COMING UP LOCAL PUSHBACK OVER THE BIDEN VACCINE MANDATE NO MASS MANDATES NO VACCINE PASSPORTS LET'S GET THIS REAL STRAIGHT THE GOVERNOR ALLOWING EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE TO STOP BUSINESSES FROM COMPLYING I THINK WHEN YOU START GOING OUT THERE TRYING TO MANDATE VACCINES I THINK THAT'S PROBLEMATIC CAN YOU ENFORCE MASK MANDATES ASK THE OWNER OF RAISE TICKETS WARNINGS NOW A COURT ORDER FAILING TO STOP BREAKFAST BEING DISHED UP AT THE DEFIANT LOCAL CAFE MAKING NATIONAL NEWS PLUS HOW SERIOUSLY SHOULD WE BE TAKING THE ROYALS THIS WEEK FRANKLY IT'S HARD TO NOT GO PUBLIC WITH THIS I GET ASKED THIS UH LITERALLY EVERYWHERE I GO JUST MORE HYPO DO THE ROYALS REALLY INTEND TO MOVE DOWNTOWN IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD FOR THE CITY YOU'RE GOING TO BRING IN MORE BUSINESSES YOU'RE BRINGING MORE BARS MORE RESTAURANTS IF THEY CAN RESOLVE THE PARKING AND THE TRANSPORTATION AND ALL IT HAS ITS MERITS BUT THAT'S THE HASSLE WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF AARP KANSAS CITY 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 WELCOME EVERYONE I'M NICK HAINES AND THANK YOU FOR INVITING US INTO THE COZY CONFINES OF YOUR HOME AS WE DISSECT OUR METRO'S MOST IMPACTFUL CONFUSING AND BEFUDDLING STORIES TRACKING THIS WEEK'S HEADLINES FROM PUBLIC RADIO STATION KCUR NEWS DIRECTOR LISA RODRIGUEZ FROM KMBC 9 NEWS CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL MAHONEY KEEPING TABS ON THE WEEK'S NEWS FROM BEHIND A MICROPHONE AT KCMO TALK RADIO PETE MUNDO AND FROM THE CALL NEWSPAPER REPORTER AND EDITOR ERIC WESSON THE REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL IN KANSAS AND HIS COUNTERPART IN MISSOURI ARE BOTH THREATENING TO FILE LAWSUITS THIS WEEK TO BLOCK PRESIDENT BIDEN'S NEW VACCINE MANDATE UNDER BIDEN'S PLAN EMPLOYERS WITH MORE THAN 100 WORKERS WILL HAVE TO VACCINATE OR CONDUCT WEEKLY COVETED TESTING IT COULD AFFECT SOME 80 MILLION AMERICANS THE KANSAS AND MISSOURI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAVE COME OUT AGAINST THE DIRECTIVE AND MISSOURI GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON SAYS HE ISN'T RULING OUT A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO CHALLENGE WHAT HE SAYS IS AN ASSAULT ON INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AND FREE ENTERPRISE I THINK WHEN YOU START GOING OUT THERE TRYING TO MANDATE VACCINES I THINK THAT'S PROBLEMATIC I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE STATES GOING TO FOLLOW THAT AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF GOVERNORS FOLLOW BUT EVEN IF THERE WERE A SPECIAL SESSION OTHER THAN FILING A LAWSUIT WHAT COULD MISSOURI LAWMAKERS DO PETE MUNDO TO BLOCK THE MANDATE FROM GOING INTO EFFECT WELL I I THINK THE BEST BET NICK REMAINS WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT EARLIER WHICH IS THE LAWSUITS BEING FILED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERALS AND WORKING THIS THING THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM I MEAN WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF TALK FROM THE GOVERNOR AND FROM UH STATE LAWMAKERS AS WELL IN OUR BACKYARD SAYING HEY SPECIAL SESSION LET'S DO THIS BUT THEY'VE BEEN KIND OF UNCLEAR UM IN MY TALKINGS WITH THEM ON WHAT THEY COULD OR WHAT THEY WOULD DO IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE VERY RELIANT ON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SEEING HOW IT PLAYS OUT FROM THERE IN FLORIDA MICHAEL MAHONEY THE GOVERNOR THERE IS GOING TO FINE EMPLOYERS WHO ENFORCE A VACCINE MANDATE 5 000 COULD WE SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN MISSOURI OR KANSAS YEAH POTENTIALLY YOU YOU COULD I DOUBT THAT THAT WILL HA UH HAPPEN UM AS PETE WAS DISCUSSING THE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO CHALLENGE THIS IS TO DO IT UH THROUGH A LAWSUIT AND UH I EXPECT THAT THE ATTORNEYS GENERAL SCHMIDT BOTH OF THEM ERIC AND DEREK UM MAY DO SOMETHING ON ALONG THOSE LINES IN THE FUTURE THERE'S