Saturday, August 31, 2013

RAYTOWN'S LEADING NEWS SOURCE



People Are Awsome! This compilation is so different. I am sure once you start watching you will have trouble not finishing it. May favorites are the soccer players, the guy in the interview and the guy with the yoyo.

Use this link . . . People Are Awsome 


To leave a comment use this link POST A COMMENT

Diversity of Thought BY GREG WALTERS

Raytown has had a summer of super-heated politics. The intrigue and argument over the best use of the Green Space started early in the Spring and continued through half the Summer. Even now, though the applicant has withdrawn from the scene, City Hall  has caused itself to become involved in a lawsuit over the zoning of the property. (see last week’s lead editorial, “It Is Time To Move On” – directly following this week’s stories)

The public’s frustration over the lax enforcement of municipal codes is increasing. The number of complaints from the public over lax enforcement of municipal codes is eroding the public’s trust in its local government.

Individual efforts by some Aldermen notwithstanding, there appears to be a rift growing between the public and many of its elected officials.

The signs are hard not to notice.

It began late last Spring when three new Aldermen had upset victories over two seasoned incumbents and one experienced politician. Those three, occasionally joined by a few others on the Board, have stood firm in their insistence that the status quo at Raytown City Hall be changed.

Two of the new Aldermen in particular are paying the price for their actions. This year’s committee assignments by Mayor Bower are good example.

Usually a Mayor will divide the seats up equitably between the elected members of the Board.
Ward 2 Alderman Jason Greene and Ward 3 Alderman Janet Emerson share an interesting statistic. Both of them have been appointed to one (1) committee seat each.

When you consider that there are 21 committee posts (including Mayor Pro-tem) to which the ten members of the Board are appointed, it causes one to wonder why.

So we asked Ward 2 Alderman Jason Greene why had only been appointed to one committee. He told us he contacted the Mayor to ask why he was only assigned one committee position.

The Mayor replied that he wanted Greene to be able to focus entirely on that one issue (in this cased the merger between the Firemen and Paramedics). Greene said he understood what the Mayor was saying. Then he has the Mayor why the other members of the same committee were not limited to one appointment.

Greene is still waiting for a reply from the Mayor.

It is quite clear that under this administration, diversity of thought is not a high priority. More simply stated, those that say “yes” to the Mayor’s proposals are the ones who will be rewarded.


Bits and Pieces . . . BY PAUL LIVIUS
Due to an editing error an unedited version of this story was published earlier this week. The corrected version appears below. The original named the Kansas City Star as the source and the Walmart as the store. The corrected version names the St. Joseph News Press as the source and Price Chopper as the store. We apologize for the error.

For more information regarding the St. Joseph News Press story use this link http://www.newspressnow.com/search/?t=article&d1=1+year+ago&q=Price+Chopper+city+council

I saw the most interesting article in the St. Joseph News Press a couple weeks ago. It seems that Price Chopper had plans to open a grocery store in the St. Joseph, Missouri area. But to do so, the retail giant was asking for some sort of incentive from the St. Joseph City Council.

The City Council discussed the item in detail, but decided that it would be unfair to current grocers to give special treatment to a competitor. According to the article their main concern was that by allowing this to happen, one of the current stores might be pushed out of the retail market and forced to close.

My, my, my . . . maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

It just goes to show that the feeding trough of special “incentives” for retail giants might be coming to an end in this part of the state.

It comes not a moment too soon. Raytown is feeling the sting and unfairness of the incentive game. Most recent was the announcement that GE (which enjoyed hefty tax incentives from the City of Raytown and the State of Missouri) is moving its offices out of Raytown to the Spring Campus in Overland Park, Kansas.

The underlying reason? Were they offered a better “deal” from those folks on the Kansas side?

Raytown also has the ghosts of empty buildings haunting its Downtown. One of those properties, the former Hometown Realty office on Raytown Road, also enjoys a property tax abatement. The shopping area that housed the now vacant Sav A Lot also continued its abatement after the store had been closed.

A word the Board should learn . . . “Clawback” . . . it means that once the terms of a tax incentive are no longer met, the tax incentive is cancelled.

Last week I mentioned the small mini-bus that runs through Raytown. The city pays around $70,000 annually to the Area Transportation Authority (ATA) for this service.

The bus is often empty. I have never seen it full.


If it is, why not renegotiate the agreement?

The Board has shown they know how to renegotiate. Remember when they “renegotiated” the City Administrator’s contract? They did away with the requirement that he live in Raytown and gave him a $30,000 pay increase.

They should put those negotiating skills to serving the people of Raytown, not each other.


FIT BOTTOMED EATS
Homemade, Gluten-Free Honey Stinger Waffles? Yes, Please! BY SUSAN

In our house, my partner and I go through a lot of Honey Stinger Waffles during triathlon season. These yummy treats, based off of European …
Read More


Edgewood Manor Announces Senior 5K "Walk of Life" BY PAM CARNEY

Edgewood Manor Rehab and Wellness Center has announced its inaugural Senior 5K "Walk of Life". 

The Senior 5K "Walk of Life" is a fabulous event planned for all KC area Seniors – a 5K just for THEM!  There are many 5Ks around the metro area, but not many (if any) are specifically geared for seniors.  Encourage senior wellness by exercise, getting out in the sunshine and socializing with them!  

The event is scheduled for Saturday, September 28th, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and will kick off at Edgewood Manor Rehab and Wellness Center located at 11900 Jessica Lane. This is a FREE event.

All caregivers and professionals in aging are more than welcome as well!  I believe the most valuable thing you can give someone is your time, so please, show your support of Kansas City’s senior population, represent your company at the same time and join the Seniors as they tell about their Walk of Life and what paths they chose throughout their lifetime.  A great event for already active seniors, and a fun activity for seniors possibly in facilities, because if your particular senior cannot walk, grab your favorite senior and walk them! (in their wheelchair – which are allowed)

Sponsors and donations greatly appreciated and will be recognized in future flyer distributions and at event.  Volunteers will be needed as well!  Please contact me asap if there is anything  you or your business can contribute for this event!
For more information contact Pam Carney at pcarney@platinumhc.net

  
Rice Tremonti Order No. 11 Re-enactment
Saturday, September 14, 2013
10:30 AM - 9:00 PM


This is the official 150th anniversary recognition of the military order that de-populated Jackson and neighboring Missouri counties in the fall of 1863 during the bitter conflict of the Civil War. Civil War re-enactors from the entire region will be on hand to re-create the scene immortalized in artist George Caleb Bingham's painting "Martial Law," which illustrates the implementation of General Order No. 11 by Union Gen. Thomas Ewing. Bring a lawn chair and experience the drama. Following the re-enactment, the Rice-Tremonti Home, one of the few surviving Jackson County homes of that episode will be open for tours.

For more information visit: www.ordernumber11.org

To leave a comment use this link POST A COMMENT

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is such a shame to see the talent of young leaders wasted through the use of petty politics. The Mayor should use his Aldermen to help run the city. The tactics he is using against Mr. Greene reminds me of junior high school.

No wonder Raytown has so many problems.

Anonymous said...

No, the mayor's antics remind me more of elementary school or kindergarten. Is this REAL leadership? The sheepole need make better shoices by voting in the next city election.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

Regardless of the level of arrested development Mayor Bower's behavior demonstrates his contempt and low regard for others. Nose in the air, he belittles, dismisses and crushes those he deems either beneath him or a threat to his underhanded politics.

Ever the silver-tongued orator, he touts good will, fair governance and transparency even as he conspires and promotes back-room deals which are shoved through by circumventing the need for our voice and vote.

The thought of him having another 2 years in office is disturbing to say the least.


Anonymous said...

Does anyone know the status of the state audit of the city of Raytown

Anonymous said...

re: State audit of Raytown... What do you mean, Bower won't 'allow' it. Did the petition get the required number of signatures? Isn't the choice of whether or not to use a tool like this, which 'can' expose corruption, up to the people?

Pat Casady said...

It is apparent that cities and small towns in this area
are tired of big businesses coming in their areas and
lowering property values. This morning’s news broadcast
told us of two such areas in the area. One didn’t want a
big development to bring down property values and the other
a developer wanted to turn an abandoned school
into a three story care center. Both would bring down
property values. It seems these local government leaders
listened to the people.
It’s a shame that our top elected officials can’t take defeat
and suggestions without holding a grudge. Our town
would be better for it. It is plain this won’t happen in
Raytown. Alderman Jason Green and Alderman Janet Emerson
dared to question and go against our mayor they were given
token appointments to committees. I wonder how many
Mr. Jason Green’s brother was appointed after he went
to the dark side and joined the status quo and left the
people’s side. It’s a shame that this town has been divided.
It’s a shame that our elected officials have turned this great
town into a them versus us attitude. Just think how nice this
town would be if that attitude were to change.
Just think how good this town would be if our elected officials
actually represented the people and their wishes.
Sadly this will never happen.

Anonymous said...

It is truly sad how this has separated people and how people on both sides how grudges. I over heard a woman tell a man she was mad at him and when he asked what did I do to you; she commented , your sister in law was for walmart

Anonymous said...

Some people thrive on division and turmoil using Blanton verbiage ; no matter what your opinion be it for or against please let's not all stoop to this childish level for it makes one no better than those which they would wish to cast shame upon. It's not grade school .. And we prohibit this in schools

Elisa Breitenbach said...

The petition to get a state audit has no time limit on it. Petition drives are a great way to get information about our city. It also helps bring people together to work on a more open and accountable city government. The Mayor can't stop the state audit. This audit is in fact only up to the good people of Raytown.

Anonymous said...

Elisa: I was hoping someone would confirm that the audit was OUR choice and not the Mayor's. Thank you for the info.

All: We do need to be vigilant against the "Divide and Conquer" routine.... oldest trick in the book where both sides lose against the instigator. Be wise as wolves!

Anonymous said...

Did you catch the piece on the news about the donation to Children's Hospital? It hinges upon a 1/2 cent county-wide tax hike (just add that on to the other 1 cent they want for transportation). This is for research that will benefit not just Jackson Cty, but the whole state and beyond. I'm going to hold out for them to make it state-wide or not at all. Too much big gov't, too much taxation, too much spending at all levels of government. Government needs to be put on an allowance. If those fat-cats had to work as hard as citizens do to stretch a buck, they'd be less likely to continue to spend like there's no tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

If you put a persons name and the words state audit in a search ; you will come up with numerable state audits over a period of several years that cross state lines. There are some that are very knowledgeable of state audits and make it a hobby

Anonymous said...

All about bringing people together

Anonymous said...

To 10:46 am ; I too overheard that at a local business . What I found odd was the sister in law of the man was a relative of the woman holding the man responsible for his sis in laws opinion. This division has definatly brought out the crazy in people

Susan Dolan said...

Mayor Bower announced an upcoming visioning session. Here is what you need to know:

The Delphi Technique is being utilized in virtually every community in the United States today. Stakeholder councils go into communities under the guise of receiving input from citizens regarding the “visioning” process of turning their towns into “Sustainable Communities”. Concerns of citizens are ignored in favored of preconceived outcomes. People soon discover that private land ownership is jeopardized and their lives are changed immensely as the stakeholders start to take control of their situation.

This video at this web address is a real taped visioning sesstion:

http://resist21.com/agenda-21/delphi-technique/

Watch and learn.

Anonymous said...

To 10:46a and 10:13p
It is all he-said she-said which is the stuff of rumors and does nothing but to foster ill-will. Rumor = gossip = tripe.

Anonymous said...

Susan, I tried to watch the Delphi Technique video but it requires the download of a video viewer. That is I sign of malware and I won't take the chance.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

Does anyone remember 40 years ago when Raytown residency was a goal for many families? The school system was outstanding, the downtown thrived, and the crime rate was so low. Prairie Village was a comparable suburb. I can not help but wonder if strict enforcement of municipal codes and not declaring their downtown a blighted area made some difference. Maybe it was the agreement to include so much of the Kansas City school district in the school system, the approval of an over abundance of multi housing units, or the slum lord mentality of many of our landlords that hurt our property values; but the fact is there is no going back. I remember when I would have chosen Raytown over Lees Summit or Blue Springs in a heart beat. Oh well, the saddest words of tongue or pen are always these, "what might have been" Now we must play the hand we have been dealt, hopefully with the memory that Jesus said, Be gentle as a dove and wary as a serpent. Great advice for all of us. We must watch our city government carefully and do all we can to assist in improvement projects.

Susan Dolan said...

Following is a link to another Town Hall meeting in which the Officials actually gave time to the electorate to make their points AND they responded to them.

It is lengthly, however, if you invest the time you will learn what's really wrong with what is going on in Raytown because the plans and the process are the same across our Country and that is because they are all borne of the same source. Think equal justice vs. social justice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY7DGvuI7Xw

Anonymous said...

To 8:1& am : the comment was directed to Pat Casadys' post on separated people and grudges being held and was just one more example of such. I don't think Pat or I or anyone was trying to spread a rumor. These were comments stated from the woman out loud in a local business. No name or business was given

Susan Dolan said...

Andy:

Here is the YouTube link to that same video for you (runs 13-1/2 minutes) and should work with your existing video player:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zpA1althjo

Anonymous said...

That was an interesting string of comments. I don't think the Walmart deal went down because it was Walmart. I think it went down because it used up ALL of the space Downtown. If the store had been downsized like they have in other towns most of the opposition would have melted away.

Jose' Meiadro said...

I have had it up to my ears. All this idiotic talk about it being the taxpayers duty to provide obscene high pensions to anyone in government.

To read the laments of the "pay for their retirement" it would appear that most people live for only one reason --- to retire and let someone else pay for their living!

What they forget is this. No one put a gun to their head and told them to go to work for the city, state, county or any other agency that leaches and sucks the blood of the taxpayer to assure them of an early retirement at an obscene sinecure.

Someone should stand up and tell these people they were hired to do a job.

They were not adopted.

In other words for all those who live for their pensions. Why not man up and pay your own way?



Susan Dolan said...


GOOGLE FIBER? Consider this before you sign up for this service.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – They really, really want to read your email.

Google attorneys argued in a California court Thursday that the company needs to systematically read every email sent through its mail system. Scanning email is simply part of the business.

“[Email] providers like Google must scan the emails sent to and from their systems as part of providing their services,” reads a supporting document filed by the Internet giant in the case. “The automated processes at issue are Google’s ordinary business practices implemented as part of providing the free Gmail service to the public.”

Privacy advocates beg to differ.

“They’re also collecting information about their users for other purposes..." more at weblink below:

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/09/05/google-seeks-to-dismiss-gmail-privacy-lawsuit-says-it-has-right-to-scan/


Anonymous said...

Susan, If someone wants to read my emails, I guarantee they will make wonderful sleep aids. My emails consist of things like Want to come to dinner Sunday? or What time shall we meet up to see a movie? You shouldn't put in righting what you don't want others to see. What are you afraid of? Have you done something wrong? If so, you should have your emails read. If not, you have nothing to fear. You need to get a life.

Anonymous said...

Gotta plan for the senior years because it is here before you know it. Wish I had planned for my pension even sooner; it is the adult thing to do. And to the one warning people about emails and such; aren't you the one who told someone else not to live in fear? Come on now!

Anonymous said...

Here is a thought about them reading your emails. While you might not like it, all they really are doing is data mining. Logic will tell you that they are not really reading the intimate details of what you are writing, but only looking for topics, key words and phases. Think about the millions and billions of emails sent everyday. That is quite frankly a ton of information coming in. There are gigabytes, if not in the terabytes of raw data coming in, simply put, it impossible for them to be reading every single word. All it is them, is simply raw data, and they are looking for "information". Just about every email provider does this, most of it is for targeted advertising. When it comes to the Internet, rarely is anything truly private. But do not single out just Google Fiber, because every email provider, text message, cell phone call, is being tracked and scanned for insignificant tid bits of information, in order to sell or advertise to the consumer. If you do not want someone reading your mail -- write a letter, and send it USPS. While we may not like it, all they are doing is data mining, looking for certain key words and topics in an ocean of raw data, you emails are merely a single drop of water in the ocean.

Anonymous said...

Can't understand why anyone would want to read other people's mail. Oh my gosh, wait a minute. You mean that governments, who historically are the greatest butchers of people, might be a little twisted in their reasoning.

How about Syria. At one time we considered it a model for other middle eastern countries to follow.

How about what we did to the American Indians. Damn near decimated an entire civilization.

Look to the track record of totalitarian governments in Southeast Asia, the madness that swept the world in World War 2.

They start with controlling the simple aspects of our lives. the more tyrannical stuff comes later.

Susan, you are right to decry government snooping into our lives.

Anonymous said...

Can't understand why anyone would want to read other people's mail. Oh my gosh, wait a minute. You mean that governments, who historically are the greatest butchers of people, might be a little twisted in their reasoning.

How about Syria. At one time we considered it a model for other middle eastern countries to follow.

How about what we did to the American Indians. Damn near decimated an entire civilization.

Look to the track record of totalitarian governments in Southeast Asia, the madness that swept the world in World War 2.

They start with controlling the simple aspects of our lives. the more tyrannical stuff comes later.

Susan, you are right to decry government snooping into our lives.

Anonymous said...


It's about the continual erosion of our rights, including the right to privacy, ownership of private property, and freedom of religion as well as the continual increase in taxation.

On our homefront, due to the fact that people are unaware, our districts were realigned to set the stage. Non-governmental agencies have gotten away with infiltrating our local government, unconstitutionally shoving their edicts down our throats, and are poised to finish us off. Homeowners, business owners and surrounding residents and farmers will lose their land under the guise of sustainability. Taken by eminent domain in exchange for a pittance, where you go and what will you do when the axe falls on your house?

Should your land not be taken, land use codes (under the guise of conservation edicts) will remove or reduce your right to use your private property as you wish as well as the water beneath it and any minerals on it.

This is not Orwellian; this is happening right here, right now. Your City Council and your taxes are making it possible. New zoning and overlays are necessary - if you do nothing, if you don't protest them, you've given the green light. Our city already had a plan, but MARC has plans of their own that have nothing to do with ours. Equip yourself by reading the new City Codes and go to Marc.org and research their plans for Raytown. Ask City Hall how these plans are to be paid for, how much they'll cost, how many homeowners will be displaced, look to see if MARC plans overlay your house or that of your friends or family. Ask them how much Section 8 housing will be downtown, on 350 Hwy or next to where you live. Look to see if the rail system they're going to put in is going to run through your back yard. OR - do nothing and live with the consequence.

Anonymous said...

I remember when the City had the Google reps at City Hall. They specifically said they would coantct people in Raytown. They DID NOT say they would wait for people to demonstrate and interest.

Another day. Another lie from city hall.