A NEW TWIST IN THE STADIUM SAGA IAND THERE'S NO LET UP IN VIOLENT CRIME QUINTON LUCAS IS IN THE HOT SEAT THIS HALF HOUR AS WE PICK APART THE CITY'S HOTTEST ISSUES PLUS WE LOOK AT THE REST OF THE WEEK'S NEWS WITH KRASKE AND HELLING FORGET SOUP TO NUTS WE TAKE YOU FROM SNIPER RIFLES TO DIAPERS ALL AHEAD ON WEEK IN REVIEW WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF AARP KANSAS CITY RSM DAVE AND JAMIE CUMMINGS BOB AND MARLESE GOURLEY THE COURTNEY S TURNER CHARITABLE TRUST JOHN H MIZE AND BANK OF AMERICA N A CO-TRUSTEES AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU THANK YOU HELLO AND WELCOME I'M NICK HAINES IN THE WORDS OF MONTY PYTHON AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WHY JUST TALK WITH OUR REPORTERS ABOUT THE CITY'S PROBLEMS WHEN WE CAN SPEAK TO THE MAN IN CHARGE JOINING US AROUND THE COZY CONFINES OF OUR WEEKEND REVIEW TABLE IS KANSAS CITY MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US IT'S A WEEK IN WHICH THE CHIEFS ARE BACK WE'RE BOTH WEARING RED BUT ALSO WITH IT RENEWED ANXIETY ABOUT OUR SPORT STADIUMS IF YOU READ OUR KANSAS CITY STAR NEWSPAPER ARE WE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY IS NOW WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO HIRE THIS OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THESE UH STADIUM OWNERS ABOUT THEIR FUTURE AND POTENTIALLY PUTTING SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR SO SHOULD WE ALL GO OVER TO THE STADIUMS NOW TO HAVE OUR LAST CHANCE TO SEE THESE BEFORE YOU DEMOLISH THESE FACILITIES MAN THAT IS A LOT OF STEPS AHEAD I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN MUCH SAID ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE STADIUMS AND THE DISCUSSION AND MUCH WITH THE CITY DOES NOT KNOW YET WHAT HAS BEEN A DISCUSSION FOR THE CITY IS THAT I THINK WE WISH TO TO PROTECT OURSELVES IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS A NEW STADIUM PROJECT IF THE ROYALS LET'S SAY BUY UP A BUNCH OF LAND DOWNTOWN AND BUILD IT THEY CERTAINLY HAVE A RIGHT TO DO THAT THE THE CHALLENGE IS THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF INFRASTRUCTURE WORK THAT'S UNDERGROUND THERE IS WORK THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE BY WATER SERVICES PUBLIC WORKS PROBABLY STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION AND OTHERS AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO AVOID SOME OF THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST LIKE YOU SAW PERHAPS ON THE POWER AND LIGHT DISTRICT WHERE WE ARE PAYING 14 MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR STILL ON DEBT UP THROUGH I BELIEVE 2037 TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FUNDING THAT DEAL WHEN THAT PART OF IT WASN'T WORKED OUT IN ADVANCE BETWEEN YOU ME AND OUR CAMERA OPERATORS HERE IN THE STUDIO IS THERE A PLAN TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT NEXT YEAR I I AM NOT AWARE OF A PLAN TO PUT ANYTHING ON THE BALLOT IF IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE BALLOT NEXT YEAR IT WOULD BE A COUNTY ISSUE I WOULD ANTICIPATE THERE IS NOT SOME SECRET DEAL OR SECRET NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS OR THE CITY AND THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AS I SHARED WITH OTHERS IN THE PUBLIC JUST LAST WEEK WEEK I HAVE NOT HAD A FORMAL CONVERSATION WITH THE ROYALS ABOUT ALMOST ANYTHING I THINK THIS CALENDAR YEAR EVEN I CERTAINLY DID GO TO OPENING DAY BUT OTHERWISE THEY'RE HAVING THEIR OWN DISCUSSIONS WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IN THE EVENT THAT THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS AND IF THEY WERE TO SAY WE'RE MOVING DOWNTOWN WE'RE DOING ANYTHING ELSE WE'RE STAYING AT THE TRUMAN SPORTS COMPLEX IF THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE SOME COST TO OUR TAXPAYERS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE TAXPAYERS ARE PROTECTED ARE YOU STILL ALSO IN CONTACT WITH LAURA KELLY TRYING TO TELL HER NOT TO STEAL ONE OF YOUR TEAMS I KNOW SPORTS BETTING BEGAN LAST WEEK AND MOST OF THAT CASH COMING INTO THE STATE OF KANSAS IN THAT TAX REVENUE WILL GO TOWARDS TRYING TO LURE A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS STADIUM TO KANSAS YEAH AND A HECK OF A LOT OF THAT CASH BY THE WAY IS BEING SPENT BY PEOPLE FROM KANSAS CITY MISSOURI NOT JUST WESTERN MISSOURI JUST THE CITY ITSELF HAS PRODUCED A GREAT DEAL OF REVENUE