Kansas City Works To Fix U.S. 71 Damage Done By East Side Leaders

Somewhere in Kansas City Mamie Hughes is in her 90s and we want her to enjoy another 90 years. She still "has no time for nonsense" and we respect that . . .

What TKC doesn't respect is the handiwork of amateur urban planners and the devastation they would like to blame anonymous white people rather than accept responsibility. 

Point of fact . . . 

The 71 disaster is the handiwork of Mamie Hughes and so many African-American East side leaders who threw roadblocks into construction and created one of the deadliest stretches of road in the metro. Our blog community calls it "The KC Highway Of Death" because of so much violence and car crashes that are abetted by poor design. 

Now . . .

There's a federally funded effort to "fix" the mess that "the community" contributed to without admitting that horrific highway planning was the result of racially-charged outcry that has now been proven as completely unproductive and uncaring for the safety of nearby residents and motorists. 

Sadly . . . 

MSM is only interested in the Mayor's view of this situation and he announces a few bucks from that might not fix the problem . . . Check-it:

"In a press conference, the mayor announced the kickoff of the city’s request for proposals (RFP) for Reconnecting Kansas City, which will assist in the rehabilitation of U.S. Highway 71 from 85th Street north to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, specifically regarding "transformational safety and connectivity improvements," per the city.

“While it is very hard to give people houses back, people like those in my family who lost them ages ago, while it is hard to rebuild neighborhoods and communities that were strong, that were vibrant and that have been vital to our community, we see this as a next important step,” Lucas said.

"Rather than delivering the “economic development activity that was promised generations ago," the construction of Highway 71 has led to traffic accidents, injuries and deaths. Pollution from idling and no resolution to the harm created have also negatively affected “Black families in southeast Kansas City and in east Kansas City," according to Lucas.

"With the $5 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) federal grant KC was awarded last August, Lucas said the city can now “make up for some mistakes of the past.”

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Kansas City now taking proposals in effort to reconnect neighborhoods severed by U.S. 71

The project predominately aims to make it easier and safer for pedestrians to access areas split by the highway

KCMO looks to 'make up for some mistakes of the past' with Reconnecting Kansas City project

Imagine a Kansas City united by infrastructure rather than divided - Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said Wednesday such long-deferred dreams will soon be put into action.

Mayor Lucas, council members announcing major steps towards "Reconnecting Kansas City"

Mayor Lucas announced the city was awarded a $5 million federal grant to study critical, transformational safety, and connectivity improvements in late August.

Developing . . .