NAG LETTER Volumn #3

NAG LETTER who's trying to do what to whom in K.C.

Vol. 3 # 1

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Voting is important, Informed Voting keeps the trash out of office. The opinions found here are the opinion of the person who signed the article. Factual information will carry a reference as to origin.

Please send opinions to news@KCNAG.com Visit our website at http://www.KCNAG.com

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ISSUES COVERED IN THIS EDITION

TIF money be taken out and now there is a USE TAX??

BiState in the news---

"Right idea, wrong tax"

"I ran a few numbers"

You may want to consider---

The Bi-State Advisory Group sent in its --

Recent rumors--

and then

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIF money be taken out and now there is a USE TAX?? So are there any more suprises? The KCStar reported that Mr. Ford and Mr. Bacchus both were surprised to learn that TIF funds were taken outof the KCATA tax. Very convenient position to be "in the dark" about the proposal that you are backing on TV and at the Mayor's Press Conference. The less you know the more you can say and not be held accountable for your statements. This same type of misinformation was presented by these two gentlemen during the Cities Light Rail Campaign a few years ago. Mr. Ford appeared on Television and put words in Clay Chastains mouth that Clay had never spoken. The public presentation at the Gem Theatre found Mr. Bacchus side stepping and obfuscating to the point of hilarity. These types of disinformation events before an election need to be attacked strongly by the media. Why do the television and newspapers seem so reluctant to call a lie - a lie until after an election. Public discussion before an election has reached the point where the voting public is losing all faith in elected officials and their campaign chairmen. Where is the USE TAX going?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BiState in the news-------For more, please visit The Examiner :

http://examiner.net/stories/082702/new_082702008.shtml

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Right idea, wrong tax"--letter to the editor in KCStar by Nancy Jefferis calls for an earnings tax to support the bistate sales tax. If you are earning money you have money to attend the games. Sales Tax on food being used to keep one of our entertainments alive is really adding insult to injury, everyone has to buy food even if they can't afford to go to a game. Sounds a lot better than a 25 year tax on the purchases of the poor, retired, and middle class wage earner who can't afford to attend the games.

Seems that people are getting tired --KCStar had four letters in Sun.Dec. 14 metro from irate citizens.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"I ran a few numbers" that are both startling and revealing.     It is safe to assume the average professional major league franchise owner is a billionaire. e.g. Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pollard has an estimated net worth of 1.8 billion dollars. There are 62 football and baseball franchises. Assuming that 2 of these billionaires own 2 teams, their total net worth is $60 billion. And these billionaires want the taxpayers to pay for stadium improvements.     The 2003 budgets for the states of Kansas and Missouri, respectfully, are $10 billion and $20 billion (rounded numbers). That totals $30 billion. The billionaire owner's total net worth is twice the 2003 budgets for our two states. And these billionaires want the taxpayers to pay for stadium improvements.      In Kansas City the Royals have agreed to pay $15 million and the Chiefs $50 million of the $354 million renovation costs. That means the taxpayers pay 85 % of the cost while the wealthy owners pay only 15 % of the cost and take home 100 % of the profits. Maybe that's why they're wealthy.   ***     NAG could help the average guy who has something to say about Bi-State taxes by putting on their website or in one of their letters, a list of email and US Mail addresses of all publications in the metro area that have any kind of letter to the editor column.   ***     .The citizens of Kansas City, Mo. might ask the politicians down at city hall what happen if they spent $177 million (1/2 of $354 M) on the worst school system in the country (KCMO of course). Ask them if they think the extra $7 million a year would have any impact. Better yet, ask the Kansas City School Board what they could do to improve education with an extra $7 million a year.   ***     I have no data but I'd but I'd be willing to bet a lot of money that if all the cities in the metroplex were audited, there are no worse stewards of the people's money than Kansas City, Missouri. Why would anyone want to give them more money to spend ?   ***     Hang in there NAG !   Please don't use my name. I'm saving it for the time when the Bi-State fight formally begins.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------You may want to consider--- The Bistate II proposal means more than $354 million for the stadiums.  A quarter cent sales tax, collected in Jackson and Johnson counties for 25 years, will raise well over $1 billion ($40 million/yr times 25 years) &. Assuming a 50/50 split with arts, that leaves $500 million for sports & plus ongoing subsidies from State of Missouri/Kansas City/Jackson County of roughly $7.5 million & or $187.5 million over 25 years.

That means a total taxpayer subsidy of $687 million over the life of the lease &. About double the $354 million everyone hears about.  Much of that will go to bond holders, since the improvements will not be pay-as-you-go but bonded.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Bi-State Advisory Group sent us its statement of existence.

" To provide information on the Bi-State proposal. What impact will the various ideas and proposals accomplish."

They learned that some Johnson County legislators were given Campaign contributions by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. While these contributions are not illegal, they do seem inadvisable, if for no other reason than to avoid any hint of conflict of interest. Johnson County elected officials should have the interests of Johnson County citizens foremost in their minds.These donations can give the impression that someone in Missouri is interested in getting help from some Kansas legislators on shipping Kansas tax money (AKA Bi-State II) to Missouri.

Question to Kansas legislators: 

"Is it worth a few dollars to have voters wonder if your vote can be influenced?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recent rumors-- speak of over $5 million in misspent or missplaced funds in the community housing area. The changes that may be instituted because of this information will specifically impact our residential neighborhoods. Unless there is a full disclouser and a full and transparant accounting of this situation, showing exactly dollar by dollar where this money is or was spent, the Neighborhood Action Group will consider this situation to be another obfuscation on the part of the city. Nothing less than a complete presentation of the records by the City Manager on the community housing and community development funds is acceptable to avoid the conclusion that this situation is just another example of manipulation of the public similar to the recent lies told by members of the KCATA campaign committee, in order to pass that proposal.The public was mislead by misinformation --- that must not happen this time.

and then -- the finance and audit meeting on 1/7/04 was well planned to provide for presentations by several special interest groups. Neighborhoods were not invited!! They get to come down on Wed. 14th of January, but $180 Million has already been asked for. Neighborhoods should demand that all requests for funds be individualized and attached to the provision in such a way that after the election the funds can't be moved or loaned to other projects. The $200Million must NOT be used for start up projects or plug in projects for arenas, light rail, entertainment districts, baseball stadiums or streetscapes for downtown. It must not be used for projects that are doing OK already. These infastructure funds must be prioritized for use in residential neighborhoods. We were told when the $35Million bond issue took place that it was downtowns turn. Neighborhoods were susposed to get some of that money--so where is it. Well it now our turn It is the residential neighborhoods turn. Our turn is NOW or NO DEAL.

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http:/www.KCNag.com -------- what we do, what we've done, and what we would like to do.

http://www.NoNewArena.com ____watch them tear down small business downtown!!

"It does not take a majority to prevail..but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." Samuel Adams

"When you consider the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin first think about the credulity of the rats." W.K. Peters

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 NAG LETTER 3 # 2

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ISSUES COVERED IN THIS EDITION

PLEASE - check the KCNAG.com Website --

SENATE BILL 1020 Sunshine Law

What Happened ??

A City Hall Management List

Correction--

Beacon Hill redevelopment--

On Kay's Watch--

Hello to all from MAINCORE- we need your help!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PLEASE - Check the KCNAG.com Website -- The website has 15 questions which were delivered as part of the testimony against the $300 Million Bond Issue given by The Neighborhood Action Group at the Finance Committee meeting . We asked that the questions be answered before the April election, so that embarrising situations such as the KCATA Lies not be repeated. The questions are on the web site --the answers will appear when they are received.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SENATE BILL 1020 Sunshine Law will get some added teeth if Senate Bill 1020 passes. One of the first hurdles that a person seeking information encounters is the receptionist who says "We have a research fee of $50.00 an hour for compiling those documents you want." Documents that are right in the file drawer behind her. Fees will have new limits. This bill will also open some files which are now unobtainable. An example is the accured vacation pay records which for some reason are not available to the media. Call your Senator or email them and ask that S.B. 1020 be placed into law.

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What Happened??

The following information shows the attendance record for the last 4 months of 2003 for the City Council's Finance Committee.

TheDate----------- Dr.Eddy ---------- Rowland--------------- Brooks------------ Skaggs

9/10/03------------- Present------------ Excused--------------- Present------------- Present

9/24/03------------- Present ------------Excused--------------- Present------------- Present

10/24/03----------- Present-------------Excused--------------- Present -------------Present

10/08/03----------- Present ------------Excused--------------- Present --------------Present

10/22/03----------- Present------------ Excused--------------- Excused------------ Present

11/05/03----------- Present ------------Excused--------------- Present -------------Present

11/19/03----------- Present------------ Excused--------------- Present --------------Present

12/03/03----------- Present ------------Excused--------------- Present --------------Present

12/17/03----------- Present------------ Excused--------------- Present --------------Present

A quick review shows that three of the four council members on this very important committee had excellent attendance records. Council members Eddy and Skaggs had perfect attendance and Councilman Brooks had only one excused absence. What happened to Councilman Rolands and why did he quite the committee? Rowland resigned and the Mayor took over the position,

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A City Hall Management List

9/02 No TIF controls. Per Mark Funkhouser.

12/02 Extravagant Retirement Incentive Program

5/03 Accounts Receivable in Disarray- City not collecting money for tickets and other amounts City owed.

9/03 TIF Expenditures of over $7 million without documentation. Per MarkFunkhouser.

10/03 MAST Ambulance going broke.

11/03 New sales tax money for ATA being diverted to fund TIF after campaign stated all money to ATA.

12/03 Parks Board using general fund money for boulevard maintenance. Instead increasing property tax levy.

12/03 1999 1-cent sales tax for capital improvements generates $60 million only $36 million projected to be spent in the future. Other amount diverted to general fund.

12/03 Fire Inspection fees discontinued for apartment and businesses. Taxpayers are stuck paying for services that business should be paying for.

1/04 City Housing Program spent $5.7 million it did not have.

Seems more like a City Hall Miss management list-- Who is minding the store??

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Correction-- Editing errors resulted in statements which were not made by B.A.G . being placed in the last issue of the newsleter Here is the correct statements as I received it from them.

The Bi-State Advisory Group sent us its statement of existence.

" To provide information on the Bi-State proposal. What impact will the various ideas and proposals accomplish."

They learned that some Johnson County legislators were given Campaign contributions by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. While these contributions are not illegal, they do seem inadvisable, if for no other reason than to avoid any hint of conflict of interest. Johnson County elected officials should have the interests of Johnson County citizens foremost in their minds.These donations can give the impression that someone in Missouri is interested in getting help from some Kansas legislators on shipping Kansas tax money (AKA Bi-State II) to Missouri.