ALSO A SUGGESTION LISA THAT LAWMAKERS COULD DO WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN GUNS WITH GUNS IN MISSOURI WITH THE SECOND PR SECOND AMENDMENT PRESERVATION ACT THAT WOULD BLOCK LOCAL AUTHORITIES STATE OFFICIALS FROM WORKING WITH THE POLICE LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKING WITH THE POLICE UH TO ENFORCE FEDERAL GUN LAWS COULDN'T THE SAME BE DONE WITH REGARDS TO VACCINE MANDATES THAT NO LOCAL OFFICIALS COULD BE HELPING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAKE THAT HAPPEN I THINK CERTAINLY THERE ARE LAWMAKERS THAT ARE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT I DON'T KNOW I THINK IT'S STILL UNCLEAR WHAT KIND OF EFFECT THAT WOULD HAVE THAT IS THAT IS MORE THAN JUST A SYMBOLIC UH A SYMBOLIC GESTURE THERE I WILL AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES HERE THAT THE MOST LIKELY ACTION IS GOING TO BE A LAWSUIT FILED BY THE ATTORNEYS BUT THE STATE COULD ALSO ERIC WEST AND SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE ANY FUNDING FROM THE STATE UH TAX INCENTIVES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT OR ANY GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS TO ANY COMPANY IN MISSOURI FOR ENACTING A VACCINE MANDATE SO PERHAPS NO MORE HISTORIC TAX CREDITS FOR DEVELOPERS FOR INSTANCE DOWNTOWN IF THEY HAD A VACCINE MANDATE WELL THERE'S ONE THING THAT WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN AND THAT'S WHO KNOWS WHAT CAN HAPPEN UH IT'S A IT'S A VERY SERIOUS POSSIBILITY THAT IT COULD HAPPEN BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY IF THE GOVERNMENT IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS YOU KNOW WHAT IF YOU IF YOU GO AGAINST OUR MANDATE WE'LL CUT OFF FEDERAL FUNDING TO YOUR STATES THEY COULD DO THAT AS WELL SINCE THEY WANT TO PLAY HARDBALL LIKE THAT MANY OF OUR VIEWERS THOUGH LISA WANT TO KNOW HOW IS THIS ALL GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND PERHAPS THE BIGGEST QUESTION IS IS THE EMPLOYER A LOCAL EMPLOYER GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THESE UH COVERT TESTS EVERY WEEK FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES IF THEY ARE NOT VACCINATED I MEAN I THINK THAT'S STILL AN OPEN QUESTION AND IF YOU LOOK AT AT WHAT HAS WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THIS PANDEMIC SO FAR ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MOST OF THESE MEASURES HAVE FALLEN ON LOCAL BUSINESSES AND HAVE FALLEN ON ON INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES AND WORKERS AT THOSE BUSINESSES TO ENFORCE SO I THINK I THINK THAT IS A LEGITIMATE UH CONCERN FROM BUSINESSES NOT ONLY IT HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT UH EMPLOYMENT WHEN WE'RE ALREADY SEEING A SHORTAGE OF WORKFORCE BUT WHAT KIND OF COSTS UM IS IMPLEMENTING THIS GOING TO TAKE AND IT DOES THAT OUTWEIGH THE COST OF THE PENALTY FOR NOT IMPLEMENTING IT THE THING TO WATCH HERE IS WHAT THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR DOES IN TERMS OF UH PUTTING OUT THE RULES BEHIND THIS MANDATE AND THEY MAY NOT COME FOR A WHILE AND SO WE'LL BE LEFT IN THIS LIMBO ABOUT THERE'S AN ORDER AND THERE'S A MANDATE BUT THERE'S NO NO RULES SET TO UH TO ENFORCE US SO WE'LL BE IN LIMBO NOW WHAT IMPACT OF COURSE WOULD THIS PLAN HAVE ON WORKERS MISSOURI'S LARGEST ASSOCIATION OF NURSING HOMES TELLING A HEARING OF STATE LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK THAT THEY COULD LOSE HALF THEIR STAFF I HAD A MEMBER CALL ME AND SAY THIS WILL BE USED THE WORDS CATASTROPHIC UM IMPACT ON OUR ON OUR WORKFORCE THOSE FEARS PLAYING OUT IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS WELL THIS WEEK THE SHAWNEE MISSION SCHOOL DISTRICT IS CONSIDERING A VACCINE REQUIREMENT FOR STAFF BUT THERE ARE WORRIES IT COULD LEAD TO AN EXODUS OF TEACHERS PLEASE DO NOT FORCE OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE VACCINE RISKS OR KEEPING THEIR JOB WE WILL LOSE MANY WONDERFUL EDUCATORS WE ALREADY HAVE SEEN