IT'S NOT A BIG NATIONAL ELECTION YEAR BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE AREN'T CRUCIAL ISSUES BEING DECIDED AT YOUR LOCAL BALLOT BOX ON THIS SPECIAL HOUR-LONG EDITION OF THE PROGRAM WE BRING YOU TWO BACK-TO-BACK MAYORAL DEBATES VOTERS IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY ARE PICKING A NEW LEADER PLUS THERE'S A SEISMIC SHIFT IN POWER TAKING PLACE IN JOHNSON COUNTY CARL GERLACH IS CALLING IT QUITS SHOULD THIS MAN OR THIS MAN BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF OVERLAND PARK ALL FOUR CANDIDATES ARE HEADING TO OUR STUDIOS TO BE WITH ME IN PERSON PLUS OUR REPORTERS ARE HERE TO DISSECT THE REST OF THE WEEK'S BIGGEST LOCAL HEADLINES IT'S ALL STRAIGHT AHEAD 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 GREAT NEWS YOU GET TWICE AS MUCH WEEK IN REVIEW THIS WEEK WE'RE A FULL HOUR AS WE BRING YOU THE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR IN OVERLAND PARK AND WYANDOTTE COUNTY AND YOU GET ALL THE SAME ANALYSIS YOU COME TO EXPECT FROM OUR REPORTERS AS WE DISSECT THE WEEK'S TOP LOCAL HEADLINES BUT FIRST CAST YOUR MIND BACK FOUR YEARS IT WAS THE MOST STUNNING LOCAL ELECTION UPSET OF 2017 LONG-TIME WYANDOTTE COUNTY MAYOR MARK HOLLAND OUSTED FROM OFFICE BY A ROCKHURST HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR BY THE NAME OF DAVID ALVEY FOUR YEARS LATER MAYOR ALVEY WANTS YOUR VOTE FOR A SECOND TERM STANDING IN HIS WAY IS THIS MAN TYRONE GARNER A FORMER TOP LEADER IN THE KANSAS CITY KANSAS POLICE DEPARTMENT I'D LIKE TO START IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU WITH A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE THIS WAS OUR WEEKEND REVIEW SHOW FOUR YEARS AGO THIS WEEK OUR CITY IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND RAISE A FAMILY AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THIS ELECTION IS A REFERENDUM ON MARK HOLLAND'S LEADERSHIP I FEEL LIKE TOO MANY NEIGHBORHOODS TOO MANY SMALL BUSINESSES TOO MANY EXPERI TAXPAYERS FEEL NEGLECTED THEY FEEL LEFT OUT THEY FEEL ALIENATED PEOPLE FEELING LEFT OUT AND NEGLECTED YOU SAID FOUR YEARS AGO AND IF YOU GO TO THE VERY TOP OF YOUR WEBSITE TODAY I'VE BEEN TROLLING YOUR WEBSITE IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU MAYOR ALVEY AND YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO BE IMPROVING THE LOOK FEEL AND FUNCTION OF WHY NOT COUNTY AND KANSAS CITY KANSAS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS NAME ONE THING YOU HAVE DONE TO IMPROVE THE LOOK FEEL AND FUNCTION OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY SINCE YOU'VE BEEN THERE WELL YOU KNOW THERE'S SO MANY THINGS WE COULD REALLY TALK ABOUT OUR RESPONSE TO COACH WHAT WOULD YOU SAY HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST PROBABLY OUR RESPONSE TO KOVID YOU KNOW THAT NO ONE COULD HAVE ANTICIPATED THIS REALLY NO ONE COULD SEE WHAT THIS WOULD DO SO IMMEDIATELY KNOWING WHAT THIS PANDEMIC COULD MEAN BECAUSE MY MOTHER ACTUALLY HAD BEEN I WAS A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE HAD BEEN THE FIRST PUBLIC WYANDOTTE COUNTY NURSE IN THE WYANDOTTE COUNTY JAIL SHE UNDERSTOOD HOW YOU KNOW DISEASES SPREAD AND HOW YOU HAVE TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF THESE SO MY MOM'S OWN EXPERIENCE REALLY INSPIRED ME TO UNDERSTAND WE'VE GOT TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF THIS SO THE FIRST THING WE DID IS WE CONVENED OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT WITH LEADERS FROM THROUGHOUT WYANDOTTE COUNTY MAJOR INSTITUTIONS INCLUDING OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION LEADERSHIP AND HAD DAILY MEETINGS TO SAY WHAT INFORMATION DO WE HAVE WHAT INFORMATION DO WE NEED TO GET OUT WHAT KINDS OF PROGRAMS AND INTERVENTIONS DO WE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY SO I WOULD SAY THAT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGE AND REALLY ARE I THINK WHAT WE DID BEST AND YOU HAD AND WERE KNOWN AS HAVING THE STRICTEST COVET POLICY IN OUR ENTIRE METROPOLITAN AREA DOES YOUR OPPONENT MAY ALVEY DESERVE A PAT ON THE BACK FOR THAT TYRONE GARNER OR WOULD YOU HAVE DONE THINGS DIFFERENTLY WELL I THINK WE AGREE I THINK WE CAN AGREE THAT UH COVET WAS SOMETHING THAT NONE OF US ANTICIPATED IT WAS UNEXPECTED AND IT WAS NO FAULT OF ANYBODY UM AND HERE'S WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE I THINK WE COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB OF REACHING OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS THERE WAS OVER 80 NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS IN WYANDIDE COUNTY AND THE FEEDBACK FOR ME FROM SOME OF THESE GROUPS IS THEY WERE LEFT OUT OF THAT EQUATION IN THAT CONVERSATION A LOT OF DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THE PEOPLE OF WANDAI COUNTY BUT THEY'RE NOT BEING MADE WITH THE PEOPLE OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY NO THAT'S SIMPLY NOT THE TRUTH YOU KNOW WHAT WE ALSO CONVENED BECAUSE THE THE VIRUS YOU REMEMBER IN WAIANAE COUNTY SPREAD QUITE QUICKLY THROUGH OUR NURSING HOMES BUT ALSO THROUGH OUR FAITH COMMUNITY AND SO WE ALSO CONVENED A MEETING OF PASTORS IN THE AREA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE GETTING THEM THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEEDED SO THEY COULD GIVE IT TO THEIR CONGREGANTS AND I'VE BEEN YOU KNOW SEVERAL OF THE PASTORS HAVE THANKED ME IN FACT FOR THE LEADERSHIP WE DID TO ENGAGE THEM AND TO ENGAGE THE LARGER COMMUNITY IF YOU HEAD TO YOUR WEBSITE TYRON GARNER YOU SEE THIS LINE UM I SPEAK TO PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME WHO ARE QUOTE TIRED OF MISGUIDED AND DISENGAGED LEADERSHIP THEY ARE TIRED OF THE YEARS OF BROKEN PROMISES WHAT'S THE BIGGEST BROKEN PROMISE IN YOUR VIEW THE BIGGEST BROKEN PROMISES IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COMMITMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO AREAS EAST OF 635 AND ANYONE I CHALLENGE ANYONE TO DRIVE INTO KANSAS CITY KANSAS GO EAST TO WEST AND YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE I CALL IT ECONOMIC SEGREGATION WHEN YOU GO FROM EAST TO WEST YOU CAN SEE THE THE BLIGHT YOU CAN SEE THE DISINVESTED IN AREAS IT'S SHAMEFUL WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME TO ME AND SAY THEY'VE HAD TO BEG LEADERSHIP FOR GROCERY STORES FOR STREET LIGHTS IT WORKS FOR VACANT LOTS TO BE MOWED FOR POTHOLES TO BE FILLED THESE ARE PEOPLE AND THEY DESERVE NOTHING LESS THAN THE BEST THAT THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT CAN OFFER THAT'S WHAT'S SOMETHING YOU COMPLAINED ABOUT WHEN YOU WERE RUNNING FOUR YEARS AGO SO WHY HAVEN'T THINGS BEEN DONE TO IMPROVE THAT WELL IN FACT THEY HAVE SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT HAS PUT IN IN THE NORTHEAST AREA IN THAT DEFINED AREA 21 OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS HAVE GONE IN THERE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAT'S ONLY EIGHT PERCENT OF OUR LAND AREA BUT IT GOT RECEIVED 21 PERCENT OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS THE PROBLEM IS AGAIN BECAUSE OF THAT LONG HISTORY OF DISINVESTMENT IT IS HARD TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO INVEST THERE WE ACTUALLY FUNDED UP A STUDY TO DO TO SEE WHETHER WE COULD LOCATE A GROCERY STORE ALONG PARALLEL AND IN FACT THE COMPANY THAT WE WE PAID FOR THE STUDY SAID THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH ROOFTOPS HERE FOR US TO SUSTAIN A STORE SO THE STRATEGY HAS GOT TO BE AND WE'RE WORKING ON THIS AND DEVELOPING THIS IS RE BRING IN INFILL HOUSING CREATE SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE THAT ARE WEALTH BUILDING FOR FAMILIES BECAUSE LONG TERM THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE TRAJECTORY OF THE NORTHEAST AND SO WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THIS AND WE DO HAVE A STRATEGY IN PLACE IT'S HARDER WHEN YOU'RE IN OFFICE BECAUSE YOU HAVE A RECORD TO RUN ON SOME PEOPLE IN WINDOW COUNTY MAY SAY WOW COOL TYRON GARNER'S GOT SOME IN TERESTING IDEAS BUT WOW WHAT TYPE OF EXPERIENCE HAS HE GOT THIS IS A GOVERNMENT THAT HAS A MORE THAN 400 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET YOU KNOW 2300 EMPLOYEES ACCORDING TO THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT PRESS OFFICE WHAT COULD YOU SAY TO FOLKS WHO ARE WAVERING THAT YOU HAVE THE TYPE OF BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE THAT COULD ACTUALLY HANDLE THAT TOP JOB WELL I I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT I HAD NO INTENTION OF RUNNING FOR MAYOR I WAS APPROACHED BY SOME COMMUNITY FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WERE TIRED OF THE MERRY-GO-ROUND TO ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE BROKEN PROMISES