Question to Kansas legislators: "Is it worth a few dollars to have voters wonder if your vote can be influenced?"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Beacon Hill redevelopment district has a couple of houses that should sell for $700,000.00. Not that they are worth that but that is how much susposedly has been spent on rehabing them. A story in the media should appear next week according to a message left on my phone machine from an anonymous source. $700,000 unbelievable!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------On Kay's Watch--  We have lost $4 million aviation funds, $7 million TIF funds, $6 million in Housing funds, $5 million Union Station, $1 million 18th & Vine, and we keep hearing an even bigger sucking sound from the Parks Dept. How about our first class zoo we were promised the last time? More and more money down the drain and still nothing for the Neighborhoods.

 The reason people are leaving the Southland {10%} is because of poor service. When is city hall going to fix what is broken? Now there is a $200 ($300 by the time you get this newsletter) million Bond Issue. Who will come out on top? Who will transfer a little here and a little more there? One guess, that's it's TIF. More money taken away from the Maintainance funds. Downtown TIF's promised jobs and new businesses and more new tax money and actually all Downtown TIF'f have done is bred, they have made more TIF'S. {check out the map at city hall} 40 TIF'S in Kansas City, more than in Chicago!

 The success of the Crossroads improvements ended up causing another TIF district, can you believe that. Do the ART's people really believe the TIF boy's made the walk way from the Union Station for them. The TIF boy's had plans before you came. Only they don't include you. Your taxes are going up! They will tax you out of ownership of anything in the Crossroads district and then get abatements and TIF subsidies on property you used to own. Make sure you vote for the $200 Million Bond Issue that will help it happen faster and your pain will be over faster.   Larry Thrasher

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hello to all from MAINCORE, we need your help! I have contacted most of you previously about the funding cut. If you have any questions, please call me at 753-3820 or e-mail me. As promised, I've attached background information as well as phone numbers and e-mail addresses for City Council members, the Mayor and City Manager. What you can do:

1. After reading the attached information, if you are willing and able, PLEASE contact all members of City Council, the Mayor and City Manager ASAP. (It's OK with me if you ask your friends and neighbors as well . . .) A one or two sentence message asking them to include MainCor in CDBG funding so that we can continue implementation of the Corridor Plan is all you need send. I have previously sent them background information. I would appreciate if you would cc or bcc me, so I can keep track of our support, but that is entirely up to you.

2. We need people to attend the hearing on Jan.21, 11 a.m., City Hall, 26th Floor. If you can come, you do not need to testify. We just want to have a group of supporters stand up at the appropriate time. I will get there early to get MainCor on the list to testify. Hopefully, we will have you out of the hearing in a reasonable amount of time. Let me know if you can be there. Again, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! We intend to make Main Street the very best it can be!---------------Clara Vaughn

Mayor Kay Barnes -----------513-3500 -----------------------mayor@kcmo.org

Wayne Cauthen --------------513-1408 ------------------------manager@kcmo.org

Deb Hermann ----------------513-1624 -------------------------terri_wolfe@kcmo.org

Bill Skaggs ------------------513-1619 --------------------------lisa_minardi@kcmo.org

Bonnie Sue Cooper-------- 513-1601 --------------------------karen_rhyne@kcmo.org

John Fairfield-------------- 513-1622 --------------------------amy_schneider@kcmo.org

Troy Nash------------------ 513-1605 -------------------------troy_nash@kcmo.org

Saundra McFadden-Weaver 513-1608 -----------------------joe_nero@kcmo.org

Jim Glover ------------------513-1616 -------------------------charles_monroe@kcmo.org

Jim Rowland ----------------513-1617 ------------------------dana_laiben@kcmo.org

Becky Nace -----------------513-1633 -------------------------tom_wyrsch@kcmo.org

Terry Riley------------------ 513-1629 ------------------------diane_charity@kcmo.org

Alvin Brooks--------------- 513-1602------------------------ ramonda_doakes@kcmo.org

Chuck Eddy ----------------513-1615-------------------------- charles_eddy@kcmo.org

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http://.www.alianzas.us/naag fostering awareness of issues that affect the Latino community.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Scheme #1 The gutting of our MAST ambulance system- On Jan.20th the public demanded that the Budget and Audit Committee pass out of committee the ordiance to provide $3.3 Million in additional funding for this year, but the committee tabled the ordinance that would allow Mast Ambulance to directly operate the ambulance system until June 2005. At the last minute the committee pulled out a prepared committee substitute for the ordinance which no one except the committee had seen before. More shenaginans. A simple phrase was added that Mast could operate the service until the city pulls the contract. So what type of stability does that provide. This is why the Neighborhood Action Group is claiming that Mr. Rowland is part of the reason for the almost constant turmoil that has existed for the last nine months.

IF you want this situation handled with fairness you must attend the Budget and Finance Committee meeting at 1:30 on the 10th Floor of City Hall on the 27th of January. On Jan. 20th one of the critisms of NAG was that we sent out an email which said that Mr. Rowland and Kay Barnes were responsible for this continuing turmoil. Amazingly the reason given for tabeling the second ordinance was because Mr Rowland promised the Mayor (Kay Barnes) that she could be present and she is out of town. So who is responsible for the tabling of this ordinance for another week ?? So what does NAG want --An independent ambulance service, NOT one subjugated to the fire department.

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"Now you see it, Now you don't, it's either smoke and mirrors, a grifters shell game or just plain stealing" a comment about the use of magic during the Pendergast days made by W.K.Peters and he was there!

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NAG LETTER Vol. 3 # 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ISSUES COVERED IN THIS EDITION

Sports Audit-

This past week-

$300 Million Christmas Tree--

Lost Money -

If you re trying to keep up with the projects and the promises--

Call them or email them --

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sports Audit- This issue we sugest that you take a quick look at the Sports Audit. The complete audit is located at http://www.auditor.state.mo.us when you get on McCaskil's page look on left, click to audit report, when it comes up click on 2003 and look for the audit on 7-25-2003 that is the yellow sheet which is an overview. At the bottom of the yellow page is a link to the complete audit.

Our attachment is the first two pages reprinted for you with permission from the auditors office, which included a verbal "Good Luck"!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This past week we have had contact with quite a few people who all share the same conclusion -- dastardly plans are afoot. The Neighborhood Action Group has been inundated with email and phone messages even from some of our former opposition. The next few weeks will be very hectic for us trying to get out as much information as possible so that some of you can help to off set the intended results that the Mayor's office is anticipating. Remember the only reason that democratic processes can be lost is when good people do nothing. So good people please bare with us as we try to explain what has been happening in private meetings. Some people are putting their jobs on the line, some are commiting political sucide, and a lot of people have had the wool removed from their eyes just in time to foil the schemes.

So what do MAST ambulance, Housing losing $ 5.8Million, $300 Million Bond issue have in common?

A lack of public disclouser, a lack of providing necessary information even to those councilmembers working on the problems in a timely manner, and perhaps as Dennis O'Neill said at the Budget and Audit meeting on Tues. and Yael Abouhalkah refered to in his column on Thursday--things are talked about behind closed doors.

The drawing in the Star said it all Do Not Disturb those in the smoke filled back room.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$300 Million Christmas Tree of giveaways must be recognized as just phoney promises. If you think that the $300 Million Bond Issue means that your street with out curbs or sidewalks will be fixed, your gravel street will be paved, your septic tank will be replaced with a sewer, you better think again --it is the projects like the one reported in the Advocate this week that are in line first. Roundabouts ie traffic circles like the one on Ward Parkway, four of them at 87th Street. Even that may not be funded if great minds downtown decide to "channel" the money to another project.

The $300 Million Bond Issue is an "authorization" only. There will be another resolution, promised to appear this week which will list the projects that are susposed to be covered by the bonds. Don't hold your breath --nothing will be added tothe ballot language in the way of a time line and the $300Million is to be spread over eight years. So when new councilpersons and a new Mayor come in, will they have to do what this council suggests? NO.

Kay Barnes had the choice of leaving a Legacy that would be spoken of in endearing terms for years to come--instead she decided to build downtown by bleeding the neighborhoods, move the control of housing to the EDC's new Housing CDC, and allow Mast Ambulance to be emasculated.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lost Money will be found where it has been hidden. Actually most of the money that is susposed to be missing is safe and will be "discovered" when it gets time to fund some downtown project or downtown club!

Handouts given to those who attended the work session right before the Neighborhood Devlopment and Housing Committee Meeting on 21st included a letter from H.U.D. and figures that show that a lot of the money hasn't been spent yet, it is still available. It is pitiful that the City Manager's Office has drug their feet on delivery of documents and a resolution had to be passed to do an audit. which has taken two weeks to get started. Why so slow, well if the audit is held up until after the budget is passed then--- draw your own conclusions.

Now what about the rumor that the Downtown Council needs three years of funding in order to qualify for receiving Federal funding. Then they can get their own money to do within the downtown what they want and they don't have to get city approval every step of the way. But did you know that if they get Federal money that the amount they get will be subtracted from the entire amount that the City of Kansas Ciy could qualify for. So who would help such a group get some funds to start this game? How about $5 Million to start.

Call the city councilpersons and the Mayor and tell them that you want all of the information out, you want to see the audit of the City Managers Office, you want the budget to reflect what is found in that audit. You might also go to the work session Wed. at 10:00. You will get a chance to see the sloppy way that the testimony is presented to the two members of the committee that attend the committee work session. You will definitely acquire new respect for Councilpersons Glover and Hermann. Their patience is amazing. So where are Nash and Weaver?

Financial integrity in the housing program is what Glover and Hermann are fighting for. Help them!! Ask the following questions

Where are the 35 Contracts that represent the 5 Million shortfall?

Is the City Managers office trying to keep the Finance Dept. quiet?

Is the City Managers office interfering with the Finance Dept.?

Why isn't transparency an automatic feature when reports are requested?

Was the scope of the audit set to avoid finding the money?

Is this an Off Balance Sheet shell game?

How diligently are collectable revenues being pursued?

and the really big question WHY IS THIS OBFUSCATION GOING ON??

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you re trying to keep up with the projects and the promises that are for new construction only , not rebuilding infastructure, lots of luck. They are now appearing in the press sort of like public relation announcements in an attempt to get Neighborhoods to vote the $300 Million for infastructure. Something for North something for south trying to buy enough votes from each area of the city to pass the Bond Issue.

Community Centers instead of streets, a Swimming Pool up North of the river instead of water diversion, Traffic Circles instead of sewers, and of course a note here and there about the PIAC projects ---remember the $35 Million Dollar Bond Issue? --same game plan. They got it to pass on the second vote. NAG told the public before both votes that the money would go downtown.

Unless it is part of the ballot language they do not have to do anything that is promised. Jim Glover testified at a committee meeting that he had seen the street funds moved to other projects and it was one of his fears this time on the Bond Elections.

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Call them or email them --Let them know that too much is going on at City Hall behind closed doors!!

