Kansas City Officially Has A New Mayor - Mark Funkhouser

[KCMax]

We now have a new mayor in Kansas City.

New mayor pledges support for neighborhoods

But he said the first tax incentive plan for development “that reaches my desk had darn well better be for the east side,” drawing applause started by new Councilwoman Sharon Sanders Brooks.

He promised to focus on neighborhood services with a particular emphasis on crime prevention. The weekend shooting at a Ward Parkway mall proves “no neighborhood is safe from crime,” he said.

Funkhouser offered a pointed challenge to City Manager Wayne Cauthen, whose contract runs through next year. Funkhouser called on him to pick up the pace in reforming city departments and improving the delivery of basic services. He offered an outstretched hand to organized labor, saying he is sympathetic to their needs but that does not “no blank check on wage negotiations.”

[KCMax]

Video: Funkhouser does not intend to be beloved

[riebschlager]

you may not intend to be loved, mark.  but i love you.  i always will.  now fix my *$#%ing street.

[ShowMeKC]

So, which part of the East Side will get the first TIF of Funkhouser's term? 18th and Vine? Municipal Stadium area?

[KCPowercat]

nothing but puffery.

[aknowledgeableperson]

^
Will see what a few years brings.  But the odds favor the Funk.

[KCPowercat]

my puffery comment dealt only with the east side TIF comment.

[ShowMeKC]

Why would he need to make empty promises AFTER he has become mayor? I even talked to him myself over email several times, and I believe he really does care about those areas.

And I don't believe he means a huge TIF, it could possibly be just a small TIF for a local neighborhood or something. Not all TIFs need to be huge.

[DaveKCMO]

i would like to see a TIF project at ground zero for gangs and homicides, specifically. can someone pinpoint that for me? i'm no whiz at analyzing crime stats. one can dream...

[beautyfromashes]

Seems like if people really wanted to help the East side so much they would have voted for a mayor who actually LIVES in that area.  Seems like one big black hole for money to get lost in, in my opinion.

[moderne]

The (new) lighting on the top of city hall has been extinguished for several weeks now.  Does this have anything to do with the economizing of our new mayor?

[DaveKCMO]

The (new) lighting on the top of city hall has been extinguished for several weeks now.  Does this have anything to do with the economizing of our new mayor?

if i had to guess, they decided to add the lighting without funding the long-term maintenance. 

[ShowMeKC]

beauty, so someone who hasn't lived there can't do a lot for that neighborhood? People just to need to STOP WHINING about their guy not winning the election. man, it's just like the whining democrats after Bush won, or the whining republicans after they lost in November last year.

[DaveKCMO]

beauty, so someone who hasn't lived there can't do a lot for that neighborhood? People just to need to STOP WHINING about their guy not winning the election. man, it's just like the whining democrats after Bush won, or the whining republicans after they lost in November last year.

bush won? for real? 

[kard]

bush won? for real? 

Yeah--once.

[ShowMeKC]

And Dave, the police have been focusing their fight on gangs in the area bound by Indiana and Brighton, and 23rd and 31st.

[chingon]

Ground zero for homicides (exclouding the Prospect serials) I'd hypothesize 33rd and Benton, in the heart of 3rd Wall. 

Coincidentally, lots of incredible housing stock in the imediate vicinity.

[KCTigerFan]

So, who else is going to the Funk party on Friday?

[DaveKCMO]

So, who else is going to the Funk party on Friday?

me me me!

[lock+load]

So, who else is going to the Funk party on Friday?

I'll be there