WHEN I WAS APPROACHED I HAD TO PRAY ABOUT IT AND AFTER PRAYING IT WAS AN EASY YES BECAUSE AS A DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AT AN EXECUTIVE LEVEL I WORKED WITH STAFF IN THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT ON BUDGETS ON PERSONNEL WITH UNIONS I ALSO HAD TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND CONNECT WITH THESE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS THAT I TALKED ABOUT TO FIND REAL SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS THAT AFFECT THE LIVES OF REAL PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND THESE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT ME THEY KNOW THAT I'M NOT JUST RESULTS DRIVEN I HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS I WAS ALSO ELECTED TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD I WAS INSTRUMENTAL AND IF YOU GO OUT TO THE KANSAS CITY KANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE NOW YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THE IMPROVEMENTS AESTHETICALLY TO THE COLLEGE THAT WAS DONE BECAUSE OF WE WANTED TO ATTRACT STUDENTS WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD A NICE COLLEGE THAT NOT ONLY STUDENTS COULD BE PROUD OF BUT WYANDOTTE COUNTY CAN BE PROUD OF WE DID ALL THAT THOSE UPGRADES YOU TALK ABOUT WE THERE WHAT SPECIFIC THING HAVE YOU DONE THAT YOU CAN POINT TO THAT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WASN'T FOR TYRONE GARNER'S TOUCH WELL I PUSHED FORWARD UM THE DAYCARE WAS CLOSED OUT OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE A MONTH BEFORE I TOOK C I MADE A COMMITMENT TO MY CONSTITUENTS THAT I WAS GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I COULD TO OPEN THAT DAYCARE BECAUSE WE DID NOT WANT TO CLOSE THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY TO STUDENT WORKING FAMILIES THAT WANTED TO GET AN EDUCATION TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES LET'S REWIND THE TAPE FROM FOUR YEARS AGO ON ANOTHER ISSUE THIS TIME CRIME HOW DO WE ADDRESS THE 40 PERCENT INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME THAT HAS OCCURRED SINCE MAYOR HOLLAND BECAME MAYOR ALRIGHTY DAVID ALVEY IN THE LAST YEAR OF MAYOR HOLLAND'S TERM THERE WERE 41 MURDERS LAST YEAR IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY THERE WERE 58 HOMICIDES THAT'S A 41 PERCENT INCREASE IF MAYOR HOLLAND FAILED ON THAT ISSUE HAVE YOU FAILED TO WELL I THINK AS A COMMUNITY WE'RE FAILING BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GOES ACROSS ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY BUT I WOULD SAY THIS THAT SINCE YOU KNOW BY PAST YEAR THE HOMICIDE RATE IS DOWN WHAT WE SAW ACROSS THE NATION LAST YEAR WAS INCREASE IN HOMICIDES INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIMES FOR OUR COMMUNITY SO MUCH OF THIS WAS I THINK IN FACT PARTLY NOT DUE BUT EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC THERE WERE THERE WERE MORE GANG-RELATED SHOOTINGS THERE WERE MORE GANG-RELATED ACTIVITIES AND SO THOSE WERE KIDS WHO WERE NOT IN SCHOOL AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE FACTORS AGAIN WHEN YOU WHEN YOU LOCK DOWN YOU DON'T HAVE THAT THOSE KIDS DON'T HAVE THAT DAILY CONTACT IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IT PUTS FAMILIES UNDER STRESS SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT IF WE LOOK AT WHAT CHIEF OAKMONT IS DOING NOW TAKING PLACE IN TRYING TO FIRST OF ALL HIRING OR NAMING AN HISPANIC LIAISON COORDINATOR WHICH I THINK IS EXCELLENT FROM FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT THAT HIGH LEVEL ALSO WORKING WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN PUSHING AGAINST VIOLENCE WITH THE PROGRAM THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN ACROSS THE COMMUNITY BUT I TELL PEOPLE THAT REALLY IT'S IT'S REALLY ABOUT FAMILIES IF WE CAN REALLY HELP OUR FAMILIES GROW AND BE SECURE THEN THAT'S GOING TO TAKE THAT PRESSURE OFF THAT'S GOING TO REDUCE THAT CRIME YOU CAN'T HAVE ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS TO STOP ALL CRIME IT REALLY STARTS IN THE COMMUNITIES IT STARTS IN THE FAMILIES WHAT'S THE SINGLE BIGGEST IMPACTFUL CHANGE YOU COULD MAKE IF YOU WERE ELECTED MAYOR ON CRIME IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY WELL I THINK THE BIGGEST IMPACT IS WE NEED TO GET BACK TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE THEY'RE FULLY STAFFED AND FUNDED THEY HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO DO THE JOB THAT THEY NEED TO DO WE NEED TO GET BEHIND 21ST CENTURY POLICING CONCEPTS THAT BARACK OBAMA PUT OUT IN HIS REPORT A FEW YEARS BACK AND THEN REALLY HONE IN ON COMMUNITY POLICING AND LOOKING AT UM I WAS INSTRUMENTAL WHILE I WAS ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT UH IN FORMULATING THE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM SOME PEOPLE CALL IT CIT AND PUTTING THAT TOGETHER MENTAL ILLNESS IS A HUGE IMPACT UH IN TODAY'S WORLD ON POLICING AND REALLY FOCUSING A LOT MORE ATTENTION ON ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES NOT JUST OF UH MENTAL ILLNESS BUT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AS WELL AND SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I WOULD FOCUS ON BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY HAVING THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP IN PLACE THAT'S GOING TO SUPPORT CARL OAKMAN HIS EIGHT-POINT PLAN AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS THE FUNDING THE RESOURCES THAT HE NEEDS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES YOU SPENT A LOT OF YEARS IN THE KANSAS CITY KANSAS POLICE DEPARTMENT THE FBI NOW INVESTIGATING MISCONDUCT IN THAT UH DEPARTMENT DOES THE FACT THAT YOU WERE ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THAT DEPARTMENT UH HELP OR HURT YOU NOW AS YOU'RE RUNNING THIS CAMPAIGN I THINK IT HELPS BECAUSE I WAS OUTSPOKEN IN MY SUPPORT OF OF MARK DUPREE IN HIS CONVICTION INTEGRITY UNIT I WENT AGAINST THE GRAIN I KNOW I'VE GOTTEN SOME PUSHBACK FROM OFFICERS THAT SAY I DON'T BACK THE BLUE WHICH IS FINE IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T BACK THE BLUE I DON'T BACK BAD POLICE OFFICERS AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SHOULD WE DON'T THINK OF IMMIGRATION AS A LOCAL ISSUE BUT SOMETIMES IT DOES INTERSECT THIS WEEK THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE STREETS OF KANSAS CITY KANSAS CALLING OUT YOUR NAME MAYOR ALVI THEY WANT MUNICIPAL ID CARDS FOR 30 000 UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS AND THE HOMELESS WHO DON'T HAVE PHOTO IDENTIFICATION IT'S A HURDLE THEY SAY THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO ENROLL THEIR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT GET A LIBRARY CARD IF YOU MISSED THE STORY HERE'S SOME OF THOSE SCENES FROM EARLIER THIS WEEK THE KANSAS CITY KANSAS COMMUNITY AND A BROAD COALITION OF ACTIVIST GROUPS MARCHED DOWNTOWN MANY AT THE RALLY SAY THEY'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARD THIS FOR NEARLY FIVE YEARS BUT THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT HAS STALLED IT OUT IT'S BEEN VERY SLOW THEY'RE NOT MAKING PROGRESS IT'S AVOIDANCE IF THEY WANT TO MAKE PROGRESS THEN YOU WELCOME PEOPLE MAYOR ALVEY THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR WHY WOULDN'T YOU JUST SAY OKAY LET'S JUST DO THIS LET'S JUST MAKE THIS HAPPEN WELL WE ARE MAKING IT HAPPEN I MEAN THIS IS WHAT'S DISTURBING TO ME IS ABOUT THE APPROACH THAT THESE GROUPS HAVE TAKEN IS WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH THEM OUR ATTORNEY HAS BEEN MEETING WITH THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND TRYING TO WORK OUT A PROGRAM WHAT THEY'RE EXPECTING IS I'M GOOD WITH THE MUNICIPAL ID IF SOMEONE NEEDS AN ID TO ACCESS SERVICES WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT WE DID A REPORT IN 2019 THOROUGHLY ABOUT WHAT WOULD MUNICIPAL ID LOOK LIKE AND SO WE ACTUALLY HAD MULTIPLE OPTIONS THAT WE COULD TO IMPLEMENT THIS IN FACT OPTIONS THAT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO BECOME BANKED UH GET INSIDE THE BANKING SYSTEM AND BE ABLE TO ACCESS FINANCIAL SERVICES WHICH WOULD BE A GREAT LEAP FORWARD FOR MANY PEOPLE AND SO THAT WAS ALL READY TO GO WHAT CAME BACK WAS YOU HAVE TO IN FACT HAVE A AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD MANDATE NON-COMPLIANCE WITH IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT WELL THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS WE HAVE MULTIPLE AGREEMENTS GRANTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THAT THE COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OVER THE YEARS AND THAT I SIGNED OFF ON THAT REQUIRE US TO WORK WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES WE CAN'T SEPARATE OUT ANY AGENCY IT'S FEDERAL LAW THAT PROHIBITS THAT WE CANNOT GO AGAINST THAT EVEN OUR ATTORNEY CANNOT BRING FORWARD TO US A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD VIOLATE FEDERAL LAW NOW AGAIN WHEN THEY SAID THAT WE CANNOT DO A MUNICIPAL ID UNLESS WE HAD THAT PIECE IN THERE WELL THEN THAT'S A NON-STARTER SO WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM IN FACT JUST TWO WEEKS LAST WEEK OUR ATTORNEY MET AND THEN THE PROTEST CAME IT JUST SEEMS TO ME TO BE A DISINGENUOUS PROCESS YOU KNOW I WENT THROUGH YOUR WEBSITE AND I ACTUALLY DIDN'T SEE THE MUNICIPAL IDEAS LISTED ON THERE IS THIS A NON-ISSUE IT IS AN ISSUE AND JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR I DISAGREE WITH THE MAYOR ON THAT FACT I THINK WHAT NEEDS IS WHAT THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS IS LEADERSHIP I STAND FIRMLY BEHIND SAFE AND WELCOMING AND MAKING THAT AN ORDINANCE I THINK WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS WE NEED TO GET AT THE TABLE AS A MAYOR GARNER IF I'M ELECTED I'M GOING TO GET AT THE TABLE WITH THESE FOLKS AND I'M GOING TO LEAD A BLUE RIBBON PANEL TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION THERE ARE OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE DONE THIS THEY'VE DONE IT SUCCESSFULLY I'D LIKE TO GO TALK TO THEIR LEADERSHIP AND SEE HOW THEY'VE DONE THAT AND IF THE MAYOR IF WHAT HE'S SAYING IS TRUE THAT THERE'S FEDERAL MANDATES IN PLACE I WANT TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT THAT AND TALK TO THESE FOLKS AND SAY HOW CAN WE AT LEAST GET SOMETHING ON THE TABLE THAT IS GOING TO PUSH FORWARD THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE WE HAVE A HUGE IMMIGRANT POPULATION WE HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE HOMELESS WE HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE POOR WE HAVE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN RECENTLY RELEASED FROM BEING INCARCERATED IT WOULD HELP ALL THESE FOLKS AT LEAST BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD IN LIFE IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION HIGH ON YOUR WEBSITE AS A COMMITMENT IS TO STREAMLINE GOVERNMENT SO WHAT UH PROGRAM OR SERVICE THAT'S CURRENTLY OFFERED IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY WOULD YOU CUT OR ELIMINATE IF YOU'RE ELECTED WELL I STILL THINK THERE'S A LOT OF DUPLICATION OF SERVICES BUT BEFORE WE CAN EVEN GET TO TALKING ABOUT THAT I WANT A FULL TOP-DOWN INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF BOTH THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT THE BPU I WANT RECOMMENDATIONS ON NOT ONLY HOW WE CAN STREAMLINE GOVERNMENT BUT HOW WE CAN BASICALLY FIND COST SAVINGS AND TAX SAVINGS AND PUT BUT YOU'VE NOT IDENTIFIED ANY ONE SPECIFIC PROGRAM OR SERVICES I MEAN YOU CAN TAKE CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS AND LOOK I MEAN LOOK AT THE BUDGETING OFFICES THAT EXIST BETWEEN BPU AND THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT YOU CAN CONSOLIDATE SOME OF THOSE I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW WHEN I TALK ABOUT STREAMLINING YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF AND I'M JUST GOING TO PUT IT FOR THE AUDIENCE TO KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CHIEFS AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH INDIANS AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF HIGH-PAYING JOBS THAT I THINK UM THROUGH ATTRITION CAN BE ELIMINATED SOME OF OUR VIEWERS HAVE MORE SIMPLE PASSIONS SOME SIMPLE GOALS IN MIND AND AND ONE OF THEM IS I'LL VOTE FOR THE PERSON WHO'S GOING TO BRING THE STREETCAR TO WYANDOTTE COUNTY WHICH OF YOU IS MORE LIKELY TO DO THAT MAYOR WELL SO I WILL SAY THIS THAT UH WHEN I FIRST BECAME MAYOR ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I BROUGHT TO OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION IN WASHINGTON WAS AN OPPORTUNITY WE NEED TO GET THE STREETCAR MOVING ACROSS THE THE IDEAL THING WOULD BE 39TH STREET OVER TO KU MED BUT THEN ULTIMATELY TAKE IT UP 7TH STREET TO MINNESOTA AVENUE AND THEN BACK ACROSS THE DIFFICULTY IS THE WAY THEY FUNDED THIS IN THE MISSOURI SIDE WAS TO REALLY ASSESS THE PROPERTY OWNERS ALONG THE SIDE AND THEY WENT ALONG THE DENSE ROUTES SO THAT GENERATED THE INCOME NECESSARY THE REVENUE IS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LARGE SECTIONS WHERE THERE WON'T BE AS MANY PROPERTY OWNERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT AND SO IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE MUCH MORE FEDERAL HELP BUT I PUT THAT IN AS A PLACEHOLDER ACTUALLY THREE YEARS AGO SO YOU YOU HAVE NO INTEREST IN THAT ANYTHING THAT IS GOING TO INCREASE THE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES HERE'S MY VISION WE TALK A LOT ABOUT VILLAGE WEST AND THE SUCCESS OUT THERE AND IT'S GREAT THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN VILLAGE WEST BUT I SEE THAT THE EASTERN PORTION OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY IS A GOLD MINE AND IT'S RIPE AND READY FOR DEVELOPMENT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHERE IT SITS CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA I'VE TALKED TO DEVELOPERS THEY ARE READY TO COME IN AND GET THINGS DONE THEY SAY IN BETWEEN THE BUREAUCRACY AND SOME OF THE THE PUSHBACK THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN FROM STAFF AT CITY HALL THEY CAN'T GET THESE THINGS DONE YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE POWERFUL PRIVILEGED CONNECTED OR WEALTHY ANYWHERE IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY TO GET THINGS DONE THOSE DAYS OF POLITICS OF USUAL UNDER A GARNER ADMINISTRATION ARE GOING TO COME TO A SCREECHING HALT AND THAT'S MY COMMITMENT NOT JUST TO THE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT ME BUT TO EVERYBODY IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY AND ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO COME TO WYANDOTTE COUNTY THERE IS ALREADY A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING EASTSIDE YOU KNOW WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE BOULEVARD LOFTS YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE MERCK GROCERY STORE THE APARTMENTS THAT ARE PLANNED FOR FIFTH AND CENTRAL THE APARTMENTS IN IN THE YARDS THE ROCK ISLAND BRIDGE THE NEW MENARDS GOING AT I-35 AND 18TH STREET THOSE THINGS ARE MOVING FORWARD THE THE VERY THINGS THAT MR GARNER IS SAYING ARE WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS IF YOU GO TO ANY OF MY STATE OF THE GOVERNMENT ADDRESSES YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THE FOCUS ON NEIGHBORHOOD HOW DO WE TAKE THIS DEVELOPMENT THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING ACCELERATE IT AND ENHANCE IT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS INCREMENTAL IT ENCOMPASSES A DIVERSITY OF BUILDERS AND SIZES SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY RECREATE THE TAX BASE WE NEED TWO DIFFERENT VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY MET DAVID ALVEY AND TYRONE GARNER THE TWO CANDIDATES VYING FOR YOUR VOTE TO LEAD THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY AND KANSAS CITY KANSAS OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS BY THE WAY EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING BEGINS THIS WEEKEND THE ELECTION IS NOVEMBER 2ND STILL TO COME ON THIS SPECIAL HOUR-LONG EDITION OF UH WEEK IN REVIEW KURT SCOOG AND MIKE SINIGI ARE RACING TO OUR STUDIO TO AIR OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES AS WE LIFT UP THE HOOD ON THE RACE TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF OVERLAND PARK BUT FIRST WE DISSECT THE WEEK'S OTHER BIG LOCAL HEADLINES WITH OUR REPORTERS THEY'RE WITH US NEXT CHECKING IN WITH US NOW ON THE BIG SCREEN TO DISSECT THE WEEK'S OTHER BIG STORIES ARE STEVE VOCKROTT FROM THE NPR MIDWEST DESK DAVE HELLING OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR AND NATIONALLY SYNDICATED COLUMNIST MARY SANCHEZ WITH A TRIBUTE NEWS SERVICE WHO I HOPE IT'S OKAY TO SAY IS GOING TO BE MY COLLEAGUE AT THE START OF NEXT MONTH AS YOU BECOME THE SENIOR REPORTER FOR OUR DIGITAL NEWSROOM FLATLAND SO I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO SEE YOU IN PERSON MARY YES YES I'LL BE IN THE OFFICE I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT WELL LET'S START WITH THE WORLD CUP THIS IS A MAKE IT OR BREAK IT WEEK IN KANSAS CITY'S QUEST TO HOST AT LEAST ONE OR TWO GAMES IN THE WORLD'S MOST WATCHED SPORTING EVENT A 20-MEMBER DELEGATION FROM FIFA THE INTERNATIONAL GOVERNING BODY FOR SOCCER HAS BEEN IN TOWN TO CHECK OUT EVERYTHING FROM HOTELS TO TRANSPORTATION SOCCER TRAINING FACILITIES TO