Newspaper catches up to a previous biz journal report . . .
"Some City Council members and labor groups are questioning Kansas City's process for selecting a streetcar contractor. They are concerned that the apparent winner may not have provided the lowest and best bid."
And here's the problem . . .
THE EFFORT TO START THE TOY TRAIN STREETCAR HAS BEEN UNDEMOCRATIC SINCE THE BEGINNING, SO RECENT COMPLAINTS JUST REFLECT THE REALIZATION THAT THE ENTIRE PROCESS HAS BEEN CORRUPTED!!! AND NOW IT'S PRETTY MUCH A FEEDING FRENZY!!!
And as usual, just about every project in Kansas City that doesn't start with an effort to build community consensus is on track to fall part just like this terror train . . . This union power play is just the latest roadblock for a project that was never really about improving transit.
Developing . . .
Unions, minorities and large local GC's team up to usurp bidding government bidding process and throttle taxpayers. Coulda been written about KC during the 30's.
ReplyDeleteKC politics in play.
If those that are complaining didn't like the process, they could have said something about it BEFORE the bids were opened. Or they could have chosen NOT to participate.
ReplyDeleteI guess these big crybabies think if they throw a big enough tantrum they'll get their way?
In the free market system there is competition. When there is competition there are winners and losers. You lost. Man up boys.
ReplyDeleteI don't think so. Unions control KC politics. If you don't pay up, you go down.
ReplyDeleteHurry, 375 lemmings are getting impatient!
ReplyDeleteDunn didn't get the deal. The toy train is dead.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of the streetcar is for Sly to flex his muscle, create a few jobs, advance a few people's careers, and make a handful of people a lot of money.
ReplyDeleteIt WILL make public transit worse. There are already two buses that run virtually identical routes at faster and more frequent paces than the streetcar will. It's and expensive, redundant waste of money, and if people aren't riding the bus now, I'm not sure why they even WANT a streetcar.
I have taken and awarded bids for many years. Never knew one was without a doubt suppose to take the lowest bidder.
ReplyDeleteI attended the toy train expansion meeting on Thursday night. Talk about lambs being led to the slaughter! The room was full of Sly's friends and supporters. I was concerned about Councilman Glovers comment " he and councilman Reed used extra funds they had in their districts to help fund the Streetcar project"! What's with this. I'm in the fourth district and I see many more places we need to put our tax dollars than in a Trolley Folly! I thought the money for the Toy Train was coming form the area that it would run in? Now we find out they have robbed the City 's Transportation Fund, the City's General fund and now taking money out of adjoining districts. I don't think the taxpayers are opposed to public transportation but they are opposed to misleading tactics. We need to stop this NOW!!
ReplyDeleteDid they mention that the entire system - rails, cars, electrical facilities, stations - must be replaced, rebuilt or rehabilitated roughly every 30 years. And that this costs almost as much as the original construction?
ReplyDeleteDoes no one get how the game is played? Bid low, build lots of excuses into the contract and overrun like crazy. Been the Standing Operating Procedure for decades in KC.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how much the cost of repairing water main breaks or repairs to other utilities under the street will go up if they have to remove and replace the rails to do it. Plus, if a water main break closes part of street, a bus can go around it and take the detour or shift over to the open lanes on the other side. The streetcar would be stopped dead until they tear up the street to replace the main and then replace its rails. This is a ridiculous boondoggle.
ReplyDeletethese drunk union fucks don't know how to picket
ReplyDeleteDamn if they're want $15\hr for idiot incompetent fast-food workers what are they going to "demand " for workers who actually have a brain and\or a skill?
ReplyDeleteContracts in KC are given to friends, family and fuckees.
ReplyDelete11:36 your right and that's how business is done in many cities and government ofices all across this nation.
ReplyDelete“The truth is, nobody has built a lot of streetcars. So the whole industry across the country is relatively in its infancy,” Russ Johnson said.
ReplyDeleteAre you fucking kidding me?!? This guy and other advocates would brazenly tell us that the streetcar is a solid investment in economic development, and then have the balls to turn around and admit that we don't know enough about the construction of streetcars to really gauge the best and most fair way to build them?
So there's enough research and documentation to prove all streetcars return more money to the economy than they cost to build, but there's not enough information regarding how to build them? Am I supposed to believe this?!
They're gambling with our money, they're frequently and openly besmirching their critics (most of whom are disgruntled financiers of said gamble) and yet they admit they really don't know much about it at all.
Fucking. Asshats.
elBryan - nicely said.
ReplyDeleteUnions control KC? That's laughable. Unions have been weak around here for a long time
ReplyDeleteThis is the Heavies and Ed Desoingne being pissed their folks didn't get the contract. Typical Ed the Bully tactics.
ReplyDelete