Comments

Anonymous said…
I've actually seen this balloon and the extension cord on several occasions! I walk along 63rd Street all the time. It's not a efficient advertising method. And yes, the Diagonal Parking concept on 63rd Street is a terribly designed flawed concept. Always has been. Yet 63rd Street is what is meant to be Raytown's most iconic street! And don't even get me started on how, other than Fox's Drugs, the tree branches and plant overgrowth are not being taken care of anymore and are expanding more rapidly than ever in the whole area. The tree branches keep growing, and it obscures all the signs for Raytown businesses on both sides of 63rd Street and definitely where the Cuts barber shop balloon is seen here in this article. That isn't fair to those businesses, and it's concerning. I'm not sure if this has been a highly reported issue from Raytown citizens, but ideally, Raytown City Hall should send a crew out to cut down or trim some of those tree branches and plant overgrowth I mentioned. Possibly even replant the trees! That's another major Landscaping issue I've had for awhile on 63rd Street and felt the need to voice.

There was a petition launched in the last 10 years in Raytown, I recall, that was started up Businesses on 63rd Street to change the Diagonal Parking back to parking along 63rd Street! To change it back to how it was. We collected Signatures for awhile and canvassed! Our petition got 100+ signatures from Raytown residents about Diagonal Parking issue on 63rd Street! We tried turning it into Raytown City Hall after gathering Signatures for iur petition, but far as I'm aware, we never even received a real response from Raytown City Hall. And to this day, I still wonder why we never were given any transparency or official responses from Raytown City Hall about Diagonal Parking on 63rd Street.
July 23, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Anonymous said…
I've often wondered why that parking spot was taken up by a big balloon advertisement. Am really surprised the police drive by this daily and act like they don't see it! It reminds me of the complaint by Joe Creamer about the abuse of people parking their car in a handicapped parking space. I think it is time Raytown got its act together and start enforcing the traffic laws in Raytown!

July 23, 2026 at 7:08 AM
Unknown said…
Here's the ironic part about that property down there on sixty third. I am sure i'm not the only one that recalls when the back end, parking went into place, it was under the current mayor and it was to make life safer accordingto him. I bet there has never been a ticket issued for people not backing in. It speaks highly to some of the current events and behavioral displays by the mayor on selective enforcement. When the corner there on the northwest was completed, the mayor had little bumps installed to keep skateboarders from getting up on the cement walls. So it brings into question.Why did you wanna keep it nice and neat in the beginning. Now you'll allow any tenant to take over a parking spot, stretch a power cord across the sidewalk, and create a safety hazard. This is liability for both the city and that business, but city hall remains clueless. I'm sure the mayor's wisdom will disagree with me but there's gotta be basic knowledge to keep that balloon up that there has to be power from somewhere. Therefore, the city would be accepting the liability along with the business for not going and shutting that balloon down.
July 24, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Unknown said…
In the legal framework governing **fourth-class cities in Missouri** (under chapters like RSMo Chapter 79), your assessment hits on a crucial structural reality: the Board of Aldermen holds the core legislative and ultimate policy-making power, while the mayor acts as the chief executive officer meant to oversee administration, preside over the board (without a vote except to break a tie), and exercise veto power.
When a mayor in a fourth-class Missouri city uses intimidation, psychological pressure, or threats to force the board to bend to their will, it creates a severe institutional distortion.
### Why This Constitutes an Abuse of Power
* **Upending the Separation of Powers:** Under Missouri law, the checks and balances are clearly defined. The Board passes ordinances, and the mayor can check them via a veto. The board can then override that veto with a two-thirds majority. When a mayor uses extra-legislative bullying or intimidation to stop the board from exercising its independent judgment or overriding vetoes, they are subverting the statutory design of Missouri municipal law.
* **Stepping Outside Executive Bounds:** A fourth-class mayor's job is to ensure laws are enforced and the city runs smoothly, not to act as a boss over the aldermen. Aldermen are independently elected representatives of their wards, accountable to their voters—not to the mayor. Threatening or intimidating them interferes with their legal duty to represent their constituents.
* **Misuse of Influence Over Appointive Roles:** Mayors in fourth-class cities nominate certain city officials (like city attorneys, clerks, or treasurers), but those appointments require the consent of the Board of Aldermen. If a mayor threatens political retaliation or tries to bully the board over these confirmations or administrative oversight, it strains or breaks the cooperative governance required by state law.
### The Remedy Under Missouri Law
The statutory framework actually provides structural defenses against this exact type of overreach, provided the board stands its ground:
1. **Veto Overrides:** If the board votes its conscience and passes a measure, and the mayor vetoes it out of spite or control, a **two-thirds majority vote of the elected members of the Board of Aldermen** can override the veto entirely without the mayor's consent.
2. **Board Independence:** Aldermen do not answer to the mayor. Recognizing that executive friction can happen, state statutes ensure that the legislative branch retains its independent authority to manage city appropriations and local laws.
3. **Removal for Cause:** Under Missouri law (such as RSMo 79.240), an elective officer—including the mayor—can actually be removed from office for cause shown by a **two-thirds vote of all members elected to the Board of Aldermen** sitting as a board of impeachment. While a high and rare bar to clear, it underscores that the board, representing the community, ultimately holds the highest structural authority in a fourth-class city structure.
July 24, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Anonymous said…
Why would you start now trimming the trees on the "street scape" on 63rd street? You don't see Public Works out doing much of nothing in the city anyway. There are signs to be fixed/ replaced, right of ways to be trimmed or sprayed for weeds, pot holes to be patched; not like it was several decades ago when PW was out and about all the time. It starts at the top at City Hall.
Look at Lee's Summit, just booming and Raytown is dying or almost dead! Look at the empty buildings all over the city. We have no Tax base here and the businesses that are here are taxed to death. No wonder they leave Raytown! Years ago where I lived in south Raytown, we had a Lee's Summit address. I wish LS or Kansas City would take over Raytown, but there is nothing for them to acquire but blight, empty buildings, bad streets, Group Homes and the list goes on..............
July 28, 2026 at 6:53 AM
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