On our next mayor

Well, here we are, on the cusp of finally being able to get and have a new mayor.

What a relief.

And it seems as though, no matter who we get--"Sly" James or Mike Burke--that they'll, either one, be good for the city.

Of course that's what we all thought when Alvin Brooks was running against Mark Funkhouser, last go-round, too, right?

Anyway, all these years later, thank goodness it's finally here.  Hopefully we will now start getting good, solid, positive, forward-thinking, cooperative leadership from downtown and City Hall and the mayor's office, once they're installed.

And no more lawsuits.   No more bickering between the City Council and the too-weak, "doesn't get along with others" mayor.

Or his wife/assistant.

Good riddance.

But along with this new mayor and the good leadership we hope to and should attain with this election, we get  the "fresh start" we need and frankly have wanted for so long.

And the next mayor is somewhat fortunate for a few reasons.

To begin, the new mayor will be welcomed with open, very-receptive arms by virtually everyone in town--the business community, the newspaper, the Joe and Jane on the street--everyone.  That's a lot to have in your corner and to start a mayorship with.

Second, we have problems but they aren't insurmountable, horrible, horrific ones he has to deal with.  Sure he'll have to figure out if we can afford and truly do a 1,000 room convention hotel downtown but that's not a big, earth-shaking problem.  (Surely the electorate isn't stupid enough to vote away their e-tax, right?)

Third, come November, this new mayor and the whole city is going to get a huge boost by the opening of the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.  Locally, regionally and nationally, this city is going to get a great deal of good press and that next mayor should be able to preside over a bit of a love-fest with this city and a lot of free and very positive media coverage.

All that said, this next new mayor, either Mr. Burke or James, needs to do the one thing that last mayor never did and that is, convene a press conference very shortly into his new term and call for his office, the City Council and all the local, city, community and church leaders to address the issues of the shootings and killings in this city that happen again and again, month after month and year after year.

That's leadership no other person in this city can offer like the mayor and his office but that we desperately need, especially with the warm weather and increased shootings and killings nearly upon us.

We can't afford to be the Chicago or Detroit of the plains.