THAT'S WHY I HOPE IT GETS FIXED IN THE LEGISLATURE NEXT YEAR KANSAS GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY PLACED THAT FIRST BET BY THE WAY LAST WEEK ON SPORTS BETTING AT 15 FOR THE THE CHIEFS TO WIN THE SUPER BOWL WITHOUT IT BEING YOUR BET YOU KNOW I DO EXPECT THE CHIEFS TO WIN THE SUPER BOWL I MIGHT HAVE PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE MORE MONEY IN BUT OKAY YOU KNOW I'LL HAVE TO CHECK WITH MY WIFE FIRST YOU KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FIXATED IN THE POLITICAL WORLD WITH THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS BUT GETTING LESS ATTENTION IS THE FACT THAT KANSAS CITY IS GOING BACK ONTO THE BALLOT TO TRY AND FIX UP PROGRAMS IN THE CITY 175 MILLION DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE BOND ELECTION AGAIN TO FIX UP THINGS IN THE CITY WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL OF THAT PANDEMIC MONEY THE MILLIONS COMING IN FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO HELP CITIES LIKE YOU WELL WE HELPED PAY FOR OUR RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC WE TOOK CARE OF PUBLIC HEALTH WE TOOK CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES INCLUDING FIRE PARAMEDICS AND OTHERS WHO WERE FIRST RESPONDERS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC WHO WE NEEDED OVERTIME FOR AND ANY NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS I MEAN SO THAT THAT MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT WELL IT'S BEEN SPENT RESPONSIBLY I WILL REMIND YOU BY THE WAY THAT UNDER THE CARES ACT KANSAS CITY MISSOURI NEVER GOT ITS FAIR SHARE OF MONEY ALL THAT MONEY WAS DISTRIBUTED TO OUR CONSTITUENT COUNTIES AND WE GOT I THINK NOT NECESSARILY A FULL CUP THAT WE WOULD HAVE IF WE WERE JUST ABOVE 500 000 PEOPLE BACK THEN BUT WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IMPROVING THINGS LIKE OUR PARKS LIKE BARNEY ALLIS PLAZA AND OUR CONVENTION CENTER ADDRESSING CORE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAVE THINGS FALLING DOWN ALL SUMMER LONG I HEARD PEOPLE TALK TO ME ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE WEREN'T WORKING POOLS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND AT CERTAIN POINTS WE HAD ALMOST NO POOLS WORKING WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE FIX THEM THIS IS A NO TAX INCREASE BOND ELECTION AND I KNOW THERE ARE SOME WHO QUIBBLE WITH THAT MORE THAN ANYTHING IT'S JUST US SAYING HOW CAN WE RESPONSIBLY ADDRESS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IN KANSAS CITY WITHOUT INCREASING YOUR LEVY RATES AND MORE THAN ANYTHING ADDRESSING THINGS LIKE EQUITY IN OUR POOLS IN OUR PARKS AND MAKING MONEY OFF OF OUR CONVENTION CENTER LONG TERM IT WASN'T YOUR PREDECESSOR IT WENT TO VOTERS BACK IN WAS THERE 2017 SLIGHT JAMES YOU KNOW THIS WAS 800 MILLION DOLLARS TO FIX UP THE CITY A LOT OF THESE SAME PROJECTS AND THIS WAS A 20-YEAR PLAN WELCOME TO THAT MONEY YOU KNOW I WOULD SAY THAT THEY WEREN'T THE SAME PROJECTS A LOT OF THAT MONEY YOU WERE SEEING BE SPENT RIGHT NOW ANY KANSAS CITY AND WHO WAS DRIVING AROUND AND SEEING A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION FOR EXAMPLE WE ARE ADDRESSING SIDEWALK REPAIRS ROAD REPAIRS BRIDGE REPAIRS WE PUT ROUGHLY 70 MILLION DOLLARS INTO THE BARNEY APARTMENT INTO THE BUCK O'NEILL BRIDGE THAT WAS KANSAS CITY TAXPAYER CONTRIBUTION THE STATE OF MISSOURI PUTTING IN A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY MORE BUT THOSE WERE HUGE COSTS FOR ALL OF US AND SO UNFORTUNATELY IN A CITY WITH FIVE BILLION DOLLARS WITH A B OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO THAT'S WHY THIS IS NECESSARY BUT THAT'S WHY WE KEPT IT I BELIEVE SMALL RESPONSIBLE IS AN AMOUNT BUT ENOUGH TO MAKE A REAL IMPACT AND WHAT I HAVE NOT MENTIONED OF COURSE IS THE IS THE HOUSING PART OF ALL OF IT I KNOW WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AS TIME GOES ON BUT WE NEED TO BUILD MORE WORKFORCE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN KANSAS CITY THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT WAY TO DO IT I MENTIONED THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER WITH THE BOND ELECTION COMING UP BUT ALSO ON THE BALLOT IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI IS GOING TO BE THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE A STORY ABOUT YOU LAST WEEK SAYING YOU WERE STILL UNDECIDED ON THAT WHY SO