ARROWHEAD STADIUM THAT'S WHERE THE GAMES WOULD BE PLAYED IN 2026 IF KANSAS CITY IS SELECTED NOW QUINTIN LUCAS SAYS IF KANSAS CITY IS PICKED IT COULD BE WORTH AS MUCH AS A BILLION DOLLARS TO THE METRO AREA DOES THAT SEEM A LITTLE OVERLY OPTIMISTIC STEVE VOCKRON IT CERTAINLY COULD BE I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE MAYOR GOT THAT FIGURE AND AS THESE THINGS GO WITH THESE FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS WHAT THEY OFTEN TEND TO BE ARE THESE MULTIPLIERS THAT ARE DEVELOPED BY YOU KNOW FOLKS IN THE INDUSTRY PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY TRYING TO PROMOTE THESE EVENTS AND SO THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DEAL FOR THE PUBLIC YOU KNOW THE FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS ON THESE THINGS TEND TO BE PRETTY MURKY SO I PUT A LITTLE LESS STOCK INTO THAT BUT CERTAINLY YOU KNOW IN TERMS OF THE IMAGE FOR THE CITY IT COULD BE A NET BENEFIT WE CERTAINLY GET THE IMPRESSION OH WOW WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING THE FINALS HERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME EARLY ROUND GAMES HERE MARY WILL THE ENTHUSIASM DIP IF IT'S ONLY A EARLY ROUND MATCH BETWEEN ALBANIA AND IRAN FOR INSTANCE THAT WE GET IN KANSAS CITY NO I DON'T THINK SO I MEAN THE WORLD CUP FRANKLY IS ON MY BUCKET LIST I ALWAYS WANTED TO GO TO ONE AND I WOULDN'T HAVE CARED WHICH GAME THAT I ATTENDED JUST TO BE THERE UM AND I THINK THAT THAT SORT OF FERVOR IS WHAT WE'RE CHASING AFTER AND TO BRAND KANSAS CITY ALONG WITH IT ON A LOT OF NEWS SITES DAVE HELLING SAY WE ARE REALISTIC CONTENDERS THIS IS NOT JUST THE UH MARKETING OF KANSAS CITY HERE UH EVEN FOX NEWS SAYING WE'RE REALISTIC CONTENDERS FOX SPORTS IT CAME KANSAS CITY IS SOME OF THE BEST FANS AND TRAINING FACILITIES UH IN MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER WHAT ARE KANSAS CITY SHORTCOMINGS THOUGH COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES WELL A COUPLE OF THINGS NICK FIRST MASS TRANSIT REMAINS AN ISSUE AND WILL BE AN ISSUE IN 2026 EVEN THOUGH THE STREETCAR MAY AT LEAST SOME PARTS OF IT MAY BE OPERABLE IN SOME PLACES BEYOND WHAT IT IS NOW BUT THE IDEA OF MOVING THAT MANY PEOPLE TO THESE VENUES PAINLESSLY REMAINS A CHALLENGE COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES WITH MORE ROBUST MASS TRANSIT INCLUDING RAIL TRANSIT SO THAT'S AN ISSUE HOTEL SPACE MIGHT BE AN ISSUE I THINK THAT THERE WILL HAVE TO BE THAT'S ALWAYS THE DISCUSSION IN KANSAS CITY I REMEMBER COVERING THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION DELEGATES HERE IN IN 2016 CONSIDERING KANSAS CITY AS A LOCATION AND TRANSPORTATION AND HOTEL SPACE WERE THE MAIN ISSUES THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT SOME FANS MAY END UP IN LAWRENCE OR TOPEKA OR OR ST JOE THAT TYPE OF THING AND THAT IS ALWAYS A CONCERN FOR GROUPS THAT ARE VISITING ON ISSUES LIKE THIS AND FOX SPORTS BY THE WAY ALSO SAYING THAT ARROWHEAD STADIUM WOULD BE ONE OF THE OLDEST VENUES THAT THEY ARE CONSIDERING EVEN THOUGH WE VIEW IT AS A PRIZED ASSET HERE ONE OF THE OLDEST BEING CONSIDERED IS THERE ANOTHER CHALLENGE WE NEED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO AND THAT'S THE POLICE CHIEF RICK SMITH AT LAST MONTH'S BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING SAID HIS DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO SECURELY COVER SUCH AN EVENT THAT'S ON TOP OF THIS WEEK'S DECISION BY THE WAY THAT'S GETTING A LOT OF HEADLINES THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DISCONTINUING FOOT PATROLS DOWNTOWN DUE TO A SHORTAGE OF OFFICERS MARY IF WE HAD THE WORLD CUP HERE I GUARANTEE YOU OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THAT OUR HIGHWAY SYSTEMS THERE ARE MANY ISSUES OF SECURITY THAT WOULD CALL IN ALL SORTS OF PARTNERS TO MANAGE IT WOULDN'T BE JUST THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT MANAGING THAT VENUE AND ALL THOSE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE REMEMBER NICK THE WORLD CUP ISN'T UNTIL 2026 YEAH SO TO SUGGEST THAT UH THE SITUATION IN 2021 IS DEFINITIVE IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT I MEAN A LOT OF THINGS CAN CHANGE OVER FIVE YEARS AND IF WE'RE AWARDED THESE UH PRELIMINARY GANGS YOU CAN BET THAT THERE WILL BE AN INTENSE UH DISCUSSION OF WHERE TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY WITH THE TO PROVIDE THE NEEDED POLICE OFFICERS MARY'S RIGHT FEDERAL MONEY MIGHT BE INVOLVED THE STATE MIGHT COME IN I MEAN I THINK THAT'S LESS OF A CONCERN THAN THE IMMEDIATE FIGHT BETWEEN CITY HALL AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OVER THE MONEY THAT WAS ALLOCATED THIS YEAR AND WILL BE ALLOCATED NEXT AND WE WON'T KNOW BY THE WAY ON THE WORLD CUP AND WHAT THE DECISION IS ABOUT HAVING ANY GAMES IN KANSAS CITY UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR IT WAS AN INTERESTING WEEK ON BOTH SIDES OF STATE LINE WHEN IT CAME TO COVID POLICY CHECK OUT THESE THREE HEADLINES JACKSON COUNTY PAYS A LEASE SUMMIT CHURCH MORE THAN SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HELP SETTLE A LAWSUIT OVER THE COUNTY'S COVETED MEASURES THE CHURCH HAD ARGUED THEY WERE REQUIRED TO RESTRICT ATTENDANCE WHILE GROCERY STORES AND OTHER RETAILERS IN THE COUNTY DID NOT IN JOHNSON COUNTY THERE'S A BEFUDDLING DECISION OVER MASS MANDATES THE CITY OF PRAIRIE VILLAGE VOTES TO DROP ITS MASS MANDATE WHILE ROLAND PARK VOTES TO EXTEND ITS FACE COVERING REQUIREMENT TO THE MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER IS THE SCIENCE REALLY THAT DIFFERENT WHEN YOU MOVE JUST A FEW BLOCKS IN JOHNSON COUNTY AND REY'S CAFE THAT WAS MAKING NATIONAL NEWS FOR DEFYING MASS MANDATES IS TAKING ITS MONEY ELSEWHERE AFTER BEING FORCED TO SHUT DOWN REYES IS MOVING FROM BLUE SPRINGS TO INDEPENDENCE WHERE THERE IS NO MASS MANDATE ALL RIGHTY THREE STORIES THE TEST THE SCOPE AND SIZE OF LOCAL COVETED POLICIES STEVE VOCKROD I MEAN WHEN YOU SEE THINGS LIKE RAY'S CAFE MOVING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER I MEAN IS THAT JUST AN ISOLATED EXAMPLE ARE WE SEEING A LOT OF THAT GOING ON NOW IN OUR METROPOLITAN AREAS AS SOME PEOPLE TRY TO FIND PLACES WHERE THERE ARE MORE LIBERAL COVERT POLICIES IN PLACE RAISE IS THE KIND OF MOST STRIKING AND ONLY EXAMPLE OF ITS TYPE THAT I'M AWARE OF SO FAR AND I THINK THERE'S SOME POLITICS YOU KNOW THE QUESTION THAT WAS POSED IN YOU KNOW THE THE THE VOICE OVER IS IS THE SCIENCE THAT DIFFERENT AND I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY A SCIENCE ISSUE I THINK IT'S MORE OF A POLITICAL AND KIND OF A SOCIAL CULTURAL ISSUE I THINK THERE'S SOME POLITICIANS WHO ARE KIND OF TIRED OF DEALING WITH IT AND THERE'S A BALANCING ACT BETWEEN YOU KNOW PUBLIC HEALTH AND UH IN IN JUST THE POLITICAL REALM OF THESE QUESTIONS SO IS THAT WHY YOU SEE SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE DECISION-MAKING OF UH PRAIRIE VILLAGE VERSUS ROLAND PARK WHICH IS YOU KNOW YOU CAN ALMOST STRETCH YOUR ARM TO GET BETWEEN THE TWO PLACES AND YET UH THEY TAKE VERY DIFFERENT DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH MASKS THIS WEEK WELL I MEAN THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TRAGIC IT HAS BEEN HOW COVET HAS PLAYED OUT NOT ONLY OBVIOUSLY IN THE DEATHS AND THE HUMAN SUFFERING BUT THAT IT WAS POLITICIZED SO EARLY ON AND THEREIN YOU KNOW NOW YOU'VE GOT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TWO JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE REALLY NEIGHBORHOODS THERE WERE TW O SETS OF UH CONTENTIOUS TOWN HALL MEETINGS THIS WEEK IN KANSAS CITY AND ONE OF THOSE WAS ABOUT REDISTRICTING SHOW US A MAP SHOW US WHAT YOU SAY WE NEED REPRESENTATION FOR THE SUMMER KANSAS LAWMAKERS MET IN PACKED ROOMS WITH CITIZENS TO DECIDE HOW THEY SHOULD REDRAW POLITICAL MAPS BASED ON NEW POPULATION NUMBERS FROM THE CENSUS NOW IT'S MISSOURI'S TURN TO OFFICIAL PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THAT THIS WEEK AT THE DOWNTOWN MARRIOTT WE'RE TOLD THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT DAVE HELLING BECAUSE IT SETS THE ACTUAL RULES OF THE POLITICAL GAME BUT LOOKING AT THIS VIDEO I WOULDN'T SAY THEY WERE OVERWHELMED BY CROWDS OH BECAUSE REDISTRICTING IS REALLY FOR MOST UH JUST EVERYDAY UH RESIDENTS NICK INSIDE BASEBALL YOU KNOW TELL ME WHO MY REPRESENTATIVE IS WHICH DISTRICT I'M IN AND I'LL BE HAPPY WITH IT THOSE WHO WATCH POLITICS CLOSELY INCLUDING REPORTERS OF COURSE BUT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND REDISTRICTING IS EVERYTHING YOU KNOW IT'S REALLY A DETERMINANT OF HOW ELECTIONS ARE RUN AND HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE THAT'S PARTICULARLY TRUE ON THE STATE LEVEL FOR STATE SENATE AND HOUSE DISTRICTS NICK AS YOU KNOW HAVING COVERED