The Kansas City Strip Trolley System is a bad idea left over from the tenure of the old City Council and ousted Mayor Funky.
Sadly, for people familiar with government subsidized entertainment operations this deal wasn't even as appealing as Lady Gaga's meat bikini.
Even worse . . .
THE FAILED KC STRIP TROLLEY SYSTEM IS FUNDED BY A NO INTEREST LOAN FROM KANSAS CITY FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND NOW THEY'RE BASICALLY GIVING THAT CASH AWAY ON THE INTERNETS!!!
Of all the bad ideas from Bill George and Bill Nigro . . . This doomed public transit ego trip could be the worst. Not only because after a year the trolley system has really failed to reinvigorate Kansas City Nightlife or create a connection between disparate party zones around the metro BUT ALSO because A biz strategy like this GROUPON GIVEAWAY OF KANSAS CITY TAXPAYER MONEY doesn't really represent much business acumen.
Sure, everybody loves Groupon online discount fad but tickets basically given away don't begin to cover the costs or disappointment that the project has created with so many empty trolleys marking local nightlife after a year of EXPENSIVE yet obviously unproductive promotion.
To be fair, some supporters argue that the 2,172 tickets purchased at half-price represent a victory. But discounting funds from a no-interest loan is too much like simply giving it away.
Don't just take my word for it . . . Here's what a few high level local biz folk had to say about the tactic . . .
A Kansas City Lawyer and politico said, "No, half-price discounts are never a good sign. But give it more time Tony. They could turn it around this Summer."
Off the record an outgoing member of The Council said this, "It's not a serious transit system. It was supposed to be something to put on a brochure. We didn't expect it to do much and it hasn't. The fact that they need to sell tickets at half-price doesn't surprise me."
Granted, I know the strategy is to get people riding the Doomed As Dead Meat Trolley in order to come back and pay full price . . . So this afternoon I talked with a hottie hanging out at a Westport bar in the early afternoon. She said, "What's The KC Strip? A Trolley? Like the bus? Lame."
So there you have it.
Sadly, it seems like so many Kansas City Transit schemes are almost intentionally conceived to fail: Missouri house passes KC Street Car Bill
However, in the final analysis . . .
This Kansas City Trolley Folly stinks like rotting flesh and deep discounts at Taxpayer expense don't inspire much confidence. The City Hall oversight for this deal is completely lacking and amounted to nothing more than a polite meeting where TKC BREAKING NEWS AND EXCLUSIVE REPORTING WAS CHALLENGED WITH ONLY THE NERVOUS GIGGLES OF CITY COUNCIL LADIES!!!
But as we enter a new term with increased austerity, a slow-to-recover economy and more cuts facing City Hall . . . It's time to reevaluate this FAILED TRANSIT SCHEME that now runs only at half price and has done nothing but burn through City Hall cash given away AT NO INTEREST AND WITH LITTLE OVERSIGHT!!!