The thought of the cost of a community center to be built on the west side of town makes me nauseous. I was going to write an in depth commentary about this but Marty Augustine beat me to it. And that's good, because he probably said it better than I would. His commentary can be found at the Shawnee Dispatch at this link by clicking here.
I would like to add that the figure he quotes of $34 million could actually become $42 million if one adds in the cost of a lap pool that some folks on the council want included. They are talking about a possible partnership with the school district for that add-on. Hmmmm.
Also there is an element on the council that wants to have this item put on a spring mail in ballot. We are looking at approximately $70-75K for that when it can go on the primary or general election ballot for free (covered in a previous post). Some will come up with bovine scatological reasons for having a mail ballot. Actually I feel they are afraid that a regular ballot item won't pass. And it shouldn't. Asking the folks on the east side of Shawnee who earn substantially less than the west siders to subsidize their play pen is outrageous. Folks on the east side are not going to be rushing to use the facility.
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Thursday, August 16, 2018
Mayor Distler's Release Concerning Statement Regarding Cong. Yoder
As a result of a misunderstanding of Mayor Distler's statement concerning Congressman Yoder that appeared in the Shawnee Mission Post she has issued the following release:
I stand by my quote released in Congressman Yoder’s Press
Release as a reference to the job he has done for us as a city.
As a Mayor I must work cooperatively with elected
representatives at the Federal, State, County, and other municipal levels.
Because of this, in my position as Mayor, it is my policy that I do not endorse
any candidates, in any campaign race, ever.
“Kevin has been very approachable, responsive, and
attentive to our community’s needs and has reliably helped us cut through D.C.
bureaucracy to resolve issues for our residents. We are fortunate to have him
working for us in Washington.”
Because a few of the mayors used the word ‘endorse’ in
their statements, The Shawnee Mission Post took it upon itself to use the term
‘endorse’ in their headline stating, "Six Shawnee Mission area mayors
'endorse' Yoder for reelection."
When this was brought to my attention I contacted The
Shawnee Mission Post to clarify that I do not endorse candidates and that
headline is not correct. Following, I feel their readers were further confused
by making them think I am against him, which is certainly not true.
Again, I stand by my statement and it’s as simple as
that, a statement. I was referencing what he has done for us as a city and it
is very important to me that news sources portray things accurately.
Monday, August 13, 2018
Shawnee Dispatch Gets It Wrong.........Again
In an article on line about the new community center the Shawnee Dispatch says:
“The city plans to build and maintain the facility using revenue from a proposed mill levy increase, which would be voted on during the upcoming spring election.”
What spring election? We don't have spring elections in Shawnee anymore. The only way to vote on it in the spring is with a mail ballot election that would cost the city approximately $75K. See my previous post. Better yet, doesn't the Dispatch staff do research about elections? Or do they rely on misleading info disseminated by a few folks.
Maybe we should classify my favorite bird cage liner as "fake news".
“The city plans to build and maintain the facility using revenue from a proposed mill levy increase, which would be voted on during the upcoming spring election.”
What spring election? We don't have spring elections in Shawnee anymore. The only way to vote on it in the spring is with a mail ballot election that would cost the city approximately $75K. See my previous post. Better yet, doesn't the Dispatch staff do research about elections? Or do they rely on misleading info disseminated by a few folks.
Maybe we should classify my favorite bird cage liner as "fake news".
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Which Council Members Will Vote to Waste $75,000
So, which Shawnee City Council Members will vote to waste $75,000?
How did this come about? Easy, there is a movement to build a new community center on the west side of town which will cost approximately $34 million dollars. Dat's alotta bucks.
Anyway various aspects of the financing has to go before the voters to include a possible mill levy increase.
Now here's the kicker.......some folks would like the vote to be on a mail ballot in the spring. There is the waste. Any ballot question could be piggy backed on either the summer primary election or the fall general election, at no cost to the city
A mail ballot will cost approximately $75,000. How do I know that? Easy. About two years ago when the sales tax increase was being proposed for road repairs the former city manager (Carol Gonzales) went before the council and said a mail ballot would cost approximately $30,000. That did not seem accurate. So, yours truly contacted the county elections folks, got the information and came up with a figure in the mid $60's thousands. More than double what the former city manager had told the council. At a subsequent meeting, the former city manager did tell the council members that the cost would be close to $70,000. (Guess it took a citizen of the community to teach her basic math). It eventually went on a regular ballot.
Anyway, allowing for an increase in population and costs associated with printing, election staff time etc. it would be safe to add 5% to the previous estimate. As such a mail ballot would push the cost close to the $75K figure. Ridiculous when there is a way to get it done at no charge.
But why are there some folks who want a mail ballot? Easy, for the same reason that folks wanted it back for the sales tax increase. Based on voter returns of mail ballots, and push efforts, it would probably have a better chance of passing on a mail ballot. Not quite rigging an election, but putting the odds in the favor of one side of an issue.
As such, it will be interesting to see which members of the council vote to blow $75K.
How did this come about? Easy, there is a movement to build a new community center on the west side of town which will cost approximately $34 million dollars. Dat's alotta bucks.
