The propaganda from Kansas City media about this weekend's pet project move-in was mostly unchallenged until now.
The new digs were built at a cost of $26-MILLION paid almost completely by City Hall coffers despite promises of private fundraising . . . The pricey project that also threatens to displace urban core workers and has been met with skepticism among those outside the animal lover bubble.
To wit . . .
ACTIVIST RACHEL RILEY QUESTIONS EXORBITANT SPENDING ON PETS WHEN KANSAS CITY CONFRONTS PRESSING HUMAN RIGHTS CHALLENGES!!!
Read her post in its entirety, here's the money line:
"Kansas City is "Sick & Messed up".
"How do we allow City Hall to use our tax Dollars to provide: Food, shelter, heat, central air, water, medical attention and Recreation for dogs and cats when our communities, children, parents and senior citizens go without basic services??? We are infested with poverty, blight, rats, poison of trash, dumping, homelessness, hopelessness, drugs, gangs, crime, poor housing, suicide, poor health, mental health . . . Oh, & pot hole!"
Moreover, from checking a great deal of support for her declaration, here's what we can deduce . . .
THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE DIVIDE BETWEEN THE KANSAS CITY URBAN CORE AND THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY OVER PET PROJECT AND ANIMAL CONTROL FUNDING!!!
This goes beyond mere cultural differences.
KC Pet Project has an abysmal minority hiring record and, again, they're looking to displace a mostly Black Animal Control workforce this year. Insult to injury: These are mostly white ladies claiming a lot of decent KCMO jobs via privatization.
However, it would be unfair to discount the complaints of Ms. Riley simply as a diversity issue. She's a very deeply religious person with a nuanced understanding of the local political scene. She lost a son to KCMO violence and continues to advocate for victims of violent crime. This year she worked to include Conservatives in her recent council campaign and offered a very rare and notable 3rd District Meets Right Wing interview this year with talker Pete Mundo.
Best of all . . .
THE KC ACTIVIST REMINDS LOCALS THAT DOGS & CATS AREN'T GOING TO HEAVEN AS SHE ADVOCATES FOR MORE CONCERN FOR HUMANKIND!!!
To be fair, there are plenty of animal rights activists who do, in fact, have their priorities in order with it comes to "people first" but this massive spending remains hard to defend and runs contrary to GO Bond election promises that included millions more of private financing.
Now, KCMO is stuck with an EPIC bill for the care of animals when the cash could help so many people struggling on local streets.
Developing . . .