VACCINE MANDATES IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THIS METRO LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE KANSAS CITY MISSOURI SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT ARE ALREADY DOING THAT DID THEY SEE THIS MASS EXODUS OF TEACHERS ARE THERE CLASSROOMS TODAY THAT ARE NOT GOING TO TEACH YOU IN THE FRONT OF THE CLASSROOM AS A RESULT OF A VACCINE MANDATE NO AND I TALKED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT ACTUALLY HE WAS ON MY SHOW THIS WEEKEND AND HE SAID IT'S GOING RELATIVELY WELL TEACHERS AREN'T REALLY PUSHING BACK AGAINST IT BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DID WHAT HE DID TALK ABOUT WAS THAT THEY HAVE IN BUILDING SUBS NOW AND IT'S NOT THE VACCINE IT'S THE UPSWING IN KIDS BEING QUARANTINED AT SOME SCHOOLS THEY HAVE ENTIRE CLASSROOMS BEING QUARANTINED WHICH MEANS THAT THEY'RE NOT IN SCHOOL BUT THERE WAS NO REAL PUSHBACK AND IN FACT HE SAID IT'S BEEN AN INFLUX AND TEACHERS GOING TO GET THE VACCINE AS A RESULT OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOW IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT TEACHERS SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE HAVING STRUGGLES WITH ALL MANNER OF STAFF DID YOU SEE A SHORTAGE OF BUS DRIVERS HAS PROMPTED THE RAYTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT TO WARN PARENTS THEY MAY HAVE TO ELIMINATE BUS SERVICE ALTOGETHER IN FACT IN MASSACHUSETTS THE GOVERNOR HAS NOW CALLED UP THE NATIONAL GUARD TO DRIVE KIDS TO SCHOOL ONE DISTRICT IN DELAWARE NOW PAYING PARENTS 700 BUCKS TO TAKE THEIR OWN KIDS TO CAMPUS ANY EVIDENCE WE'RE HAVING TO GO THAT FAR HERE LISA I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE'RE CALLING IN THE NATIONAL GUARD OR OFFERING PARENTS INCENTIVES BUT CERTAINLY THIS SCHOOL BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE IS A NATIONWIDE THING THAT IS IMPACTING OUR SCHOOLS HERE I KNOW ON THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL FOR KANSAS CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS THERE WERE BOARD MEMBERS DRIVING KIDS TO SCHOOL I'M PRETTY SURE THE SUPERINTENDENT HAD TO PICK UP STUDENTS AND GET THEM TO THEIR CLASSROOMS THAT DAY SO THIS IS THESE ARE THESE SHORTAGES NOT ONLY OF OF TEACHERS OF BUS DRIVERS OF SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS UM THEY'RE AFFECTING SCHOOLS AND AND WITH THIS WHOLE PANDEMIC I THINK WE'RE REALLY ON THE BRINK I THINK SCHOOLS ARE ARE KEEPING THEIR HEAD ABOVE WATER RIGHT NOW BUT IF THINGS WERE TO GET ANY WORSE OR IF THE HOLIDAY SEASON OR THE FLU SEASON WERE TO BE REALLY BAD I THINK WE'RE REALLY ON THE BRINK OF A CRISIS PETE WOULD YOU UH TAKE YOUR OWN KIDS TO SCHOOL FOR SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS WELL I CERTAINLY WOULD AND YOU KNOW AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED MARK BEDELL DRIVING THE BUS IS EARNING THAT 300 000 PAYCHECK THAT'S THAT'S WHAT THAT IS BUT UH YOU KNOW SERIOUSLY THIS IS THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS BEYOND SCHOOL BUS DRIVING RIGHT THERE ARE 10 MILLION JOBS AVAILABLE IN THIS COUNTRY THE EXTRA UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS END IN LABOR DAY IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE A FEW WEEKS TO SEE WHAT THE FALLOUT IS IS OF THAT ARE PEOPLE GOING BACK INTO THE LABOR FORCE BUT STILL IT'S NOT HAPPENING AT THE PACE A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT SO THERE'S STILL MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS ON ON WHERE THESE PEOPLE HAVE GONE AND HOW WE GET THEM BACK INTO THE LABOR FORCE BUT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE INCLUDING BUS DRIVERS WHO ARE QUALIFIED THEY'RE JUST WORRIED THAT THEY MAY CATCH COVERED WITH ALL THESE KIDS ON THE BUS ISN'T THAT RIGHT MICHAEL WELL THE THE OTHER THING IS THE IDEA HERE OF A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE IS NOT NEW A LOT OF DISTRICTS INCLUDING THE ONES IN OUR AREA STRUGGLE WITH THIS ON AN ANNUAL