Good, Fun, Big Local Entertainment News Today From The Pitch

How cool is this? The Pitch KC has a great article out now that none other than Melissa Etheridge is actually going to play the Leavenworth Festival.

Fantastic news.More here: Go, check out the full article at The Pitch: https://www.thepitchkc.com/melissa-etheridge-to-headline-camp-leavenworth-2021/

Kansas City Seems To Be Having a Year of Racism Awareness

I just keep getting more surprised about racism in Kansas City. Certainly not that it's here but that we keep getting revelations about it all here in town. For a first example, there was, of course, this.

Kansas City Star apologizes for decades of racist coverage

That was a nearly earth shaking evaluation right there, totally unforeseen.

Then, after that, our own Nelson-Atkins Museum announced, because of the Star's public self-evaluation, they might well do the same thing. That is, they were certainly self-evaluating but might--GASP--CHANGE THEIR NAME??

Might a name change be in store for Nelson-Atkins museum

The Nelson-Atkins Museum to consider removing Nelson's name

Keeping in mind, of course, the city of Kansas City, Missouri took the name of very famous and very racist JC Nichols off the fountain on the Country Club Plaza he created, in Mill Creek Park. That was surprising and refreshing enough, eh?

And now, today, there is this from our Kansas City Star.

I was a Black fire captain for KCFD. Racism there is real, and it risks public safety

The man, the now former Captain makes what are to me stunning claims. It's not just that there's racism in the organization, the Kansas City Fire Department. It goes far worse than that. He says Black firefighters don’t get training on the equipment needed to keep Kansas City safe. It's a fascinating, even, I would say, important article to read as it gives some history in the city of the systemic racism there. What concerns me is that not enough citizens of the city, especially white people, will read--and absorb--the entire article.

Again, it's just stunning to the point of outrageous. These men and women are there to protect us all from fire and fires and he's saying they aren't as fully, completely trained as the white firefighters? In the same jobs? That's nearly unbelievable, at least to those of us on the outside of the organization. It's unforgivable.

So we're still learning about ourselves, Kansas City.

Can we handle it?

More to the point, can we change?

And soon as possible?

Additional links:

I was surprised but pleased of fellow citizen Steve Kraske for so singularly and publicly taking on a big load of the racism in the city a few years ago, when he lead the charge, nearly singlehandedly, to get the JC Nichols Fountain renamed.

Steve Kraske: Kansas City should confront racist past

Steve Kraske: I’m still talking about J.C. Nichols, racism

This Downtown Ballpark Idea Needs to Die

How many times is the Kansas City Star going to float this absurd, outrageously expensive, completely unnecessary idea that we need to somehow vacate our perfectly good, very usable ballpark for the Kansas City Royals and build a new one in the middle of our downtown?

For the love of God.

Let me quickly get to all the reasons is beyond not a good idea but a patently, thoroughly bad one.

--It would be outrageously expensive. It would cost hundreds of millions of dollars to do. Hundreds of millions.

--We already, obviously, have a very good, very state of the art, already-functioning ballpark, thanks very much.

--The parking for the new stadium, God forbid, downtown would be ridiculously difficult in and of itself.

--It would further complicate parking downtown.

--We just got finished, not that many years ago, paying for a renovation of the present ballpark to the tune of 250 million dollars. I don't even know if that is yet paid off. Paid or no, we just did this.

--Kansas City taxes are already high.

Kansas City sales tax tops in the nation

The Tax Burden in Kansas City Is High

Even the Star rightly recognizes how high our taxes already are--

Kansas City's tax burden is higher than its residents know

On the following list, we are the city with the 9th highest taxes of any other in the nation.

10 Cities That Pay Some of the Highest Taxes in America

We penalize everyone.

Kansas City serves up nation’s 12th-highest taxes on diners

Heck, taxes are high if you even just visit here. We even penalize visitors.

Travelers to Kansas City pay 

some of nation’s highest taxes

--As bad as parking already is downtown, again, a new, downtown ballpark would sit empty most of the year.

--Downtown already works. What, exactly, at this high a price, are we fixing here or trying to fix?

--We would WALK AWAY from a totally, completely functioning, attractive, successful baseball stadium now. 

