This missive from the good folks at Badseed might not be as captivating as Marisa Miller in a bikini but it's still a great look at the struggle of urban farmers in Kansas City and comes EXCLUSIVELY FROM KICKASS TKC TIPSTERS.
Check it:
"I wanted to write briefly to our South KC supporters to inform you of a couple important opportunities to support urban agriculture.
The harassment from our neighbors here on Bannister Rd. continues, as we had another visit from codes officers earlier this month. Unfortunately, we simply could not stay on our current site. We cannot farm here in the manner we wish, and will have more freedom in a more supportive neighborhood. We are happily and excitedly moving to a new 13-acre site we have purchased on the East Side of KCMO. Here in South KC, the vocal opposition of a few people succeeded in drowning out our area supporters.
And our opposition may win an even larger victory if good people like you don't speak out in coming weeks.
Over the past six months, a group of Kansas City farmers and residents have worked to revise the ordinances surrounding urban agriculture. Our hope is to protect other farmers from the type of harassment that we received, and to legitimize the wonderful farms and community gardens that have existed throughout KCMO for many years. You may read the proposed changes on the City's website, and you may also access further information urban agriculture . . .
The Center Planning and Development Council (which claims to represent residents of South Kansas City) has a powerful lobby in City Hall, and is opposing the ordinance change. We feel that it is important for South KC residents show that this group is NOT representative of the whole community.
Center Planning and Development is meeting Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. It would be great to have some community members show up who have a more tempered perspective. The time and place of this meeting follows this email, along with this group's reaction to these revisions.
Also, this revision will be heard by City Council's Planning and Zoning Committee on May 5th at 1:30 p.m. on the 26th floor of City Hall. We need as many supporters present at this hearing as possible, especially those from South KC. This hearing, as well as letters of support to Council, will largely dictate the outcome of the vote. If you cannot attend this hearing, please consider writing to City Council. Even a brief email to city-council@kcmo.org would help greatly.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to call or email us. Thanks for your support!
Best regards,
Dan Heryer & Brooke Salvaggio
BADSEED"
Oh, that's darling. They still think our city "leaders" pay attention to e-mails and public comments from citizens who are in favor of something cool in our city, rather than to a handful of disgruntled NIMBYs. Good luck, guys, but I'm not going to hold my breath that you'll succeed or that citizen input will do jack shit for ya. You could probably have 100 supporters and 2 NIMBYs show up, and the powers that be will fall over themselves catering to the angry, misreable, loser NIMBYs. Our city "leaders" are hell bent on keeping this city backwards & boring. That's just reality.
ReplyDeleteOh, and Tony, your porn is stupid. You should squeeze your gargantuan gut into that bikini instead and post a pic - now that would be entertaining.
ReplyDeleteFucker. You made me Google Nimby.
ReplyDeleteNIMBY or Nimby is an acronym for not in my back yard. The term (or the derivative Nimbyism) is used pejoratively to describe opposition by residents to a proposal for a new development close to them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NIMBY
Why urban farming?
ReplyDeleteFarming is done in RURAL AREAS. People living in URBAN areas don't want to smell pig shit, listen to roosters crow, or live near hairy pitted hippy chicks with made up names like Moon Biscuit or Star Queef. Unless they are planning on growing Crack Trees or PCP bushes, that east Side land grab is a baaaaad idea.
ReplyDelete6:39pm only dicks with little dicks get on comment boards and diss others...if you don't like the pot...stay out off the farm...
ReplyDeleteWell, Mr. Haney, maybe your neighbors don't want to look at or smell you. So?
ReplyDeleteTrue mixed-use is the future. Kudos to these urban farmers for making a viable business that also is a benefit to the environment and the city. As long as it is responsibly managed (i.e. no sh*t smells and excessive mess) then it is a benefit to a neighborhood. Too bad the whiny people in a dying part of town can't see that.
ReplyDeleteUmmm maybe some of you would like to inform yourselves about what the proposed ordianance for "urban farming" really does. People can already farm what they want and it will not change the livestock ordinance at all. What this allows is anyone to set up a farmers market wherever they want...including your neighbor...regardless of zoning. This is a money making deal. BTW - Most urban farms are owned by out-of-state folks and the proposed ordinace was written by out-of-state folks. Hmmmm...I wonder what this could be about.
ReplyDeleteI love how this site is so-called insiders but yet they fail too grasp what is really going on. KCMO will always be someone's bitch until voters start demanding more.
I tried emailing the address that Badseed gave us. Unfortunately, it bounced back. Tony, could you get us an accurate email address to send comments to the Council? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteTony, be sure to compile each address in a post one of these days.
ReplyDeleteHere are the individual addresses:
http://www.kcmo.org/CKCMO/CityOfficials/CityCouncilOffice/index.htm
@4/27/10 8:24 PM
ReplyDeleteI am no expert, but my understanding was that you would still have to get a special use permit if you wanted to sell produce on your land. So even if the ordinance passes, you still have to apply for and be approved for a temporary permit in order to have a public sale.
Beth could have done something but she decided to stay home and work on her effort to be morbidly obese.
ReplyDeleteTax Tax Tax Dahhhhhhh
ReplyDeleteAnon 8:24... You are absolutely right. A SUP must be obtained to sell on urban farm sites. More restrictive than yard sales now.
ReplyDeleteLink to all council members contact info... from No Farmers Market's on my block!!!
ReplyDeleteThere. They did the work for you. How dare we let the property values and QUALITY OF LIFE go down in Kansas City over some Urban Gardening!!!
I wrote elsewhere about urban farming. Fine in the back yard but not in the FRONT, in zoned residential. Hide it, do it, and sell it in an area zoned commercial. You shouldn't junk up your urban neighborhood running a kool aid stand of fresh produce.
ReplyDeleteBut yes, grow it, sell it, and sell it in the right place! I'm for that in SPADES! Not where people LIVE and try to have a nice neighborhood. That's what ZONING is all about. Live one place where people LIVE. Work in commercial areas where people WORK! It's not a bad concept if you like an orderly society. And most of us do.
ZONING is not a bad thing. You noticed that Tony Soprano had a nice house in the NJ burbs, but he had his BADA BING stripjoint in an urban area!
Alot to be said about urban planning. Don't fight it unless the planning is being influenced by MONEY and not GOOD SENSE!