UH BASIS IT'S A IT'S A SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT JOB IT'S A BIG VEHICLE YOU'RE HAULING KIDS AROUND UM IT'S COMPLICATED THE HOURS AREN'T THAT UH THAT GREAT UH SCHOOL BUS SHORTAGES ARE NOT JUST A FUNCTION OF THE PANDEMIC THEY HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CERTAINLY IN OUR AREA FOR QUITE SOME TIME DESPITE TICKETS THREATS OF FINES AND A COURT ORDER RAY'S CAFE IS STILL OPEN AND DISHING UP BREAKFAST THIS WEEK RAISES THE BLUE SPRINGS RESTAURANT THAT HAS BEEN MAKING NATIONAL NEWS AFTER ITS OWNER REFUSED TO REQUIRE MASKS TO AVOID BEING SHUT DOWN THE RESTAURANT SKIRTED THE COUNTY MANDATE BY DECLARING ITSELF A PRIVATE CLUB CHARGING DINERS A DOLLAR TO ENTER THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SETTLED IN COURT THIS WEEK BUT THE CUSTOMERS ARE STILL COMING IN AND OUT AND THEY'VE NOW GOT THE SUPPORT OF THE MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL NO MASS MANDATES NO VACCINE PASSPORTS NO VACCINE MANDATES FOR COVID AND NO MORE LOCKDOWNS OKAY LET'S GET THIS REAL STRAIGHT I FIND THIS STORY KIND OF REMARKABLE ERIC WESSON THAT UH WITH ALL OF THAT EFFORT YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT JUDGES INVOLVED TICKETS AND FINES AND YOU KNOW THE COUNTY COULDN'T FIND A WAY TO SHUT OFF THE ELECTRICITY OR THE WATER FROM THIS RESTAURANT TO STOP IT FROM OPENING YES IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY MIND-BOGGLING AND THEN YESTERDAY WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A A HEARING ABOUT IT AND THEN THEY GOT A CONTINUANCE ON THE HEARING SO YOU KNOW IT'S IT ONE SIDE OF IT SEEMS EXTREMELY POLITICAL SINCE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS RUNNING FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE THE OTHER SIDE OF IT OKAY SO WE GOT THIS LARGE INFLUX OF PEOPLE THAT ARE TESTING POSITIVE GETTING SICK YOU KNOW OUR OBITUARY SECTION IN OUR NEWSPAPER WE HAD TO GO UP PAGES LAST WEEK BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DYING FROM THIS AND NOBODY SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE TAKING IT SERIOUS PETE ANY EVIDENCE THAT OTHER RESTAURANTS AND CAFES ON EITHER SIDE OF STATE LINE HAVE DECIDED TO UH MIRROR WHAT REY'S CAFE HAS BEEN DOING I BELIEVE THERE WAS THAT ONE BAR IN IN KANSAS CITY MISSOURI THAT UH THAT DID GO ALONG ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO OR SO BUT IS THERE IS IT HAPPENING ON MASS SCALE NOT THAT WE'RE AWARE OF RIGHT NOW BUT IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE HOW YOU KNOW THIS SINGLE MOTHER CAFE OWNER HAS BECOME A CULTURAL LINCHPIN IN MANY WAYS IN THE KANSAS CITY AREA SHE'S MADE NATIONAL TV APPEARANCES UH IN THE WAKE OF ALL THIS AND IT JUST TELLS YOU AND SHOWS YOU HOW HOW DIVISIVE THIS ISSUE IS RIGHT NOW IN THIS MOMENT IN TIME RESISTANCE TO WEARING MASKS IS PLAYING OUT ON THE KANSAS SIDE OF THE STATE LINE THIS WEEK A PUBLIC HEARING IN JOHNSON COUNTY OVER POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE COUNTY CHARTER WAS ABRUPTLY SUSPENDED AFTER MANY IN THE CROWD REFUSED TO WEAR MASKS OR SOCIALLY DISTANCED THE VIDEO FEED OF THE HEARING WAS CUT SO SORRY WE CAN'T SHOW YOU THAT BUT YOU CAN GET A CLEAR SENSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING JUST FROM LISTENING DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING IS A JUROR THANK YOU RIGHT YOU'RE GETTING A SENSE OF IT THERE BUT ARE WE GETTING TO THE POINT LISA THAT WE CAN'T HAVE PUBLIC OFFICIALS MEETING WITH THE PUBLIC AT ANY POINT IN TIME NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS IS I MEAN REALLY A REMARKABLE TREND THAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST YEAR WHERE EVEN THE MOST MUNDANE OF ISSUES THE CHANGING OF THE OF THE COUNTY CHARTER BECOME POLARIZED AND BECOME EXTREME AND PEOPLE UM PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD AND THEY'LL GO TO ANY EXTENT TO DO IT SO I DON'T I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE END OF PUBLIC DISCOURSE FOR LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES BUT IT CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING THAT THAT BODIES THAT COUNTY COMMISSIONS AND CITY COUNCILS WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO GET THROUGH A PUBLIC MEETING THESE DAYS WITHOUT SOMETHING WITHOUT BLOWING UP IN 50 YEARS IT'S GOING TO BE FASCINATING TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THIS CHAPTER IN AMERICAN HISTORY IS WRITTEN GIVEN THE DIVISION THAT HAS EMERGED HERE BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND WHAT IS PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY ESSENTIALLY AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO RESOLVE ITSELF I'M NOT GOING TO BE AROUND IN 50 YEARS BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING CHAPTER ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 21ST CENTURY AND IT WILL HAVE A LONG-RANGE IMPACT I BELIEVE BUT UH PETE MYSELF ERIC AND LISA WILL BE AROUND IN 50 YEARS AS WE DISSECT THAT POINT ON THIS PROGRAM WITH YOU AT HOME WELL SOME TOPICS I'M RELUCTANT TO EVEN WEIGH IN ON THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY'VE COME UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITHOUT ANY RESOLUTION AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE JUST TRIAL BALLOONS THAT ARE GOING NOWHERE IS THAT HOW WE SHOULD VIEW THIS WEEK'S ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE OWNER OF THE ROYALS I WOULD JUST TELL YOU THAT I GUESS WE'RE A LITTLE BIT BEYOND JUST LISTENING TO OTHERS IDEAS WE ARE CONDUCTING AN INTERNAL PROCESS TO HELP US EVALUATE OUR OPTIONS FOR WHERE WE PLAY AND ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS IS TO PLAY DOWNTOWN BASEBALL ROYALS OWNER JOHN SHERMAN'S WORDS SETTING OFF ANOTHER FRENZY OF NEWS STORIES BUT CAN WE DISPENSE WITH THIS TOPIC IN 10 SECONDS AND SAY MOVE ON THIS IS GOING NOWHERE MICHAEL MAHONEY OR IS IT WHAT WE HEARD THIS WEEK SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAT WE NEED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TO TOWARDS SERIOUS CONSIDERATION OF BUILDING A BASEBALL STADIUM DOWNTOWN IT'S HAPPENING NOW BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE LEASES DON'T EXPIRE UNTIL 2030 IN TERMS OF THE TIMELINE TO DEAL WITH THIS SORT OF STUFF IT IS NOW APPROACHING IT'S AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO TO DEAL WITH THIS A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT TO REMEMBER JOHN SHERMAN SEEMS TO BE MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA OF A DOWNTOWN BASEBALL STADIUM THAN DAVID GLASS EVER WAS AND THERE IS MORE EVIDENCE NOW BECAUSE OF OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE DOWNTOWN STADIUMS THAT THEY DO WORK PROVIDED THAT THEY GO IN AT THE RIGHT SPOT JOHN SHERMAN MENTIONED THIS WEEK ERIC WESSON THAT THIS HAD TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND MORE THAN THAT A PARTICULAR FOCUS HE SAYS QUOTE ON THOSE UNDERREPRESENTED PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY SO IN THE REALM OF BUILDING A BALLPARK WHAT DOES THAT MEAN WELL I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY I CAN'T DISCLOSE THE INDIVIDUAL BUT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RIDE AROUND AND LOOK AT SOME POSSIBLE SITES AND THE SITES THAT WE KIND OF LOOKED AT WERE IN AREAS THAT WERE PRETTY BLIGHTED AND A BASEBALL STADIUM WOULD GO EXTREMELY WELL IN THOSE AREAS AND HELP DEVELOP AROUND THE PARK BECAUSE IF YOU IF YOU LOOK AT THINGS STATISTICALLY WHEREVER THERE'S A BASEBALL PARK DOWNTOWN THERE'S A THRIVING ECONOMY AROUND MOST OF THEM NOT ALL OF THEM AND DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY RIGHT NOW IS KIND OF RIPE FOR THAT OKAY YOU'VE GOT WAS THAT WAS THERE A SPECIFIC SITE MENTIONED BY THIS UNDISCLOSED ANONYMOUS SOURCE ERIC I I HAVE SAID PROBABLY OH THAT'S HIM CALLING ME RIGHT NOW NO WE LOOKED AT SEVERAL SEVERAL SITES THAT WOULD BE IDEAL FOR A BASEBALL PARK NOW WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE ALL