Nov

19

McClatchy Watch

November 19, 2008 by William Rockhill Nelson | 2 Comments

McClatchy Watch covers the implosion of the McClatchy newspaper company, which owns the KC Star. It has a huge debt load, crashing revenue, and can’t find anyone interested in buying or investing in it. In addition to the well-known troubles and stunning layoffs at the Star, McClatchy newspapers in Miami, Fort Worth, Seattle, and Sacramento are facing similar problems.  Cuts at these local newspapers are being used to balance the books at headquarters back in Sacremento.


Categories: Media

Nov

18

Bicyclists trying to drag MoDOT into the 21st Century

November 18, 2008 by William Rockhill Nelson | 5 Comments

In any other city this wouldn’t be an issue.  A major new bridge would just include a bicycle and pedestrian path without much fuss. The Missouri Department of Transportation does it everywhere else in the state, but for some reason the KC MoDOT office refuses to deal with a multi-modal future where automobiles are just on of many ways to get from Point A to Point B.

The situation with the new Paseo Bridge has become so ridiculous that the local bicycling community has started a pledge drive to raise money to build what the state refuses to pay for.

KC Star: Cyclists push for right of passage on Paseo Bridge

Pitch: Cyclists pony up for Paseo Bridge bike lane

Let’s Go KC: Alliance for Transportation Choice


Categories: Transportation

Nov

17

The KMBC-TV 9 lawsuit

November 17, 2008 by William Rockhill Nelson | 2 Comments

You have probably  heard by now that three popular TV journalists are suing KMBC-TV 9 for sex and age discrimination (Biz Journal story). This is a deja vu for Channel 9, since it was sued for the same thing in the 1980s in the n tionally famous case of Christine Craft.

Aaron Barnhardt has a good overview of the situation at TV Barn. Meanwhile, Bottom Line Communications speculates the lawsuit is motivated by money and job security, not discrimination.


Categories: Media

Nov

17

Star ignores marriage rights protest

November 17, 2008 by William Rockhill Nelson | 5 Comments

Interesting that the supposedly “liberal” JO KC Star seems to have completely ignored the local angle of the recent nation-wide protests for equal marriage rights that sprung up in the wake of the California gay marriage ban. The Star only ran an AP piece, and didn’t even bother to insert a sentance mentioning the local event.

However, KMBC-TV 9 did cover the local event at the J.C. Nichols fountian in Mill Creek Park.


Categories: Media

Nov

14

Ideas for covering the Downtown Loop

November 14, 2008 by William Rockhill Nelson | 5 Comments

Shortly after the city and MoDOT surrounded our Downtown with a ring of eight lane highways in the 1950s, it became apparent that it wasn’t such a great idea.  An island was created apart from the rest of the city, severing Downtown from neighborhoods like the River Market, West Side, Columbus Park, and 18th & Vine. The city has spent the last fifty years dreaming of ways to undo the damage.

Now there is yet another movement towards covering parts of the loop.  Specifically, the city and MoDOT are studying options for the south loop where I-670 passes between the Central Business District and the Crossroads Arts District. The project is called the South Loop Link, and there are two opportunities coming up for you to see some of the ideas and provid your own input.

Tuesday, November 19th - Conceptual Ideas
Presentation at 5:30 p.m.
Monday November 24th - Formal presentation of options

Both meetings are 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the KC Design Center
1018 Baltimore, one block south of the Central Library


Categories: Downtown, Transportation

Nov

12

Taxpayers to cover $4 million P&L deficit. What else could that money buy?

November 12, 2008 by William Rockhill Nelson | 5 Comments

Back in 2006 BlogKC reported on the massive size of the Power & Light District’s public subsidy, its minuscule 4% profit margin, and the fact that KCMO taxpayers would be on the hook to cover any deficits. So it’s no surprise that the P&L District will lose money this year, and KC taxpayers must cover the $4 million gap. Just to put that in perspective, here are a few other things that the city could do with $4 million…

Public Safety

  • Hire 48 more firefighters
  • Hire 68 more new police patrol officers or 60  new detectives
  • Double the staff of the Municipal Court system
  • Paint 26,000 crosswalks

Transportation

  • Buy 8 new buses for the Metro
  • Replace 25 traffic signals
  • Build 9 miles of sidewalks
  • Double the length of the Trolley Track Trail
  • Strip 800 miles of bike lanes

Neighborhood Livability

  • Double the snow plowing budget
  • Double the number of property code inspectors
  • Quadruple the number of illegal dump sites cleaned up
  • Expand curb-side recycling to the many lofts/condos being built Downtown or the apartment complexes going up in the Northland

Infrastructure

  • Resurface 113 miles of city streets
  • Reduce metal plates by increasing water pipe maintenance by 50% or sewer maintenance by a third.
  • Expand the leaf and brush collection/drop-off by eight times over

All statistics are estimates based on the city’s 2008-2009 budget.


Categories: General, Midtown/Plaza

Nov

12

Law-breaking JoCo Commissioner loses re-election

November 12, 2008 by William Rockhill Nelson | Leave a Comment

John Toplikar, the Johnson County Commissioner caught on video stealing campaign signs, has lost his reelection bid to Calvin Hayden.  Although the margin is very slim and looks like Toplikdar could request a recount.


Categories: Crime, Politics, Suburbs