsichord, THAT takes talent and deserves admiration.
The entire thing is going to be rebroadcast on Channel 2 if that kind of thing is your bag, baby.