Heed the Northland

A large part of Kansas City’s tax revenue comes from Kansas City, North. It is not unreasonable for those residents to expect something in return. Nice neighborhoods, like those around Antioch Center, are being allowed to decay.

Many areas have no sidewalks. If the “Greater” Kansas City Chamber of Commerce expects anyone to listen to its recommendations, then the chamber needs to disclose its personal interests.

The Star reported that 33 percent of the members owned businesses in Kansas City. What about the other 67 percent? How many live and pay taxes in Kansas City? How many are employed in the professions of banking, real estate or construction? If these individuals are not voting residents of Kansas City, then they don’t deserve to peddle their influence.

Kansas City does not need another black hole like the Power & Light District, and we really don’t need another hotel that the citizens have to pay for.

The City Council should not listen to organizations that do not represent Kansas City taxpayers. The proposal to divide the capital improvements among the districts is fair. Other sources of revenue need to be found to fix neighborhoods.

Dennis Lucas
Kansas City