THAT LAND THAT WE LOOKED AT AS A GREAT PLACE FOR IT IS ANOTHER CONVERSATION BUT IT'S IT SEEMS TO BE A GREAT IDEA AT THE TOP OF THE PROGRAM WE HEARD SOME SOUND BITES FROM FANS FIRST BLUSH REACTIONS PEOPLE ONE BIG CONCERN OF COURSE WAS OH MY GOD WHAT A HASSLE WITH PARKING IT'S EASY OUT AT THE SPORTS COMPLEX HOW ARE WE GONNA EVEN FIND PARKING DOWNTOWN AND THAT'S A LEGITIMATE CONCERN I MEAN NOTHING BETTER THAN GETTING IN OUT OF THE K WITH A FAMILY YOU KNOW YOU DO IT IN FIVE MINUTES IT'S IT'S VERY PLEASANT AND ENJOYABLE AND AND JUST REMEMBER THIS TOO IT'S NOT JUST JOHN SHERMAN HE'S MAJORITY OWNER BUT YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF MINORITY OWNERS HERE WITH THE ROYALS WHO HAVE THEIR OWN INCENTIVES AROUND KANSAS CITY ALL RIGHT WHETHER IT'S PARKING GARAGES LAND DOWNTOWN WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE AND THAT'S FINE BUT THEN TO ASK THE TAXPAYER ON TOP OF IT FOR SOME DOE IS WHERE YOU GET SOME QUESTIONS AND JOHN SHERMAN MADE IT VERY CLEAR HE WAS ASKED ABOUT PUBLIC MONEY AND HE SAID WELL WE ALREADY HAVE THAT GOING ON RIGHT NOW THE IMPLICATION TO ME THERE WAS WE NEED THE PUBLIC DOLLARS THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE HOW MUCH YEAH LISA THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE UM IT'S EASY TO SAY HEY THAT SOUNDS FUN THEN WE CAN HAVE BARS AND RESTAURANTS DOWNTOWN BUT HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO FORK OUT OF YOUR POCKETBOOK TO PAY FOR IT RIGHT AND AND TAXPAYERS IN KANSAS CITY HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAYING AN ADDITION TO THEIR SALES TAX TO FUND THE CURRENT STRUCTURES SO THAT'S THE BIGGEST QUESTION TO ME RIGHT NOW IS HOW MUCH OF THIS IS GOING TO FALL ON ON TAXPAYER BACKS TO FUND AND IS THIS THE APPROPRIATE USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND THEN THE OTHER THING TO CONSIDER IS IF WE UPGRADE THE ROYALS STADIUM OR BRING IT DOWNTOWN CERTAINLY THE CHIEFS ARE GOING TO WANT SOME SORT OF PARODY THERE AND AND MAY WANT THE UPDATES OF THEIR OWN AND SO I I WHILE THE IDEA IS EXCITING AND INTRIGUING I AM I'M VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT THAT TAXPAYER COMPONENT WILL BE ONE OTHER THING THE UM THE DYNAMICS BEHIND A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FOR A FUNCTION LIKE THIS A SPORTS SPORTS STADIUM HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY DRAMATICALLY IN JUST THE 10 OR 11 YEARS SINCE THE SPORTS COMPLEX WAS REFINANCED YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A REQUIREMENT FOR MUCH MORE PRIVATE UH MONEY GOING INTO A PROJECT LIKE THIS THAN IT'S BEEN HISTORY IN THE PAST AND WHAT DO WE DO UH PETE MUNDO WITH KAUFFMAN STADIUM UH THAT WILL JUST BE ABANDONED UH KNOCK IT DOWN CHIEFS WILL USE IT FOR PARKING AND MAKE A TON OF MONEY OFF OF IT I MEAN THAT'S THAT'S THE REALITY YOU TURN IT INTO THE AN ANNEX FOR THE BASEBALL ACADEMY AND THEN YOU LET THE MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS GO IN AND PLAY THERE BUT ONE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO SAY ABOUT HUH WHO'S PAYING FOR THAT COUNTY YOU I'M NOT A DOCTOR BACK TO WHERE P SAID ABOUT PARKING DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THE PLAN WOULD INCLUDE A DOUBLE DEER DOUBLE-TIER PARKING GARAGE AS WELL THE LAST TIME WE DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC I THOUGHT ONE OF THE REASONS FOR NOT MOVING DOWNTOWN WAS BECAUSE A HUGE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE ROYALS RIGHT NOW IS THE PARKING THEY GET ALL THAT MONEY COMING IN THIS WAS THEY'D COMPLETELY LOSE IF THEY WENT DOWNTOWN THEY WOULD FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PUT THAT IN IN AS WELL BECAUSE WHAT IS IT LIKE 70 DOLLARS TO PARK AT THE CHIEFS GAMES OR 75 THAT AND THAT'S A LOT OF REVENUE NOW WHILE MANY OF US FOR GOOD REASON WANT TO KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO KAUFMAN STADIUM IF THE ROYALS MOVE DOWNTOWN THERE ARE LOTS OF BIG BUILDINGS THAT ARE NOW BEING ABANDONED WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO THEM COUNTY LEADERS ANNOUNCED THEY WILL CLOSE THE DOWNTOWN JACKSON COUNTY JAIL AND BUILD A NEW FACILITY ON THE SITE OF A MOBILE HOME PARK NOW THE CHAIR OF THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE DAN TALWATER HAS A PROPOSAL HE TELLS THE MARTIN CITY TELEGRAPH THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD NOW TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS HE SAYS IT HAS SHOWERS IT HAS A BIG KITCHEN SO YOU CAN MAKE MEALS YOU'VE GOT 700 PLUS BEDS YOU COULD PUT PEOPLE IN REMOVE THE BARS HE SAYS AND MAKE IT APARTMENT STYLE WITH NO FIRM FIX FOR THE HOMELESS ISSUE MIGHT THIS HAVE MORE POSITIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT THAN MOVING THE ROYALS SEVEN MILES DOWN THE ROAD LISA IF IF THIS IDEA WERE TO MATERIALIZE AND MOVE FORWARD IN ANY WAY YOU WOULD SEE A LOT OF REALLY POLARIZING OPINIONS ON ON THIS AS WELL I MEAN THERE YOU YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT THAT IT'S GOT SHOWERS IT'S GOT A KITCHEN AS WELL BUT YOU KNOW FOR FOR BETTER OR WORSE WITH WITH HOMELESS POPULATIONS THAT WE HAVE SEEN YOU KNOW EVEN IF IT'S IN THE SUBURBS NEIGHBORS OUTCRY SAY THAT THEY DON'T WANT THAT IN THEIR BACKYARD I WORRY ABOUT THOSE ARGUMENTS HAPPENING HERE RIGHT OR WRONG BUT I I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK IT'S AS IT'S IT'S NOT A DONE DEAL IT WON'T BE AN EASY DEAL TO MAKE THE IDEA OF UH EIGHT OR NINE STORY HIGH-RISE HOMELESS SHELTER ON THE SOUTHEAST END OF DOWNTOWN IS GOING TO BE A REALLY TOUGH SELL FOR LOTS OF DIFFERENT REASONS INCLUDING THE ONE THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED ABOUT THE CONTINUING RENAISSANCE OF DOWNTOWN WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A BASEBALL STADIUM THERE THERE ARE LOTS OF DETAILS TO WORK OUT ON THIS I THINK LISA'S REALLY NAILED IT ON THE HEAD HERE THAT IT'S INTERESTING BUT INTERESTING BUT INTERESTING BUT YOU CAN DO THREE MORE OF THOSE I THINK MICHAEL WE'RE READY FOR THAT NOW BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WE WANT TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IT TURNS 10 YEARS OLD THIS WEEK YES IT'S BEEN THAT LONG ON THIS DAY A DECADE AGO WE WERE GETTING OUR FIRST GLIMPSE INSIDE I ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO THE KAUFFMAN CENTER TO SEE IF THEY'D BE INTERESTED IN COMING ON THE SHOW THIS WEEK TO CELEBRATE THOSE 10 YEARS BUT I WAS TOLD WE'RE TAKING A PAUSE ON THAT CELEBRATION UNTIL QUOTE THE TIME IS RIGHT BUT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT IN THE MOOD TO CELEBRATE IT DOESN'T WE CAN'T IS IT APPROPRIATE TO RAISE A GLASS TO WHAT THEY'VE DONE THERE PETE YEAH YEAH ABSOLUTELY I MEAN IT'S BEEN PART OF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RENAISSANCE OF DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY OBVIOUSLY IT'S PLAYED A ROLE IN IT AND IT'S BEEN A STAPLE DOWN THERE AND UH IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS SO YEAH TEN YEARS TO THEM AND WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO SEE DOWNTOWN HAS BEEN IMPRESSIVE THE QUESTION OF COURSE REMAINS UH HOW MUCH WHEN IT COMES TO TAX SUBSIDIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE IS GOING TO COST BUT OVERALL ABSOLUTELY CHEERS TO THEM WHAT YOU DIDN'T SEE IN THAT VIDEO BY THE WAY LISA WAS ANY MASKS AND PEOPLE SHOWING VACCINE CARDS WHICH IN THE LAST FEW DAYS FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE NOW DOING OVER THERE AT THE KAUFFMAN CENTER WITH THE MOST STRICTEST COVETED PLAN UH IN THE METRO DID THAT LEAD TO THE TYPE OF LONG LINES WE SAW ON OPENING DAY UH PEOPLE BEING LATE FOR THE SHOWS BECAUSE UH THEY HAD TO SHOW ALL OF THIS NEW IDENTIFICATION FOR THE FIRST TIME NO AND AND MY COLLEAGUES HERE MIGHT CONTRADICT ME BUT I DIDN'T I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT ANY DIFFICULTIES UM IN THOSE FIRST SHOWS AS WELL SO IF IT DIDN'T MAKE NEWS THEN I I ASSUME IT I ASSUME IT WENT PRETTY SMOOTHLY JUST YOU KNOW