I'M FULLY IN SUPPORT OF OF RECREATIONAL LEGAL MARIJUANA I THINK MISSOURI IS BEHIND THE TIMES FRANKLY IN TERMS OF WHERE THEY NEED TO BE KANSAS I GUESS IS VERY FAR BEHIND THE TIMES BECAUSE IT'S NOT EVEN ON THEIR BALLOT THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THINGS THAT I I'VE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT AND I STILL NEED ANSWERS ON ONE HOW IS HOW ARE OUR LICENSES GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTED I THINK WHEN WE SAW THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA CONVERSATION THERE WAS VERY LITTLE EQUITY IN CONNECTION WITH IT ALMOST NO AFRICAN-AMERICANS GETTING LICENSES TO SELL OR GROW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S PROBLEMATIC I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER QUESTIONS RAISED AS TO HIS EXPUNGEMENT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO EVERYONE WHAT TIME CAN THEY HAVE IT I THINK RIGHT NOW I WOULD SAY I LEAN VOTING YES ON IT I THINK THAT WE CAN ALWAYS FIX DETAILS LATER BUT THAT'S SOME OF THE WORK OF THE RESEARCH THAT I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO DO I'VE NOTED THAT THIS IS THE RARE BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS WHERE THE GOVERNOR OF MISSOURI SAID DON'T VOTE FOR THIS THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S HAD INTERESTING COMMENTS BUT ALSO A DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE HERE FROM KANSAS CITY I STILL THINK THAT IT'S BETTER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING TOWARDS LEGALIZATION BUT THAT'S WHY I THINK I'M DOING THE RESEARCH AND A LOT OF MISSOURIANS ARE RIGHT NOW DOWNTOWN BACK IS MOVING FORWARD THIS WEEK WITH THIS 165 MILLION DOLLAR PLAN TO PUT A LID OVER THE HIGHWAY THAT CROSS-CUTS DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY FOR FULL BLOCKS THEY WANT WANT TO MAKE IT INTO A URBAN PUBLIC PARK GIVEN ALL OF THE PRIORITIES THAT YOU HAVE AND YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE NEEDS OF THE CITY IS THIS NUMBER ONE IN YOUR INBOX NUMBER ONE ON YOUR AGENDA YOU KNOW THERE IS THERE IS ALMOST NEVER ANYTHING THAT IS JUST NUMBER ONE IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER PARKS TREES PUBLIC SAFETY HOUSING ALL OF THEM WORK TOGETHER THAT'S WHY THE JOB OF MAYOR IS SOMEWHAT TOUGH THAT'S WHY THE CITY COUNCIL'S JOB IS TOUGH BUT IT CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN ALWAYS TRY TO IMPROVE OUR CITY EACH AND EVERY DAY GREAT PUBLIC SPACES EXIST IN GREAT CITIES RIGHT I'M SURE THAT THERE WERE FOLKS YEARS AGO WHO ARE SAYING DO WE REALLY NEED A LIBERTY MEMORIAL DO WE REALLY NEED ANY NUMBER OF THINGS FORTUNATELY OUR PREDECESSORS INVESTED IN THOSE SORTS OF THINGS AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE BEING ONCE AGAIN RESPONSIBLE WITH THIS LOOKING AT GRANTS PRIVATE FUNDRAISING DOING ALL TYPES OF WORK TO MAKE SURE THE TAXPAYERS CAN HAVE A FANTASTIC PLACE TO RECREATE IN DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY WHERE WE LACK SOME GOOD SPACES BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING WHILE WE'RE ALSO STILL ADDRESSING ROADS HOUSING SIDEWALKS BRIDGES I THINK YOU CAN DO A LOT OF IT WHEN I RAN FOR MAYOR I TALKED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO WALK INTO GUM I THINK KANSAS CITY HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF THAT IN RECENT YEARS AND YOU'LL BE ASKING FOR A VOTE VERY SHORTLY AGAIN YOU KNOW IT SEEMS HARD TO BELIEVE BUT IN APRIL YOU WILL BE GOING BACK TO VOTERS TO SAY HEY I WANT ANOTHER FOUR YEARS IN OFFICE IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE RUNNING UH NEXT TO SOMEBODY IN A LOCAL GROCERY STORE IN THE CEREAL AISLE AND THEY WERE TO SAY WELL WHAT HAVE YOU ACTUALLY DONE FOR ME WHAT'S THE BIGGEST THING YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO I WOULD MENTION TWO THINGS UH ONE I THINK WE'VE DONE RIGHT BY OUR WORKERS WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR MAYOR I SAID THAT EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE WOULD GET A PAY RAISE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT I THINK THAT'S BEEN A BIG PART OF HOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RETAIN WORKERS HOW WE'RE ATTRACTING NEW ONES AT A TIME IT'S BEEN TOUGH IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS THE NEXT THING THAT I WOULD LOOK TO AS WE SAID WE WOULD IMPROVE DEFERRED INFRASTRUCTURE CONCERNS ALL THIS ROAD CONSTRUCTION THE SIDEWALK REPAIRS THAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING IN EVERY PART OF THE CITY EQUITABLY IN EVERY PART OF THE CITY IS SOMETHING THAT I RAN ON SOMETHING THAT WE SAID WE'D BE ABLE TO DELIVER I KNOW THERE IS A LOT MORE STUFF THAT WE HAVE TO DO BUT THOSE ARE TWO GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS I'LL ALSO SAY THIS ON THE HOUSING POINT EVEN THOUGH I'VE TAKEN FLACK FROM SOME THIS ADMINISTRATION WE HAVE BUILT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THAN ANY OTHER IN KANSAS CITY'S HISTORY I'M PROUD OF IT I LOOK FORWARD TO US DOING EVEN MORE IN THE SECOND TERM WHAT ABOUT THE BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT THERE ARE LOTS OF DISAPPOINTMENTS BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST ONE AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH WE TALK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME IS PUBLIC SAFETY WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ROUND THE CORNER ON OUR ALL TOO HIGH VIOLENT CRIME NUMBERS PARTICULARLY OUR HOMICIDES IT IS A TRAGEDY IN KANSAS CITY THAT EACH DAY THERE'S SOMEONE WHO'S SHOT IN THIS CITY WE NEED TO DO MORE TO HELP ADDRESS THAT WE WILL HAVE A NEW POLICE CHIEF IN THE WEEKS OR MONTHS AHEAD I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER OR HIM IN TERMS OF HOW WE MAKE THIS COMMUNITY SAFER BUT REMOVING ALL THE POLITICS THAT THEY TRY TO PULL US INTO WE NEED THIS TO BE A SAFER CITY OUR CITIZENS OUR NEIGHBORS DESERVE IT YOU KNOW YOU THINK ABOUT LAST YEAR WAS THE SECOND HIGHEST MURDER RATE IN KANSAS CITY HISTORY THIS YEAR WE ARE NOW 11 HIGHER AS WE RECORD THIS PROGRAM THAN LAST YEAR WHAT CAN YOU GIVE ME ONE THING THAT THE CITY IS DOING DIFFERENTLY TO TRY AND GET A HANDLE ON THAT YOU KNOW I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COOPERATION RIGHT NOW FROM INTERIM CHIEF JOE MABEN OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT I THINK IS DOING A WONDERFUL JOB HIS WORK WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE CITY COUNCIL THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE HAS BEEN SOMETHING STRONG AND SOMETHING THAT'S COME OUT OF THAT LATELY IS A VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION GROUP WHERE WE ARE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HELP COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND SO MANY OTHERS AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE REACHING OUT TO FOLKS WHO ARE AT A HIGH RISK OF VIOLENCE OR HIGH RISK TO ACTUALLY SHOOT SOMEONE ELSE IN RETALIATION AND GETTING IN THE WAY OF FUTURE SHOOTINGS THAT IS INCREDIBLY VITAL WORK IT DOESN'T MAKE IT ON THE NEWS BECAUSE YOU DON'T BRING A CAMERA BEHIND YOU TO SAY HEY GUYS LET'S TRY TO FIGURE OUT YOUR BEEF ON KANSAS CITY PBS BUT THAT IS MAKING A CLEAR DIFFERENCE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE DEPARTMENT SUPPORTED THAT THE CITY IS SUPPORTING THAT EVERYBODY'S WORKING TOGETHER ON AND I THINK YOU'LL CONTINUE TO SEE THAT MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR FUTURE WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED THE BIGGEST PROJECT OF ALL IN THE ENTIRE METRO AND THAT'S THE NEW AIRPORT AND MARCH 3RD IS THE DATE THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SWING OPEN THE DOORS TO ALLOW PASSENGERS IN IS THAT STILL ON TIME AND ON BUDGET ARE YOU GOING TO REPORT ON KANSAS CITY PBS TONIGHT UH THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM AND WE MAY HAVE TO PUSH BACK THAT OPENING DATE IT REMAINS ON TIME AND ON BUDGET AND IF YOU WANT TO TRY TO GET A WAY TO TRUST ME PART OF THAT IS THE FACT THAT I'M ON THE BALLOT A MONTH LATER SO WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ON TIME ON BUDGET IT OPENS KANSAS CITY AND DESERVE IT IT WILL BE A FABULOUS FACILITY AND WE'RE PROUD OF OUR CITY WORKERS AND ALL THOSE WHO HELPED BUILD IT MATT QUINTON LUCAS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US ON WEEK IN REVIEW UP NEXT WE LIFT UP THE HOOD ON THE REST OF THE WEEK'S BIG NEWS STORIES WITH KRASKE AND HELEN STAY WITH US YOU'RE WATCHING KANSAS CITY WEEK IN REVIEW AS MAYOR LUCAS EXITS THE BUILDING KCUR'S STEVE KRASKE AND THE STAR'S DAVE HELLING PULL UP A SEAT FOR A WHIRLWIND TRIP THROUGH THE WEEK'S OTHER NOTABLE HEADLINES YOU KNOW WE KNOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS GOT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PANDEMIC CASH FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUT WHAT DID THEY SPEND IT ON THE KANSAS CITY STAR HAS BEEN LIFTING UP THE HOOD THIS WEEK ON ALL THAT CASH AND DISCOVERED SOME SURPRISING PURCHASES NO MORE SO THAN IN THE CITY OF INDEPENDENCE WAS SPENT MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ON BALLISTIC HELMETS AND SNIPER RIFLES FOR ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT BOTH PURCHASES WERE APPARENTLY CATEGORIZED UNDER THE SERVICES OF DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES SPENDING GROUP SO HOW ARE SNIPER RIFLES AND MILITARY STYLE HELMETS A SERVICE TO DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES STEVE WELL THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND THIS PURCHASE IS RAISING SOME EYEBROWS ACROSS THE METRO AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS NICK BY ALL MEANS THE CITY OF INDEPENDENCE COULD DO PRETTY MUCH WHAT IT WANTED TO DO WITH THIS MONEY AND APPARENTLY SOME FOLKS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THOUGHT THIS WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PURCHASE BUT THE GUIDELINES SUGGEST AND ARE ONLY GUIDELINES THAT THESE PURCHASES WERE AIMED AT GETTING AT THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME I'M NOT SURE THESE PURCHASES FIT THAT CATEGORY VERY NEATLY I REMEMBER VERY EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC OVERLAND PARK WAS GOING TO BE SPENDING MONEY ON NEW CAMERAS FOR THE SOCCER COMPLEX REMEMBER THAT AND THEY GOT SO MUCH OF A BACKLASH THEY DECIDED TO WALK THAT BACK THEY DIDN'T END UP DOING IT BUT REALLY COULDN'T CITY SPEND IT ON ANYTHING ON IT IS THERE MUCH ACCOUNTABILITY YOU'LL REMEMBER TWO YEARS AGO THE GOVERNMENT WAS JUST SHOVING CASH OUT THE DOOR TRYING TO KEEP THE ECONOMY INFLATED AND TELLING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO GO SPEND THE MONEY TO KEEP THINGS GOING THESE STORES WILL CONTINUE TO CROP UP AND BY THE WAY QUICKLY NOT JUST ON COVERT RELIEF FOR CITIES BUT PPP LOANS PEOPLE ARE ASKING NOW WHY DID SO AND SO GET A LOAN AND WHY WAS THAT LOAN FORGIVEN THE ACCOUNTING OF THE POST-COVERED ERA IS UNDERWAY THERE'S A LOT MORE MONEY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND I SAW IT IN THE STATE OF KANSAS A NEW AUDIT THIS WEEK SHOWED THAT KANSAS ACTUALLY MORE THAN 400 MILLION DOLLARS WENT TO FRAUDSTER IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE THESE STORIES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE THE PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DIDN'T BUILD INTO THESE PROGRAMS ANY ACCOUNTING NICK SO THAT TAXPAYERS COULD REALLY KNOW WHERE THE MONEY WAS GOING SO A TIP OF THE HAT TO THE KANSAS CITY STAR FOR KEEPING AN EYE THIS IS WHAT NEWSPAPERS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO AND THEY THEY'VE DONE IT THEN IT'S A GOOD SERVICE TO THE WALL JUST QUICKLY NICK WE NEED TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF LEEWAY TO GOVERNMENTS AND OTHERS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE COVETED RELIEF PROGRAMS IN PART BECAUSE IT WAS SO UNUSUAL I MEAN IT WOULD IT DON'T GO THROUGH THIS EVERY YEAR AND I THINK WE WROTE AT THE TIME THERE WILL BE MISTAKES BUT GET THE MONEY OUT THERE TO TRY AND KEEP THE ECONOMY AFLOAT RATHER THAN HOLD IT BACK AND GO THROUGH A LOT OF RED TAPE THAT MAY HAVE HELPED US DODGE THESE STORIES BUT NOT HELP THE ECONOMY IN THE MOMENT WHEN IT WAS IN CRISIS COULD THE KANSAS GOVERNORS RACE HINGE ON THE PRICE OF DIAPERS AND TAMPONS DID YOU SEE THAT STORY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE AND STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL DEREK SCHMIDT WAS IN THE METRO THIS WEEK TO CALL FOR THE ELIMINATION OF THE SALES TAX ON PAMPERS HUGGIES AND TAMPAX YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE GIVEN IT MUCH THOUGHT BUT DIAPERS AND FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS ARE CURRENTLY TAXED AS LUXURY GOODS IN KANSAS NO DIFFERENT THAN BUYING A DIAMOND RING OR A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE YOU CAN GET THE IMPRESSION THAT OUR ELECTED LEADERS SOMETIMES SPEND FAR TOO MUCH TIME TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT HAVE NO RELEVANCE TO YOUR LIFE WHATSOEVER DOES THIS LATEST MOVE SHOW US THEY SOMETIMES DO STEVE WELL IT DOES AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD MOVE BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO TRY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AFTER ALL NICK HE HAS SPENT THE LAST WHAT EIGHT YEARS SERVING AS ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF KANSAS A POSITION WHERE THAT'S REALLY HARD TO CONNECT TO THE AVERAGE PERSON OUT ON THE STREET IN TERMS OF HOW THEY'RE LIVING THEIR DAILY LIVES SO DEREK SCHMIDT MADE THIS MOVE BUT DEMOCRATS WERE AWFULLY QUICK TO COME BACK NICK AND SAY HEY DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR KELLY HAD TRIED TO PASS SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO THIS ONLY TO SEE REPUBLICAN LEADERS REJECT THE IDEA OR AT LEAST NOT ADVANCE THE IDEA DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHERE WAS DEREK SCHMIDT THEN WHEN THIS ISSUE WAS PERCOLATING A FEW MONTHS AGO BUT WE DO HAVE THE ABORTION UH VOTE IN KANSAS PROBABLY STILL RINGING IN DEREK SCHMIDT'S EARS ISN'T HE NOW TRYING TO APPEAL TO WOMEN AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME AND IS THIS A GOOD STRATEGY OF DOING THAT YEAH THAT'S A PART OF IT AND THERE WILL BE FOR SOME WOMEN THIS WILL BE AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT WHETHER IT WILL CHANGE ENOUGH VOTES TO ALTER THE RACES ANOTHER QUESTION ALTOGETHER I THINK DEREK SCHMIDT IS TRYING A LOT OF THINGS TO TRY AND PIQUE PUBLIC INTEREST YOU KNOW CANDIDATES DON'T RUN FOR OFFICE SAYING HEY I'M GOING TO RAISE TAXES THEY RUN SAYING I'M GOING TO TRY AND CUT THEM AND THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE YOU KNOW EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE RACE AT THIS POINT NICK ABSOLUTELY EVERY WORD OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S MOUTH OUT OF UH DEREK SMITH'S MOUTH EVERYTHING IS POLITICAL AT THIS POINT YOU KNOW DEREK SCHMIDT IS TRYING TO COUNTER TO MATCH THE BIG ACHIEVEMENT OF THE KELLY ADMINISTRATION WAS WHICH WAS GETTING THAT FOOD SALES TAX CUT SO HE'S GOT SOME GROUND TO MAKE UP THERE AND AND THIS IS SORT OF WHAT ALL THAT'S ABOUT PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY YOU CAN READ A NEWS STORY SOMEWHERE AROUND THE COUNTRY ABOUT HOW THE SUPREME COURT ABORTION RULING IS NOW UPENDING THE CAMPAIGNS OF REPUBLICANS AND BRINGING FRESH MOMENTUM TO DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES WE'RE SEEING IT IN KANSAS BUT HOW COME IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE HELPING THE BIGGEST DEMOCRAT ON THE BALLOT IN MISSOURI A NEW POLL THIS WEEK HAS TRUDY BUSCH VALENTINE TRAILING REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC SCHMITT BY MORE THAN DOUBLE DIGITS WHY IS SHE NOT BENEFITING FROM THE SO-CALLED KANSAS ABORTION EFFECTIVE UH IN PART BECAUSE A SHE MAY BE I MEAN SHE MIGHT BE FARTHER BEHIND IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE ABORTION ARGUMENT FOR HER TO MAKE BECAUSE SHE'S SO UNKNOWN IN THE STATE NICK DEMOCRATS ARE SO UNORGANIZED FOR STATEWIDE RACES LIKE THIS ANYMORE AND ERIC SCHMITT HAS RUN A FAIRLY GOOD CAMPAIGN IS WELL KNOWN AND HAS ATTRACTED A LOT OF REPUBLICAN SUPPORT ACROSS THE STATE SO THAT'S SORT OF THE BASELINE SHE MIGHT BE DOING YOU KNOW MIGHT BE BEHIND 25 POINTS IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE ABORTION RULING NOW WITH THE POLLSTER ALSO FOUND NICK WAS THAT VOTERS VOTE ON A LOT MORE ISSUES THAN JUST ABORTION THAT THERE ARE OTHER PRESSING CONCERNS INFLATION THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT BEING ONE OF THEM SO THAT'S ONE PART OF THIS THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND HERE IS TRUDY BUSCH VALENTINE HAS NEVER HELD PUBLIC OFFICE BEFORE SHE'S A NEWCOMER TO POLITICS AND IT'S REALLY SHOWING RIGHT NOW NICK VOTERS DON'T KNOW WHO SHE IS HER CAMPAIGN IS SLOW TO GET GAIN SOME TRACTION COMING OUT OF THE PRIMARY SHE'S GOT A LONG WAY TO GO SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO GET A LOT MORE AGGRESSIVE AND DEFINE HERSELF AND DEFINE WHAT SHE'S ABOUT IN A LOT MORE AGGRESSIVE MANNER IN THE WEEKS TO COME BEFORE THIS GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER SHE'S ONLY GOT A FEW WEEKS NICK IT'S A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER VERY QUICKLY AND THAT'S IN PART WHY ERIC SCHMIDT IS LEADING BY THE POINTS THAT HE'S LEADING BY AFTER YEARS OF PLANNING JACKSON COUNTY FINALLY BREAKS GROUND THIS WEEK ON A NEW JAIL THE 1200 BED FACILITY IS BEING BUILT ON THE SITE OF A FORMER RV PARK NEAR THE TRUMAN SPORTS COMPLEX BUT HOW MANY JAILS DO WE NEED THE KANSAS CITY STAR CLAIMS KANSAS CITY IS QUIETLY PLANNING A RIVAL JAIL AFTER JACKSON COUNTY OFFICIALS REFUSED TO HOUSE CITY INMATES IN THEIR NEW FACILITY THIS WOULD SEEM TO MAKE SENSE A JOINT JAIL WHAT'S HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE ARE NOT SEEING DAVE WELL THE CITY HAS BEEN TALKING FOR FOR YEARS WITH JACKSON COUNTY ABOUT PARTNERING PARTNERING ON THE JAIL THE CITY NEEDS ABOUT A HUNDRED BEDS IT SENDS HALF OF ITS PRISONERS NOW TO VERNON COUNTY THE OTHER HALF TO JOHNSON COUNTY MISSOURI WARRENSBURG HAD SOME EXPERIENCE AND THEY'VE SAID LOOK IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO GO TOGETHER FOR REASONS THAT ARE NOT COMPLETELY CLEAR JACKSON COUNTY HAS RESISTED THAT THE SHERIFF COUNTY OFFICIALS TROY SCHULTE THE FORMER CITY MANAGER MAY BE PLAYING A BIT OF A ROLE IN ALL OF THIS THE COUNTY HAS SAID LOOK IF YOU WANT TO BUILD YOUR OWN CITY JAIL NEXT TO THE NEW COUNTY JAIL AT I-4 AT 40 HIGHWAY AND I-70 WE'LL GO IN WITH YOU ON A FENCE AND HELP YOU ON PARKING AND OTHER THINGS BUT YOU NEED TO BUILD YOUR OWN JAIL KANSAS CITY IS NOT OVERWHELMINGLY HAPPY WITH THAT OPTION BECAUSE IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE IT COULD COST 150 200 MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE WHEN THERE ARE OTHER EXPENSES OUT THERE SO THE TALKS CONTINUE BUT I THINK KANSAS CITY NEXT YEAR WILL HAVE TO DECIDE HOW IT'S GOING TO PROCEED ON THIS WHAT'S REMARKABLE ABOUT THIS THOUGH STEVE IS THAT YOU KNOW THIS YEAR ACTUALLY IS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF CONSOLIDATION OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY IN KANSAS CITY KANSAS GOVERNMENT THIS WAS VIEWED AS A BIG DEAL IT WAS GOING TO BE IMMORTAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE WERE GOING TO SEE A CONSOLIDATION OF CITIES AND COUNTIES COMING TOGETHER AND THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE IT'S EXACTLY THE KIND OF THING THAT GOVERNMENTS SHOULD BE COOPERATING ABOUT TODAY'S POINT TROY SCHULTE THE FORMER CITY MANAGER OF KANSAS CITY WELL-RESPECTED GUY NOW IS DOING A SIMILAR JOB FOR THE COUNTY SO THERE'S THERE'S A PATHWAY HERE FOR COOPERATION WHY SPEND 260 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE COUNTY ONLY TO TOP THAT OFF WITH 150 MILLION DOLLARS MORE FOR A CITY JAIL WHEN YOU CAN REDUCE BOTH COSTS TO BOTH BOTH GOVERNMENTS HERE THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE ON THE SURFACE THE EXPLANATIONS ARE WEAK LUKEWARM AT BEST I THINK TAXPAYERS DESERVE TO HEAR A LOT MORE ABOUT WHY THIS THING ISN'T GETTING DONE IN THE BETTER AND I THINK MANY OF OUR VIEWERS MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO LEARN OF COURSE FROM THESE STORIES THAT THE CITY DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A JAIL LIKE THIS SECOND AND THEY ARE SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AS YOU SAID TRANSPORTING UH INMATES OVER 100 MILES AWAY TO OTHER COMMUNITIES REMEMBER THESE ARE NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS TYPICALLY ON SENTENCES OF SIX MONTHS OR SO FOR VARIOUS ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS USED TO BE IN A IN A PRISON FACILITY OVER BY THE STADIUMS BUT THAT WAS A PROBLEM IT WAS OLD PEOPLE WERE ESCAPING SO MUCH THE CITY DIDN'T WANT TO BUILD NEW SO THEY SAID LOOK CAN WE JUST BOARD SOME FOLKS WITH JACKSON COUNTY THEY THAT WORKED FOR A WHILE THEN JACKSON COUNTY KICKED THEM OUT NOW THEY'RE FORMING UH PRISONERS OUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE SAYING LOOK WHY DON'T WE TAKE PART OF THE OLD COUNTY JAIL DOWNTOWN 12TH AND CHERRY THERE'S AN ANNEX THAT WAS IS RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED AT THAT SITE 200 BEDS USE THAT BUY IT FROM THE COUNTY USE THAT FOR A JAIL FACILITY RATHER THAN BUILDING NEW THIS STORY WILL CONTINUE WELL THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE WEEK MISSOURI LAWMAKERS RETURNED TO JEFFERSON CITY FOR A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS THE LARGEST INCOME TAX CUT IN STATE HISTORY BUT THE HALLS OF THE MISSOURI CAPITOL BUILDING WERE EMPTY THIS WEEK WITH NO LAWMAKERS TO BE FOUND WHAT HAPPENED DOES IT MEAN WE'RE NO LONGER GOING TO GET THESE BIG CHECKS GOVERNOR PARSON HAS BEEN PROMISING AS A RESULT OF HIS PLANNED INCOME TAX CUTS STEVE WELL THAT COULD BE LAWMAKERS CLEARLY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WHO CONTROL THE LEVERS OF POWER IN JEFF CITY IN BOTH HOUSES ARE OBVIOUSLY HAVING A HARD TIME MAKING UP THEIR COLLECTIVE MINDS AS TO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO HERE NICK WHENEVER YOU TALK TAX CUTS EVERY LAWMAKER FROM EVERY PART OF THE STATE HAS AN IDEA OF WHAT KINDS OF TAXES SHOULD BE CUT TO PLACATE THE FOLKS BACK HOME TO PLACATE SPECIAL INTERESTS SO CLEARLY REPUBLICANS HAVING A HARD TIME KIND OF SORT OUT EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT TO DO HERE GOVERNOR PARSONS WANTS TO KEEP THIS RULE SIMPLE HE WANTS TO CUT THE INCOME TAX BUT LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE LOTS OF OTHER OPINIONS SO IF YOU'RE THINKING OF BUYING A NEW CAR PUTTING IN AN IN-GROUND SWIMMING POOL YOU MIGHT WANT TO PUT A HOLD ON THAT THEN DAVE BECAUSE YOU MIGHT NOT BE GETTING THAT MONEY YEAH WELL I THINK THEY'LL WORK SOMETHING OUT BUT YEAH I WOULDN'T BE BUILDING A SWIMMING POOL NOW FIRST OF ALL WE'RE HEADED INTO THE FALL YOU CAN'T USE IT BUT BUT I DO THINK THAT IT'S FASCINATING TO ME THAT MISSOURI WITH THIS HUGE SURPLUS IS TALKING ABOUT WAYS TO CUT TAXES PUT MONEY IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS BEFORE ELECTION DAY IN KANSAS VERY SIMILAR SURPLUS REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITIES IN THE LEGISLATURE DON'T WANT TO DIDN'T WANT TO TOUCH A TAX CUT WITH A 10-FOOT POLE BECAUSE LAURA KELLY IS GOVERNOR AND DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE HER CREDIT FOR IT THAT SHOWS YOU HOW POLITICAL THIS DISCUSSION IS AND NOT BASED ON ECONOMICS NOW WHEN YOU PUT A PROGRAM LIKE THIS TOGETHER EVERY WEEK YOU CAN'T GET TO EVERY STORY GRABBING THE HEADLINES WHAT WAS THE BIG LOCAL STORY WE MISSED IT'S BEGINNING SUNDAY AFTERNOON AGAINST THE CARDINALS FORMER CHIEFS ASSISTANT COACH BRITT REID BACK IN THE NEWS HE'S NOW CHANGING HIS PLEA TO GUILTY JUST AHEAD OF HIS TRIAL INTO THAT 2021 DUI CRASH THAT LEFT A FIVE-YEAR-OLD BRAIN DAMAGE REID COULD FACE UP TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON MOVE OVER STARBUCKS WORKERS NOW ITS LOCAL TACO BELL EMPLOYEES OUT ON STRIKE UMKC STAFF ALSO HITTING THE STREETS THEY PROTESTING A NEW UNIVERSITY POLICY THEY CLAIM STRIPS THEM OF 10 VACATION DAYS ARE WE HEADING FOR ANOTHER EVICTION CRISIS EVICTION FILINGS HAVE NOW DOUBLED IN THE LAST MONTH AND KCUR REPORTS TWICE AS MANY UTILITY SHUTOFFS COMPARED TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR A SHOOTER OPENS FIRE INSIDE INDEPENDENCE CENTER MALL NO INJURIES BUT JUST THE LATEST TO THE STRING OF GUN INCIDENTS THAT IS PANICKING SHOPPERS IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING THE OWNERS OF THE KC CURRENT SAY THEY'RE READY TO BREAK GROUND ON THEIR BRAND NEW RIVERFRONT STADIUM NEXT MONTH AND IT'S A BIG BIRTHDAY IN JOHNSON COUNTY THIS SEEMS HARD TO BELIEVE SHAWNEE MISSION NORTH MARKING ITS 100TH BIRTHDAY THIS WEEKEND AND CHOKE UP A NEW PROBLEM TO WORRY ABOUT BATS THIS IS NOT AN EARLY HALLOWEEN JOKE BUT APPARENTLY KANSAS CITY PEST CONTROL COMPANIES SEEING A MAJOR UPTICK IN BAT INFESTATIONS COMING ABOUT IN THE BEDROOM AND FLYING ON YOUR FACE IT'S CRAZY IT DOES SOUND CRAZY BUT WAS THAT YOUR STORY OR DID YOU PICK SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THOSE ARE ALL WORTHY PICS NICK I PICKED SOMETHING DIFFERENT WE TALKED ON UP TO DATE THIS WEEK ABOUT A BIG PROBLEM IN KANSAS WHICH IS THAT WESTERN KANSAS IS RUNNING OUT OF WATER IF THE AG INDUSTRY GOES SOUTH IN KANSAS IT'S GOING TO AFFECT ALL OF US IN EASTERN KANSAS AS WELL IT'S A BIG PROBLEM THAT NEEDS OUR ATTENTION AND IT NEEDS SOME SOLUTIONS DAVE LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT BRIAN PLATT'S MEMO ON THE STADIUMS WHERE HE SAID HE'S GOING TO HIRE AND OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE TO REPRESENT THE CITY'S INTEREST IN THE STADIUM TALKS AFTER THE PUBLICITY THAT WE BROUGHT TO THAT STORY HE BACKED AWAY AND SENT A MEMO TO THE COUNCIL SAYING I WON'T HIRE ANYONE UNTIL WE HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THIS EITHER IN COMMITTEE OR WITH THE FULL COUNCIL SO THAT PROCEDURE IF YOU WILL IS ON HOLD INDEFINITELY SO YOU'RE PATTING YOURSELF ON THE BACK I AM EXACTLY OKAY AND ON THAT WE WILL SAY OUR WEEK HAS BEEN REVIEWED THANKS TO STEVE KRASKE WHO KEEPS US UP TO DATE WEEKDAY MORNINGS AT NINE ON KCUR FM I'M DAVE HELLING OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR AND I'M NICK HAINES FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KANSAS CITY PBS BE WELL KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON