Sunday, February 6, 2011

A 13% Property Tax Increase! by Greg Walters Normally I do not respond to a story in another publication. But a story about Ward 1 Alderman Joe Creamer’s take on the 13% property tax increase is so outrageous that it must be answered. In his press release kicking off his campaign for re-election, Creamer claims that there has not been a property tax increase in Raytown as reported by this and other news agencies. He uses some convoluted mathematics involving his Personal Property Tax receipts as proof that there was not a tax increase. He ignores the fact that Jackson County, Missouri devalued Real Estate Property values by 13% in 2009. Creamer and six of his fellow Councilmen then voted to INCREASE property taxes by 13%. Creamer used Personal Property Tax data instead of Real Estate Property Tax data in his argument. His logic is deeply flawed. The forumla(s) used in setting Personal Property Values (cars, boats, recreatinal vehicles, etc.) are very different from that used to set Real Estate Property Values. The difference in the data used by Creamer makes his mathmatical conclusions meaningless. Personal Property generally goes down in value each year. For instance, a four year old car is not worth as much as a new car. Real Estate usually goes up in price because the fair market value and replacement costs increase each year. In 2009, Jackson County decreased or devalued the Real Estate market values. This was in response to a national recession which actually lowered values in an over-heated real estate market. The real estate market has not re-boiunded from that reassessment. Your homes are not worth more money today. But the tax on them has been increased to pre-recession levels. If property values increase it is unlikely that the city will lower the taxes they increased in by 13% in 2009. Following is an abridged version of the story we ran about what happened on a Friday evening (August, 28, 2009) at Raytown City Hall. But don’t take our word for it. Check out the official minutes of the Raytown Board of Aldermen as published on the City’s website. After all, it is a matter of public record. Incidentally, Mr. Creamer voted to approve the minutes of that meeting on August 28th when the City Council increased the city's Property Tax by 13%. REPRINTED FROM THE RAYTOWN REPORT, FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2009 Raytown Board of Aldermen Raise Property Tax by 13% In a rare early Friday evening meeting the Raytown Board of Aldermen increased the city’s property tax by 13%. The increased tax will be paid by all property (homes, businesses) within the city limits, as well as all personal property (automobiles, recreational vehicles). The move by the Board was in response to recent devaluation of real property by the Jackson County Property Assessment Department. According to City Finance Director Jeremy Wilmoth the tax per $100 per valuation would increase as follows if the Board approved the bill before them. CITY PROPERTY TAX RATE Old Tax Rate = .3189 CENTS PER $100 VALUATION New Rate approved by City Council = .3668 CENTS PER $100 VALUATION PARK PROPERTY TAX RATE Old Tax Rate = .1539 CENTS PER $100 VALUATION New Rate approved by City Council = .1832 CENTS PER $100 VALUATION The formula used to determine the percentage of increase: 0.3668 - 0.3189 = 0.0479 0.0479 / .3668 = 13.05% The increase was approved by a vote of 7 Yes, 2 no and 1 absent: VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE TAX INCREASE: Joe Creamer, Shane Pardue, Pat Ertz, Jim Aziere, Christine White, Charlotte Melson, Jim Hamilton VOTING AGAINST THE TAX INCREASE: Bill Van Buskirk, Michael Lightfoot (Steve Mock was absent) The decision to raise the Property Tax by 13% was not without controversy. There were about a dozen private citizens at the meeting. Four of them addressed to the City Council in opposition to the tax increase. They pointed to statistics that show that the average homeowner in Raytown, particularly those on fixed incomes, is being squeezed hard by the current recession.The four that took the podium to speak did not hold back. Shirley Whitman questioned why the City Council would call a meeting at 6:00 p.m. on a Friday evening to discuss the matter. Her husband, Clem Whitman, spoke personally of retirees who have seen their pensions cut and their medical coverage slashed. He told the Board that Raytowners are hurting financially and could ill afford a property tax increase. Mike Carpino told Council members they should be happy the County did not include foreclosed and abandoned properties in their estimation of property values. He asked the Board to vote no on any proposed tax increase. Former Ward 1 Councilman Greg Walters pointed out that the city has already increased the sewer tax this year, and that electric and natural gas prices are expected to see double digit increases this year. He pointed out that with each increase the city reaps a windfall from the franchise taxes. He told Board members that many Raytowners had lost their jobs or seen their salaries frozen, reduced or hours or work cut -- that many were living “on the bubble” and were in danger of losing their homes. He asked the Council to vote against any tax increase in any form. Ward 4 Councilman Bill VanBuskirk spoke against the increase. He pointed out that the city already has hidden tax increases each time a utility raises its rates. He also said that the city should tighten its belt and live within its means. LOOKING BACK . . . Some Interesting Footnotes . . . 2009 was a year of firsts for the Raytown City Council. The country had recently slipped into a Recession fueled by a financial crisis in the Housing sector. That year the City Council also made the following extraordinary moves:
  • Raytown was the only municipality to raise property taxes when Jackson County lowered the taxable value on residential property.
  • Approved a “bail out” of $800,000 to pay bond holders of the new Walmart Store on 350 Highway even though the store had not yet opened. Construction was behind schedule but payment was due.
  • Gave a 5% across the board pay increase to ALL city employees when many Raytowners were seeing their jobs downsized.
  • When the City Council approved the 13% property tax increase Joe Creamer told members of the audience that he was voting for the tax increase because he did not want to “cut services”. Within two months he voted to cut the hours of operation of the Raytown Recycling Center in half. Two years later he voted to loan Aldi’s $600,000 instead of using the money for new street lights.

