KCMSD Board Cronyism - Alive and Well!

Speculation is running rampant about who will replace Kansas City Missouri School Board member Ingrid Burnett who resigned abruptly this week, citing "disfunction" among board members and no clear direction for where the Board and the Disctict was going. 

Late this afternoon, sources close to the District have indicated that Board President Marilyn Simmons and Arthur benson II have thrown policy out the window, had a con-fab behind closed doors and already named the heir to be to Burnett's seat on the Board. 

Official School District Policy indicates that notices must be placed in newspapers within 7 days of the vacancy, then applications are accepted within 14 days of the posting of the notice. 

Despite this transparent policy being in place, this newspaper has received no notice of said vacancy to date. 

If those sources are correct, it looks as if cronyism is alive and well in the KCMSD! 

Project deadline extended

Councilwoman Cindy Circo, Chair of the City Council Housing Committee, announced today that due to the groundswell of interest, the deadline to submit proposals for neighborhood building projects will be extended to 4 p.m. Monday.

On August 21, the Council adopted an ordinance No. to use $750,000 to fund neighborhood-based programs and projects aimed at crime prevention, economic development, graffiti removal and property code enforcement.

The funds will finance multiple projects between $10,000 and $50,000 with a maximum award of $150,000 per group.

Those eligible to apply are neighborhood-based, not-for-profit corporations. Eligible organizations must be able to provide a current Certificate of Good Standing from the State of Missouri showing their 501(c)(3) status as a Missouri Not-for-Profit Corporation.

For more information about the request for proposal, call David Park, Assistant Director of the Neighborhood and Community Services Department, 816-513-3231.

Newhouse Shelter finds funding

With dwindling donations and increasing costs, the Newhouse battered women's shelter said last week that it might have to close its doors. But an anonymous donor has stepped forward and has offered to keep the shelter open.

From a press release at Don Bosco:

When financial troubles threatened to close the doors of Newhouse, a battered women’s shelter serving the Kansas City area, the organization looked to The Don Bosco Centers for a possible merger that would enable the organization’s services to continue. However, according to Newhouse Board President Jim Feller, a donor who wishes to remain anonymous has come forward to assist Newhouse in remaining independent and operational. With improved financial viability, merger talks between Newhouse and The Don Bosco Centers have ceased.

“Don Bosco is committed to providing a full compliment of services to the Northeast community and the metro area,” said Don Bosco Board Chair Dan Cranshaw. “We did what we had to do to ensure that Newhouse’s critical services and programs would continue. We are thrilled that Newhouse will be able to move forward on its own.”

The two organizations will continue to work together through referrals and program partnerships to ensure clients and participants have access to the greatest number of community resources as possible.

Mayor takes on council over volunteer ordinance

Mayor Mark Funkhouser is expected in a few moments to take a few swipes at his own City Council for passing an ordinance that could remove the Mayor's wife from his office.

This morning, the council unanimously passed an ordinance that will require all city volunteers to partake in some form of training and would also keep family members from volunteering within the same department as other family members.

Since the beginning of his term, Funkhouser has had his wife Gloria Squitaro working in his office as a volunteer. In recent months she has drawn fire from critics — and even some former supporters — after employees began to complain.

Funkhouser today issued a statement saying:

Mayor Funkhouser feels the process has been dishonest, rushed and opaque as exhibited by the following events from today’s meeting:

The process in which public testimony is allowed requires those who testify to sign up and be present. Two weeks ago, at the first public hearing, names of influential individuals were put on the top of the list by Councilwoman Marcason to testify on behalf of the ordinance.

“These actions violate the very spirit in which we allow our citizens to voice their concerns and is an insult to all who come to honestly be a part of the democratic process. We need to hold our elected officials accountable,” said Mayor Funkhouser.

When the ordinance was first introduced, Funkhouser said he planned to ignore it.

Trash Pick up delayed

In observance of Labor Day on Sept. 1, curbside trash and recycling collection will be delayed one day and Kansas City government offices will be closed.

The 3-1-1 Action Center, a division of the City Manager's Office, also will be closed for the holiday.

Residents who usually have Monday collection will receive this service Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Residents who usually have Friday collection will receive this service Saturday, Sept. 6.

For more information about solid waste collection services, visit www.kcmo.org/trash or call the 3-1-1 Action Center at 311 or (816) 513-1313.

Air show roars to KC

Pilots Stewart Dawson and Mike Olson stand outside their restored WW II B-25

If you have missed the roar overhead then check your hearing. The Kansas City Air Show is this weekend and pilots from all over the country are at the Wheeler Downtown Airport firing up their jets and historic airplanes getting them ready for the big show.

The air show will be flying all weekend.

Pay for play does not work out this way.

Cranky?

Was this li’l pooch just called cranky?

That’s how mayoral spokesman Joe Miller sees it after our portrayal of the Mayor’s “pay to play” PR tour that hits Historic Northeast on Sept. 6. We rightfully called this red herring what it is the minute the donor letter arrived.

But wait — the donor letter isn’t really supposed to be a donor letter. It’s supposed to only advertise the event at Concourse Park.

Huh?

“We’re just trying to get the word out, casting a wide net,” Miller said.

When we asked if Miller had read the part of the letter establishing the donor levels that we took issue with — he openly said that he had not read it prior to it being sent out. An out-of-town company is planning the event.

Remember, “...in a city that works.”

Well here’s some straight skinny from a veteran — and apparently cranky — newshound.

We’d like to remind the Mayor — and his brood — that once upon a time during his campaign we sat in a little trailer on the West Side as he told our Publisher boss that, and I quote: “I expect you as a member of the media to call me on the carpet if I do something stupid,” (His words, not ours).

He has and we are.

Maybe in a city that works, instead of gutting neighborhood programs and getting local businesses and neighborhoods to pony up for what’s essentially the Mayor’s “Ghetto PR Tour ‘08” that equates to a bus ride and free appetizers in a tent, he should find a way to restore some of the programs and services to neighborhoods that took it on the chin last spring when the “neighborhoods first” City Council and the “city that works” Mayor decided it was indeed going to be the neighborhoods that got it first!

We got it alright.

And for the record — we’re going to stay “cranky.”