You would think every Right Winger, Republican and Libertarian, all, at least, would be screaming bloody murder about this. More taxes, in whatever form we call them? To build another baseball stadium? When we have a good one lots of us love already? That's easy to access? That's easy to park at? That's easy to exit from and get home? Seriously?

And then, get this. Dave Helling down at the Star pointed out this week in our local paper that the old bi-state tax still exists, at least on paper. It's still available. Not only could we pay for a new baseball stadium WE DON'T NEED, downtown, where it would be difficult to get to, difficult to park at, then difficult to leave, WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE A FANTASTIC MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STADIUM, but---get this--WE COULD GET JOHNSON COUNTIANS AND KANSANS TO HELP US PAY FOR IT!!

YES!!

By all means, LET'S BUILD A NEW, UNNECESSARY, VERY EXPENSIVE NEW BALLPARK DOWNTOWN THAT SOLVES NOT ONE PROBLEM WE HAVE NOW!!

SURE!!

LET'S!!

Or...

maybe not.

Please. For the love of God, common sense and all that is good.

It's difficult we have to even say this.

These people that want a new ballpark downtown---

Do you suppose they haven't driven down Wornall lately? Heck, Ward Parkway? 63rd Street.

Could we please, please be fiscally and yes, environmentally responsible and not further even explore this bonehead idea?

Please, Kansas City Star?

I mean, we know you need readers but get out and report on fascinating, accomplished, accomplishing area citizens.

Let this absurd idea die.

This is beautiful. It works. Leave it alone.

Heads Up, Kansas City!!

Don't look now, folks, but guess who was back in town---and says he's running for political office?

  

First this--I apologize for the blurry photos but that, ladies and gentlemen of Kansas City, is one Clay Chastain.

You remember Clay, right?

The guy who has all the answers for our fair city?

Even though he lives, most of the time in--where is it? Virginia?

Anyway, seems he was not only back in town this weekend, this is him outside the Brookside Price Chopper grocery, and he was saying he's running for political office, yessiree, Bob.

So don't think we have, you have seen or heard the last of Mr. Clay "I Know What This City Needs" Chastain.

It's my hope that, if he's actually serious about running for city political office for us again, that someone in the media like Steve Kraske on KCUR or someone down at the the Star or the Pitch or Mike Shanin at KCPT's "Ruckus" or someone, somewhere interviews the man. We need to know just what he's planning. Or working on.

If he's serious about running for office, and I'm sure he is, he needs to get the word out and we need to hear it.

However misguided and/or foolhardy.

The Shameful State of the Missouri Legislature

Missouri got a really dumbed-down, irresponsible "two-fer" yesterday from our state legislators.

Missouri Lawmakers Loosen Gun Laws, 

Back Voter Photo ID

Fortunately, however, the stupidity is getting a lot of national press.

The Daily Show With Trevor Noah skewers 

new Missouri gun law

Trevor Noah Blasts Missouri Law That Requires No Gun Training

It's not bad enough cities like Chicago and New Orleans and even our own St. Louis are showing the rather obvious pitfalls of having too many guns in our cities and society, no. Our state legislators have to push for yet more. And not only do they support more "open carry" citizens, they also want to allow them to carry guns virtually everywhere with no training required of any kind.

I say once again, Missouri legislators--the Republican and Right Wing ones, anyway--seem to want to follow Kansas down both a fiscal/financial as well as weapons rabbit hole, so to speak, and wreak havoc on us all.

And as though all that isn't enough, they also want to disenfranchise Americans and take their votes away with these ugly, obscene, un-American "voter ID" laws. It's so bad and blatant what they're doing, one Republican representative even admitted it.

GOP congressman: Voter ID law will 

help Republicans

Former GOP Staffer Admits Voter ID Law 

Meant to Hurt Democrats

Unbelievable GOP Statements on Voter 

Suppression | BillMoyers.com

We need to call "voter ID laws" what they are. It's nothing more than a return to "Jim Crow" laws of the South in the last 100 years. They disenfranchise the poor and minorities. Honestly, they do even more than that, however, since it's been shown that they also effectively take the vote away from the elderly and physically-challenged, as well. (See links, below).

And they--these Republicans and Right Wingers--are getting away with it.

I tell you, folks, once again, we have got to vote these people out, come November. 

Vote Blue 2016

Links:

Getting a photo ID so you can vote is easy. 

Unless you're poor, black

Study: Voter ID laws hit minorities

Report: Voter ID laws reduce turnout more 

among African American

Why Voter ID Laws Aren't Really about Fraud |

 FRONTLINE | PBS

Myth of Voter Fraud | Brennan Center for Justice

Little evidence of widespread voter fraud

Investigation finds little evidence of voter fraud

Race will affect traffic on Memorial Day morning

The City of Kansas City, Mo., is notifying motorists that the Amy Thompson Run (8K, 5K and 1 mile) will affect traffic in the Sunset Hill, Ward Estates and Country Club District neighborhoods on Monday, May 27 from approximately 7 a.m. to noon.

The following streets will experience rolling closures during the race:

- Wornall Road between 51st and 55th streets
- 55th Street between Wornall Road and Summit Street
- Belleview Avenue between 52nd Street and 60th Terrace
- Pennsylvania Avenue between 55th Street and Huntington Road
- Huntington Road between Pennsylvania Avenue and Belleview Avenue
- 59th Terrace from Belleview Avenue to Ward Parkway
- Summit Street between 60th Terrace/61st Street and Greenway Terrace
- Valley Road between Greenway Terrace and 64th Terrace
- 64th Terrace between Valley Road and Ward Parkway
- Ward Parkway (northbound) between 64th Terrace and Sunset Drive
- Sunset Drive between Ward Parkway and 54th Street
- 54th Street between Sunset Drive and Belleview Avenue
- 51st Street between 52nd Street and Wornall Road

Please observe caution and obey all posted detours and barricades.

Thanks and acknowledgement to Scott Wagner and his Facebook page for this information.

On KCI and Pitch Magazine's Cover Story

The Pitch Magazine is out today, as usual, and this week, their cover story is on our airport and the pros and cons of building a new, single terminal.

It's an excellent article, very comprehensive.

And as usual, the Kansas City Star got scooped.

Sometimes, occasionally, even The New York Times scoops the local paper, as they did last year on a report out of Kansas but this time, the local free paper got the better of them.

The article points out some important, if rather obvious and already-covered points about any possible new terminal:

Does the city need a new, billion-dollar Kansas City International ...

Points the article and others of us make about our airport:

1) Airline traffic is down nationally, at least, anyway, for all airlines especially since the financial collapse of 2008. No one and nothing can or will change that;

2) Airlines are, if anything, shrinking and consolidating. There are fewer airlines, not more so expansion of any isn't on the horizon and isn't going to get more flights here;

3) Airlines, like all other businesses, want and need to keep their costs low. That just stands to reason. A new airport would, make no mistake, as the article points out, raise costs for those airlines, too. Sure, they'd pass them on to their ticket buying customers but their costs would be higher, period. As the article says:

"Costs would almost certainly increase with a new terminal — for parking, for a cup of coffee and for landing an airliner on a runway."

4) There is nothing wrong with our existing airport that can't be changed by revamping it, updating and innovating it and at far lower cost than of the 1.2 billion dollars a new airport terminal would cost. Not only that, but the updating and innovating, especially on heating and cooling, could well end up with additional savings on the facilities;

5) A little-known fact about our airport, at least to the person on the street--It has now 90 available gates for flights. We're using far fewer of those right now. With a new, very-expensive, single terminal, we would have 37 gates.  Seriously.  Yet people pushing a new terminal want to talk expansion;

6) There is even a question of whether or not Kansas City can AFFORD to pay for the new airport, let alone if it's really needed. Pitch seems to cover this, the financing aspects, very thoroughly and in all detail. They make just one great point here, as just one example:

Kansas City's finance team estimates that a single terminal could fetch 2.8 percent in interest rates. They would be lucky to find single-digit interest rates among private-equity financiers or pension funds looking to invest in municipally owned airports.

Bonds are sold to investors to drum up quick cash. The upfront money would pay for the airport's construction. Buyers would be repaid by airport revenues — from coffee, parking spaces, landing fees.

The city would not be on the hook to make up the difference if the airport didn't produce enough revenue to cover bond payments. Bondholders would be screwed on their investments, but so would the airport's reputation when it wanted to issue bonds in the future.

And federal funds? Fuggedaboudit:  "You can't put together a financing plan that's dependent on the federal government," Kansas City Manager Troy Schulte tells The Pitch.

So the very financing and affordability of a new airport is even an issue and in question, let's be clear. Not only can we possibly not afford it, it doesn't make sense to tear a working, existing one down to do so.

7) City Manager Schulte and the Airport Authority want to make more money than we do now at the airport with concessions. With the existing layout, naturally, that's not possible because everyone's corralled in the security areas, away from the restaurants, etc.

I say again, if we use Terminal B for the main security clearance area--most or all of the building--and then have walkways out to Terminals A and C, we could have the security needed for today's post-9/11 airports as well as the restaurants and added concessions.

Both problems, solved. And at far, far less cost than the 1.2 billion dollar boondoggle they want with a new, single terminal.

8) As for deicing and the drainage it needs, the article covers that very well, again, and makes clear there's no reason that can't be done at the existing airport and at far less cost. And let's face it, how many days per year is that in use? It's not a high volume of deicer since there aren't that many days per year when its called  for.

9) And finally, nearly most importantly, a new terminal categorically does not bring a new flying public to a city. To think otherwise is at least foolish if not utterly mistaken. No one flies to a city to see their new airport as I've written here before. A few architects might--might--and that's doubtful but that would be it.

So, again, kudos to Pitch Magazine for a good, comprehensive article that doesn't really take sides but just covers the issues in front of us.

Hopefully, in a couple of months or so, the Star will do an update on the subject of their own.

Farewell to a friend

The Pitch points out that the King--E. Thomas McClanahan--has no clothes

God, I love this:

E. Thomas McClanahan confused by language, science, the world

Kudos to the writer, Scott Wilson and all at The Pitch.

Keep it coming, y'all.

 

 

Stupid for 30 years is still stupid

I ate lunch this afternoon with friends at the Westport Flea Market.

Wow.

We all decided it was a mistake and that we won't repeat that a second time and for a few reasons, too.

First, we ordered. That shouldn't be tough, right?

Except you order your food at the walk-up counter, just as I'd remembered from years past. That was okay. Lots of restaurants have you do that.

But your drink?

If you want a drink with your meal--and most of us do--you go to your table and order that from your waitperson. (I'm being PC here).

Yes, you got that right. You order your food at the counter, pay for that and then go to your table, only to order your drink AND THEN PAY AGAIN.

I asked the young lady at the register if I had that right and she confirmed.

I told her how absolutely silly it was and asked if there were some parallel universe or planet on which that made any sense.

The "boss lady" said "That's the way we've done it for 30 years", thus making for today's headline.

The effect this 2nd-order-for-your-drink policy had was to insure that no one at our table ordered any additional drink. All they did was assure they made less money. Brilliant.

Then, be forewarned, ladies and gentlemen. If you order one of their burgers--most all in the $7.50 to $8.50 range--you are asked if you want anything additional on it.

CHECK THE MENU.

"Garnishes" are extra.

If you say, like in most burger joints, that you want "everything on it", you will be summarily charged for the onions, mushrooms, cheese, anything and everything, you will be additionally billed for it all.

What effect does that have, you might ask? What's the big deal?

Well, it turns that big $8.49 burger into a ticket that ends up costing you more than $14.00 AND YOU HAVEN'T EVEN ORDERED A DRINK YET.

Care for a screwing? Here's your place.

One final word of caution.

If one in your party orders, as I did, the Cajun chicken sandwich--and enjoyed, I will give them that, lest you think all I want to do is complain--while the rest of your group orders burgers, prepare to sit through at least half your friend's lunches WHILE YOU WAIT.

Apparently, after all these years of cooking and serving food, they haven't figured out how to get everyone's meal in one group out at remotely a similar time frame.

Maybe that will happen sometime in the next 30 years.

Links: http://www.westportfleamarket.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Westport-Flea-Market-Bar-Grill/95092657967?fref=ts

KC: No. 15 out of 50

Yes, it's been covered by The Pitch Magazine and likely elsewhere online, too, across town but I still think it's good to cover this story and point out a few things differently.

