Kansas City Civil Rights 'No Confidence' Statement: GO BACK TO JERSEY!!!

We reported this "no confidence move" last week . . . But there's an important update . . .

The basic . . .

KANSAS CITY CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS SHARE SCATHING "NO CONFIDENCE" STATEMENT TARGETING BOTH MAYOR Q AND EMBATTLED CITY MANGER BRIAN PLATT!!!

Again, last week we reported the Urban League stepping up . . . Today the momentum has escalated.

Check new organizations joining the fight . . . Along with another roundup and the kicker:

A statement from the local chapters of the Urban League, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the NAACP, Urban Summit and National Black United Front was sparked, in part, by the recent forced resignation of Andrea Dorch, the city’s director of civil rights and equal opportunity. Bishop James Tindall Sr., president and founder of the Urban Summit, called for Platt’s resignation at a nearly 30-minute news conference Thursday afternoon outside City Council chambers prior to the council’s regular weekly meeting.

“He’s from New Jersey. I suggest he go back there,” said Tindall, a former Jackson County legislator, who was flanked by about 30 supporters.

Now . . . Here's the word that kinda proves very little support for Mayor Q from AN IMPORTANT CROSS-SECTION of Black leaders . . . Check-it . . .

We stand with Black women and Black city workers.

We are issuing a vote of no confidence because of Brian Platt’s racist, sexist, and discriminatory policies toward Black women and Black city workers. Additionally, it is appalling that the City Manager would allow a major development project to be approved and go forward without the proper guarantees of Black and minority participation   

Under Mayor Lucas’ watch Kansas City spent nearly $11,000 in January to surveil the former head of the city’s Civil Rights Office, who was one of the highest-ranking Black women at City Hall.

Mayor Lucas’ action and inaction related to these issues, display the mayor’s lack of commitment to socioeconomic justice for African Americans here in Kansas City. The mayor has been complicit with racism against Blacks in city government, is overseeing a culture of racism against Black women at City Hall and has betrayed his responsibility to protect the Civil rights of Black people at City Hall. In a city where Blacks lag so far behind in every category of economic wellness, the government’s unwillingness to ensure a just share of economic wealth from a billion-dollar project is unacceptable. These decisions work against Black economic equity and inclusion, Black business development, and the uplift of the Black poor and working class.

The mayor has routinely appeared on national television speaking of racial, economic, and social justice for Black people while his administration fails to effectively provide protections from sexism against Black women, systemic and structural racism against Blacks in general, and economic inclusion here at home. Our research concludes there has been a displacement of the head of the Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity Department, advancing the billion-dollar META project in the Northland

without any minority participation requirements. In addition, there has been a failure to address the recommendations made by an external review of racial discrimination in the Kansas City Fire Department and has passed over qualified African Americans to head the Housing and Communication Departments, while giving residency and salary waivers to whites and not African Americans.  

In the two years since Brain Platt assumed his role as City Manager, the city has settled 27 lawsuits for various civil rights violations totaling $9,657,532.  

This hostility towards African Americans at City Hall is emblematic of the hostility and hatred that results in the broader culture. Our Civil Rights organizations have had enough of duplicitous rhetoric, posturing, and pontificating about Black issues while presiding over an administration that oppresses black people and black businesses.

Our coalition DEMANDS the City Council take immediate action to address the racist culture and discrimination at City Hall and throughout all city operations immediately which include:

Reinstate Andrea Dorch, former head of the Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity Department

Issue a directive to the City Manager to expeditiously address the racism implementing the recommendations of an external review of the Fire Department

Amend the META agreement to include minority participation requirements.

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You decide . . .