YES THE KAUFFMAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IS A REASON FOR CELEBRATION THE ACOUSTICS IN THAT BUILDING ARE ASTONISHING UM AND IT HAS A WIDE RANGE OF ARTISTS THAT IT INVITES INTO IT AND SO WHEN THEY'RE READY TO CELEBRATE BEING 10 YEARS OLD I THINK KANSAS CITY OUGHT TO JOIN IN THE CELEBRATION BUT THE CITY AND OUR REGION MORE IMPORTANTLY IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE A A HIGH CALIBER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER LIKE THAT IT'S A GEM 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 FOR MANY KANSAS CITIANS THE CHIEFS BACK IN ACTION AND DELIVERING AN EXCITING WIN WAS THE BIGGEST NEWS STORY OF OUR WEEK BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY ONE THERE ARE BIG STUDENT PROTESTS AT KU OVER AN ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT AT A FRAT HOUSE A 22 YEAR OLD POLICE OFFICER IS DEAD AFTER A SHOOTOUT IN INDEPENDENCE BLAISE MADRID EVANS WAS STILL IN TRAINING AND HAD BEEN ON THE STREETS FOR JUST TWO MONTHS DID TAKING SCHOOL ONLINE HURT YOUR KIDS LEARNING MISSOURI POSTS ITS LATEST TEST SCORES AND THEY'RE DOWN ACROSS THE BOARD A SEVEN POINT DROP IN MATH AND SIZABLE LEARNING LOSSES IN ENGLISH AND SCIENCE SCHOOL LUNCH IS NOW THE LATEST VICTIM OF COVID IN THE METRO WE ARE DEFINITELY IN CRISIS MODE IT'S JUST PURE CHAOS WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THE FOOD A SHORTAGE OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION WORKERS AND TRUCK DRIVERS FORCING SCHOOLS TO GET CREATIVE WITH THEIR LUNCH MENUS SOME SCHOOLS IN MISSOURI RESORTING TO CALLING PIZZA HUT TO ENSURE THEIR STUDENTS ARE FED THE BRISKET AND RIBS ARE BACK THE AMERICAN ROYAL BARBECUE MAKING ITS COMEBACK THIS WEEK AFTER BEING CANCELLED LAST YEAR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND PREPARED TO BE SCARED THE BEAST MARKS ITS 30TH BIRTHDAY KANSAS CITY'S HAUNTED HOUSES REOPENED THEIR COBWEB DOORS THIS WEEKEND ALRIGHTY ERIC WESSON DID YOU PICK ONE OF THOSE STORIES OR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DRUMROLL PLEASE THE KANSAS CITY MUSEUM WILL HAVE A SOFT OPENING ON OCTOBER 1ST AND THE GRAND OPENING ON THE 21ST I'M ON THE BOARD WE'VE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO GO PETE STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES WAS ON THAT LIST NECK DOWN ACROSS MISSOURI 5 TO 10 POINTS AND SOMETHING THAT GETS LOST IN THAT STUDY 50 000 STUDENTS WEREN'T EVEN PART OF THAT STANDARDIZED TEST PROGRAM TO FIND OUT WHERE KIDS WERE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR SO YOU KNOW THE NUMBERS ARE PROBABLY INFLATED BASED ON WHERE THEY REALLY ARE WHEN WE LOOK BACK IN 50 YEARS ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISTAKES WE'VE MADE OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS TREATING YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE THEIR 85 YEAR OLD DIABETICS AND LETTING AN ENTIRE GENERATION FALL BEHIND ACADEMICALLY MICHAEL THE MAP SCORES THAT PETE JUST REFERENCED THERE WITHOUT WITHOUT QUESTION THAT IS A BIG UH SIGN OF WHAT'S HAPPENED TO EDUCATION DURING COLBIT LISA WE'VE TALKED A LOT ON THIS PROGRAM ABOUT ABOUT WHAT DIVIDES US AND WHAT SEPARATES US SO I'M GOING TO PICK SOMETHING THAT BRINGS US ALL TOGETHER AND SO I'M GOING TO GO WITH THE CHIEFS BECAUSE IF PATRICK MAHOMES AND THE CHIEFS CAN GIVE US THAT ENTERTAINMENT AND THAT KIND OF SUSPENSE AND ENTERTAINMENT EVERY WEEK I'LL TAKE THAT MOMENT OF JOY HAUNTED HOUSES DON'T BRING US ALL TOGETHER YOU'RE NOT READY TO BE SPOOKED OKAY THAT IS IT WE'LL SAY OUR WEEK HAS BEEN REVIEWED OUR THANKS TO CHANNEL 9'S MICHAEL MAHONEY THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US AND LISA RODRIGUEZ FROM KCUR NEWS FROM THE BUNKER OF THE CALL NEWSPAPER AT 18TH AND VINE ERIC WESSON AND WEEKDAY MORNINGS FROM 6 TO 10 ON KCMO TALK RADIO PETE MUNDO AND I'M NICK HAINES FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KANSAS CITY PBS BE WELL KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON