Jul

3

Is Blunt on an anti-KC trip?

July 3, 2008 by William Rockhill Nelson | Leave a Comment

First the governor refuses to exempt the city from a pollution-generating ethanol mandate. Then his administration joined a lawsuit to overturn EPA clean air regulations, the very regulations meant to keep Kansas Citians breathing clean air.

Now the governor has vetoed two items from the new state budget… Money to help renovate Harry Truman’s courthouse in Independence, and a sports complex for handicapped children.  Those were only things he voteod in the entire budget, both in the KC region.

This probably shouldn’t be a surprise since we already know that the governor feels that big cities are places where nobody wants live, even though most Missourians live in metropolatin areas where air quality is an important issue.


Categories: MO Governor, Politics

Jun

30

Transportation costs of distant housing

June 30, 2008 by William Rockhill Nelson | 4 Comments

With sprawling development patterns and few transit options, most Kansas Citians already spend more on transportation than on housing. The end of cheap gasoline is making the problem even worse. Let’s Go KC looks at data that shows households further from the central city’s jobs and buses spend more of their income on gasoline than those closer in.  Meanwhile, the front page of yesterday’s Star shows that mega-commutes from beyond the suburbs are becoming unsustainable.

Let’s Go KC: Economic Impact of Housing Choices

KC Star: High gas prices threaten small towns

BlogKC: KC has nation’s highest transportation costs


Categories: Light Rail, Transportation

Jun

26

Big Weekend

June 26, 2008 by William Rockhill Nelson | 1 Comment

Some highlights of stuff going on this weekend…

KCK Street Blues Festival
Two days of some of the best blues bands from KC and beyond. Friday and Saturday at 13th and State Avenue in KCK.

Royals vs. Cards
The I-70 Series returns for another installment Friday-Sunday. And please, please wear some blue to the stadium this year.

Quixotic Performance Ensemble
A eclectic collaboration of dancers, musicians, etc. present their newest performance at the Uptown Theater on Friday and Saturday.

Power & Light District Art Festival
The new Downtown entertainment district is putting a new juried art show similar to the annual Plaza Art Fair.

Crown Center Free Friday Night Movies
This popular event returns for another season with The Goonies at 9:00 p.m.


Categories: Arts/Entertainment

Jun

24

Music Exchange inventory for sale

June 24, 2008 by William Rockhill Nelson | 2 Comments

Two years ago the Music Exchange closed and the city lost one of its last record stores. Next month the store’s inventory goes on sale, according to the Pitch’s Wayward Blog. It includes half a million records and stacks of flyers, posters, and other memorbilia. Here are the details.


Categories: Arts/Entertainment, Business

Jun

20

Smoking ban starts tomorrow

June 20, 2008 by William Rockhill Nelson | 12 Comments

KMBC-TV 9 reports that Jackson County Judge John O’Malley has denied a motion seeking to overturn the voter-approved smoking ban, and it will start tomorrow. The lawsuit will continue, but the ban will go into effect for now.

Now, let’s all pack the Twin City Tavern and let Kim know that there is a demand for smoke-free drinking.


Categories: General

Jun

20

The gift that keeps on giving

June 20, 2008 by William Rockhill Nelson | 15 Comments

No, it’s not The Clap, it’s The Cordish.  As in the Power & Light District developer the Cordish Company.  We begged the Cordish Company to help us revitalize Downtown, and some days it seems like we might have made a deal with the devil. The gifts have ranged from record-setting tax breaks to delayed openings to diverted bus routes to competitive advantages over local businesses to special liquor laws.  The latest gift courtesy of the boys from Baltimore is a racist dress code.

Cordish is certainly not alone among shopping center owners in banning hip hop fashion as a way to cut down on gangsta conflict, but their Kansas City dress code seems to be especially harsh.  I’ve been known to pop over to my Midtown Chipotle in a white t-shirt for a quick burrito, but doing that Downtown would get turned away from the Chipotle in the P&L District.


Categories: Arts/Entertainment, Business, Downtown

Jun

19

New bus service and Dump the Pump Day

June 19, 2008 by William Rockhill Nelson | 1 Comment

The Star reports that the KCATA is increasing bus service on the North Oak and I-29 routes in response to construction-related congestion over the Paseo Bridge. Northland commuters will see bigger buses and more frequent service.

MoDOT is contributing $200,000 for the service expansion, but that amount pales in comparison to the $3 million MoDOT recently gave to St. Louis to enhance transit service during a major highway project.

Meanwhile, today is National Dump the Pump Day, which encourages people to leave the car at home and try public transit for one day.  The KCATA will have a special event at the 10th and Main Transit Center from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., including drawings for bus passes.


Categories: Transportation

Geotagging plugin by eMich.