Kansas City was ranked a bit of a surprising number 15 out of a total of 50 cities, nationwide, out of Businessweek Magazines'--with an assist from Bloomberg Rankings, it says-- "50 Best Cities to Live." (See links at bottom).

So good for us but first things, first--where does this come from and what may it mean for us?

First, from where this ranking comes:

The magazines say the cities are "... evaluated 100 of the country’s largest cities based on leisure attributes (the number of restaurants, bars, libraries, museums, professional sports teams, and park acres by population); educational attributes (public school performance, the number of colleges, and graduate degree holders), economic factors (2011 income and June and July 2012 unemployment), crime, and air quality. Major professional league and minor league teams, as well as U.S.-based teams belonging to international leagues in that city were included. The greatest weighting was placed on leisure amenities, followed by educational metrics and economic metrics, and then crime and air quality."

So, all told, that should mean especially good things for us, being based on these items. It's good company--all those cities--good competition and great overall reasons to grant these rankings.

(It has to be noted that it sucks, here, on this list, to be Dallas or Los Angeles or Phoenix, too. Wow).

Next, let's take a pause here and see what the article has to say about us:

Rank: 15
Population: 458,064

Were it not for its high crime rate, Missouri’s largest city might rank even higher. Residents working in the city’s downtown area are watched over by the iconic Kansas City Power & Light Building, while shoppers can get lost in local shopping centers such as Country Club Plaza and the Legends at Village West. For a unique blend of technology, arts, and history, residents can always stop by the city’s old transportation hub, Union Station.

Bars: 113
Restaurants: 921
Museums: 28
Libraries: 19
Pro sports teams: 3
Park acres per 1,000 residents: 36
Colleges: 15
Percent with graduate degree: 7.3
Median household income: $59,980
Percent unemployed: 6.9

I think it's interesting that the ranking is specifically for Kansas City, Missouri, yet they mention the Legends at Village West. That's a cute oversight on their part.

So, finally, then, what does this mean for us?

I think it means a couple things, really, at least.

First, it means we're getting good, national attention and coverage and that's always good.

Second, I think it's clear that, without the arts, Kansas City would be nowhere near this list. The arts and our three national sports teams--baseball, football and now soccer. What's ironic is that that last one, the new, "fereign" one, soccer, is the one that wins more than the other two.

Third, I think we need to, once again, stop a moment here and thank all kinds of people but maybe especially the Kauffman family since, without Ewing, Marion and Julia, we would have neither the Royals Major League Baseball team nor the incredible, in so many ways, new Performing Arts Center. Those are two big factors on this ranking, I think.

Where we have to sit up and take note--what we have to work on, this ranking shows--is that we clearly need, as we all surely know, that we have to get the crime rate down and the shootings and killings to stop.

Now if we just knew how, right?

Here's another note, too and it's in our favor: St. Louis is ranked 47th and really took a beating in all this. They have the big, major league teams but, in the magazine's own words, "St. Louis rated the worst on this list...in crime."

Ouch.

So, not only does this give us some bragging rights and some things for the Chamber of Commerce to crow about and promote and advertise, but it also gives us something to work on and for. Maybe if we get that crime rate down and the shootings and killings to decrease or, better yet, stop, we'll climb up this list even higher.

Here's hoping.

Congratulations, Kansas City. You got some good to great press here. Now let's get out there and get even better.


Links: http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2012/10/05/kc-is-americas-15th-best-city-says-businessweek

http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/2012-09-26/americas-50-best-cities.html

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-09-26/san-francisco-is-americas-best-city-in-2012

http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/2012-09-26/americas-50-best-cities.html#slide37

On Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue

I'll be happy--very happy--when the newness of Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue is over.

I'd like to get back to more people liking more than one barbecue joint in town.

This week, they're being covered yet again. This time by The Pitch Magazine. (link below).

I mean, come on, Joe's is good, sure, but this whole trendy, citywide zeitgeist that they're the best right now is far too lemming-like, for me, anyway.

As I've said here before, I hate trends and trendiness, period, but I especially dislike food trends. They're the worst.

Can we not think and act as individuals?

Are we not capable of that? Of independent thought?

Between its newness and the fact that Anthony Bourdain likes them and put them on his TV show ("No Reservations") and a local food blogger came out and said they were "best" on Mr. Bourdain's same show, it makes it "their time." And it's cool, too. I love the idea that it's in a gas station. So sure, I get all that. Fine.

I'll just be glad when all the new wears off and the hoopla is over.

The only thing is, it will all be replaced with some other new, "next" trend.

And it will start all over again.

In the meantime, you can find me at Arthur Bryant's.

Link: http://www.pitch.com/kansascity/oklahoma-joes-jeff-stehney/Content?oid=2914103

Congratulations, Kansas City!!

You're not on the FBI's "Most Dangerous Cities in America." (But St. Louis, is. See links, below).

So... what, if anything, do these "top ten" cities have in common?

Anything?

Bueller?

(Side note: We have also, it's been decided and declared, been listed as the nation's 20th "Most Manly City." Wth? See link below for this, too).

Links: http://realestate.yahoo.com/news/most-dangerous-cities-in-america.html


http://247wallst.com/2012/06/11/the-most-dangerous-cities-in-america-2/

http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2012/06/13/kansas-city-is-americas-20th-manliest-city

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oklahoma-city-claims-title-of-americas-manliest-city-158474215.html

The Pitch stinks today

Okay, it's another Wednesday so yes, it's time to expect and search for the latest Pitch magazine, right?

Right?

Sure it is.

And it's got lots of coverage of everything socially and concerning the arts that's coming up for the next 3 months and that's all well and good but, but...

It doesn't have a new Charles Ferruzza restaurant review in it.

What good is the Pitch if it doesn't have that?

Link: http://www.pitch.com/

Mayor's family not doing him any favors

First Mayor Sly's son got in trouble with the police--twice, I believe--now, his brother is doing similarly:

Mayor's Brother Charged With Domestic Assault

La Vance James Accused Of Domestic Assault, Armed Criminal Action

Yikes.

That's some PR department, there, Mayor.

Good luck with that. (And I'm not being sarcastic).

Links: http://www.kmbc.com/news/30966236/detail.html; http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2011/08/30/mayor-sly-james-son-accused-of-punching-a-woman-in-the-face-at-the-point; http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/shock-waves-arrest-sly-james-son/; http://www.massappealnews.com/2011/08/08/sly-james-drunken-sons/; http://fox4kc.com/2012/02/10/assault-charges-dropped-against-kcmo-mayors-son/; http://www.kctv5.com/story/15356012/kc-mayors-son-accused-of-punching-woman-in-face

The End of a Kansas City Era

Hail and farewell to Walt Bodine, Dean of Kansas City media, radio and history.

Thank you, Walt, for all your years of great and entertaining work and the memories you gave us all. (What KCUR is doing right now for his farewell show is at least embarrassing. What else it is I won't say in order to be polite. I will say this, the only thing in worse taste than today's show is how they first tried to prematurely fire Mr. Bodine).

Links: http://www.kcur.org/topic/thank-you-walt-bodine; http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2012/04/26/walt-bodines-last-day-on-the-radio-is-friday-but-first-bodine-stares-down-a-lion; http://kcurstream.umkc.edu/CENTRAL/blog/wbs2preview.mp3; http://kcur.org/post/walt-bodine-special-documentary

No urgency on I-70 from anywhere

The Pitch Magazine and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch report that "I-70 will remain toll-free for another year." It seems Jefferson City just hasn't gotten it together to decide how to fix this most-vital artery in the state. Our Senators in Washington don't seem to be especially fighting for any additional federal moneys and the statehouse can't decide if we can do a toll road without asking the state voters for the okay. In the meantime, what remains is a terribly dangerous, nearly murderous highway that needs expanding horribly.

It would add a great deal to the safety of the citizens of the state and to the safety of any out-of-staters that use it. It would also add to good commerce in the state, really, whether you're crossing it in your car for a meeting or you drive an 18-wheeler daily. The lack of attention this I-70 matter is getting is appalling. For any business people who drive it, especially as it courses through Columbia, as a worst-case scenario, you can usually always see a horrible car wreck of two or more cars because it slows down and meanders through what has become the center of that city.