Anyway various aspects of the financing has to go before the voters to include a possible mill levy increase.
Now here's the kicker.......some folks would like the vote to be on a mail ballot in the spring. There is the waste. Any ballot question could be piggy backed on either the summer primary election or the fall general election, at no cost to the city
A mail ballot will cost approximately $75,000. How do I know that? Easy. About two years ago when the sales tax increase was being proposed for road repairs the former city manager (Carol Gonzales) went before the council and said a mail ballot would cost approximately $30,000. That did not seem accurate. So, yours truly contacted the county elections folks, got the information and came up with a figure in the mid $60's thousands. More than double what the former city manager had told the council. At a subsequent meeting, the former city manager did tell the council members that the cost would be close to $70,000. (Guess it took a citizen of the community to teach her basic math). It eventually went on a regular ballot.
Anyway, allowing for an increase in population and costs associated with printing, election staff time etc. it would be safe to add 5% to the previous estimate. As such a mail ballot would push the cost close to the $75K figure. Ridiculous when there is a way to get it done at no charge.
But why are there some folks who want a mail ballot? Easy, for the same reason that folks wanted it back for the sales tax increase. Based on voter returns of mail ballots, and push efforts, it would probably have a better chance of passing on a mail ballot. Not quite rigging an election, but putting the odds in the favor of one side of an issue.
As such, it will be interesting to see which members of the council vote to blow $75K.
Thursday, August 09, 2018
Jim Acosta - CNN Reporter is Garbage
Ha, this idiot has recently tried to equate reporters to our country's military as far as being heroes.
He is a sanctimonious piece of garbage. A double standard useless individual.
The item that follows was, I believe, posted here many years ago. If you can't or do not want to read the whole thing at least scroll down to the last paragraph highlighted in red.
WHAT IS A VET
Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg - or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity.
Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem. You can't tell a vet just by looking. What is a vet? He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers
didn't run out of fuel. He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel. She - or he - is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang. He is the POW who went away one
person and came back another - or didn't come back AT ALL. He is the Quantico
drill instructor who has never seen combat, but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.
He is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand. He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by. He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep. He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who
wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being - a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs. He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known. So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded. Two little words that mean a lot, THANK YOU!
It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag, And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protester to burn the flag
He is a sanctimonious piece of garbage. A double standard useless individual.
The item that follows was, I believe, posted here many years ago. If you can't or do not want to read the whole thing at least scroll down to the last paragraph highlighted in red.
WHAT IS A VET
Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg - or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity.
Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem. You can't tell a vet just by looking. What is a vet? He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers
didn't run out of fuel. He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel. She - or he - is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang. He is the POW who went away one
person and came back another - or didn't come back AT ALL. He is the Quantico
drill instructor who has never seen combat, but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.
He is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand. He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by. He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep. He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who
wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being - a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs. He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known. So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded. Two little words that mean a lot, THANK YOU!
It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag, And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protester to burn the flag
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Lindsey Constance - Clueless in Shawnee
It appears that our not so illustrious Ward IV council rep, Lindsey Constance is clueless about Shawnee.
She sends out a newsletter at the end of every month. In it she points out events that have happened and upcoming events for the next month. In this case we are talking about her end of July newsletter.
So, what did she fail to list for August? Various items to include two major events.
First, on August 7th at the Soetart Aquatic Center the PD and Parks and Rec will be hosting National Night Out. this includes the ability for the community to interact with members of the PD and to swim at no charge. There will be a variety of displays of different PD equipment and officers available to answer questions. Also, free food and prizes Time is 5-8PM with more info at https://www.cityofshawnee.org/news/what_s_new/national_night_out
Another event which has been going on for almost 30 years is the Tour de Shawnee. This bike ride has three distinct courses of different mileages. A true family event. This ride also benefits JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). It will be on Sunday, August 26th. For more info go here https://www.cityofshawnee.org/Departments/Parks_Recreation/Special_Events/Tour_de_Shawnee Besides the St Patrick's Day parade and the OSD parade and carnival this bike ride is one of the larger resident turn out events in Shawnee
Or how about the free Concert in the Park on 8/10. https://www.cityofshawnee.org/Departments/Parks_Recreation/Special_Events/concert_in_the_park
How about the Mayor's Third Thursdays (8/16) or Quarterly Q&A (8/9)? Maybe she doesn't want folks to interact with the mayor?
Oh, and how she misleads folks. She makes it seem in her newsletter that it was the council's idea to table the public hearing for Bellmont Promenade. No mention of the fact that the developer had requested the tabling.
She sends out a newsletter at the end of every month. In it she points out events that have happened and upcoming events for the next month. In this case we are talking about her end of July newsletter.
So, what did she fail to list for August? Various items to include two major events.
First, on August 7th at the Soetart Aquatic Center the PD and Parks and Rec will be hosting National Night Out. this includes the ability for the community to interact with members of the PD and to swim at no charge. There will be a variety of displays of different PD equipment and officers available to answer questions. Also, free food and prizes Time is 5-8PM with more info at https://www.cityofshawnee.org/news/what_s_new/national_night_out
Another event which has been going on for almost 30 years is the Tour de Shawnee. This bike ride has three distinct courses of different mileages. A true family event. This ride also benefits JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). It will be on Sunday, August 26th. For more info go here https://www.cityofshawnee.org/Departments/Parks_Recreation/Special_Events/Tour_de_Shawnee Besides the St Patrick's Day parade and the OSD parade and carnival this bike ride is one of the larger resident turn out events in Shawnee
Or how about the free Concert in the Park on 8/10. https://www.cityofshawnee.org/Departments/Parks_Recreation/Special_Events/concert_in_the_park
How about the Mayor's Third Thursdays (8/16) or Quarterly Q&A (8/9)? Maybe she doesn't want folks to interact with the mayor?
Oh, and how she misleads folks. She makes it seem in her newsletter that it was the council's idea to table the public hearing for Bellmont Promenade. No mention of the fact that the developer had requested the tabling.
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Bellmont Promenade-Tabled Again-Now Aug 27, 2018
At Monday's council meeting the public hearing for this item was going to be tabled until 8/13.
Apparently the developer had contacted the city earlier in the day and asked for it to be tabled until 8/27.
Hey, maybe the city will get lucky and the developer will take it off the table completely.
Apparently the developer had contacted the city earlier in the day and asked for it to be tabled until 8/27.
Hey, maybe the city will get lucky and the developer will take it off the table completely.
Sunday, July 22, 2018
How Do Civil Wars Start?
If any Republicans and/or Conservatives had acted the way the Democrats have all hell would have broken out. I have never seen a failed presidential candidate go out of their way to undermine our country like Hillary Clinton has.
From a speech delivered by Daniel Greenfield:
How do civil wars happen?
Two or more sides disagree on who runs the country. And they can't settle the question through elections because they don't even agree that elections are how you decide who's in charge. That's the basic issue here. Who decides who runs the country? When you hate each other but accept the election results, you have a country. When you stop accepting election results, you have a countdown to a civil war.
The Mueller investigation is about removing President Trump from office and overturning the results of an election. We all know that. But it's not the first time they've done this. The first time a Republican president was elected this century, they said he didn't really win. The Supreme Court gave him the election. There's a pattern here.
What do sure odds of the Democrats rejecting the next Republican president really mean? It means they don't accept the results of any election that they don't win. It means they don't believe that transfers of power in this country are determined by elections.
That's a civil war.
There's no shooting. At least not unless you count the attempt to kill a bunch of Republicans at a charity baseball game practice. But the Democrats have rejected our system of government.
This isn't dissent. It's not disagreement. You can hate the other party. You can think they're the worst thing that ever happened to the country. But then you work harder to win the next election. When you consistently reject the results of elections that you don't win, what you want is a dictatorship.
Your very own dictatorship.
The only legitimate exercise of power in this country, according to Democrats, is its own. Whenever Republicans exercise power, it's inherently illegitimate. The Democrats lost Congress. They lost the White House. So what did they do? They began trying to run the country through Federal judges and bureaucrats. Every time that a Federal judge issues an order saying that the President of the United States can't scratch his own back without his say so, that's the civil war.
Our system of government is based on the constitution, but that's not the system that runs this country. The Democrat's system is that any part of government that it runs gets total and unlimited power over the country.
If the Democrats are in the White House, then the president can do anything. And I mean anything. He can have his own amnesty for illegal aliens. He can fine you for not having health insurance. His power is unlimited. He's a dictator.
But when Republicans get into the White House, suddenly the President can't do anything. He isn't even allowed to undo the illegal alien amnesty that his predecessor illegally invented. A Democrat in the White House has 'discretion' to completely decide every aspect of immigration policy. A Republican doesn't even have the 'discretion' to reverse him. That's how the game is played That's how our country is run. Sad but true, although the left hasn't yet won that particular fight.
When a Democrat is in the White House, states aren't even allowed to enforce immigration law. But when a Republican is in the White House, states can create their own immigration laws. Under Obama, a state wasn't allowed to go to the bathroom without asking permission. But under Trump, Jerry Brown can go around saying that California is an independent republic and sign treaties with other countries.
The Constitution has something to say about that.
Whether it's Federal or State, Executive, Legislative or Judiciary, the left moves power around to run the country. If it controls an institution, then that institution is suddenly the supreme power in the land. This is what I call a moving dictatorship.
Donald Trump has caused the Shadow Government to come out of hiding: Professional government is a guild. Like medieval guilds. You can't serve in if you're not a member. If you haven't been indoctrinated into its arcane rituals. If you aren't in the club. And Trump isn't in the club. He brought in a bunch of people who aren't in the club with him.
Now we're seeing what the pros do when amateurs try to walk in on them. They spy on them, they investigate them and they send them to jail. They use the tools of power to bring them down.
That's not a free country.
It's not a free country when FBI agents who support Hillary take out an 'insurance policy' against Trump winning the election. It's not a free country when Obama officials engage in massive unmasking of the opposition. It's not a free country when the media responds to the other guy winning by trying to ban the conservative media that supported him from social media. It's not a free country when all of the above collude together to overturn an election because the guy who wasn't supposed to win did.
Have no doubt, we're in a civil war between conservative volunteer government and a leftist Democrat professional government.
From a speech delivered by Daniel Greenfield:
How do civil wars happen?
Two or more sides disagree on who runs the country. And they can't settle the question through elections because they don't even agree that elections are how you decide who's in charge. That's the basic issue here. Who decides who runs the country? When you hate each other but accept the election results, you have a country. When you stop accepting election results, you have a countdown to a civil war.
The Mueller investigation is about removing President Trump from office and overturning the results of an election. We all know that. But it's not the first time they've done this. The first time a Republican president was elected this century, they said he didn't really win. The Supreme Court gave him the election. There's a pattern here.
What do sure odds of the Democrats rejecting the next Republican president really mean? It means they don't accept the results of any election that they don't win. It means they don't believe that transfers of power in this country are determined by elections.
That's a civil war.
There's no shooting. At least not unless you count the attempt to kill a bunch of Republicans at a charity baseball game practice. But the Democrats have rejected our system of government.
This isn't dissent. It's not disagreement. You can hate the other party. You can think they're the worst thing that ever happened to the country. But then you work harder to win the next election. When you consistently reject the results of elections that you don't win, what you want is a dictatorship.
Your very own dictatorship.
The only legitimate exercise of power in this country, according to Democrats, is its own. Whenever Republicans exercise power, it's inherently illegitimate. The Democrats lost Congress. They lost the White House. So what did they do? They began trying to run the country through Federal judges and bureaucrats. Every time that a Federal judge issues an order saying that the President of the United States can't scratch his own back without his say so, that's the civil war.
Our system of government is based on the constitution, but that's not the system that runs this country. The Democrat's system is that any part of government that it runs gets total and unlimited power over the country.
If the Democrats are in the White House, then the president can do anything. And I mean anything. He can have his own amnesty for illegal aliens. He can fine you for not having health insurance. His power is unlimited. He's a dictator.
But when Republicans get into the White House, suddenly the President can't do anything. He isn't even allowed to undo the illegal alien amnesty that his predecessor illegally invented. A Democrat in the White House has 'discretion' to completely decide every aspect of immigration policy. A Republican doesn't even have the 'discretion' to reverse him. That's how the game is played That's how our country is run. Sad but true, although the left hasn't yet won that particular fight.
When a Democrat is in the White House, states aren't even allowed to enforce immigration law. But when a Republican is in the White House, states can create their own immigration laws. Under Obama, a state wasn't allowed to go to the bathroom without asking permission. But under Trump, Jerry Brown can go around saying that California is an independent republic and sign treaties with other countries.
The Constitution has something to say about that.
Whether it's Federal or State, Executive, Legislative or Judiciary, the left moves power around to run the country. If it controls an institution, then that institution is suddenly the supreme power in the land. This is what I call a moving dictatorship.
Donald Trump has caused the Shadow Government to come out of hiding: Professional government is a guild. Like medieval guilds. You can't serve in if you're not a member. If you haven't been indoctrinated into its arcane rituals. If you aren't in the club. And Trump isn't in the club. He brought in a bunch of people who aren't in the club with him.
Now we're seeing what the pros do when amateurs try to walk in on them. They spy on them, they investigate them and they send them to jail. They use the tools of power to bring them down.
That's not a free country.
It's not a free country when FBI agents who support Hillary take out an 'insurance policy' against Trump winning the election. It's not a free country when Obama officials engage in massive unmasking of the opposition. It's not a free country when the media responds to the other guy winning by trying to ban the conservative media that supported him from social media. It's not a free country when all of the above collude together to overturn an election because the guy who wasn't supposed to win did.
Have no doubt, we're in a civil war between conservative volunteer government and a leftist Democrat professional government.
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Bellmont Promenade Public Hearing Tabled Until 8/13/18
A review of the agenda published on Thursday indicates that the public hearing for the Bellmont Promenade project is to be tabled until 8/13/18.
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Belmont Promenade - Not Good For Shawnee
There will be a public hearing about the Belmont Promenade project on Monday 7/23/18 at city hall during the council meeting which starrts at 7PM.
IMHO this has to be one of the worst projects to ever come before the city.
Below is some info from the agenda packet from the 6/20/18 Special Council Meeting. The first three items are outrageous. I will go into more detail at the hearing. Suffice it to say the city will not realize any substantial sums for quite some time.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Tom Kaleko, from the City’s financial advisor, Springsted, will make a presentation at the Public Hearing that will review information related to the project.
Reimbursable costs not to exceed $19,500,000 to be paid from:
• TIF property tax increment at 90% capture rate
• TIF Sales tax increment from City’s 1% general sales tax
• CID sales tax at a maximum of 1.6%
• CID special assessment in an amount not to exceed $.30 per land square foot per year, excluding right-of-way
• Consideration of issuing revenue bonds to fund the reimbursable project costs.
Now let's look at a few other things. The project was originally schedule to be retail and food establishment. One of the key players regaled us with all sorts of chest thumping puffery about the types (destination? upscale?) of establishments we'd get. Types, but not specifics. We do know that they put a brochure on their web site which contained much misleading info about the specific establishments. If it wasn't for the Shawnee Mission Post calling them on it who knows how long that would have stayed on line.
Now they want mixed use? Why? Is it because they don't have any commitments or even strong indicators from any upscale destination establishments? In many cities, including some here in the metro, developers have been known to produce written confirmation of commitments or at least intentions from potential tenants of these centers. Where are those letters or memorandums of understanding? I'm sure we'll get some strange reason why they can't produce any. To paraphrase a movie line: "show us the letters".
The financials are a slap in the face to the people of Shawnee
IMHO this has to be one of the worst projects to ever come before the city.
Below is some info from the agenda packet from the 6/20/18 Special Council Meeting. The first three items are outrageous. I will go into more detail at the hearing. Suffice it to say the city will not realize any substantial sums for quite some time.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Tom Kaleko, from the City’s financial advisor, Springsted, will make a presentation at the Public Hearing that will review information related to the project.
Reimbursable costs not to exceed $19,500,000 to be paid from:
• TIF property tax increment at 90% capture rate
• TIF Sales tax increment from City’s 1% general sales tax
• CID sales tax at a maximum of 1.6%
• CID special assessment in an amount not to exceed $.30 per land square foot per year, excluding right-of-way
• Consideration of issuing revenue bonds to fund the reimbursable project costs.
Now let's look at a few other things. The project was originally schedule to be retail and food establishment. One of the key players regaled us with all sorts of chest thumping puffery about the types (destination? upscale?) of establishments we'd get. Types, but not specifics. We do know that they put a brochure on their web site which contained much misleading info about the specific establishments. If it wasn't for the Shawnee Mission Post calling them on it who knows how long that would have stayed on line.
Now they want mixed use? Why? Is it because they don't have any commitments or even strong indicators from any upscale destination establishments? In many cities, including some here in the metro, developers have been known to produce written confirmation of commitments or at least intentions from potential tenants of these centers. Where are those letters or memorandums of understanding? I'm sure we'll get some strange reason why they can't produce any. To paraphrase a movie line: "show us the letters".
The financials are a slap in the face to the people of Shawnee
Monday, July 16, 2018
Jenkins vs Gordon - Republican Primary Aug 7, 2018 Rep Dist 18
On Aug 7, 2018 Republican voters in State Rep District 18 will be asked to choose between Eric Jenkins and Cathy Gordon to challenge the winner of the Democratic primary.
Eric Jenkins has spent his whole adult life in service to his community and to his country.
He is a retired, decorated US Army Colonel, having served both on active duty and in the reserves. And, after his retirement, his services and experience were needed and he was brought out of retirement to again serve his country.
As a manager for FEMA he served at many disaster sites as the Federal Coordinating Officer. This made him the top person in charge, responsible for all aspects (including full fiscal approval and disbursement authority) of rebuilding various communities. As such he had to become familiar with all areas of community functions, from public safety to recreation, from education to health and welfare.
Locally, he has served on the City of Shawnee's Planning Commission and currently is serving on the City Council.
This man is very well qualified to represent the citizens of Shawnee in the state legislature.
Republicans are urged to give him victory in the primary August 7th and then support him to win the general election in November.
For additional info about Eric you may visit his web site at http://www.ericjenkinsforkansas.com
Eric Jenkins has spent his whole adult life in service to his community and to his country.
He is a retired, decorated US Army Colonel, having served both on active duty and in the reserves. And, after his retirement, his services and experience were needed and he was brought out of retirement to again serve his country.
As a manager for FEMA he served at many disaster sites as the Federal Coordinating Officer. This made him the top person in charge, responsible for all aspects (including full fiscal approval and disbursement authority) of rebuilding various communities. As such he had to become familiar with all areas of community functions, from public safety to recreation, from education to health and welfare.
Locally, he has served on the City of Shawnee's Planning Commission and currently is serving on the City Council.
This man is very well qualified to represent the citizens of Shawnee in the state legislature.
Republicans are urged to give him victory in the primary August 7th and then support him to win the general election in November.
For additional info about Eric you may visit his web site at http://www.ericjenkinsforkansas.com
Thursday, July 05, 2018
Who Is Really Acting Like the Nazis in America?
Let's look at some of the things that the Antifa and other super left wing groups have and are doing.
If you do not agree with them do not even attempt to speak especially at a college campus on the west coast. Only left wing whackos and Antifa can speak. The give lip service to the First Amendment (but with a caveat that it only applies if you agree with them). Certain of these whacky folks feel so hurt that individuals cannot walk into restaurants, coffee shops etc wearing Trump memorabilia.
Hey, I'm depressed every time I think of how Obama stuck it to us with the billions he gave the Iranians. I'm depressed every time I think of HRC selling out our people in Benghazi. But I won't commit violent acts and use that depression as an excuse.
They create violent situations, starting with the day that President Trump was inaugurated. You have folks being physically attacked for wearing their MAGA hats, T-Shirts etc. You have associates of the President being accosted while out with their families. You have vile things being said about the members of the President's family. Can you imagine what would have happened if somebody had said those things about Michelle Obama? Whooops, that person would have been branded a racist. What happened if you disagreed with #44. You would have been branded a racist even if you legitimately disagreed with a policy on the policy's face value.
You have people who have called for the impeachment of #45 the day after the election. He hadn't even been sworn in yet? Don't these idiots know the law.
You have idiots who will not give Trump credit for many of the things that he has accomplished. How about the tax credits that dummy Pelosi things are crumbs? Let's talk about North Korea. Sixty-five years ago a cease fire was declared, but hostilities were never terminated. The first step to establishing an end to hostilities is to sit down and talk. Nothing can ever happen if that doesn't take place. So, Trump sits down, the first time in 65 years and the whacky left wingers can do nothing but complain. Ninety US Senators signed a non-binding resolution saying that we should move our embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Then when Trump does it, every democrat that signed that resolution complained that he did it. Including Feinstein of California. Guess she and the other Dems probably thought by signing that resolution it would make them look good and they felt safe that nobody would do it. How do you spell hypocrisy?
Now, for the history buffs out there. Grab a good valid historical reference. Read what the Sturmabteilung (SA- aka Brownshirts) did from the mid 1920s to the mid 1930s in Germany. You'd almost have to be blind not to see the similarities between that organization and the Antifa movement and the whacky left wing liberals.
If you do not agree with them do not even attempt to speak especially at a college campus on the west coast. Only left wing whackos and Antifa can speak. The give lip service to the First Amendment (but with a caveat that it only applies if you agree with them). Certain of these whacky folks feel so hurt that individuals cannot walk into restaurants, coffee shops etc wearing Trump memorabilia.
Hey, I'm depressed every time I think of how Obama stuck it to us with the billions he gave the Iranians. I'm depressed every time I think of HRC selling out our people in Benghazi. But I won't commit violent acts and use that depression as an excuse.
They create violent situations, starting with the day that President Trump was inaugurated. You have folks being physically attacked for wearing their MAGA hats, T-Shirts etc. You have associates of the President being accosted while out with their families. You have vile things being said about the members of the President's family. Can you imagine what would have happened if somebody had said those things about Michelle Obama? Whooops, that person would have been branded a racist. What happened if you disagreed with #44. You would have been branded a racist even if you legitimately disagreed with a policy on the policy's face value.
You have people who have called for the impeachment of #45 the day after the election. He hadn't even been sworn in yet? Don't these idiots know the law.
You have idiots who will not give Trump credit for many of the things that he has accomplished. How about the tax credits that dummy Pelosi things are crumbs? Let's talk about North Korea. Sixty-five years ago a cease fire was declared, but hostilities were never terminated. The first step to establishing an end to hostilities is to sit down and talk. Nothing can ever happen if that doesn't take place. So, Trump sits down, the first time in 65 years and the whacky left wingers can do nothing but complain. Ninety US Senators signed a non-binding resolution saying that we should move our embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Then when Trump does it, every democrat that signed that resolution complained that he did it. Including Feinstein of California. Guess she and the other Dems probably thought by signing that resolution it would make them look good and they felt safe that nobody would do it. How do you spell hypocrisy?
Now, for the history buffs out there. Grab a good valid historical reference. Read what the Sturmabteilung (SA- aka Brownshirts) did from the mid 1920s to the mid 1930s in Germany. You'd almost have to be blind not to see the similarities between that organization and the Antifa movement and the whacky left wing liberals.
Wednesday, July 04, 2018
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Illegal Immigration and Family Separations
Illegal immigration and the question of separating families is really getting outrageous.
Let's say a 40 or so year old father goes into a convenience store with his 15 year old son. They both have weapons and rob the place. Later on they are both apprehended. What happens? The father goes to an adult detention center and the son goes to a juvenile detention center. We don't keep them together. So, why should folks who illegally cross our border be treated any differently?
How many of the families are really families? How many folks use somebody else's children as props? How many of the juveniles in detention came in on their own? Without adults? How many of the juveniles are not really juveniles?
What about the benefits that illegal immigrants get? Food stamps, housing, medical etc etc. Because we in the USA overall are compassionate. Hey, I have no problem with helping folks who truly need help. By the same token, if you want to come here, there is a legal way to do it.
But again, if we really want to help folks in need what about the tens of thousands of homeless vets? Many suffering with physiological and/or mental issues as a result of their service. Their service that was given to preserve our way of life, Their service given to protect the asses of those who apparently would rather provide giveaways to criminals. Yes criminals. If you enter illegally you are a criminal. And what about the felons who come in? The gang members? The mules transporting narcotics?
What about the families that have been separated from their loved ones because an illegal took the life of a loved one? Like the 27 year old who was killed by an illegal immigrant who had previously been deported and snuck back in?
Oh, yes, let's not forget how children were separated under the previous president...........hmmmm double standard hypocrisy here.
Let's say a 40 or so year old father goes into a convenience store with his 15 year old son. They both have weapons and rob the place. Later on they are both apprehended. What happens? The father goes to an adult detention center and the son goes to a juvenile detention center. We don't keep them together. So, why should folks who illegally cross our border be treated any differently?
How many of the families are really families? How many folks use somebody else's children as props? How many of the juveniles in detention came in on their own? Without adults? How many of the juveniles are not really juveniles?
What about the benefits that illegal immigrants get? Food stamps, housing, medical etc etc. Because we in the USA overall are compassionate. Hey, I have no problem with helping folks who truly need help. By the same token, if you want to come here, there is a legal way to do it.
But again, if we really want to help folks in need what about the tens of thousands of homeless vets? Many suffering with physiological and/or mental issues as a result of their service. Their service that was given to preserve our way of life, Their service given to protect the asses of those who apparently would rather provide giveaways to criminals. Yes criminals. If you enter illegally you are a criminal. And what about the felons who come in? The gang members? The mules transporting narcotics?
What about the families that have been separated from their loved ones because an illegal took the life of a loved one? Like the 27 year old who was killed by an illegal immigrant who had previously been deported and snuck back in?
Oh, yes, let's not forget how children were separated under the previous president...........hmmmm double standard hypocrisy here.
Wednesday, June 06, 2018
Monday, June 04, 2018
Kris Kobach's Old Shawnee Days Controversy
For those that haven't seen it, it is all over the media, including national news outlets.
Here is my letter to the city council of Shawnee regarding their apology for Mr. Kobach's entry in the parade:
Here is my letter to the city council of Shawnee regarding their apology for Mr. Kobach's entry in the parade:
Mornin’
So that there is no question
of what my stance is on the issue concerning Mr. Kobach’s participation in the
OSD parade, here is a copy|paste of my comment on the Shawnee Dispatch’s FB
page:
“I found Mr. Kobach's
vehicle to be keeping with his patriotic stance on our Constitution and
specifically our 2nd Amendment rights. I am appalled that a group ,Mothers
Demand Action financed by Michael Bloomberg was handing out their anti-American
propaganda. Will the city apologize for that?”
Here is a comment from Ms.
Breithaupt on the WDAF web site:
“What happened yesterday
was clear that we probably need some set guidelines, so moving forward we have
kind of a set of rules to say this is what’s okay, and this is what’s not.”
Now, let’s address my comment
above first: When will the city issue an apology to me and those who were
offended by the Mothers Demand Action utilizing the parade to disseminate their
anti-American propaganda? Failure to apologize to us would be an obvious
“side taking” by the staff personnel that prepared the initial apology.
Second, with regards to the
“guidelines” who will establish those? Who will be a watch dog over the
rule makers?
Will post any replies I receive.
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
The NFL and The National Anthem
Most folks have probably heard that the NFL will now fine teams if they have players/coaches on the field and those folks don't stand for The National Anthem.
There are those who say that that action violates the Constitutional right to free speech. Man, if anybody believes in free speech it is me. Just read this blog. What the Constitution does not do is that it does not establish venues or who has to supply the venue.
Now, let's look at the NFL football games. They are played in these massive stadiums, with exposure to thousands of spectators. But, what are these stadiums? They are places of employment. That's right, they are places where these overpaid athletes get to display their skills. But, they are still places of employment.
Now, most businesses have rules and regulations about what is considered proper workplace activity. Most have policies against political activities on the job. This is the employer's right. Do you work for a manufacturing company? What would happen if folks started engaging in political activities on the job? How about a hospital? How about a car dealership? How about a government office? I could go on and on and on and on.
So, why should NFL players be any different? Hey dummies, that is your work place and the owners have that right to not want political discussions at the workplace.
Now let's also look at what started this. A well known player decided to use the "taking of a knee" to protest what he perceived to be police brutality (including killing) of black persons (especially males). Are some officers guilty of this. No doubt. But, who in this country is responsible for a very high majority of the killing of black males? Answer: Other black males. This past weekend 8 folks were killed and 25 injured in shootings in Chicago. Maybe that football player needs to change his approach. Maybe he needs to concentrate more on creating programs to instill a sense of respect by black males for other black males. A few years ago, right after the situation in Ferguson a black father who had lost a young child (3 or 4 I believe) to a random shooting said he didn't want to hear anymore about Black Lives Matter. He said the community didn't have to worry about police killing young black males since they were doing the job themselves. It was a TV interview in the KC area.
Now if these folks want to protest what they perceive as a problem, fine. That is their right. Just not at the workplace. There are plenty of public spaces where they can gather to voice their opinions. And, with the internet, plenty of places to disseminate their thoughts.
There are those who say that that action violates the Constitutional right to free speech. Man, if anybody believes in free speech it is me. Just read this blog. What the Constitution does not do is that it does not establish venues or who has to supply the venue.
Now, let's look at the NFL football games. They are played in these massive stadiums, with exposure to thousands of spectators. But, what are these stadiums? They are places of employment. That's right, they are places where these overpaid athletes get to display their skills. But, they are still places of employment.
Now, most businesses have rules and regulations about what is considered proper workplace activity. Most have policies against political activities on the job. This is the employer's right. Do you work for a manufacturing company? What would happen if folks started engaging in political activities on the job? How about a hospital? How about a car dealership? How about a government office? I could go on and on and on and on.
So, why should NFL players be any different? Hey dummies, that is your work place and the owners have that right to not want political discussions at the workplace.
Now let's also look at what started this. A well known player decided to use the "taking of a knee" to protest what he perceived to be police brutality (including killing) of black persons (especially males). Are some officers guilty of this. No doubt. But, who in this country is responsible for a very high majority of the killing of black males? Answer: Other black males. This past weekend 8 folks were killed and 25 injured in shootings in Chicago. Maybe that football player needs to change his approach. Maybe he needs to concentrate more on creating programs to instill a sense of respect by black males for other black males. A few years ago, right after the situation in Ferguson a black father who had lost a young child (3 or 4 I believe) to a random shooting said he didn't want to hear anymore about Black Lives Matter. He said the community didn't have to worry about police killing young black males since they were doing the job themselves. It was a TV interview in the KC area.
Now if these folks want to protest what they perceive as a problem, fine. That is their right. Just not at the workplace. There are plenty of public spaces where they can gather to voice their opinions. And, with the internet, plenty of places to disseminate their thoughts.
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Why Monday 5/28/18 is a Holiday
How many parents will explain to their children why they have a holiday on Monday 5/28/18? How many parents even know why?
It's nice to have an extra day off from work, or school. It's nice to be able to gather with family and friends, maybe Bar-B-Q in the back yard.
Take a minute, or two or three to realize what the true costs of these activities are.
Look for the quote by General George Patton in the video below. Absorb it and realize how true it is.
Thank you
It's nice to have an extra day off from work, or school. It's nice to be able to gather with family and friends, maybe Bar-B-Q in the back yard.
Take a minute, or two or three to realize what the true costs of these activities are.
Look for the quote by General George Patton in the video below. Absorb it and realize how true it is.
Thank you
Thursday, May 24, 2018
A Reader Responds to my Post From Yesterday
Received the below email today.
Ray,
Hypocrites is
right.
Example, -- thanks to liberals, in many states pot is now
legal for anyone to SMOKE .
Roll your own unregulated drug into a homemade cigarette is
perfectly OK with them, in fact they make it a law. Smoke is smoke. What makes
mind altering cigarettes perfectly acceptable and a legal product terrible?
Do you see any commercials or liberals publicly condemning drug
smoking?
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Tobacco 21 - - Nanny Governemnt at its Worst
On May 8, 2018 there was a presentation given to the Council Committee by a group that has been pushing to have 21 be mandated, by law, as the legal age to buy tobacco products. They have been successful in some areas, but recently the court has overturned the ordinance in Topeka. More info is at http://www.shawneedispatch.com/news/2018/may/14/shawnee-city-council-hears-tobacco-21-presentation/
Needless to say I am strongly opposed to this example of nanny government. For the record, I quit smoking 12 years ago.
We consider people to be adults at 18. They can enter into legally binding contracts, serve in the military to pr0tect the sorry rear ends of these liberal wonks, vote, get married and a myriad of other adult activities.
Let's get real, if these liberal idiots think that a person at 18 is not old enough to make the decision to smoke then maybe we should change everything to 21. Let's start with voting, no driver's license until 21, no marriage until 21, no contracts until 21, and oh yes, make 21 the legal age of consent. That's right, hanky panky with someone under 21 would be statutory rape. (Gee, should I take my tongue out of my cheek now?)
These folks are a bunch of flaming hypocrites. I sure hope we don't have anyone on the Shawnee city council that would fall for this nonsense.
Dumb comment of the night: The young lady who tried to use the fact that she couldn't rent a car unless she was 21. Dummy, that's not a law, that's a business decision by a company (Maybe more reason to restrict driver's licenses until 21? LOL).
I'm getting tired of the liberal wonks who think they know what is best for everyone.
Needless to say I am strongly opposed to this example of nanny government. For the record, I quit smoking 12 years ago.
We consider people to be adults at 18. They can enter into legally binding contracts, serve in the military to pr0tect the sorry rear ends of these liberal wonks, vote, get married and a myriad of other adult activities.
Let's get real, if these liberal idiots think that a person at 18 is not old enough to make the decision to smoke then maybe we should change everything to 21. Let's start with voting, no driver's license until 21, no marriage until 21, no contracts until 21, and oh yes, make 21 the legal age of consent. That's right, hanky panky with someone under 21 would be statutory rape. (Gee, should I take my tongue out of my cheek now?)
These folks are a bunch of flaming hypocrites. I sure hope we don't have anyone on the Shawnee city council that would fall for this nonsense.
Dumb comment of the night: The young lady who tried to use the fact that she couldn't rent a car unless she was 21. Dummy, that's not a law, that's a business decision by a company (Maybe more reason to restrict driver's licenses until 21? LOL).
I'm getting tired of the liberal wonks who think they know what is best for everyone.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)