Mayor Kay Barnes------------------ 513-3500 -------------------mayor@kcmo.org

Wayne Cauthen---------------------- 513-1408 --------------------manager@kcmo.org

Deb Hermann ------------------------513-1624 --------------------terri_wolfe@kcmo.org

Bill Skaggs ---------------------------513-1619 --------------------lisa_minardi@kcmo.org

Bonnie Sue Cooper----------------- 513-1601 ---------------------karen_rhyne@kcmo.org

John Fairfield------------------------ 513-1622 ----------------------amy_schneider@kcmo.org

Troy Nash---------------------------- 513-1605 ---------------------troy_nash@kcmo.org

Saundra McFadden-Weaver --------513-1608 ---------------------joe_nero@kcmo.org

Jim Glover ---------------------------513-1616 ----------------------charles_monroe@kcmo.org

Jim Rowland ------------------------513-1617 -----------------------dana_laiben@kcmo.org

Becky Nace -------------------------513-1633 -----------------------tom_wyrsch@kcmo.org

Terry Riley -------------------------513-1629 ------------------------diane_charity@kcmo.org

Alvin Brooks-----------------------513-1602---------------------- ramonda_doakes@kcmo.org

Chuck Eddy -----------------------513-1615 -----------------------charles_eddy@kcmo.org

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"Its an arena, Hey Fool, It's an arena, there's no fixing anything, this is the money for the arena!"- --- when discussing the $300 Milion Dollar Bond Issue on April's Ballot--W.K. Peters

"Is there any other public testimoney, - Mr. O'Neill do you have any conspiracy theories to share with us today" Councilman Rowland acting as chairman of the Budget and Audit Committee noticed Dennis O'Neill sitting in the audience.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NAG LETTER Vol. 3 # 4

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ISSUES COVERED IN THIS EDITION

Sports Audit-

Audit Questions

This past several weeks-

Lost Money -

More stories in the news

Vicki Walker sends--

ATA Nonsense

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Sports Audit- So the audit gives us a good idea of how the whole deal is looked at.What really disturbes NAG is the arrogance that is between the lines. After reading the audit you should read the memorandums that were signed by Kathryn Shields. Be very precise at studying them and you will find things like the giving away of the naming rights. Remember how much Verizon paid for the naming rights at Sandstone. If we would simply reign in the Sports Costs and the TIF costs this city would have money in the bank, not always looking for ways to cut basic services. http://www.auditor.state.mo.us

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Audit Questions

The current leases were signed in 1991 and a master plan was agreed to but with no price tag or cap on the costs to the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority.

In 1994 projected costs of the master plan improvements were $56million.

As of Dec.31, 2002 $61 million has been spent. that is 5 million more!!

While 44 per cent of the master plan has not been completed.

Also there is an estimated shortfall of revenue between $35 million to $47 million. This information is from an audit by State Auditor of Missouri; Claire McCaskill released on July 25,2003.

1. What are the master plan projects not yet completed and there estimated cost?

2. In the audit on page 19 what are the $257,958 in 2001 and $207,276 in 2002; lease negotiations expenses actually for?

3. In 2002 the Royals received $2,794,173 in management fees and utility cost reimbursement. While only paying $450,000 in rent and $666,331 in percentage rent, for a total of $1,096,331.

So, it seems that the taxpayers are actually paying the Royals to be tenants, besides the yearly payments from the city, county, and state!

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This past several weeks-the city council passed the resolutions necessary to allow Mast Ambulance to define it's own destiny. But just like the story of Little Red Riding Hood the big bad wolf, there are cronnies at city hall waiting for a chance to pounce. Several of you NAG Newsletter readers need to step forward and start watching what is going on with this situation and keep the rest of us advised. Mast needs to continue to function under a Medical Model and we need to remember that in Kansas City we want three individual independent services, Police, Fire, and Ambulance.

How many of you watched Channel 2 and saw how the Budget and Audit Committee treated citizens who came down to give testimony? One of the citizens who showed up to talk about another subject was disgusted at the rudeness and got up to tell the Councilmen about their behavior. That citizens name is Mr K.B. Winterowd. He is a gentleman, a real man who stands up for his fellow citizens.

Interestingly there was a rather revealing conversation between Rowland and Nash. Mr. Nash asked the lawyer present if there was any reason why the "Oversight Committee" should have private meetings. The lawyer said it was the committee decision. Mr. Nash then suggested that they be open to citizens. Rowland did not like that idea. Remember Jim Rowland was also in favor of taking away some of the publics petition rights.

If you are interested in the way that real leaders chair a committee you might sit in on Wed. 11:00 with Neighborhood Development and Housing Committee chaired by Deb Hermann or Wed. at 9:00 for Finance chaired by Councilman Eddy.

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Lost Money - A little of the story was told in the Pitch a couple of weeks ago and their critism of the Kansas City Star on this subject is well founded. Perhaps there is just to much for the Star to cover, they dropped the ball on this one --unless they are working on a larger more definitive story --which just might be the case. The City Manager is still not cooperating like he should with the Neighborhood Development and Housing Committee. Call the Mayor and tell her that political theatrics are not needed at city hall. The committee meeting is at 11:00 A.M. tomorrow--check it out, in person or on T.V.

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More stories in the news on the use that the $300 Million Dollars will be put to. Is everyone in Kansas City going to get something "NEW" and the old infastructure will just keep crumbling? So far there is the swimming pool, the community center, the 87th street roundabouts, etc. etc. The Bond Proposal has been held for a week, actually the Mayor couldn't fine the votes to get it out.

Why is there a n "Oversight" committee appointed by the Mayor? other bond issues get out with out special people to "guide" it.

Call your councilperson and tell them that it should go on the August ballot when everyone knows what it is all about.

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Vicki Walker sends out an interesting email letter. Here are a few things that you might want to call and congratulate her on making people aware of.

The legislature passed a bill out of the House today that will give corporations a road map to avoid paying Missouri taxes. Now,I dont' know about you,but I know small business owners pay their fair share,and so should large corporations. This bill allows them to set up dummy corporations in Delware or Nevada - two states that have no corporate taxes - and avoid paying their share.

I've filed a bill that will give ALL the money we voted on for the recent ATA tax to the ATA! Remember, because of a state law, part of the sales tax must go to developers in TIF districts.! This is absurd. I have no problem with certain TIFs. I think they are a good tool, but they have been misused in this city. So I filed this bill. I've also filed a statewide bill to address the problem on a statewide basis.

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ATA Nonsense

The Kansas City Business Journal(Jan.26,2004 issue) is falling for the Mayor's spin on the recent KCATA tax increase.  The campaign was misleading about were all the  money was going to be allocated.  The Mayor, Ed Ford and Ken Bacchus repeatedly said that all the money was going to the ATA to keep the busses rolling and Kansas City working.  The Mayor is desperate to continue to find money for TIF funding needs.  The public needs to call the Mayor and ask why TIF expenditures are the fastest growing expenditure.

Sincerely,

Terrence Nash

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The Greater Downtown Development Authority met on Monday, February 9th, at 4 p.m. in the EDC Board Room, One Petticoat Lane. The agenda for the meeting was as follows:

- Consideration and approval of minutes

- Financial Report

- Kansas City LIVE! Update

- DESA Update

- Proposed Parking Garage Update

- Committee and Project Updates

- Public Improvements

- Active Projects

- Parking Authority

- Legislation and Finance

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Who said last week - "We didn't count on the Council people not believing us!"

"Do not separate the life you live,from the words you speak" Sen.Paul Wellstone

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NAG LETTER Vol. 3 # 5

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ISSUES COVERED IN THIS EDITION

Naming Rights--

KCATA Tax

Lost Money - NO--

Thanks to NAG for showing up at the County meeting---

AS SEEN IN THE STAR--

Will someone please tell me under what law--

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--Remember what the KC Star said on 2-25-04 --"The current panel, handpicked by Shields, will have little credibility if it decides to plow ahead. It is inappropriate for a public official to control a commission that would be expected to scrutinize her actions.

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Naming Rights--   Once again, Jackson County is betraying the public trust. If Jackson County official, Shields, gives away the naming rights to the stadiums to the team owners, it is just one more step in an ongoing effort in the county's  "Support Your Local Billionaire" program.     Those naming rights belong to the people and giving them away is the same as stealing money from the treasury and giving it away. I am bothered that the people aren't on the courthouse steps with pitchforks and flaming torches, demanding that this giveaway of public assets be stopped. Even more, I am appalled that the KC media doesn't seem to care either.    

I can understand public apathy in the sense that people work all day and deal with the personal problems of trying to make a living.

I can understand it, too if they are just plain tired of beating their heads against the wall by trying to make public officials do the job they were elected to do.    

I cannot, however, understand when avowed public watchdogs, as the media is (or should be), sit by and watch a miscarriage of justice continue unquestioned.     Sandstone, and stadiums across the country, raised millions of dollars selling naming rights. Why is Kansas City different. When the Sports Authority is $47 million (or so Missouri Auditor Claire McCaskill says) behind on agreed to maintenance, why are officials determined to give away money?     I can't think of an answer to my questions, can you?  

go to: http://espn.go.com/sportsbusiness/s/stadiumnames.html The money paid for naming rights is mind boggling. And it is all paid per year. Wayne Flaherty

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KCATA Tax -The bill Rep.Vicki Walker and Rep. Bob Johnson filed at the State Legislature that will fix the ATA tax was heard in committee this week and received well. It to fix the snafu that the city council did by passing the KCATA tax without the people knowing that $1.5 million would go back to TIF developers! Honesty in government is vital if we want people to believe what we say and do! Remember that Bacchus and Ford the cochairs of that ballot measure

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Lost Money - NO it's not lost - Shields admitted that she has spent millions of surplus anti-drug tax money. Jackson Couny Anex in Independence was a hard place to find a parking place on Mon. There was one group with signs that said Resign Shields. There was a lot of talk about budgets and it appears that the Jackson County Legislators have become lax in overseeing the dispersal of funds. There was talk of criminal proscution and supoenas!

The Neighborhood Action Group made a simple request--a full scope audit from one of the top five national audit firms going back at least six years. The audit must be removed from the influence of everyone working for or connected to Jackson County.

Nine members attended with signs sayng AUDIT NOW.

Additional comments made on NAG's behalf included:

Take a close look at the percentage of Combat funds to be allowed to stay in a reserve fund.

The present amount kept in reserve is 50%, which is equivalent to half of the amount of yearly revenue,in dollars that's $10 plus million dollars, which is exorbitant. Somewhere around 5 to 7% is sufficent.

The Commission suggested by Shields to study the structure and make suggestions for changes to Combat should be tabled for the time being. Several of the people suggested for this duty have interesting connections. It's a fox watching the hen house scenerio.

The legislators appeared to have been left partially in the dark on some of the material presented we thus entered a criticism that they as the electd officials with the final say, need to step up to the plate and straighten out this funding situation for now and the future.

Reliable sources say that pressure is being placed on members of the legislature to limit the scope of the audit so that some things will fail to be seen, thus letting Shields off the hook.

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Thanks to NAG for showing up at the County meeting. As I work during the daytime, I was not able to attend. Our Legislator, Scott Burnett is a Shields supporter in a big way. His unassuming niceness may cloud some people's resolve to ask the tough questions.

The county seems to have NO accountability because we as residents do not follow closely. Thus, MILLIONS of our dollars are squandered.

Let's keep asking the relevant questions, such as what type of government would keep back 50% of it's yearly budget to use as a discretionary fund?

Where in the COMBAT legislation passed by the voters does it state that Shields has the right to allocate funds without legislature approval?

AND last as far as the Star is concerned, our daily paper has consistently supported her administration. To say that the Star reporter fabricated a quote is classic Shields.

Her ambition to be Mayor is real. Let's make it unrealistic.

As far as this being a political witch hunt, hey, man, hand me my broom.

Bridget White

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AS SEEN IN THE STAR

"I have yet to see the financial discipline that it will take for us to do what we say we're going to do." said Rowland, when speaking about the $250,000,000.00 Million Bond Issue. The debt service would pose an extra burden he noted that issuing the bonds will affect the budget for the next thirty years.

"The debt service would be payed for by the city's deferred maintenance fund" Kansas City Star said reporting on conversations with Councilperson Becky Nace when speaking about the upcoming Bond Issue.

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Will someone please tell me under what law does the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners believe that they have the authority to lease park land to to any person, firm or corporation for any purpose?

There are several sections of the City of Kansas City, Missouri Charter that concern the building on, leasing and selling of park land.

In summary:

The board of parks and recreation commissioners shall have the powers and perform the duties provided by the Charter. Sec 2-331.

The Charter states that:

The lands obtained under the provisions of this charter for park, parkway or boulevard purposes shall remain forever parks, parkways and boulevards for the use of all the inhabitants of the city. Sec 58.

"No structure shall be erected or maintained in any such place [park, parkway or public ground under the control of the said board [board of park commissioners]] except such as may be erected by the board for park uses. . . except such public memorials, museums, art galleries and other public buildings as are authorized by this charter." Sec. 66

No part of any park under supervision or control of park board shall be leased to any person, firm or corporation for any purpose." Sec 66 Annotation.

Land, building or parts of any park may only be leased for park and recreation purposes. Sec. 67 (Section concerns concessions.)

The city may only sell land and buildings that it no longer needs for public use. Sec. 463.

Dona

The full text of the sections follow.

Sec. 2-331.  Powers and duties of board of parks and recreation commissioners.

The parks and recreation department shall be under the control and management of the board of parks and recreation commissioners. The board of parks and recreation commissioners shall have the powers and perform the duties provided by the Charter.

Sec. 58. Lands selected to remain forever for parks and boulevards.

The lands which have heretofore and which hereafter may be selected and obtained under the provisions of this charter for park, parkway or boulevard purposes shall remain forever parks, parkways and boulevards for the use of all the inhabitants of the city; provided however, that Holmes Square, having an area of 2.792 acres, located between 18th and 19th Streets, Cherry and Holmes Streets, may be sold, if the sale is approved by the unanimous vote of the board of park commissioners; and provided further, that the portion of Pershing Road, having an area of 1.42 acres, lying between Broadway and West Pennway, may be vacated by the city council, with the unanimous approval of the board of park commissioners. (Amend. 11-8-60)

Sec. 66. Structures within parks.

Neither the council nor the board of park commissioners shall have authority, except as in this charter otherwise provided, to permit any person, association, firm or corporation to build or maintain any structure within any park, parkway or public ground under the control of the said board. No structure shall be erected or maintained in any such place except such as may be erected by the board for park uses, and such statues, monuments and works of art as may be approved by the art commission and erected by or under authority of the board, and except such public memorials, museums, art galleries and other public buildings as are authorized by this charter.

Annotation-- Modern day public library is within category of public buildings which may be erected and maintained in park, parkway or on public grounds under control of city park board pursuant to city charter provision prohibiting erection and maintenance of any structure within any park, parkway or public ground except such as may be erected by board for park purposes and such public memorials, museums, art galleries or other public buildings as authorized by charter. School Dist. of Kansas City v. Kansas City, 382 S.W.2d 688, holding also that school district is political subdivision devoted to public education, and is not "person, firm or corporation" within city charter provision that no part of any park under supervision or control of park board shall be leased to any person, firm or corporation for any purpose.

Sec. 67. Use of parks .

The board may lease any land, building or parts thereof in any park for any park and recreation purposes to any person undertaking to serve such purpose, in the manner provided by this charter, and may grant concessions in a park for the sale of refreshments to the public using such park and for other park purposes, upon such terms and under such regulations as the board may prescribe; provided however, that the sale of spirituous, vinous or malt liquors or other intoxicating beverages shall only be permitted within any park , parkway or public ground under the control and management of the board or at special permitted events by civic, religious, school, service, fraternal, patriotic, political or professional clubs or organizations, provided they have secured all other required permits, or at other locations as prescribed by the board. No concession shall be for a longer term than five (5) years. No concession shall be granted for any purpose not within the objects for which such parks , squares and grounds or buildings are held by the city; and in every such lease or concession the board shall reserve the right to enter at all times into and upon the premises so demised, and any breach of any such lease, in violation of the provisions of this section, shall be sufficient ground for the termination of such lease at the option of the board.

All moneys derived from any leases or concessions or from the sale of the products obtained from any park , or of any personal property in use by, or belonging to said parks and recreation department, shall be paid into the treasury of the city, and be credited to the parks and recreation department funds designated by the board and be used and expended by the board for park purposes, and none other. (Ord. No. 56904, 9-6-84, eff. 11-6-84; Ord. No. 64877, 11-30-89, eff. 2-6-90)

Editor's note: Section 67 was ratified by the voters on Nov. 6, 1984. Ord. No. 64877 was ratified at an election held Feb. 6, 1990.

Annotations--Under its charter powers city can provide rules for management and government of parks and secure by contract someone to serve refreshments therein for service of public; control of city is discretionary one and matter of local concern, park being held and owned by city, not in its political or governmental capacity, but in quasi-private capacity, in which municipal authorities act for exclusive benefit of corporation whose interests they represent: State v. Schweickardt, 109 Mo. 496, 19 S.W. 47.

Municipalities are liable for negligence in maintaining public parks :Bagby v. Kansas City, 338 Mo. 771, 92 S.W.2d 142.

City liable in damages for injuries in pavilion in park :Kuenzel v. St. Louis, 278 Mo. 277, 212 S.W. 876.

City liable for drowning in pool on park property. See Capp v. St. Louis, 251 Mo. 345, 158 S.W. 616, 46 L.R.A., N.S., 731, Ann. Cas. 1915C, 245; Nation v. St. Joseph (Mo. App.), 5 S.W.2d 1106.

City liable for injury from pony rented out by department: Longwell v. Kansas City, 199 Mo. App. 480, 203 S.W. 657.

City's leasing of land and dwellings acquired for extension of park , until plans should be formulated and necessary funds procured, held not illegal: Heger v. St. Louis, 323 Mo. 1031, 20 S.W.2d 665.

Sec. 463.  Title to city property inalienable.

The title of the city to and in its waterfront, wharf property, land under water, public landings, wharves, docks, highways, parkways, boulevards, streets, lanes, alleys, parks, public grounds and public places is hereby declared to be inalienable; provided, that nothing herein contained shall prevent the city from vacating any street or highway, or part thereof, in the manner provided for in this charter, nor from disposing of any building or parcel of land which the city may lawfully sell, no longer needed for public use; provided further, that such disposition shall be made on open and public competition and pursuant to ordinance passed by the affirmative vote of at least nine (9) members of the council. (Amend. 6-23-70)

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 NAG LETTER Vol. 3 # 6

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ISSUES COVERED IN THIS EDITION :

Jim Rowland's Budget &Audit Committee

Convention Tourism Budget

Here's how to do it-

$250,000,000.00 Bond Issue

From the Lee's Summit Post-Tribune

IMPROVEMENTS NOW ?

Bi-State is not a cross state cooperation!

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Jim Rowland's Budget &Audit Committee --has been a topic of conversation in certain offices lately. The tenor of his oversight has been generally one of ridicule, interruptions, and overall a heavyhanded antagonistic manner towards public testimony. The general public perception from Channel 2's coverage of the committee meetings at city hall have generated comments such as "a spoiled little boy", "listens only to his own voice", "needs to deal with his childhood trauma" and "this guy is out of it"

But the major voice was heard on Channel 9 when Mahoney reported on Mr. Rowlands's threat to have a citizen removed by security because Mr. Rowland didn't like the way events were described by the person giving testimony. Does this mean that if the information given in testimony is contray to the belief of the chairman that the right to give public testimony is cancelled?

The Budget and Audit Committee video tapes need to be looked at with one thing in mind. Does the process of government need ridicule, interruptions, and snide comments? Does the average individual need to sacrifice their dignity in order to be heard at City Hall.

When the Mayor removed Jim Rowland from a committee a few years ago several of us tried to get him re instated. What fools we were. Since then he has argued for restrictions on the Petition Process which was a way to silence the voices of the public and now he is using his position on a committee to bully the public into silence.

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Convention Tourism Budget- The Convention & Tourism budget is a dedicated tax.  The current and previous budgets have a deficit.  The deficit is made up of an allocation of $2 million from the general fund.  The Jackson County Sports Authority is receiving a $2 million subsidy from this fund.   In other words we pass $2 million from the General Fund through Convention & Tourism to the Sports Authority!! Is Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, Independence, Raytown or any other city writing a check to the Jackson County Sports Authority?  Why should Kansas City taxpayers be the only city to subsidize the stadiums?  Lets fix the streets first not the stadiums!

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Here's how to do it- The Neighborhood Action Group suggests that a format like the one presented below be used to determine what are the balances in each of the programs in the COMBAT Tax.This will show which have a surplus and which do not.

                        Police    Prosecution       DARE       Treatment Programs

allocation        40% 20% 20% 20%

Beginning balance

1/1/95       800,000 400,000     400,000 400,000

resolution

11111 KCPD (650,000)

11112 Prosecutor (100,000)

balance 1/31/95      150,000 300,000 400,000      400,000

sales tax remittance

from state

for 10/1/94 to 12/31/94 1,200,000 600,000     600,000 600,000

11140 Independence Police (550,000)

grant received for DARE 200,000

11152 DARE (300,000)

balance 2/28/95       800,000 900,000 900,000   1,000,000

This shows a monthly reconcilation

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$250,000,000.00 Bond Issue --is on it's way unless you get your neighbors out to vote it down. The ballot language by law must contain the following sentence:

"The authorization of the bonds will authorize the City to maintain tangible property tax rates sufficent to pay the interest and the principal on the bonds until fully paid."

What that means is if something happens and the economy falters, YOUR TAXES WILL BE RAISED by law to pay for these bonds. So the NO Tax Increase they promise, should be stated as, "No Immediate Tax Increase". They can not guarantee the next twenty years. Couldn't they be a little bit more honest. It seems that they think that all they have to tell the people is that there is no tax increase and the public will vote for it.

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From the Lee's Summit Post-Tribune)  by Bob Gough ----On Bi-state II. 

Are you concerned about your taxes?  A recent (11/03) „agreement‰ between the County Sports Authority and the billionaire team owners regarding our Jackson County stadiums will cost your family big dollars.  The „agreement‰ should be of interest to all families in the Kansas City metro area.

In addition to the „agreement‰, Mayor Messerli, Mayor Barnes, and other mayors of Kansas City metro cities just attended a private meeting to plan a campaign strategy for the one billion dollar Bi-state II tax. 

The proposed 25-year Bi-state II tax hands over $354 million of our money to  enhance the sports viewing experience for stadium visitors.  In order to make this tax appealing to the folks who don‚t visit the stadiums, Bi-state II will require another $354 million of our money to be handed over to some unnamed and undefined „Culture Commission.‰  This reminds me of the Union Station debacle.  Actually, Union Station also wants another turn at your wallet in Bi-state II.  They have an insatiable appetite for your money.

Another $300 million recently has been added for interest and vague „construction costs‰ for a total Bi-state II tax of over one billion dollars.

One billion dollars!  Assuming that the population of the metro area is two million, the cost for each person for the one billion dollar tax is $500 per man, woman, and child.  For a family of four, the Bi-state sales tax will cost $2,000.

For folks in Lee‚s Summit , the sports „agreement‰ calls for a continuation of the Jackson County ballpark subsidy of $3.5 million per year or an additional $350 for a family of four in Lee‚s Summit for the life of the agreement.  That‚s a total of $2,350 for every family in Lee‚s Summit! 

The billionaire team owners say that they need fancier ballparks to attract more attendance and make our ball players feel good.  I believe that the team owners want upgraded stadiums as bargaining chips for their negotiations with other cities.  

The billionaire team owners, the chambers of commerce, our mayors, newspaper editorial writers, and artsy folks tell us that we will live in a second-class city if we don‚t hand them one billion dollars.   I disagree with this threat.

The best way to keep the teams in Kansas City is for the owners to have their own money invested in the Kansas City stadiums.  Then, if the owners move away, they have lost their own money.  They want our money in Kansas City stadiums, not theirs.

Taking a billion dollars out of the pockets of Kansas City metropolitan area residents and giving it to the team owners and a culture commission will not improve our quality of life.  The best way to improve the culture for our families is to let each family make their own decisions about their own culture.  Some like tractor pulls, some like opera, some like sports, and some like fishing on the lake.  We already have numerous venues for these activities.  

Again, the total cost to your family in Lee‚s Summit is $2,350 over the life of the Bi-state II tax. I propose that Bi-state II tax be shelved.

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IMPROVEMENTS NOW ? is what we all want, but we do not want a bond authorization.

With a bond authorization you just get to say spend money, you do not get to say how it will be spent.

With a bond issue the amount and the specific projects are spelled out.

Kansas City has done bond issues hundreds of times. So why is it different this time.

Obviously certain financial institutions want to circumvent the usual way of doing bond elections. What we usually get to say with our vote is what the money will be spent on--this time we do not get any say.

Who gets the say? Five unnamed men will get to make decisions, P.I.A.C. will make suggestions on the merits of different projects, someone will pick the projects that are suggested to PIAC, and the city council will vote on the suggestions.

So if you trust all of these different people, some of whom have not been appointed yet, some of who have not been elected yet, some of those in office now will be gone, some people who are behind the scenes must also be trusted, without knowing who they are.

If you don't trust all of these people thenvote NO. Your first grade child will be out of high school and probably have a kid in first grade before this is all over.

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Bi-State is not a cross state cooperation! It is local Missouri politicians targeting Johnson County taxpayers!

Exerpts taken from the web site http://www.Bi-State.info

The Kansas View of the Bi-State proposal

Dear Editor,

Johnson County leaders should do what they were elected to do, protect their taxpayers from Bi-State. Cattle are led to slaughter by a cow who appears to be part of the herd. It is this "Judas Cow" that calmly leads the rest of the group to their fate in the slaughter house. Any Johnson County leader not fighting for Johnson County taxpayers is a "Judas Cow".

According to Missouri Auditor, Claire McCaskill, the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority has been planning for over a year to make up a $47 million shortfall in stadium maintenance and improvement projects with Bi-State funds! That clearly shows Missouri regards Bi-State as just a slush fund for their personal use!

All we get is to buy a ticket and pay 20 bucks to park.

I say to Johnson County leaders, "Let's use our $440 million share of Bi-State right here in Johnson County, and let Missouri pay its own bills."

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W.K.Peters said "Liberty Memorial has $18,000,000.00 in the bank and they are asking for $20,000,000.00 more money? They have some kind of sickness, right above their eyebrows.

Overheard from a reporter covering City Hall, "I'll be glad to get back to reporting murders, robberys, and assualts on the crime beat. You meet a much nicer class of pepole."

http://espn.go.com/sportsbusiness/s/stadiumnames.html The money paid for naming rights is mind boggling. Katheryn Shields wants to give ours away for nothing!

"Now it's the Mafia that is somehow or other at fault in the Jackson County money hiding deals." heard in the elevator at city hall.

NAG Letter from The Neighborhood Action Group Vol.3 #7

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In This Issue:

Stop the Abuse

Cost of Playing Games-

Transformed

APRIL 6th--This is not a bond issue it is an authorization.

Watch Out Penn Valley

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Stop the Abuse

Speaking of a council members threats to throw out a person in the audience, last spring I witnessed a councilman / person?  attack a citizen and is/was totally arrogant and rude.  I guess the people don't matter in kcmo, just the elite.  Will we ever get the good people to run for office or is it to odorious and cruel a process for them?   RL Painter

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Cost of Playing Games

In 1990, the Sports Authority entered into agreements with the billionaire team owners. In addition to maintenance,the Authority was to make regularimprovements to keep the stadiums "state of the art". It was estimated that the total cost to meet this contractual obligation through 2007, would be $56 million. After spending $61 million the authority finds itself with a $47 million shortfall in money needed to pay these costs. These costs are shared by the Jackson County, Kansas City, Missouri, and the State of Missouri. Jackson County pays $3.5 million, Kansas City $2 million, and Missouri $3 million for a total of $8.5 million per year. In 2002, Jackson County issued bonds to replace the seats in Arrowhead. Those bonds now cost $3.5 million per year to pay off. That brings the total Stadium maintenance and improvement costs to $12 million per year. Jackson County Financial Advisor, Jack Holland estimates the current yearly shortfall at $6 million per year. That brings the total to $18 million per year.

In Bi-State terms, it means $6 million per year (15%) of the projected $40 million per year tax, will go to pay Missouri politician's existing stadium contracts.  Assuming Johnson County is paying 44% of the Bi-State tax, it means Johnson County will pay $2.6 million per year to prop up an existing Jackson County contract. This is a bad precedent. Once the hog has been to the trough, he will return for more. From the web site www.Bi-State.Info

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Transformed

One of the media points of light in Kansas City is eKC. They are not publishing in print form anymore. They are now on the internet. Bruce might not have agreed with some NAG positions but he always listened and even printed some of our concerns. Take a look at http://www.kcactive.com A quote from Bruce Rodgers "we invite comments, essays, etc. from area activists (including yourself) and politicians but please query first to Bruce Rodgers, email publisher_editEKC@kcactive.com.

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APRIL 6th--This is not a bond issue it is an authorization.

You are asked to authorize $250,000,000.00 in bonds being issued over the next eight years.

You are being asked to place your trust in :

a five person board that you do not know --who have not been appointed yet!

a city council and mayor who have not been elected yet!!

various people who will recommend projects to PIAC

You are being asked to place your trust in the present

City Leadership who have admitted in public meetings that $250,000,000.00 is in the bank waiting to be spent on projects already promised, planned, and funded. and that the most that can be spent this year is $63Million which means that we have four years of money for infastructure in the bank and the leadership can't get the money spent. They can't get the projects constructed any faster than that.

You are being asked to place your trust in the present

City Leadership who have a spotty record of protecting the public trust.

You are being asked to place your trust in the present

City leadership that have a poor record of honesty in past elections

In past elections this

City Leadership tried to turn over 4000 acres of commercial property to developers.

In past elections this

City leadership tried to acquire more personal power through changing the City Charter of Kansas City.

In past elections this

City leadership have tried to restrict our petition rights to the point of uselessness

In past elections this

City leadership's had co-chairman of the KCATA Bus tax who lied at neighborhood meetings and even at one of the Mayor's press conferences about the removal of TIF funds.

Now that Vicki Walker has intoduced a bill at Jeff City to stop th TIF from being taken out of the KCATA tax, guess who is lobbing to stop the passage of this bill. You are correct our city leadership!!

So these people ie. city leadership, that you are asked to trust, how do they try to fix this honesty problem?

City leadership says they have "fixed" the Kcata TIF debacle of the last election by transfering 2 million from the Use Tax to KCATA fund . They are taking money from the General Fund to fix KCATA. Robbing Peter to Pay Paul

With that type of thinking what will they do if we give them $250,000,000.00

The Neighborhood Action group recommends a NO Vote on Question #1

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Watch Out Penn Valley - Dona Boley

In the 100 year existence of our world famous parks and boulevard system we have have never had a mayor who wanted to give our historic park land away to a developer for housing. Now we do. Mayor Kay Barnes supports giving away most of Penn Valley Park along Broadway to DST to develop $220,000 per unit condominium-type housing. DST's proposal is proudly included on her list of River-Crown-Plaza Projects. In addition Mayor Barnes personally pitched the condominium development to the Federal Reserve. Wasn't it nice of the Mayor to exclude the citizens, who own this land, in the decision to do this project and give the land away to developers? And aren't we luck to have such enlightened civic leadership which is incapable of recognizing our existing amenities. Maybe it is time to ask Clay back to protect our parks from such mindless, insensitive elected leadership and greedy developers.

Watch out Loose Park. Now that the Mayor has moved north of the river, this prime real estate could be next.

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www.kcactive.com Online eKC Check it out!

www.KCMOHotline.com free newsletter on Neighborhood Issues

www.KCNag.com archive of the Political Issues that N.A.G. has defeated

www.TaxHog.com whose trying to get into the Hog Trough now!!

www.NoNewArena.com against a downtown arena

www.Bi-State.info against bi-state tax proposals

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Always Looking for Truth and Justice

NAG Letter from The Neighborhood Action Group Vol.3 #8

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In This Issue:

JACKSON COUNTY GAVE OUR NAMING RIGHTS AWAY--

Jay Stock has a precautionary note to all neighborhood leaders and residents--

Post Script from Jay ---

Improvements Now Contributors 3-28-04-- Who is paying the bill---

Dallas Texas passes $575 Million in Bonds---

NO on APRIL 6th--This is not a bond issue it is an authorization.

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JACKSON COUNTY GAVE OUR NAMING RIGHTS AWAY

this some idea of how much was given away in the letters of Memorandum The public needs to take the Naming Rights back.

Team - Avg. $ Per Year - Year Contract Expires - Total $ from2004

Anaheim Angels - $2.5 million - 2018 - $35 million

St. Louis Rams - $2.65 million - 2013 - $24 million

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - $3.1 million - 2026 - $68 million

Houston Astros - $6 million - 2030 - $156 million

Cincinnati Reds - $2.5 million - 2033 - $72 million

Pittsburgh Steelers - $2.9 million - 2021 - $49 million

Arizona Diamondbacks - $2.2 million - 2028 - $53 million

Carolina Panthers - $7 million - 2024 - $140 million

Detroit Tigers - $2.2 million - 2030 - $57 million

Washington Redskins $7.6 million 2025 - $160 million

Cincinnati Reds - $2.5 million - 2033 - $72 million

Denver Broncos - $6 million - 2021 - $102 million

Philadelphia Eagles - $6.7 million - 2022 - $121 million

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Jay Stock has a precautionary note to all neighborhood leaders and residents   We hear much propaganda in favor of the $250,000,000 bond proposal, but proponents are certainly not emphasizing a few basic facts which should also be considered by the voting taxpayers. Honesty requires that, as Paul Harvey would say, "the rest of the story" be presented in a factual manner. To quote a famous statesman of many years ago " an informed electorate will make good decisions".  I ask your assistance in continuing to inform our Kansas City electorate.

• These bonds will be ultimately repaid by using funding sources now directed toward annual  infrastructure maintenance. In amounts like 10/11 million dollar per year. Thus,the city will borrow money to repair and create new facilities today and then will have no money tomorrow to maintain these facilities as they again needs service. The also will result in additional interest costs that will reduce our city's total ability to make repairs or purchases. Great idea or stupidity???

• Without any legal constraints, this council, or any future council may expend these funds in any way that they wish. Remember the E-tax and the commitments made by Mayor Davis then, and compare this to the reduced services now being delivered. To quote an ex-councilman: "times change, and past commitments have no validity unless spelled out in the ballot language".

• Or do we recall the current fiasco with the ATA tax and the rape of the general fund to compensate the ATA for funds siphoned off for downtown development projects? A couple million dollars which could have been used to fix streets, provide youth activities, health care, and a whole litany of current needs greater than subsidizing developers. And, adding insult to injury, this was done under the astute leadership of two ex-councilmen who as attorneys should have either known or researched the project. I am sure that this encourages the taxpayers to have faith in elected representatives who say "Trust Me" with $250,000,000 tax dollars. 

• It's worth considering that over the next ten years,  our bonds might be spent to give us a new downtown arena  while we reduce funding for pothole repairs, bridges, streets, community center repairs, traffic signals, and other capital needs.This bond issue is billed as "to repair infrastructure" but a significant part will go to new capital expenditures which will require additional repair and funding in the future. Is this something like the old circus shell game or the bait and switch tactics ruled illegal in commercial markets?

•  But for all of these dollars, we are promised fantastic aquatic centers to be used by a privileged few, and other massive        projects which very few taxpayers would be willing to support as individual issues, if given a choice. 

• "No tax increase" is a bold faced lie!  If we are required to remit more tax dollars in the future than you would without bonds, our taxes have been increased. The tax rate may remain unchanged but the total tax dollars collected from us have been  increased. It does not require a Harvard MBA to figure out  that any levy issue which collects more tax dollars is an increase!

• In the commercial market, this would be considered false advertising and would make the advertiser subject to civil penalties and perhaps criminal prosecution. Martha Stewart should be a good example of the requirement for integrity in the public arena. 

•  A group will be appointed to make recommendations regarding expenditures but what isn't said is that "we don't have to follow those recommendations, and can do whatever we want with the bond proceeds.

 I hope that all of us as Kansas City voters will recognize this bond campaign as poorly conceived, ill  timed,  misleading      at best, and that we as taxpaying voters will resoundingly defeat it

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Post Script from Jay It is being said by proponents of the $250,000,000 bond issue,that since Kansas City has such good bonding capability, we should rush right out and use it.   This is no less absurd than saying that since those individuals who pay their bills promptly have almost unlimited credit today, then they should rush right out and "max out" their credit cards.   Credit is not a perishable commodity, it is a tool which should be used sparingly and judiciously.

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Improvements Now Contributors 3-28 Trying to buy your vote with TV ads!!

Home Builders Assoc of KC                        500

Heavy Constructors-Industry Advancement Fund 90,000

Civic Council of KC                  25,000

Schutte Lumber                         250

American Century                      10,000

Sly James Firm Trial Lawyers                 150

Builders' Assoc                       5,000

Associated General Contractors               5,000

HDR Engineering                             500

Burns & McDonnell                                10,000

Kansas City Southern                  10,000

Bucher Willis & Ratcliff               2,000

Levitt Enterprises                     250

1701 Main St.                       1,000

J.E. Dunn                           2,500

KC Chiefs                           2,500

E. Crichton Singleton FAIA Inc                100

Civic Council of KC                       25,000

Hunt Midwest                        2,000

Greater KC Chamber of Commerce      50,000

Berkebile Nelson Immenschuh McDowell          500

MWH                             10,000

Black & Veatch                       10,000

HNTB Architecture                       10,000

State Street                        1,000

Charle Garney                        1,000

Delich, Roth & Goodwillie PA                500

Hrrington & Cortelyou                      200

Downtown Council                          5,000

Total campaign contributions on 3-28:                   $288,450

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Almost $300.000.00 is being spent to convince you that we need to give city hall a blank check for $250,000,000.00 Hey that means that these guys are willing to spend 1% to acquire control of the largest bond authorization in the History of Kansas City. Means that someone is planning on getting some of the money. People and companies do not spend money with out thinking that they will get something out of the deal. So, the question is what are they getting out of the deal?

REMEMBER VOTE NO on QUESTION # 1 on APRIL 6th

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Dallas Texas passes $575 Million in Bonds- Yes they passed 8 bonds issues without a tax increase and 9 bond issues that would require a tax raise. When I called the Finance Dept, in Dallas, a Mr Cook said that he felt that the reason they passed was because the City of Dallas was honest and forthright with public. "We had one bond to improve streets and we told in the ballot what street and how many blocks would be fixed." I told him that it was a matter of trust. The voters could trust the bond issue since the law would require that the funds be spent on the specified street. Dallas seems to have included everyone in these bond issues. So the people know what they will get. In Kansas City we get promises--an "Authorization". NO bond issue --NO VOTE on April 6.

Congratulations to Dallas Texas for not asking for a blank check like City Hall is trying to do with our "Authorization". No blank check -Vote No on Question #1 onApril 6th.

 NAG Letter from The Neighborhood Action Group

SPECIAL

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On February 18, Councilwoman Becky Nace sent the Mayor an amendent to the resolution for the $250 Million Dollar Bond Authorization. The resolution was an attempt to acquire a modicum of honesty in the upcoming April 6th election.

Councilwoman Nace stated" The changes to the resolution include 100% of the $250Million dollar bond issue to be used for deferred maintainence instead of 80% as stated in the resolution passed out in Finance Committee today." Plain and simple she wanted all of the money to go for crumbling streets, curbs, catch basins and bridges! NO NEW PROJECTS

Nace also stated" I am also striking the list of project exmples. The projects will require funding in excess of the $250 million dollars available through the bond issuance." In plain words the projects listed, add up to more than $250 million dollars. Nace knew that they were promising everyone everything so that the vote would go through.

Nace continued, "The wording "projects may be funded in part or whole" does not demonstrate the likelihood that these projects will be built......."

In plain words here again was a well crafted lie, which Nace wanted the Mayor to change. There is NO likelihood that these projects listed will ever happen!

The letter closes with the words, "It is our duty to present a bond package to the voters that represents outcomes we can deliver. Likewise, we must use tax dollars wisely and as they were intended by voters. Using deferred maintenance funds for deferred maintainence and capital funds for capital improvements will keep faith with the voters."

Councilwoman Nace was asking for honesty and truth in the bond issue! With her letter she included a packet that include the actual costs of the examples and explanation of how her amendment addressed deferred maintenance. If the Mayor read the packet she knew that they made a mistake and promised too much, to too many!!

The answer from the Mayor's office was silence. Well not exactly silence, but you get the point.

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All of you Neighborhood Leaders that attended the Neighborhood Roundtable meeting heard the Mayor tell me that my statement that the "total cost of projects was more money than the $250 million dollar bond authorization would provide", was "a lie"-- well now I have a copy of the list with the totals and a quick read, lets all of you know who is fond of prevarication and deceit. The same statement was made at the Northland Neighborhoods Meeting. So do you believe that you will get your neighborhoods project?

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Why is it asking to much to have an honest city adminstration? In Dallas they can pass 17 individual bond elections in one vote. In Dallas they give you the amount and the actual project and let you make up your mind what you want. NO authorization.

In Kansas City they give you smoke and mirrors. We get lies and things get worse.

They want a blank check, they promise everything and then do what they want. Well I say stop. Lets do it one bond issue at a time, with truth.

Mark Esping

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 Improvements Now campaign misstates facts on This Week in Kansas City with Nick Haines.

  Aggie Stackhouse claims that the city is spending the taxes from the 1999 1-cent sales tax on deferred maintenance as promised she doesn't know her facts.  The Kansas City Star on December 14,2003 had an editorial titled "Broken promises on KC Repairs" that explains that City Hall used that money for other expenses.  The Pitch on February 26,2004 had a article quoting Troy Shulte, Kansas City budget director stating that $8 million from other departments is inappropriately charged to basic repairs each year.  Aggie Stackhouse is a person who doesn't do her research but acts like she is a expert.  

Terrence Nash

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APRIL 6th, this TUESDAY VOTE NO ON QUESTION #1

Please send this to all of your Kansas City Email list, Help defeat the blank check

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 NAG Letter from The Neighborhood Action Group Vol.3 #9

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In This Issue:

WHO CAN YOU BELIEVE?

UNION STATION FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

Towing can be a racket?

SPORTS ARENA EMAIL from Larry Thrasher

Here is an email sent to my Johnson County 'protectors':

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WHO CAN YOU BELIEVE?

The Kansas City Star thinks that Bi-State should be wrapped up and presented to the voters. The Kansas City Business Journal has had two editorials saying that we need to "Delay Bi-State 2 Vote" and "Bi-State 2 is Worthy Idea Led Astray By Bad Planning".

On Mon. a coalition of groups alerting the public of the gliches imbedded in the Bi-State proposals met at the Westport Library. The Jackson County Taxpayers Association, Johnson County's Turn It Off, Kansas City Neighborhood Action Group, UnHoly Alliance, the Organized Opposition and several individuals with personal opinions about the ideas bandied about in the press as being proposals from the Bi-State organizers were present. Two minute presentations were given, including, "We Told You So", Bi-State Arts is B.S.", "Turn It Off, No more money down the drain", Are Your taxes Too Low?", "Stadium Leases! Excessive Public Assistance for Wealthy Owners" "They Couldn't Run Union Station". A general dicussion on the way the Kansas City Star has been running what was generally stated as "What's Good About Bi-State Articles" for several months also ensued. It was noted that a ratio of twelve paragraphs in favor of an issue to one against is the typical Kansas City Star reporting position. A radio reporter reminded the group that radio reaches more people.

 Personal statements were made about incorrect information regarding Bi-State which is already circulating in Kansas City. Not only does the Bi-State Coalition have to counter all of the Bi-State Proponent propoganda they also have to counter the rumor and inuendo that is circulating.

So the public better get informed on this subject, they better find out for them yourself.

 First rumor --- all smoke and no fire All lie, No truth is-------------------------------------

"IT's the only way to keep the teams in Kansas City."

 They are not going to leave , there is NO PLACE TO GO.

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UNION STATION FINANCIAL ANALYSIS Deficit shrinks upon close scrutiny.

On Monday May 10th we attended the public hearing on Union Station.  Union Station management states that the annual operating deficit is between $5 million and $6 million a year. According to the Kansas City Star(May 9,2004) Union Station is to receive $1.7 million for leases to the IRS and U.S. Postal Service.   The Pitch(February 19,2004) reports that leases for the IRS and U.S. Postal Service are expected to bring in $2.5 million.  Union Station is requesting $2 million a year from the Bi-State II proposal.  Union Station receives other financial support in the form of grants and pledges.

In the Statement of Cash Flows for the Year ended December 31,2002, their was a Net Decrease in cash and cash equivalents of  $2,971,328.

In the Statement of Cash Flows for the Year ended December 31,2003, their was a Net Decrease in cash and cash equivalents of  $2,379,881.

Union Station Financial Recap

                  KC Star

Operating Deficit       ($5,000,000) ($6,000,000)

IRS and US Post Office Leases $1,700,000       $1,700,000

Bi-State II             $2,000,000        $2,000,000

Operating Deficit       ($1,300,000) (2,300,000)

                   Pitch

Operating Deficit        ($5,000,000) ($6,000,000)

IRS and US Post Office Leases $2,500,000             $2,500,000

Bi-State II             $2,000,000              $2,000,000

Operating Deficit        ($500,000)              (1,500,000)

Union Station's financial numbers need to be more throughly examined.  Financial forecasts for 2004 and for the next 3 years with the additional revenue being included in the calculations so a more accurate result can be presented.

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Towing can be a racket? A friend of mine slid into a guard rail in Feburary's snow storm. She was told that the car needed to be towed off of the road to a repair shop. When I went to inquire about the bill it was for $576.00 included two tows and listed a lot of miles. After paying the bill the car was driven by the owner to Johnson County to get it repaired. No repairs were done first, they just got in and drove it to the repair shop. After looking at the lies that had been told and refuting each falsehood including the actual towing mileage with signed letters from each person involved, after numerous phone calls, the tow company refunded $207.00 .

This type of flagrant theft should not be tolerated in Kansas City. I met with Clay Ancell to ask about the oversight programs that might be used to penalize such abuse. An hour later I had some idea of the problems that the tow people have. Mr. Ancell is the person who got the Mayor's program of picking up abandon cars going with overnight notice from city hall. He says that those tow operaators that are listed by the Dept. of Transportation do not have to have a City License, in fact there is some controversy as to wheher they have to have a Business License. This city is always looking for revenue sources and we are always talking about The New K.C. well here is a place that both a revenue sourse exists and we need to really get rid of the "Old K.C. the one that rips off citizens and tourtists that have car trouble in our city."

 We need to levy a $10.00 tax per vechicle involved in a traffic accident and the tow operators must collect the money - but they may not collect unless they are registered as an accident tax collector which requires their insurance numbers and other registration info be provided to the city. They are not registered as tow operators, only as tow tax collectors. We can't have just anyone collect the cities money.

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SPORTS ARENA EMAIL from Larry Thrasher

Arena Financing will be on August Ballot. But who will pay off the $30 million on Kemper Arena and th parking lot.

Don't forget the tax payers will also have to pay off the Gateway Tif now

that they are not doing well.

It won't stop The Uptown,Linwood &31 St,18th & Vine, Union Station $5 million in the red,and giving the President Hotel a $15 million TIF when 200 rooms will be built at Harrah's, and pay$750,000 for the Marriott because it can't make it. With such a hole in the budget no wonder we lay off city workers and can't get are streets fixed.

Don't worry KC Bi-State tax,personal tax,water & sewer increase,Arena tax,Performing Arts Tax{any ticket sold in the downtown would have a $4-$5 dollar tax added.don't forget the New Baseball Stadium, with gas at $2 a gallon you won't be planning any vacation soon.

Larry Thrasher

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Here is an email sent to my Johnson County 'protectors':

 Dear Commissioner Peterson:

 Please take a moment to consider these facts about Bi-State:

1) The Funding mechanism is inherently unfair. The team owners and players have received a significant income tax windfall that could more than finance any required upgrades. They instead wish to impose a regressive sales tax upon many either uninterested or unable to afford interest in attending their games.

2) Remerging inflation will only serve to exacerbate this inequity. When the basic price of goods and services increase, the sales tax will riseaccordingly. A similar increase in team-associated income will only increase the income tax windfall.

3) Rising interest rates will render all current estimates of stadium finance costs too low. Likewise, climbing commodity prices, particularly for steel and other building materials, insure that the money will run out even if we just focus upon stadiums and the Performing Arts Center. But, we are likely to see a number of half completed projects when funds are exhausted. Then, voters will be 're-approached' to finish the job.

4) Those same rate increases, coupled with rising medical and energy costs, will impose a further burden upon the average person being tapped for the benefit of billionaires. Think of those athletes with million dollar salaries assaulting single moms to grab spare change. That is Bi-State.

5) The Jackson County official most directly involved with Bi-State is now under investigation for diverting public funds.

6) The Downtown City Hall supporters have already questionably diverted funds from Bartle Hall bonds to the proposed Performing Arts Center by overpaying for land. This action not only clearly violated required voter approval for Performing Arts Center support, but also locked architects, engineers and contractors into a suboptimal design envelope thereby increasing tax payer costs.

7) The positive economic impact of the major league teams has been consistently overstated. H&R Bloch was convinced to stay in KC because of the teams! and a seat on the board of the STAR, and naming rights to an arena, and a half billion dollars! Every serious study shows that the benefit for such stadiums is extremely localized, in this case, taking Johnson County money to Jackson County. There is little difference between home and away game related expenditures (for example: grocery, beer and sports bar sales).

8) Other funding mechanisms are available. Revenue Bonds would make an excellent, self-selecting investment. Let interested parties buy bonds to finance improvements with their return contingent upon increased team-related revenue, not some general taxpayer obligation. If it is too poor an investment to succeed on that basis, then why are we considering it? TIF-financed (another subject altogether) public parking could generate targeted revenue streams with appropriate time-of-day and license-plate-state based pricing.

9) This funding really serves to bail out Downtown's poorly considered public investments and mismanaged services. 'Free' economic development from the arts community is insensitively smothered by new taxes. Too many public employees with too high a pay scale are not supervised, but rather succored as strategic voting blocks. Their first Bi-State Board failed: Union Station is not self-sustaining. Another Bi-State will only encourage and perpetuate this behavior.

10) Meanwhile, Johnson County continues to lose jobs and experience high prime office space vacancy rates. If Downtown commuters could be diverted to suburban satellite offices, there would be immediate benefits to all concerned. Employers would have given their associates a free 'raise', freedom from the commuter tax and related commuter expenses. They could reap a deal in the office buyers' market. Commuters would spend less time on the road burning gasoline and polluting the environment. The County sales tax receipts will receive a lunch-time boost to help offset the decline in growth expected from new ex-County retail venues. Aggressively pursuing this plan will relieve anticipated commuting pressure from I-35 construction. Instead of hearing how this construction underlies the need for a multi-billion dollar commuter rail system to support an obsolete urban model, we can curtail traffic by having more people work closer to where they live.

11) We bring growth to all the metro. We do it with schools and high quality yet affordable suburban life style. There are undoubtedly ways we can improve upon that. I, for one, would love to see a suburban retooling to approach a more new urban environment. But, that's a long way form backing tired center city urban models with regressive tax policies supporting poor management.

Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Tom Stroud

Those wishing to contact Mr. Stroud about helping with the defeat of Bi_State in Johnson County send your phone number to news@KCNag.com

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NAG Letter from The Neighborhood Action Group Vol.3 #10

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In This Issue:

Recent Writers On Ball Teams

Bob Gough Jackson County Taxpayers Association

Towing can be a racket? In Kansas City It Is

BI-STATE II MYTHS VS. SALES TAX FACTS- Here are the numbers

ATTENTION CLAY, PLATTE, AND WYANDOTTE COUNTY RESIDENTS----

BlogKC Kansas City's Weblog ----- http://blogkc.com

PRESS RELEASE from JOHNSON COUNTY FIRST

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Recent Writers On Ball Teams

Showing You The Money by Michael K. Ozanian, Forbes September 15,2003

The small-market Chiefs, worth $601 million, thrive because they have among the best fan support in the league, along with a lease that gives them most of the revenue from Arrowhead Stadium at modest expense.  But team owner Lamar Hunt, who paid $25,000($158,000 in 2003 dollars) for the Chiefs to be a charter member of the American Football League in 1960, wants more from Kansas City-area taxpayers.  Hunt wants the citizens of Missouri to finance $100 million in stadium renovations for the Chiefs.  So far the taxpayers have had the good sense to say no to the multi-millionare.

Sports vs. the public USA Today April 12,2004

Public demands. When baseball's Milwaukee Brewers were begging local taxpayers to build them a new stadium, they pledged that a modern ballpark would enable them to boost payroll, hire better players and field more competitive teams.  The public put up more than $300 million for Miller Park, which opened in 2001. Since then, the Brewers have slashed payroll to the lowest in the major leagues, traded their most popular player and waved goodbye to the team president who fought such moves. Another losing season is in prospect.  But Wisconsin's legislature and Milwaukee business leaders have demanded to audit the Brewers' books to see why the public's investment isn't getting the promised return. Two somewhat-limited "financial reviews" are due to be completed within a few weeks. And the overdue demand for accountability could be catching on.  In Pennsylvania, similar requests are being made for an audit of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who also made grand promises, got $300 million for a new stadium and have since cut payroll and performed woefully.  Sports moguls who enjoy taxpayer subsidies shouldn't expect to be exempt from scrutiny by a public paying the freight.

Books of Interest

Field of Schemes, Joanna Cagan and Neil deMause

Sports,Jobs and Taxes, Roger G. Noll and Andrew Zimbalist

Pigs at the Trough, Arianna Huffington

Websites of Interest

Naming Rights:  www.sportsvenues.com -- How much Sprint should pay us?

Bi-State II: www.bi-state.info ---a JOHNSON COUNTY Perspective

www.taxhog.com ----- Whose gotten into the Money trough NOW

www.kansasmeadowlark.com a lot of research into Johnson County Politics

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Bob Gough- Jackson County Taxpayers Association

If all five bi-state II Counties approve the $1.1 billion tax, 596,000 households will be taxed, If only Jackson and Johnson County approve the tax, 424,000 households will be taxed.  The cost to your family is $1,845 or $2,534 depending on the Clay, Platte and Wyandotte voters.  Jackson County families will pay an additional $200 stadium subsidy for the life of bi-state II tax because of a recent „agreement‰ between the Jackson County Sports Authority and the billionaire team owners.

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Towing can be a racket? In Kansas City It Is

It's surprising that so many people still aren't aware of the tow truck problem in Kansas City, and don't know what they need to be a prudent consumer. This issue has had so much media attention. It seems like at least one the local TV stations does an "expose" story on tow trucks every year. Mark Funkhouser has done some audits. The Pitch did a big investigative story back in 2000:

 http://pitch.com/issues/2000-07-27/feature.html/print.html

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BI-STATE II MYTHS VS. SALES TAX FACTS

MYTH: Bi-State funding is $380 million dollars for the stadiums.

FACT: The best case scenario for Bi-State funding including interest is $550 million.

MYTH: Bi-State sales tax will only run 12-15 years.

FACT: Bi-State sales tax will have to run 16 years if all 5 counties pass the sales tax.  If Johnson and Jackson are the only counties that pass the tax it will have to run 20 years.

Bi-State Sales Tax Projections

Only Jackson and Johnson cumulative   All 5 counties    cumulative     year 1.03 total           year 1.03 total

1 43,680,000 21,840,000         1 56,000,000 28,000,000

2 44,990,400 22,495,200 44,335,200 2 57,680,000 28,840,000 56,840,000

3 46,340,112 23,170,056 67,505,256 3 59,410,400 29,705,200 86,545,200

4 47,730,315 23,865,158 91,370,414 4 61,192,712 30,596,356 117,141,556

5 49,162,225 24,581,112 115,951,526  5 63,028,493 31,514,247 148,655,803

6 50,637,092 25,318,546 141,270,072  6 64,919,348 32,459,674 181,115,477

7 52,156,204 26,078,102 167,348,174  7 66,866,929 33,433,464 214,548,941

8 53,720,890 26,860,445 194,208,619  8 68,872,936 34,436,468 248,985,409

9 55,332,517 27,666,259 221,874,878  9 70,939,125 35,469,562 284,454,972

10 56,992,493 28,496,246 250,371,124 10 73,067,298 36,533,649 320,988,621

11 58,702,267 29,351,134 279,722,258 11 75,259,317 37,629,659 358,618,279

12 60,463,335 30,231,668 309,953,926 12 77,517,097 38,758,548 397,376,828

13 62,277,236 31,138,618 341,092,543 13 79,842,610 39,921,305 437,298,133

14 64,145,553 32,072,776 373,165,320 14 82,237,888 41,118,944 478,417,077

15 66,069,919 33,034,960 406,200,279 15 84,705,025 42,352,512 520,769,589

16 68,052,017 34,026,008 440,226,288 16 87,246,175 43,623,088 564,392,676

17 70,093,577 35,046,789 475,273,076 17 89,863,561 44,931,780

18 72,196,385 36,098,192 511,371,269 18 92,559,467 46,279,734

19 74,362,276 37,181,138 548,552,407 19 95,336,251 47,668,126

20 76,593,144 38,296,572 586,848,979 20 98,196,339 49,098,169

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ATTENTION CLAY, PLATTE, AND WYANDOTTE COUNTY RESIDENTS------ If you do not send letters to the newspapers in your area voicing your opposition against the BI-STATE TAX, the Arena Nonsense and the upcoming "UNION STATION gimmie some more money deal" you do not have any gripe coming when they are rammed down our throats. The number of persons attending the public meetings is pitiful. If those against would visit one meeting and voice opposition the schemes would fail before they got to the ballot. Drive over to Johnson County and let them know that some Jackson County residents are not trying to pick their pockets!

Johnson County commissioners will hold apublic session with the bistate proponents June 7 at Johnson County Community College at the GEB Building in room 233 at 6:30PM. If you are against Bi-State here is the place to let people know NOW.

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BlogKC Kansas City's Weblog http://blogkc.com The place to keep up with what is happening in Kansas City. It is well organized and contains links to sources. This internet site is recommended with out reserve. Read it and cancel your newspaper subscriptions.

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PRESS RELEASE from JOHNSON COUNTY FIRST

Johnson County First objects to and opposes the Bi-State II Tax. Advising the public to contact their elected officials asking that the Bi-State II proposal NOT be placed on the ballot. Speakers will present the truth behind the new Bi-State proposal at Johnson County Square at 111 South Cherry Street at the gazebo in the Plaza between the Johnson County Courthouse and the Commissioner's Office at 10:00 A.M. on Monday June 7th.

Additional Information Contact Phillip Klein at 913-642-8247

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NAG Letter from The Neighborhood Action Group Vol.3 #11

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In This Issue:

WHAT THE ARENA SUPPORTERS ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT----

ARENA TAXES OPPOSITION---- Citizen'z Opposition Coalition

From Jackson County Taxpayers Association

There was a  Anti-Arena-----

Steve Rose has asked------

Kansas City's Weblog ----- http://blogkc.com

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WHAT THE ARENA SUPPORTERS ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT

 There are a lot of things Mayor Barnes and the other boosters of the so-called "Sprint Arena " are not talking about.

 The arena supporters want us to vote to increase our taxes when we still owe millions of dollars for Kemper Arena and the city is facing ongoing budget problems. They think it is a great idea to build a huge arena in downtown Kansas City that probably will end up sitting empty most of the year.

  A recent article in the Kansas City Star pointed out that an analysis by Convention Sports & Leisure International said it made no sense for Kansas City to have two large arenas.

 That same article also said the city still owes about $19 million on the bonds it issued for the Kemper renovation and another $15 million for the Kemper parking garage.

 There is little chance that Kansas City will be able to land an NBA or NHL franchise given the lack of fan support for the Kings. Also, there are only a limited number of rock concerts and other special events that can come to the Kansas City area each year. Do we really want to build another arena that will be competing with the Kemper Arena, the Verizon Amphitheater, and Arrowhead Stadium for concerts and other events?

 Two years ago, we increased the city s hotel and motel tax increase by 1 percent, and the restaurant tax by 25 percent. Now, city officials want us to add a $1.50-per-day hike on the hotel tax and increase the cost of renting a car by $4 a day. Why in the world would we Kansas City taxpayers want to dig ourselves deeper in debt for an arena we don't need?

 Question 1 is bad tax plan for a dubious arena. If Mayor Barnes wants to increase taxes the money should be used for repairs to our streets, sidewalks and other city facilities.

 And why do the average taxpayers of Kansas City have to pay more than 50 percent of the cost for this area, while Anschutz Entertainment gets $62 million off the top from Sprint. Why didn t Mayor Barnes demand an agreement with Anschutz that would give the city all or at least part of the money for the arena naming rights?

 Last year we had to close city swimming pools because we didn"t have enough money, city employees have lost there jobs, and the city is facing a $20 million shortfall on revenue.

 Question 1 is a bad idea because it calls for most of the financing for the proposed arena -- $143 million out of the total $250 million cost -- to be paid for by Kansas City taxpayers. It was rushed on to the ballot without public hearings and with little thought about the consequences if the arena doesn t generate enough revenue to pay for its operation every year.

 But we all know if this arena ends up losing money because of competition from Kemper and the other entertainment facilities around the Kansas City who will end up picking up the tab.

It will be Kansas City taxpayers. That is why we should vote NO on Question 1.

Mark Esping

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ARENA TAXES OPPOSITION from the Citizen'z Opposition Coalition

 There are at least four good reasons for those of us of modest means to vote "NO" on Kansas City proposition 1, the downtown arena tax.

 #1 There is no reason, today, to have a downtown. In the past, when many of us did not have cars, downtown made sense. Today, when most of us have cars, and when shops have moed to the neighborhoods, there is no reason to go downtown. Therefore, the justification of voting new taxes upon ourselves to build another arena and locate it in the old downtown is without merit.

 #2 Much, if not most, of the new taxes will be paid by local people. My family rents vans about 3 or 4 times a year to take weekend trips to funerals, weddings, family reunions, and to decorate my parents graves.

 #3 To be competitive with other cities for convention and visitor business, Kansas City should lower prices and taxes, not raise them. To raise taxes in Kansas City will send more business and jobs to Raytown and other cities beyond our city limits and off of our tax base.

#4 Finally, there has been no vote taken to reflect the will of the people of Kansas City that government should be responsible for entertainment, in addition to the police, fire department, and fixing potholes. People should pay for their own entertainments, and should not impose entertainment costs on the taxpayers.

For these reasons, those of us of modest means should vote"NO" on proposition 1, the downtown arena tax.

former City Councilman Richard Charles Tolbert

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From Jackson County Taxpayers Association

Dear Editor,

I note with concern the ill-conceived arena tax proposition 1 on the ballot in Kansas City.  Taxes placed on any organization or enterprise diminishes or reduces the enterprise.  Tax subsidies given to any organization or enterprise cause the recipients to be inefficient. 

The proposed arena tax punishes tourists and visitors to Kansas City.  Our visitors are not stupid or people of unlimited wealth.  The typical tourist or visitor to Kansas City is here for a VFW convention, Barbershop Quartet convention, cat or dog show, a quilt show, a church convention, or similar event.  These conventions can easily be moved to another city

The plan for a downtown arena is a disaster.  Parking and traffic will be a nightmare.  The taxpayers will be stuck with another Union Station debacle costing the taxpayers additional millions.

I urge a No vote on proposition 1

Bob Gough Executive Director, Jackson County Taxpayers Association

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There was a  Anti-Arena tax rally Thursday July 29 Noon in front of KCMO city hall at 12th and Oak. The wide variety of participants definitely showed that there are more than just a corporation from St. Louis asking questions about the feasibility and the fairness of this arena proposal. The Coalition had to get a permit for their loudspeaker. Two hours after filing the permit, emails started flying getting those who worked in the city and convention areas to come over on their "lunch hour" to heckle the opposition press conference. Seemed very tacky for a group to stand and heckle speakers trying to exercise their right of free speech on an election proposal. I bet old Abe Lincoln wouldn't have put up with that type of attempt to restrict free speech during an election!

This seems to be typical of the Mayor and her helpers, they do not want any dialogue on one of their proposals that is why