The two lanes offered, in each direction, are far too narrow, especially with the heavy tractor-trailer traffic it gets. Bad as that all is, check this one out from the Pitch: "Even if tolls were approved, MoDOT estimates that it would be two years before construction could begin and six to eight years before the project would be finished." That's horrible.

We are years away from even starting the process and many years from completion. In the meantime, seriously, people are going to be killed because our Jefferson City government representatives have been unresponsive to the needs of the citizens. This is inexcusable. It's gone on far too long and there's still no end in sight to the foot-dragging. Somebody needs a good, swift kick in the pants.

Links: http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2012/04/24/i-70-will-remain-toll-free-for-another-year; http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/interstate-toll-proposal-hits-roadblock/article_fdeb11ac-d575-5d51-96c6-de82b4ce4757.html#ixzz1sq6HWLFn; http://moravings.blogspot.com/2011/12/face-it-i-70-will-be-toll-road-one-day.html

Rep. Cleaver's SBA loan: A story made for a good media outlet and reporter

If ever there were a story that seemed made for a good reporter and media outlet--be it newspaper or local TV station--this one right now about Representative Emanuel Cleaver and his $1.46 million loan from the SBA that's "going South" seems to be just the one. Here you have a situation where the local, sitting government representative to Washington and the Federal government has taken out a government loan AND HE'S NOT GOING TO REPAY IT? This on top of the fact that in the past he's gotten caught with outstanding taxes unpaid? I'm not saying anyone's guilty of anything here, either. I'm just saying here's a story that has stink all over it and some reporting bloodhound should be all over it. Where's Russ Ptacek when you need him? Say, what about Chris Hernandez? SOMEBODY, please take this and run with it. Please. According to Newsbusters today, no one is going with the story, so far. This, I repeat, stinks. Somebody, somewhere, sic 'em. Please? Links: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/06/3540958/taxpayers-could-have-to-cover.html; http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2012/04/09/more-emanuel-car-wash-cleaver-coverage-ap-does-local-story-doesnt-name-p; http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2012/04/09/kid-glove-treatment-emanuel-car-wash-cleaver-kc-star-ap-has-no-national-

From Bottomline Communications: Yet another rich guy wrecks, hurts someone and gets off easy

This one: PITCH EDITOR DELIVERS QUOTE OF DAY/MONTH/YEAR I'll get to the meat of the article: "Justin Kendall is an excellent writer and has done a superb job as the Managing Editor at The Pitch alternative weekly the past five months. But not only is Kendall’s writing top-notch, his sarcasm is pure gold. Take for instance his story about Frank Ross III, who ran a stop sign while drunk and obliterated a police car in the process titled “Can you drunk-drive into a cop car and keep your license? Yes – if you’re Frank Ross III.” The well-connected Ross, whose father is a partner in a major KC law firm, didn’t even lose his driving privileges over the incident. 'The driver, officer Warner J. Stumpenhaus, walked away with minor injuries,' wrote Kendall. 'The passenger, officer Serge Grinik, wasn’t so lucky. Firefighters had to extricate him from the cruiser, and he was hospitalized with a fractured pelvis, a fractured shoulder, and multiple abrasions and lacerations.'” And then this kind of crap--with rich people hurting or killing others and then buying their way out of it--needs to stop. At least it wasn't as bad as Curtis Mertensmeyer killing Lucas Bates with his mom's car and skipping off down the street, as happened here in town in 2010. (See 2nd link below) Links: http://www.bottomlinecom.com/pitch-editor-delivers-quote-of-daymonthyear/; http://moravings.blogspot.com/2010/11/if-only-lucas-bates-were-born-where.html

Noteworthy from Nick Haines

In the latest Pitch Magazine, they gave their questionairre to host and producer of KCPT Channel 19’s Kansas City Week in Review Nick Haines. While it's all interesting, fun, brief and rather light-hearted reading, I thought the answer to this question was most--the most--illuminating and important for the city: The Pitch: Finish this sentence: “Kansas City needs ...” Nick Haines: "To stop beating up on itself all the time. I’ve lived other places. This is an easy, amenity-filled city without the annoying ego of the East and West Coasts. Enjoy it!" I couldn't agree more. Thank you, Mr. Haines, for your work and advice, both. Read the rest of the interview here: http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2012/01/04/the-pitch-questionnaire-nick-haines