Rick Moore Kicks Off Campaign for Raytown School Board Press Release from Rick Moore I have served on the Raytown Board of Education for six years. I have served as Board president for two years. We have three very bright and talented students in this district. If I didn’t believe they were receiving the best possible education from the best possible educators who care about their students, we would move elsewhere. The board has faced many difficult decisions over the last six years including the hiring of a new superintendant and the financing and construction of several major school buildings and additions. Most recently, we have faced the difficulties of shrinking resources with the decline of assessed county valuation and the decline of state revenue. The statewide revenue picture continues to be bleak. But the Raytown C-2 district will remain strong.

Some of the negative things we sometimes hear about our district simply are not true. Yes, we do have struggles with increasing student achievement for all of our students but we are on the right track and making excellent gains in spite of the many barriers that we often have to deal with. We have been able to maintain the financial health of the district while still making improvements to our programs and facilities and maintaining our excellent staff. We have had to make some cuts to some programs and to a limited number of staff positions. But we have tried to be very fair and reasoned when making any necessary cuts while still remaining competitive with the surrounding districts.

I would not sacrifice the well being of my children just to make a point. If I thought they could receive a better education somewhere else, we would move there. But I know that the education they, along with all of the students of this district will receive here in Raytown, not only meets that of any other district in the classroom, but also excels past other districts when it comes to teaching them about living in the real world and preparing them to succeed at the next levels, both in post-secondary education and in the real world job market.

If reelected to the board, my goals will continue to be to try and help make sure Raytown is providing the best possible education and that we are spend wisely the taxpayer dollars that are entrusted to us. I believe we have the staff in place to help us reach those goals.

Eat Clean with Banana Date Breakfast Bread by Jenn Walters 2 Comments Earlier this week we featured three yummy books, one of which was Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Cookbook. As you already know, I love the book for its healthy recipes and tricks and tips sprinkled throughout. And today we’re sharing the yumminess with you!

Below is the recipe for Tosca’s Banana Date Breakfast Bread. It’s so hearty and filling and banana-bready. It’s just delicious. And it’s the perfect breakfast or dessert in my opinion. I love that it includes dates and apple butter (I’ve seen applesauce in recipes, but never apple butter! And I looove apple butter.) And I even tried replacing the ground flaxseed with Salba (I had leftovers from the review), which turned into more deliciousness. And get this: Each serving (1/12 of the loaf) is only 210 cals with 6 grams of protein, 4 grams of healthy fats, 7 grams of fiber (!) and no cholesterol. Try it!

Banana Date Breakfast Bread Courtesy of Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Cookbook 1 c. mashed very ripe banana (about 2 medium-sized bananas)1/2 c. Sucanat or rapadura sugar1 tsp vanilla extract1/4 c. apple butter1 1/2 c. whole-grain flour1/2 tsp. baking powder1 tsp. baking soda3/4 c. ground flaxseed1 tsp. cinnamonpinch of ground nutmeg1/2 tsp sea salt1 c. pitted dates, coarsely chopped1/4 c. whole flaxseeds for top of loaf Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a loaf pan by spraying with cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, combine banana, Sucanat, vanilla and apple butter. Add eggs. Beat together well. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda and powder, ground flaxseed, cinnamon, nutmeg and sea salt. Mix well and add to banana mixture. Fold in dates. Pour batter into loaf pan. Sprinkle whole flaxseeds over top. Bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into middle of bread comes out fairly clean. There should be no batter stuck to the toothpick. Remove to wire cool rack. ENJOY THE DELICIOUSNESS!!!

Jenn Walters and Erin Whitehead jointly publish Fit Bottomed Girls. To read more of their thoughts on lifestyle choices and fitness go to Fit Bottomed Girls

LINKS TO OTHER RAYTOWN NEWS SOURCES To catch up on O'Hara Sports use this link O'Hara High School

To catch up on Raytown South Sports use this link Raytown South High School

To catch up on Raytown High Sports use this link Raytown High School

To catch up on the Raytown Police Blog go to Raytown Police Blog

To view Raytown Crime Statistics go to Raids on Line

Last Week’s Poll Results

Did the Raytown School Board make the right move in protesting the Sav-A-Lot Tax Abatement approved by the Raytown City Council? 70% . . . YES

28% . . . NO

2% . . . . DON’T KNOW

To post a comment click on the word comments below:

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Greg,

When did it become necessary to have meetings on Friday morning or evening I've heard it said both ways? According to the sunshine law the city is supposes to have those meetings at a time when the largest number of people can attend. They are also supposes to publish those meetings where everyone can find it easily. We take the paper and I never saw it. I'm not going to run all over town find the times because who knew we needed to find out about the meetings on Friday. Sounds to me like they did not want people to know. Does that surprise anyone? Maybe we should contact the Attorney Generals Office.

Anonymous said...

Read Joe Cramer's attack on Greg Walter's in the Raytown Times.

Not only did Cramer come at Walters with fists flying, he went on the defensive trying to justify tax abatement to the big corporations such as Wal-Mart (largest in the world), Aldi (a German controlled outlet which made 1.5 billion in profit last year) and others.

We may subsidize the wealthy but the result is that when the dust settles Cosentino's Apple Market will more than likely close.

If Cramer is right and tax abatements and TIFS are so good for merchants and so fair to everyone in business why are they available only to the large corporations, or as in a local case, a political favorite who received a TIF for his two-man real estate operation. It is now out of business.

Cramer is talking like a fool. He has the gall of a carnival pitch-man.
Read the line where, as "a gesture of goodwill," he brought a motion to spend a whole $10,000.00 fixing broken street lights. It, he admits, went no where.

"Gesture of good will," who does Joe Cramer think he is? He might have been honest, for a change, and said that he "threw the taxpayer a bone" all to keep the non-thinkers happy.

Electing Joe Cramer for another term would be a disaster. Walters is not perfect but he is at least honest.

Anonymous said...

How 'bout them Packers!!!

Andy Whiteman said...

The Friday night meeting was an emergency meeting to meet the deadline to provide the mill levy to the county by the deadline. I was aware of the meeting only because I was at a prior BOA meeting but 6PM is too early for me. It has been SOP for the Socialist Fascist Fief to post notice at City Hall, the city website, and on CH7 for the rich who have cable TV. I have complained for many years of this minimal notification.

Why should anyone believe convoluted math when 13% was the published figure and stated by the Jeremy Wilmoth, Director of Finance and a professional? That makes me wonder how anyone can vote for an individual who is incapable of basic math.

As a courtesy to the taxpayer why doesn't the BOA stop loaning money to big business? This amount is most likely to NEVER be repaid.

I always ass/u/me/d that used car value went down but it came out in the media that taxes on some cars went up because value on used cars went up due to the economy with people buying more used cars.

Andy Whiteman

Pat Casady said...

I am sorry to say that Joe Cream-er is Raytown politics
as usual. If you can't beat them honestly lie, lie then lie
some more. It is clear that this man doesn't have a clue
what the people are going through. As the others voting for
this tax increase.
The people know that Raytown wouldn't need any tax increase
if these elected officials would have pulled their heads out
and realized that all the millions they have given away would
hurt the people of Raytown.
I guess these officials haven't figured out that when you give away
tax income it is gone!! In some cases for twenty three years.
They should all go to jail for what they have done to this town.
This is stealing from the people!!! Tax money is the people's money.
It should be for the people, and to make the town a better place.
Every one of our elected officials have let the people down. They have
not done their job of representing the people and what is best.
Please vote these spenders and give away artists out!

Anonymous said...

Greg,

*DISCLAIMER - I am not in agreement with Creamer's comments in the article or defending is vote to increase the levy, but let's at least be factually correct. People use your blog as a source of news Greg. Let's be fair. The impartiality of your site will likely change now that you are in a tough campaign. One which I wish you best of luck in.


That said, you are dead, dead wrong that the BOA voted on a tax increase. They merely increased the tax levy. Those are two different things. Let's say a home value is 100,000 dollars and the propety tax is 20%. THe person pay's 20,000 dollars in taxes. The next year, the property is assessed a value of 50,000 dollars. If the property tax is 20 percent, the city would then only make 10,000 dollars. If this value reduction was across the board, the city would bring in half the money it had the previous year. If they hadn't budgeted for a reduction in home values, (which if you told the people in Vegas five years ago that you wanted to place a bet that home values would decrease, they would have taken it with large odds)they would not be able to sustain the city's services.

To avoid this issue, this mythical city would have to raise the levy by 20 percent to bring the taxes paid to the level of the previous year of 20,000 dollars to the hypothetical 100,000 dollar home owner. You are correct that there is a 20 percent tax LEVY increase. But there is no net tax increase to the individual.

Personally, if that was the state the city was in, I can't fault them for the tax levy increase. That said, it should have come with a guarantee that it was a one year increase and would return to the original level of the previous year. Cuts in spending could be planned and processed over that year.

I am in your camp in your race, Greg, but it is my opinion that this type of article should be reserved to your campaign blog rather than your perceived news source

Greg Walters said...

This is one on which we will have to agree to disagree.

For a very long time the City of Raytown has incrementally increased property tax levels time and time again. Rates were “adjusted” for inflation or in a classic example of Orwellian doublespeak “rolled back” to a new level that in reality increased property taxes.

Then came the home loan crisis. Homes that had been artificially increased in value through easy credit terms that allowed equity values to balloon to unrealistic levels, hit the breaking point.

The bubble burst.

The over-inflated value of many properties plummeted. The Jackson County Assessor’s office, by state law, did what was proper in correcting the over-valuation of the housing market.

As a result, taxpayers were given a reprieve of the constant increases that had been meted out by local governmental entities for a very long time.

The Raytown City Council, by a vote of 7 yes, 2 no, and one absent, voted to increase the property tax levy by 13%. It is why they met on a Friday night, one and a half years ago. They had a clear choice. They chose to increase the levy rate, and thereby increase the property taxes people pay on their recently devalued homes.

From my point of view, the homeowners in Raytown are in as much a crisis as the City of Raytown.

We hear and read that the City has no money. Alderman Creamer wrote that he was unsuccessful in obtaining $10,000 for street lights because of a budget shortage. Yet, he voted to give a loan of $600,000 to Aldi’s. A multi-national corporation that had profits of over 2 billion dollars last year.

Gee whiz, do you think they could have loaned just half a million dollars and spent the spare change on street lights?

My point is that these are choices that our elected officials have made. In my opinion they have made some very wrong choices.

Andy Whiteman said...

Pat, I agree, but the real problem is getting people off their butts and out to vote. A large percentage don't vote in local elections, no matter how important. They don't care if their taxes go up. Even when the Dysfunctional School Distract wants to raise taxes people still don't get out and vote! Obviously they don't care.

Andy Whiteman said...

9:10 AM, What you said was true for the 2009 taxes. Jeremy Wilmoth stated, "The mill levy is increasing the taxes are not increasing." I don't know about the 2010 taxes since I wasn't at the meeting.

11:10 AM, I consider it pure luck if I ever get a Raytown Times since the publisher refuses to use my stamped envelopes. Obviously he doesn't want me to read his paper. If I had the time there would be a Federal complaint.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

Both sides of the argument are correct. The mill levy goes up. The result is your property tax goes up.

Our property values went down. Our taxes should have gone down.

The boad of aldermen voted to increase the mill levy. Therefor our taxes did not get reduced.

What is so hard to understand about that?

Pat Casady said...

Andy,
Sadly you are right.
The problem in this town is that our elected officials
don't care about the people or the town.
Plus, the people don't get out and vote. This is like
telling the spenders and wasters it's OK to throw their
money away.
Our elected officials have forgotten that every dime
they spend or give away is the people's money. The
people entrust them to spend it wisely and make this
town a better place for them. Taxes are an investment
in this town paid for by the people. Tax dollars are
not owned by Mayor Bower, Joe Creamer or any elected
official. Plain and simple tax dollars belong to the people.
It is to be used for protection, street upkeep, neighborhood
codes enforcement and city services. It is not for financing
big corporations or to help them build big buildings!
How many Raytown people would vote for an incumbent if they
knew that they have given over a million and a half or their
tax dollars to pay the Wal-Mart bonds. This is their tax dollars
that should be going towards street repairs the right way,
protection and city services.
We all need to get out and help any person that has decided
to run against what is wrong with this town.
This town is in financial trouble because of stupid
decisions made on 59th st.
Now City Hall keeps raising taxes to pay for those bad decisions.

Anonymous said...

Why is it every time the elected officials in Raytown comment that new business is coming to Raytown they next thing we hear is tax give aways?

Maybe they could explain why they are happy to support Raytown Corporate Welfare Program and not National Healthcare.

National Healthcare is for all Americans regardless of income.

Raytown Corporate Welfare Program is for only the most profitable companies in America.

Something just doesn't seem right to throw the sick to the wolves and give money by the barrel to the large corporations.

Corporate Welfare takes food, education and other services from the poor and helps the richest Americans increase dividend revenue because the corporation didn’t have to pay for the same things working folks like us have to pay for.

This is why I will not be voting for David Bower!!!

Anonymous said...

I read that Joe Creamer himself stated that he was just making a nice jester to please the voters in his ward when he was pushing for funding of additional street lights.

When are politicians like him going to realize that we know a smoke screen when we see one? I don’t know where Alderman Creamer has been living, but here in Raytown we have greater property maintenance violations, higher crime and tax give aways beyond belief.

When is the city going to cut these give aways out and start to invest in our infrastructure?

As a fellow member of the Baptist Temple, I which you would stop mentioning our churches name in your press releases or other publications. It is giving all of us an appearance of uncaring about our community and the families living in it.

Andy Whiteman said...

Jeremy Wolmoth's explanation was that the property values went down so the mill levy is raised to generate the same dollar value of property taxes; hence the amount people pay in taxes is the same and not going up.

Apparently taxes couldn't be reduced because the State of Misery has some sort of law restricting increases. What I understood him to say was that if taxes went down, they couldn't be raised to a necessary level because of the law.

I expected taxes to go down.

Why doesn't anyone address the Dysfunctional School District taxes? The complaints voiced here are about the city taxes but the Dysfunctional School District received 75% of my property taxes while the City received a minute portion of my taxes. Lets plug that big leaking hole before the ship sinks!

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

Andy,

I don't like the way the school district does business either.

However, they at least spend their money back on the schools.

The city gives its money to one of the worst companies in the world.

This company has a history of killing mom and pop business where ever it goes. Once the tax break drys up they just move down the highway and start their hate of America again.

The have been caught price fixing and the list goes one and on.

This might be an American Company, but only based on its corporate headquarters and not its loyality to America.

God Bless Our Nation and Good Bless those that don't shop Wal-Mart!

Anonymous said...

Joe Creamer does his best campaigning when he keeps his mouth shout!!!!!

Andy Whiteman said...

"We are also custodian of the people's money." Bill Van Buskirk at BOA meeting 2/8/2010

Anonymous said...

It just goes to show that you can't please everyone all of the time, and there are a lot of those that can't be pleased that get on this blog. I am sure that I could get an argument out of anyone on here if I were to say "Wow! it is a beautiful day!"

Why don't some of you old grumpy people get happy? Because most of you are mad, jealous, and grumpy all the time! Frankly, most of us are tired of all of the negativity.

Try this. If you have a real solution to a perceived problem, why don't you implement it. Otherwise, just be quiet.

Everyone is mad about health care, yet don't mess with my medicare/medicaid or my social security or disability.... Lets move on to something else!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 3:59,
Let's not forget that Wal-Mart does business with
a communist nation that treats their people with
disgust. This big American based company has closed
more American businesses and manufacturing plants
than the worst economic crash. In fact because of
the way W-M does business, is a huge contribution
to why our economy is in the shape it is in.
Granted foreign cars have taken their toll on the American
way of life too. But W-M is by far the worst when it causes
manufacturing plants and small businesses to close.
Wal-Mart, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi and on and on are
certainly NOT the American way.
No pride left in this country. Years ago when American pride
meant something, nobody would buy foreign.

Andy Whiteman said...

8:36 AM, Agreed, some people will never be pleased. Today is a miserable day~~~too cold. If you had made that comment last Saturday when it was near 50, I would agree it was a nice day.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

Wouldn't it be nice to thank all of the Alderman and Mayor who are up for re-elction this April by voting against them.

They have voted against us taxpayers with projects like Wal-Mart and Hy-Vee just to name a few.

Yes, it is time to give them something back for this hard work so why not give them more time with their families.

Yes, I will not be voting for David Bower or my Alderman that is up for re-election.

Thank God that we have self thinkers like me and the rest of the TEA Party to help clean up Raytown by cleaning out city hall.

Anonymous said...

Old grumpy people?
When this city stops wasting our
hard earned tax dollars trying to impress big corporations we will be happy.
When this city uses our tax dollars for what we were promised like better streets and more police, protection for our neighborhoods and less crime. Then maybe we will be able to be happy.
But, I think what would make us the most happy would be a city hall filed with new faces.

Anonymous said...

Run and hide. The happy brigade has arrived!

Consider this. Isn't your comment about everyone who does not agree with you being "negative" a negative comment in itself.

Sounds to me that your note spoke of someone who was intolerant of anyone who does not share his view.

Anonymous said...

Anon 8:36

If you don't like what is posted on this blog, take your toys and go play somewhere else.

Anonymous said...

I am happy with my medicare and social security and want to thank all of you who are working hard today to pay for it.

I am happy with the higher taxes that I get to pay today when I shop in Raytown as it keeps people working and I sure have not found a way to take it with me.

I am happy with the great roads that I drive on in Raytown as they create greater maintenance issues for my car and that keeps people working to make a living fixing the damages again I sure have not found a way to take my money with me.

I am happy with the codes enforcement in Raytown as after paying the higher taxes and the extra repairs to my car I just don't have anything left.

I am happy that the Alderman found a grant that after I am gone they will be able to use to fix up my home.

It is nice to know this old man is doing his part to support our commmunity and make everyone else as happy as he is.

Andy Whiteman said...

I never realized that poor quality roads were good for the economy of Raytown but what if someone must take is/her car to dealer or body shop that is not in Raytown? Dealerships in Raytown do not represent all makes of cars.

11:44 AM, I would be happy if 95% of the voters got out and voted. I don't care who they vote for as long as they exercise their right to vote. At least whoever is elected would be by a majority of registered voters, not just a small fraction who voted.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

Just a comment about the latest snow removal. I traveled in Raytown, Lee's Summit and Kansas City yesterday and Kansas City is still doing the BEST job with snow removal. Raytown seemed to have made only one pass on it's residential streets, allowing for stuck cars when you have to meet someone. Kansas City's were clean curb to curb like I would expect them to be. Raytown and Lee's Summit need to take a look at what KC is doing and follow their lead.

Anonymous said...

Hey Anonymous 8:36
I do have a solution to Raytown's problems,it involves the voting process. Vote out any
incumbent that is running again in April.
Elect new people that will work for and represent the taxpayers of Raytown.
What a concept! Representatives representing the people that elect them.

Anonymous said...

FYI,

I have recently read on this blog and heard else where that some of you are concerned that if Aldis and Save a Lot came to Raytown the Apple Markets will have to close. I just left the Apple Market and while I was there I asked if they felt that those new 2 stores will hurt there stores and the answer was a resounding NO. If WalMart and HyVee did not hurt them and they didn't then why would they worry about Aldis and Save a Lot. Those stores do not carry top of the line products it's mostly their own brands. They also said Cosentinos is not in the habit of closing their stores and that the store on 75th and Raytown RD is paid in full and is gravy for them. They said that they have a very loyal customer base and that they want to thank them for their support and confidence in their stores.

What's funny is I asked these same questions when Walmart was talking coming to Raytown and got basicly the asked answers then and that was more than 6 years ago. It turned out to be true then so I have faith in their answers now.

Andy Whiteman said...

Aldi's and Save-A-Lot are on a different level and no competition to real grocery stores like Apple Market and Hy-Vee. Apple Market and Hy-Vee are fully stocked grocery stores while Aldi And Save-A-Lot have a few selected items. In both of the latter you can't select the procuce you want or buy a steak. The only way produce is sold is prepackaged leaving you with no selection and Meat is prepackaged much the way Walmart does it. You can't buy one steak, you must buy several at a time. BTW: Save-A-Lot is going to gave their own branded beer apparently at lower prices than regular beer. That may attract the drinkers. I use beer only for cooking so buy a 12 pack every couple of years.

6:15 AM, Are you reverencing residential streets in KCMO? Remember there is a mayoral election next month in KCMO. Funkhauser is so disliked that he better act as if he is doing his job.

I was surprised to see residential streets plowed when I moved here! Never has happened in other cities I have lived.

Andy Whiteman

Andy Whiteman said...

Correction the KCMO election is this month. Funkhouser wants relection. He better appear to be doing a good job. Snow plowing can stop after the election.

Andy Whiteman

Pat Casady said...

If you remember it wasn't only the government and it wasn't
only the banks and their poor loaning practices that killed
our economy. Although the powers that be would like us
think that.
It was really the gasoline companies that got so greedy
they felt gas prices should jump up to four dollars a gallon.
They showed huge multi-billion dollar quarterly profits while
the people couldn't afford to feed their families and put gas
in their tanks. If they chose to put gas in their tanks then
they couldn't afford their high house payments.
Granted a lot of the people were living way beyond their means
but, they were making it until the greed of the gas companies
raised it's ugly head.
Now we are heading in the same direction. There is no reason other
than greed, for higher gas prices. Their reasons for raising prices
carry as much truth as global warming.
Remember folks, we are the mushrooms and they keep pouring on
the stuff. In all levels of government the leaders think the people are stupid. They raise taxes because they are the stupid ones. They can't budget or spend our money wisely so we end up paying for their asinine decisions.
Maybe they are right. Maybe we are stupid, we keep electing them.