THE STATE HOUSE AND YET YOU ALSO KNOW THIS IF YOU WENT DOWN TO THE PLAZA TODAY AND SAID HEY WHO'S YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN EITHER STATE IT'S VERY LIKELY PEOPLE WOULD NOT KNOW SO THERE'S THIS ALWAYS BEEN THIS INCONGRUITY BETWEEN THE IMPORTANT DECISIONS MADE AT THAT LEVEL AND THE LEVEL OF INTEREST IN HOW THOSE CHOICES ARE ACTUALLY MADE BUT THESE HEARINGS ARE GOING ON STEVE VOLKSWAGEN ALL ACROSS THE STATE IN SAINT LOUIS SPRINGFIELD KANSAS CITY AS WE JUST SAW UH DO WE HAVE ANY HINTS ABOUT WHAT THESE MAPS WILL BE AND AND UH WHO WILL LOSE AS A RESULT OF THAT IS EMANUEL CLEAVER GOING TO FIND HIMSELF WITH FEWER DEMOCRATS IN THAT FIFTH DISTRICT AS A RESULT OF THESE POLITICAL MAPS WE DON'T KNOW YET AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME AND I THINK THERE'S A PRETTY DECENT LIKELIHOOD THAT IT'LL END UP IN THE COURTS BUT TO THE YOU KNOW THE FOLKS WHO ARE VERY INVOLVED IN POLITICS THIS IS A BATTLE ROYALE BECAUSE IT AFFECTS HOW HOW AND WHO GETS ELECTED FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS PART OF THE MISSION OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO HOLD OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE WE MAY KNOW THE MAYOR AND THE NAME OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BUT WE MAY NOT PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THESE OTHER BIG CITY AGENCIES THAT ARE UNELECTED THIS WEEK THE HEAD OF KANSAS CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS FIRED AMID ACCUSATIONS SHE MISUSED AGENCY FUNDS CHANGED NEPOTISM RULES PAID HER HUSBAND AND GAVE HERSELF A LOAN STEVE YOU BROKE THE STORY WHAT DOES THE EDC DO AND WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TERESA MCCORD'S FIRING THIS WEEK SO THE EDC IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT OVERSEES THESE AGENCIES THAT HAND OUT TAX BREAKS AND INCENTIVES FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT SO YOU KNOW THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE POWER AND LIGHT DISTRICT FOR EXAMPLE THE EDC HAD A HAND IN THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNION HILL THE EDC HAD A HAND IN THAT SO THEY AREN'T YOU KNOW THE TYPE OF ORGANIZATION EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT WHEN THEY SIT AROUND THE DINNER TABLE BUT THEY'RE AN IMPORTANT AGENCY DO WE HAVE WORRIES HERE ABOUT TAXPAYER MONEY BEING WASTED AS A RESULT OF THIS DAVE HELLING OR IS THE EDC DOESN'T USE TAXPAYER MONEY WELL EDC GETS MOST OF ITS FUNDING FROM THE DEALS THAT IT HELPS PUT TOGETHER NICK BUT IT'S ALWAYS A CONCERN WHEN A QUASI PUBLIC AGENCY HAS SOME EVIDENCE THAT THERE'S SOME MISFEASANCE OR MALFEASANCE AT THE TOP UM AND MORE PEOPLE FRANKLY AND I THINK STEVE WOULD AGREE WITH THIS MORE PEOPLE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE EDC DOES BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING ON THE INCENTIVE DEALS THAT BECOME SO CONTROVERSIAL OVER TIME WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE WHICH IS THE POINT OF STEVE'S STORY AND OTHERS ABOUT THAT AGENCY IT'S BEEN SHUTTERED FOR MORE THAN A DECADE NOW FINALLY THE KANSAS CITY MUSEUM REOPENS THIS WEEK AFTER UNDERGOING A 22 MILLION DOLLAR FACELIFT STARTING THIS WEEKEND YOU CAN EXPERIENCE THREE FLOORS WORTH OF EXHIBITS THAT TELL THE PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE CITY BUT THERE HAS TO BE AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF KANSAS CITIANS WHO HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WE EVEN HAD A MUSEUM DEDICATED TO TELLING KANSAS CITY STORY IS THAT UNFAIR MARY OH I THINK SO BECAUSE IT IS A WONDERFUL RESOURCE I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH IT THAT IT'S THE REMODEL IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL THEY WISH THAT IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN SOME WAYS AND MAYBE THAT'LL CHANGE AS THEY GO FORWARD THEY WANTED IT TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE INTERACTIVE UM BUT ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THE MUSEUM IS IT'S NOT ONLY WHAT IS ON DISPLAY IT'S THEIR COLLECTIONS AND THE KANSAS CITY MUSEUM IS A TREASURE I MEAN THEY ARE HOLDING AND ARCHIVING SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO KANSAS CITY SO I HOPE IT DOES BECOME THE PLACE THAT EVERY SCHOOL KID MAKES THE TRIP THE FIELD TRIP THERE TO GO THROUGH BEST OF ALL DAVE HELLING IT'S ABSOLUTELY FREE BUT YOU HAVE BEEN A CRITIC ON THIS PROGRAM BEFORE ABOUT MUSEUMS AND HOW THEY CAN CONTINUE TO ATTRACT PEOPLE THIS IS NOT AS MARY POINTED OUT ONE OF THOSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE TOUCHING BUTTONS AND DOING ALL OF THESE IMMERSIVE INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES CRITICAL IS PROBABLY THE WRONG WAY TO PUT IT NICK I'D SAY THAT I THINK THAT KANSAS CITY AND BY THE WAY THE KANSAS CITY MUSEUM IS A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING KEEP THAT IN MIND THAT THAT MANSION IS JUST NICE TO LOOK AT AND REALLY PART OF KANSAS CITY HISTORY SO IT WAS WORTH SAVING BUT WE DON'T HAVE A REGULAR MECHANISM FOR MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR MUSEUM ATTRACTIONS NOT ONLY ARE FULLY FUNDED BUT ARE ABLE TO ROTATE THEIR EXHIBITS NICK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT YOU COULD GO OUT TO THE KANSAS CITY MUSEUM ONCE AND THINK IT'S GREAT WHAT'S THE REASON TO GO BACK AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY YOU NEED TO DO TO MAKE MUSEUMS SUCCESSFUL WHICH UNION STATION HAS LEARNED BY THE WAY THEY ROTATE EXHIBITS THEY HAVE NEW ATTRACTIONS THAT GIVES PEOPLE A REASON TO GO BACK WE NEED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF COORDINATED EFFORT TO DO THAT WITH ALL THE MUSEUMS IN KANSAS CITY AND THE IN THE REGION AND WE DO NOT BUT BUT GO OUT AND SEE THE NEW MUSEUM THAT THAT BUILDING IS JUST FUN DAVE HELLING MARY SANCHEZ STEVE OCR THANK YOU FOR DISSECTING THE HEADLINES WITH US COMING UP NEXT WE HEAD OVER TO JOHNSON COUNTY WHERE THERE'S A BIG RACE UNDERWAY TO BECOME MAYOR OF OVERLAND PARK THE CANDIDATES ARE GETTING IN PLACE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE STRAIGHT AHEAD ON OUR HOUR-LONG ELECTION EDITION OF WEEK IN REVIEW ONE OF THE STORIES WE MISSED IN OUR LOOK AT THE LOCAL HEADLINES IS THIS ONE DID YOU SEE THAT OVERLAND PARK OFFICIALLY DECLARED MONDAY JASON SEDAKIS DAY THE 10 LAST WELCOME WAGON HAS ARRIVED THE CITY COUNCIL HONORING THE OVERLAND PARK NATIVE FOR HIS ACTING ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HIS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS IS CO-FOUNDER OF THE BIG SLICK WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER CELEBRITIES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO SUPPORT CHILDREN'S MERCY HOSPITAL BUT I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO ON JASON SEDAKIS DAY OTHER THAN TO BINGE WATCH TED LASSO OR PERHAPS TAKE SELFIES OUTSIDE OF SHAWNEE MISSION WEST WHERE SIDDIQUES WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL BUT HERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO CELEBRATE HOW ABOUT GETTING TO KNOW THE TWO MEN WHO WANT TO LEAD OVERLAND PARK FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS LONG-TIME MAYOR CARL GURLACH IS DEPARTING AND LONG-TIME CITY COUNCILMAN CURT SKOOG WANTS TO FILL HIS SHOES NOT SO FAST SAYS MIKE ZINEGIE A FORMER TOP EXECUTIVE WITH THE AMC MOVIE THEATER CHAIN WHO'S CONVINCED HE'S THE MAN FOR THE JOB THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY BY THE WAY WE JUST SAW THE WORLD CUP YOU KNOW THE KANSAS CITY IS TRYING TO GET THE WORLD CUP IN 2026 BUT YOU ARE NOT TO BE LEFT UNDONE BECAUSE I DID SEE THESE T-SHIRTS THIS IS OVERLAND PARK FOR THE OLYMPICS IN 2038 FROM RAY GUN I SEE THESE IN STORES HERE HOW IS THAT BID GOING BY THE WAY KURT IT IT'S A IT IS A BIG AUDACIOUS GOAL AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT SO I HAVE THAT SHIRT MYSELF NOW I'M ASSUMING THOUGH BECAUSE YOU'RE AGAINST TAX GIVEAWAYS MIKE THAT THE BRINGING THE OLYMPICS IS NOT ONE OF YOUR PRIORITIES I'M AGAINST TAX GIVEAWAYS FOR RETAIL AND APARTMENTS WHEN THEY SHOULD BUSINESSES SHOULD BE INVESTING THEIR OWN CAPITAL FOR THE YOU KNOW MOST OF US JUST SEE YOUR YARD SIGNS AT THIS POINT ON THE MAILER THAT COMES THROUGH WE DON'T KNOW A HUGE ABOUT ABOUT YOU LET'S START WITH YOU CURT SKOOG WE HAVE A SENSE FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS OF CARL GERLACH UH HE HIS HEIGHT HAS MADE HIM VERY DISTINCTIVE IN FACT HE PLAYED FOR THE NBA HE WAS WITH THE ATLANTA HAWKS HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT MAYOR THAN CARL GERLACH OR YOU'LL BE YOU KNOW SOME PEOPLE SAY YOU'RE JUST GOING TO BE A STATUS QUO IMITATOR OF WHAT CARL GERLACH HAS DONE WELL I'VE BEEN PROUD TO UH BEEN ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND BEEN AT THE TABLE WITH CARL FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS BUILDING THIS INCREDIBLE TOWN OVERLAND PARK WE JUST GOT RANKED THE SEVENTH BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN AMERICA BY MONEY MAGAZINE AND AND THIS WEEK BY LIVABILITY WE GOT RANKED THE THIRD BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN AMERICA AND THAT HAS BEEN BASED ON WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO KEEP MOVING US FORWARD SO I'VE BEEN PROUD TO BE ENDORSED BY CARL AND HIS PREDECESSOR ED EILERT BUT I'M A DIFFERENT GENERATION AND HAVE A DIFFERENT WE'RE GONNA WE'RE GONNA BUILD THE CITY ON THE STRENGTHS THAT THEY'VE BUILT AND KEEP US MOVING FORWARD BEYOND JUST BEING A COUNCILMAN I WAS LOOKING THROUGH YOUR BIO IT SAYS YOU'RE THE KANSAS CITY BRANCH MANAGER FOR IBTS THE INSTITUTE FOR BUILDING TECHNOLOGY AND SAFETY THERE'S A LOT GOING ON THERE YOU PROBABLY NEED AN EXPANSION ON YOUR BUSINESS CARD TO GO THROUGH THAT BUT IF I RUN INTO YOU IN THE CEREAL AISLE OF PRICE CHOPPER AND ASK YOU IN 20 SECONDS OR LESS WHAT YOU DO WHAT WOULD YOU TELL ME SO WE HELP SMALL CITIES AND COUNTIES PROVIDE SERVICES AND PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING AND ZONING CITIES AND COUNTIES THAT DON'T HAVE CITY STAFF WE ACT AS THEIR CITY STAFF MIKE ZINICKI YOU WERE A TOP EXECUTIVE WITH THE AMC MOVIE THEATER CHAIN SOME PEOPLE SAY HOW COOL IS THAT BUT THERE COULD BE A DOWNSIDE SOMEBODY GOES OH MY GOODNESS IS SODA GOING TO GO UP TO SEVEN DOLLARS BECAUSE UH YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE AND IS THE OVERLAND PARK COUNCIL GOING TO BE IN THESE RECLINING CHAIRS WITH CUP HOLDERS ON THEM BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE THEATER CHAIN UM I I DON'T THINK SO I HOPE UH SODA DOESN'T GO TO SEVEN DOLLARS UM A CUP I I ENJOY MY DIET COKE UM BUT UH UH THE THEATER BUSINESS HAS GONE UNDERGOING A LOT OF CHANGE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH THE STUDIOS WITH SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES WITH PRODUCTION WITH STREAMING AND IT WAS AN EXCITING JOB I WAS THERE FOR 13 YEARS HOW IS THAT BACKGROUND THOUGH HELPING YOU IN YOUR CAMPAIGN TO BE MAYOR KURT SCHOOL HAS ALREADY BEEN THERE FOR 16 YEARS HE'S SEEN WHAT HAPPENS AT CITY HALL KNOWS HOW IT ALL OPERATES AREN'T YOU AT A DISADVANTAGE THERE I DON'T THINK SO UH AND FROM THE MESSAGES I'VE I'VE RECEIVED FROM THE RESIDENTS AS WE KNOCKED ON WE'VE WE'VE KNOCKED ON ALMOST 28 000 DOORS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS RACE THEY THEY LIKE THE IDEA OF AN OUTSIDER THEY LIKE THE IDEA OF A SENIOR EXECUTIVE BRINGING BUSINESS EXPERIENCE TO CITY COUNCIL AND GIVING IT A DIFFERENT LOOK SOME PEOPLE HAVE BRISTLED AT THE IDEA THAT YOU HAVE THE REPUBLICAN GOP ELEPHANT SIGN ON YOUR YARD SIGNS BECAUSE THE SUPPOSEDLY NON-PARTISAN RACES YOU TALK ABOUT UH WANTING TO BE ALSO ABOUT BEING A PRO-LIFE CANDIDATE FOR INSTANCE AND YOU KNOW TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS THAT SOME PEOPLE VIEW AS NATIONAL ISSUES WHY RUN FOR THIS OFFICE WHY NOT FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE OR CONGRESS IF YOU HAVE SO MANY PASSIONS IN THOSE AREAS IT'S BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR BACKYARD UM I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF OVERLAND PARK FOR 30 PLUS YEARS AND IN MY MY STAY IN OVERLAND PARK AND HOW I GOT HERE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN MOST PEOPLE WE PICKED WE WERE LIVE WE GOT MARRIED IN CONNECTICUT LIVED THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAD BABIES I HAD A JOB THAT I TRAVELED FIVE DAYS A WEEK TO DIFFERENT CONTINENTS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES SO I COULD LIVE ANYWHERE SO WE INTENTIONALLY PICKED OVERLAND PARK WE LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF CITIES WHERE WE HAD FAMILY LOUISVILLE RALEIGH CINCINNATI ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WE PICKED OVERLAND PARK INTENTIONALLY WE'VE LIVED HERE FOR 30 YEARS IN THE LA AND IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AS KURT SAID WE'VE BEEN RATED FIVE OR SEVEN AND IT'S A TOP CITY THE ISSUE IS LIKE IN BUSINESS WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR CURRENT YEAR INCOME STATEMENT OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS AND IT LOOKS LIKE A GREAT INCOME STATEMENT YOUR SHARE PRICE IS DOING WELL BUT YOU START LOOKING AT LEADING INDICATORS AND YOUR MARKET SHARE HAS BEEN DECLINING FOR THE PAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS OR YOUR GROSS MARGINS HAVE BEEN DECLINING OVER THE PAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS YOU'VE GOT SOME ISSUES ON THE HORIZON IT'S GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE ARE WITH OVERLAND PARK IT'S BEEN A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE BUT WITH CRIME UP TAXES UP INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S DECAYING AND REZONING AND OVERCROWDING WE'VE GOT SOME ISSUES WE NEED TO ADDRESS RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW SO THAT THIS IS A GREAT PLACE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WHAT IS THE ISSUE THAT MOST PEOPLE IN OVERLAND PARK ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT NOW ACCORDING TO A SURVEY IN MAY FROM THE OVERLAND PARK CHAMBER BUT IT WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE OVERLAND PARK CHAMBER NUMBER ONE ISSUE KURT WAS CRIME AND DRUGS IN FACT THAT'S ONE OF THE TOP ITEMS ON YOUR WEBSITE AS IT IS ON YOURS BUT NAME ONE THING YOU WOULD DO TO ACTUALLY MAKE NEIGHBORHOODS IN OVERLAND PARK SAFER IF YOU ARE ELECTED MAYOR WELL THE IMPORTANT THING TO UNDERSTAND IS THE OVERLAP OVERALL CRIME RATE IS PRETTY MUCH UNCHANGED FOR FIVE YEARS THAT THE VIOLENT CRIME INCREASE THAT WE HAVE SEEN IS ALMOST EXTENSIVELY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PRIMARILY FROM COVID AND OTHER ISSUES SO I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I'VE DONE AND WHAT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO IN THE BUDGET WE JUST APPROVED THAT MIKE IS AGAINST WE ADDED 26 POSITIONS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT 11 OF THOSE ARE FOR A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH UNIT TO HELP THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT DRIVE A HIGH VOLUME OF OUR POLICE ACTIVITY THAT WILL FREE UP OUR OTHER OFFICERS TO BE MORE PROACTIVE AND BE ACTIVE IN THE STREETS WE'VE INCREASED OUR POLICE ACTIVITY IN IN IN RESPONSE COVET HAS MOVED CRIMINALS FROM PARKING LOTS AT MALLS AND GROCERY STORES INTO NEIGHBORHOODS AND SO WE'RE EDUCATING NEIGHBORS ABOUT LOCKING THEIR CARS AND GETTING THEIR VALUABLES OUT OF THEIR CAR AND WE'RE INCREASING OUR POLICE PRESENCE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND SO WE DO NOT HAVE A CRIME PROBLEM MY MY OPPONENT THINKS THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE UNSAFE HE'S RUNNING A CAMPAIGN OF FEAR WE HAVE THE SAFEST CITY ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY WE HAVE THE SAFEST SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT UNDER UNDER MY LEADERSHIP AS ME IT IS THE TOP ITEM ON YOUR WEBSITE IT IS THE TOP ITEM ON MY WEBSITE LET ME MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT KURT HAD JUST SAID HE KEEPS REFERRING TO ME BEING AGAINST THE ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH WE NEED THOSE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WE'RE STILL BELOW THE LEVEL WE WERE IN 2010 WHEN THEY ELIMINATED OPEN POSITIONS WE HAVE 259 VERSUS 263.

WE NEED THOSE LAW ENFORCEMENT WE NEED MENTAL HEALTH I'VE ALWAYS BEEN FOR THOSE I'VE BEEN AGAINST THE WAY THE CITY DECEIVED THE VOTERS IN HOW THEY WANTED THE 10 PERCENT INCREASE THERE WAS PLENTY OF MONEY IN THAT BUDGET TO COVER THEM SO THAT'S THAT'S THE FIRST ISSUE THE SECOND ISSUE IS KURT TALKS ABOUT THE RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME AND IT'S TRUE HE WANTS TO LOOK AT ONLY 2020 AND THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT RISE IN IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE KANSAS BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION NUMBERS FROM 2016 TO 2020 THERE'S A 37 PERCENT RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME RAPE MURDER AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND A 36 PERCENT RISE IN PROPERTY CRIME JUST SO WHAT SPECIFICALLY WOULD YOU DO THEN IF YOU ARE MAYOR THAT IS NOT BEING DONE NOW UM CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS WE HAVE ON THE FORCE THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS TO RESIDENTS IS BELOW WHERE IT WAS IN 2010 BECAUSE WE'VE ADDED 30 000 RESIDENTS I DIDN'T THINK YOU LIKED TAX INCREASES SO HOW WOULD YOU PAY FOR THOSE POLICE OFFICERS I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED A TAX INCREASE HOW DO YOU PAY FOR IT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GO THROUGH THE BUDGET UM THE BUDGET WAS NOT PUT TOGETHER IN THE WAY THAT I WOULD TYPICALLY DO ZERO BASED BUDGETING AS AS I WAS RUNNING MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BUDGETS IN IN BUSINESS WHAT WOULD BE YOUR BIGGEST DIFFERENCE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN YOUR APPROACH THAN CARL GIRL LIKE WHO WE'VE MANAGED TO SEE OVER THE LAST 16 YEARS WELL I THINK THE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CARL AND I IS A GENERATIONAL CHANGE I'M ABOUT BUILDING A COMMUNITY THAT IS APPEALING TO OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND UH AND CHILDREN YOU KNOW MIKE TELLS A WONDERFUL STORY ABOUT WHY HE CHOSE TO BE HERE 30 YEARS AGO I WANT TO BUILD A COMMUNITY THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO TODAY AND THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT OVERLAND PARK WAS IN THE 1980S AND 1990S YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY ARE LOOKING FOR A MORE DYNAMIC PLACE WHERE THEY CAN GATHER CAN YOU GIVE ME ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT WELL I THINK DOWNTOWN KANSAS OVERLAND PARK IS A KEY EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF PLACE THAT WE NEED TO BUILD ACROSS THE CITY EACH AREA WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT CULTURE I MEAN A DIFFERENT FEEL A DIFFERENT PERSONALITY IT WON'T ALL LOOK LIKE DOWNTOWN OVERLAND PARK BUT IT WILL HAVE THAT FEEL THAT MULTI-GENERATIONAL IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO STRANG HALL OR THOMPSON PARK IN DOWNTOWN OVERLAND PARK GO IT IS EXCITING IT IS A DYNAMIC AND IT IS WHAT THE RESIDENTS OF THE FUTURE ARE LOOKING FOR I WANT TO TAKE OFF A VARIETY OF HOT BUTTON ISSUES THAT OUR OWN VIEWERS HAVE TOLD US ABOUT AND I WANT TO GET YOUR VIEWS ON THEM AND LET'S BEGIN WITH THIS IF I DON'T WANT TO PAY A TOLL TO DRIVE ON 69 HIGHWAY WHO IS THE CANDIDATE MOST LIKELY TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING WELL THE MAYOR SIGNED THE LETTER THIS WEEK SO THAT DEAL IS DONE WHAT WE DID IS I VOTED FOR IT TO SAVE OUR TAXPAYERS 20 MILLION DOLLARS MIKE UM I I HAVE AGREED I HAVE NOT DISAGREED THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ON 69 HIGHWAY I'VE EVEN MET WITH THE HEAVY CONSTRUCTORS CEO ABOUT IT AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT THAT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE MY ISSUE FROM THE BEGINNING HAS BEEN THE FUNDING OF THAT UM AND UH KURT SAYS THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR 10 YEARS WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT DIFFERENTLY OVER 10 YEARS WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE SO THAT KDOT HAD THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET AND IT WASN'T SWEPT OUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR TO COVER THEIR SHORTFALL BUT THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE DECISIONS BEEN MADE IF I DON'T LIKE WEARING MASKS SO I HAVE A BUSINESS AND I DON'T WANT ANYONE TELLING ME I HAVE TO LIMIT HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN COME IN WHO'S MY CANDIDATE THAT'S ME I BELIEVE MASKED VACCINES SHOULD BE INDIVIDUAL CHOICES BASED ON YOUR INDIVIDUAL HEALTH RISKS AND CONSULTATION WITH YOUR DOCTORS KURT LIKES TO SAY HE'S FOLLOWING THE SCIENCE THE REAL SCIENCE SAYS THAT THOSE OF US THAT HAVE HAD COVET HAVE NATURAL IMMUNITIES STRONGER AND LONGER LASTING THAN VACCINES SO AND THAT THOSE OF US THAT HAVE HAD IT WITH NATURAL IMMUNITY HAVE A TWO TO THREE TIMES HIGHER PERCENT TWO THREE TIMES INCIDENT OF PROBLEMS FROM THE VA CCINE SO WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO RISK MY LIFE TO TAKE A VACCINE IF MY PHYSICIAN SAYS YOU HAVE A HIGHER RISK OF HAVING A PROBLEM AND YOU GET NO BENEFIT FROM IT WELL FIRST I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU SHOULD GET THE VACCINE AND YOUR LIFE IS NOT AT RISK FOR TAKING THE VACCINE BUT AS MAYOR I BELIEVE IN SCIENCE AND I'M GOING TO FOLLOW THE JOHNSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT THEY ARE THE EXPERTS THEY'RE THE ONES WHO WANT WHO WHO WILL GIVE US THE RIGHT ADVICE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS CAN STAY IN SCHOOL AND OUR BUSINESSES CAN STAY OPEN IF I WORRY THAT ONLY THE RICH CAN NOW AFFORD TO LIVE IN OVERLAND PARK AND THERE'S NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR WORKING FAMILIES WHO'S MY GUY THAT'S ME FOR SURE NO DOUBT ABOUT IT WHY MIKE WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE 1990S OR 1960S HE REFERS TO THIS REGULARLY WE NEED DIVERSE HOUSING CHOICES AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING DIVERSE HOUSING CHOICES WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO WE NEED TO HAVE HOUSING THAT TEACHERS AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND OUR NEW YOUNG PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE COMING TO WORK AT OUR GREAT NEW JOBS IN OVERLAND PARK HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF OVERLOOK PARK AND AND I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TOO THE WAY WE GO ABOUT IT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY KIRK KEEPS PUSHING THROUGH REZONING INTO NEIGHBORHOODS AND TAX ABATEMENTS HIGH-RISE APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT ARE LUXURY APARTMENT BUILDINGS RENTS STARTING AT 11 1200 GOING UP TO 3 500.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE HERE BUT YOU DO HAVE ON YOUR WEBSITE THOUGH STOP INCENTIVIZING APARTMENT DEVELOPMENT IS IT JUST LUXURY APARTMENTS YOU'RE AGAINST WOULD YOU SUPPORT THEIR LOWER INCOME APARTMENTS IN OVERLAND PARK I NEED TO LOOK AT THEM AND WHERE THE WHERE THEY'RE BEING PLACED OR WHAT EFFECT THEY HAVE ON ON THE NEIGHBORHOODS ON FLOOD FLOODING RUNOFF THAT'S TRUE FOR ANY APARTMENTS WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT REVITALIZING OUR OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS AND IF WE'RE GOING TO GIVE TAX INCENTIVES I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO LOOK AT TAX INCENTIVES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO MOVE INTO OLDER AREAS OF OVERLAND PARK IN SOME OF THE SMALLER HOMES THAT ARE MORE AFFORDABLE THEY CAN REHAB THEM THEY REVITALIZE THE NEIGHBORHOODS THEY FIND LOWER INCOME HOUSING AND EVERYBODY WINS NICK IF I COULD JUST SAY THAT WE DO NOT INCENT APARTMENT BUILDINGS THERE'S A PERCEPTION THAT EVERY APARTMENT BUILDING IS GETTING A SUBSIDY THAT IS NOT TRUE THERE'S NO APARTMENT BUILDING SOUTH OF 119TH THAT HAS GOTTEN ANY KIND OF INCENTIVE SO UH IT'S IT'S JUST A FALSE NARRATIVE THAT WE'RE SUBSIDIZING EVERY APARTMENT BUILDING IN OVERLAND PARK IS NOT THERE THERE IS THIS PERSPECTIVE THOUGH THAT CURT SKOOG IS IN THERE YOU KNOW IN THE POCKETS OF DEVELOPERS HE'S PUTTING DEVELOPERS BEFORE HOMEOWNERS WHAT CAN YOU SAY TO WEARY UH VIEWERS RIGHT NOW WHO MAY HAVE THAT WORRY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO PUT THEM FIRST NOT DEVELOPERS WELL I WANT YOU TO ASK THE RESIDENTS OF NORTH OVERLAND PARK SO IN NORTH OVERLAND PARK I HAVE BEEN THE LEADING ADVOCATE FOR IMPLEMENTING VISION METCALF SO ENVISION METCALF WE HAVE USED 12 TIFFS TO ALLEVIATE BLIGHT INTO COMMERCIAL CENTERS AND HAVE BUILT UM DOWNTOWN OVERLAND PARK 95TH OF METCALF I WAS JUST AT RYAN TRANSPORTATION SHAMROCK YESTERDAY THAT IS A TRANSFORMATION FROM A DILAPIDATED OLD KMART BUILDING AND ACROSS THE STREET WAS THE OLD MALL THOSE ARE ALL GONE AND THOSE ARE GONE BECAUSE THE CITY PARTICIPATED WITH THE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT TO MAKE A TRANSITION THAT SUPPORTS THE NEIGHBORHOODS 540 MILLION DOLLARS OF PRIVATE INVESTMENT INSIDE 435 BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER CREATED A VISION AND WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED IT IN NORTHERN OVERLAND PARK 119TH IS A PRETTY FINE LINE AT 115TH AND NULL THE CITY JUST GRANTED THAT DEVELOPER OF THAT LARGE APARTMENT BUILDING 13 MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP HIM FINISH THAT IN THE WAY FURTHERMORE AT DEER CREEK THE DEVELOPERS ASKING FOR A VARIANCE TO GO FROM R1 RESIDENTIAL TO R6 AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR A 10 MILLION DOLLAR TIF TO DO IT TO IMPROVE THE GOLF COURSE THAT THE CITY HAS ALMOST DESTROYED BECAUSE OF THE WATER RUNOFF ADDITIONALLY IF YOU'RE ASKING WHO'S IN BED WITH DEVELOPERS IN YOUR TERM NOT MINE IF YOU LOOK AT MY CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT BEFORE THE PRIMARY ALL OF MY CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE COME FROM RESIDENTS IT LOOKS LIKE THE WHITE PAGES OF YELL OF OVERLAND PARK RESIDENTS IF YOU LOOK AT KURTZ OVER 60 PERCENT OF HIS CAMPAIGN FINANCING OVER THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS CAME FROM COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOP COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AGENTS COMMERCIAL DEVELOPERS CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES CIVIL ENGINEERING AND ATTORNEYS TWO TWO OF THE LARGEST LEGAL FIRMS HAVE ACTUALLY HELD EITHER FUNDRAISERS FOR KURT TO RAISE MONEY FOR HIM OR SENT OUT EMAILS TO ALL THE BUSINESSES IN OVERLAND PARK ASKING FOR ENDORSEMENTS AND MONEY FOR THEM OKAY I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THAT SO UM YOU KNOW THE REASON THAT I GET THE SUPPORT IS BECAUSE MIKE HAS SCARED ALL DEVELOPMENT AWAY FROM THE CITY THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY DOESN'T BELIEVE IF MIKE IS ELECTED THAT WE WILL DO ANY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND OUR CITY IS BUILT ON CONTINUAL INVESTMENT EIGHTY PERCENT OF MY DONATIONS ARE FROM OVERLAND PARK BUSINESSES AND OVERLAND PARK RESIDENTS MIKE CAN CATEGORIZE HIM HOWEVER HE WANTS TO CATEGORIZE THEM I HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS WHO ARE ATTORNEYS I HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS WHO ARE IN THE DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS BUT THAT WAS BEFORE I WAS EVEN ON THE COUNCIL LOOK AT THE RESULTS 16 YEARS LOOK AT METCALF I DO WANT TO CLARIFY WHAT HE'S TALK IT'S NOT 13 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE APARTMENT PR OJECT AT CITY AT CITY CENTER CITY PLACE IT IS A SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IT IS NOT 13 MILLION DOLLARS IT'S NOT THE CITY IS NOT WRITING A CHECK FOR 13 MILLION DOLLARS TO THAT DEVELOPER BUT WE'RE GIVING UP SALES TAX REVENUE FOR THEM TO DO IT WHILE OVERLAND PARK WAS GRABBING THE HEADLINES THIS WEEK FOR OFFICIALLY DECLARING MONDAY JASON SEDAKA'S DAY GUESS WHAT STORY FROM OVERLAND PARK WAS TOPPING OUR HEADLINES THIS TIME LAST YEAR DO YOU REMEMBER THESE STORIES SOME OF THEM PICKED UP NATIONALLY ABOUT HOW OVERLAND PARK WAS SPENDING 350 000 OF ITS FEDERAL COVETED RELIEF MONEY ON CAMERAS FOR ITS SOCCER PARK AFTER A BACKLASH THE CITY REVERSE COURSE BUT NOW YOU HAVE REAL MONEY TO SPEND MORE THAN 18 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS PART OF THE PANDEMIC RELIEF CASH GOING TO STATES AND LOCAL CITIES WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE BEST USE FOR THAT MONEY COULD SCHOOL WELL SO THAT'S COMING IN TWO TRANCHES THIS YEAR WE GOT NINE MILLION NEXT YEAR WE'RE GETTING NINE MILLION AND THE NINE MILLION THIS YEAR HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THE PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY THEY'VE BEEN HIT HARD BY COVID THERE'S MONEY FOR THE TOURISM TRADE BECAUSE OUR HOTELS HAVE BEEN HIT THERE'S MONEY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND THEN THERE'S MONEY TO UH TO FILL BACK GAPS WITHIN THE CITY UH THAT WERE CUT BECAUSE OF UH COVETED ISSUES WHAT WOULD YOU PUT AS THE TOP PRIORITY FOR THAT MONEY IF YOU WERE MAYOR UM TWO THINGS ONE I WOULD LOOK AT THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN HURT BY COVET IN THE LOCKDOWNS THAT WE'VE HAD UH IN THE PAST AND ALSO THE CITY FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER THAT HAS BEEN DAMAGED BUT I'D ALSO START PUTTING IT INTO INFRASTRUCTURE ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WE'RE FACING WE TALK ABOUT CHIP SEAL BUT THAT'S NOT THAT THAT'S THE SMALL ISSUE THAT'S JUST WHAT WE SEE EVERY DAY THE BIGGER ISSUE IS WE HAVE 150 LANE MILES OF ROADS THAT CAN NO LONGER BE RESURFACED WE CAN PATCH THEM WE CAN DO MINOR REPAIRS ON THEM BUT THEY NEED TO BE RECONSTRUCTED ACCORDING TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FROM SEPTEMBER OF 2020 IN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING THAT'S A BACKLOG OF 250 MILLION DOLLARS OF ROADS THAT NEED TO BE RECONSTRUCTED IN OVERLAND PARK WE NEED TO START DOING THAT UH WE HAVE A COUPLE OF VIEWERS WHO HAVE ONE DIFFERENT PASSION FOR WHAT HOW THEY WOULD DECIDE BETWEEN YOU AND THEY SAY IF I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE STREETCAR COMING OVER TO KANSAS DO I EVEN HAVE A GUY TO VOTE FOR WOULD EITHER OF YOU SUPPORT AN EFFORT TO BRING THE STREETCAR TO KANSAS TO OVERLAND PARK WELL NICK IT'S IT'S INTERESTING WHEN WE DID THE VISION METCALF PLAN THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER AND WANTED TO INCLUDE WHAT WAS THOUGHT OF AS THAT TIME AS LIGHT RAIL ON METCALF SO THE VISION METCALF PLAN THAT I'VE BEEN PART OF AND AN ADVOCATE FOR FOR OVER 14 YEARS INCLUDES THE IDEA OF WHAT WE WOULD NOW PROBABLY CALL THE STREETCAR IN METCALF AND SO UH SO UH I'M THE ONE BECAUSE THAT IS IN THE PLAN AND I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ALONG THAT COUNTRY THAT WOULDN'T HAVE A LISTENING EAR IN YOUR OFFICE I DEFINITELY HAVE A LISTENING EAR AND THAT'S PART OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KURT AND I I DO HAVE A LISTENING EAR MY PRIMARY PLATFORM HAS BEEN LISTENED TO THE VOICE OF THE RESIDENTS WHICH WE DON'T DO IN CITY COUNCIL ANYMORE AND I WOULD SO I WOULD LISTEN I WOULD LOOK AT THE BUSINESS CASE TO DO THAT AND I WOULD ASK THE RESIDENTS I WOULD SEE WANT TO SEE WHAT THEIR VIEW IS OF CONNECTING US WITH LIGHT RAIL THE COSTS OF IT UM THE PROS AND CONS OF DOING IT AND AND WHO'S GOING TO BENEFIT FROM IT AND IF WE DO WE SHOULD DO IT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT A DOWNTOWN BALLPARK AND UH MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS SAYS YOU KNOW HE'D ONLY SUPPORT THAT IF IF WE HAD UH CONSTITUENCIES ON THE KANSAS SIDE COMING FORWARD TO HELP FUND THAT WOULD YOU HAVE AN OPEN EAR TO THE MAIL ON LISTENING TO THAT ABSOLUTELY WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT THE BUSINESS CASE IS FOR IT AND AND HOW WE CAN ALL BENEFIT FROM THAT THE ISSUE WITH THE CURRENT ARROWHEAD AND KAUFMAN STADIUM IT IS IS ONE OF THE FINEST SPORTS COMPLEXES IN THE COUNTRY BUT WHEN KEMPER DONATED THAT LAND TO KANSAS CITY IT WAS A CHEAP WAY TO BUILD THEM BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LAND THEY WANT TO MOVE IT DOWNTOWN THE PROBLEM WITH WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW PEOPLE GO IN THEY TAILGATE THEY DO WHATEVER ELSE AND THEY AND THEY LEAVE THERE'S NO ADDED BUSINESS BENEFIT TO THE BUSINESSES AROUND IT OR THE COMMUNITIES IF WE CAN FIND A WAY SO THAT ALL THE COMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM IT I'D ABSOLUTELY LISTEN TO IT AND CONSIDER IT WOULD YOU USE YOUR BULLY PULPIT AS MAYOR TO SUPPORT A DOWNTOWN BALLPARK WELL I'M ALSO CHAIR OF THE CURRENT BI-STATE COMMISSION AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS A PAST CHAIR SO I HAVE RELATIONSHIPS AND ACROSS THE METROPOLITAN AREA AND I THINK IT'S TOO EARLY TO KNOW I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THE PROJECT COMES TOGETHER AND SEE UM UM WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE FOR THE ENTIRE METROPOLITAN AREA NOT JUST DOWNTOWN CAN'T SEE MISSOURI CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE JUST BEEN ELECTED MAYOR OF OVERLAND PARK YOU ARE NOW ENTERING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND YOUR FIRST ACT YOUR FIRST DECISION AS MAYOR IS BLANK WELL THE FIRST DECISION THAT YOU HAVE AS MAYOR IS TO BUILD A CONSENSUS AMONG THE NEW COUNCIL BECAUSE THE MAYOR DOESN'T HAVE A VOTE SO THE COUNCIL MAKES VOTES AND SO UH I WILL PULL THE COUNCIL TOGETHER THE NEW COUNCIL AND FIND A CONSENSUS SO THAT WE CAN KEEP MOVING OVERLAND PARK MOVING FORWARD MESSENIGI HAS ACTUALLY JUST BEEN ELECTED IN FACT AND THEY SAID YES TO YOU AND YOU GO INTO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THAT FIRST ACTOR DECISION YOU MAKE IS ONE I THINK WE HAVE TO DO VERY SIMILAR THING WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO WORK TOGETHER PART OF THE ISSUE WITH THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL IS THERE'S SO MUCH ANIMOSITY BETWEEN SOME SEVERAL OF THE PLAYERS IT'S NO LONGER A HIGH FUNCTIONING GROUP SO WE DO NEED TO WORK WITH THEM AND FIND OUT WHO THE NEW PLAYERS ON ARE HOW WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS TO MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD KURTZKUCK AND MIKE ZINIGI THANK YOU FOR SHOWING US THERE IS MORE TO YOU THAN THE TWO FOOT WIDE CARDBOARD YARD SIGNS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THIS ELECTION ALWAYS SEEMS SO FAR AWAY BUT IN PERSON EARLY VOTING BEGINS THIS WEEKEND AND THE ELECTION IS NOT THIS TUESDAY BUT THE TUESDAY AFTERWARDS SO LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY I'M NICK HAINES FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KANSAS CITY PBS BE WELL KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON