I just read in “The Watchdog” (6/16, Local, “Are these street, traffic signs right or wrong?”) that the Public Works Department will replace street signs because someone noticed the use of “Th” rather than “th” following the numerals on the signs.
Is this how tax money should be used?
M.W. Dinkmeyer
Gladstone
To make up for the lack of foresight of some of our former local elected leaders, wouldn’t it be wonderful if one of our current politicos would add as an earmark to a bill the repair and update of our Kansas City sewer system?
Though not a very glamorous pork barrel item, it would certainly serve every one of that politician’s constituents and guarantee that we would all be flush with gratitude.
Maggie Caron
Kansas City
Do the City Council members even go to the leaf and brush drop-off on Saturdays? I doubt it. If they had, they would see how many people use this facility. They would also see that people are cleaning up their yards. Where do they think that brush is going to go if they start charging? (5/30, Local, “Leaf drop-off fees pondered”)
People are not going to pay to drop off brush, plus the gas to get there. They will simply not clean up their yards, or they will just dump it on a secluded road. The more amenities the city can offer its residents to do clean up on their own, the less the city will have to do.
Or we can just sit back and watch this city deteriorate further.
Jean Harmon
Kansas City
We paid off our house last October, so it’s out responsibility to send all our tax and insurance payments ourselves, not through the mortgage company.
In March, my wife was surfing the city’s Web site and discovered we had not paid our city property tax. We never knew Kansas City had a property tax, but thought just the county had one. For our meager little house, the city’s portion of our property tax was $297.
So now the city wants to charge us to drop off our yard waste. The city wants us citizens to pay a real estate tax for having a home in Kansas City and get nothing in return.
Greg King
Kansas City
Barrels to catch rainwater? This certainly has to be a spoof (5/30, Local, “City wants ‘green’ time; $30 million in environmental options are slated, but a council majority says much more is needed”).
Barrels full of water would be an attractive nuisance to every kid in Kansas City. Mosquitoes would have a field day breeding in the standing water.
The City Council says up to $500 million needs to be spent on “green” solutions. Wastewater rates are expected to quadruple in the next dozen years.
It reminds me of the French Government immediately before the revolution.
Tom McGuire
Kansas City
I am so saddened to keep reading about how Kansas City’s sewer and water rates will keep rising (5/17, A-1, “Higher bills likely with better sewers”). I own a small laundry on the poor side of town. I don’t know what my customers are going to do when I have to raise my prices due to the water usage at such a business.
I am also in the middle of the construction mess at 85th and Troost. So with the last two years of fighting that and almost having to shut it down, now the water, sewer and electricity are going up. All I have to say is it is good thing that they have redone the Troost bridge, because there will soon be a lot of people needing shelter because they can’t afford to live anywhere else.
Kansas City has sure made it almost impossible for small business owners and lower-income residents to live here. Could that explain why people are so prone to move to Johnson County and Kansas City, Kan.?
Carol Anderson
Kansas City
It would seem that the impending rise in the water rates for Kansas City residents reflects the poor leadership this city has endured for the past 30 years.
According to The Star’s article (5/17, A-1, “Higher bills likely with better sewers”), Congress passed a law in 1977 requiring the elimination of all toxic releases into waterways. Cities such as Milwaukee moved quickly to solve the problem, and were rewarded with help from the federal government.
Kansas City, meanwhile, fiddled while Rome burned, and now the full cost of the project will be on the Kansas City taxpayer. With better leadership, this would not have happened.
William R. Giese
Kansas City
What is it that Mayor Funkhouser doesn’t get? How do you build our city when you can’t see the big picture? This man doesn’t have a clue. When he says if he had a choice between a new 1,000-room hotel or paving the streets for the citizens of Kansas City, it should be paving the streets (5/20, A-6, “What’s missing? Some say a 1,000-room hotel; Officials want to boost convention-related stays, but Funkhouser is leery of the cost”).
What does he think the 1,000-room hotel might bring in relation to the streets and much more?
Something drastic needs to happen before the city folds under this egotistical, self -serving mayor. And he wonders why Kansas residents won’t help. Why would we with this mentality?
Jane Frost
Prairie Village
It’s a shame we’re losing regularly scheduled bulky item pick-up in Kansas City.
My neighborhood spent a recent weekend hauling large items to the curb because the next Monday was the last scheduled pickup date.
Immediately after the unwanted items were placed on the curb, people started driving by to collect and recycle them. Trucks canvassed the neighborhood collecting steel. College students drove by picking up furniture. People stopped their cars to get garden pots, baby strollers, even my rusty grill.
Most trucks driving by were full to overflowing. Some even hauled trailers. Large piles of trash quickly reduced in size. Everyone seemed happy, and we saved precious landfill space in the process.
Now we have to call to arrange a pickup. The neighborhood will no longer haul everything to the curb on the same date, more trash will be taken to the dump, and the onslaught of free-cyclers will come to a pause (at least I hope it’s a pause).
David A. Young
Kansas City
I recently received a letter from Kansas City regarding the decades-old trash-rebate program the city provided to apartment owners to pay for the trash-collection costs for people who rent in the city.
Over the years, as the price of trash collection has increased, the amount of rebate slowly fell behind the actual cost of collection to the point that it covered less than half the cost. Now the city, due to budget constraints, is dropping the program altogether.
This is yet another example of the city discriminating against apartment dwellers who pay the 1 percent earnings tax as well as property taxes via their rent payments to property owners.
It seems as though the city leaders can give themselves a raise yet can’t give tax-paying citizens a fair shake when it comes to providing and paying for a basic service. If single-family homeowners had been asked to pay extra to get their trash removed, there would be hell to pay. How sad is this?
Jim Birt
Kansas City
The only services I get in south Kansas City is once a year when I get my property tax bill and my earnings tax form.
Snow removal is terrible.
The only time I see a police officer is on the local news or when I go to the South Patrol station to fill out a police report.
There is no regular bus service. My 12-mile trip for downtown jury duty took about an hour and a half.
Public meetings for input on the budget, buses and light rail seldom occur south of I-435.
If you live south of I-435, you are second class in Kansas City.
Jorge Aveadore
Kansas City
I would like to publicly thank the Kansas City and South Platte fire departments and remind everyone what superb service our firefighters provide while risking their lives in many situations.
Firefighters have come to my aid twice within the past few months. Once was for a medical emergency, and the other was for a feline rescue. These two situations were extreme opposites in emergency value, but in each case the firefighters were very helpful and unfailingly kind.
We hear so much about budget-tightening and cost-cutting. Let’s all hope that our cities and counties can find ways around having our firefighters make sacrifices when they deserve so much.
Sue Camarillo
Kansas City
Last I heard was that the city was having a revenue crisis. I guess the proposed cutbacks have freed up enough money for the council to vote 12-0 for 4 percent raises for the mayor and City Council members as well as a 2 percent raise for municipal judges (4/18, Local, “Council OKs raises”).
Maybe the increase in parking meter rates to $1 per hour will help (4/18, Local, “To raise revenue, rates will increase soon in KC”). Will we have to pay for parking at the zoo as well?
Bob Ventrillo
Kansas City
As a busy high schooler at St. Teresa’s Academy, my days are often filled with carpools to school, quick errands to the store and driving down to the Plaza. My neighborhood works hard to constantly improve the streets.
While I can’t help but grumble at the detours or orange cones, I also realize that I am privileged to live in such a nice neighborhood that has the support and means for such projects.
However, my gratitude for the companies who do this road work can only go so far. I feel that many of the companies have let us down by using metal plates in their construction areas instead of creating better solutions.
I strongly agree with Mayor Mark Funkhouser and believe it would be beneficial to give such companies incentive to create other solutions, such as embedding the metal plates within the pavement.
The many plates that dot the Kansas City area are often unavoidable, causing unnecessary wear on cars and tires. I think Funkhouser’s proposal to fine the companies is a simple plan that will get results.
Bailey Lynch
Leawood
Thank you to the Kansas City Action Center.
I called to report several potholes on Ward Parkway on a Monday, and by Wednesday they had been filled.
Thank you for such quick action.
Citizens of Kansas City need to know that the Action Center really works.
Ginzy Schaefer
Kansas City
Recent articles in The Star question the costs and, presumably, need for sewer replacements in Kansas City.
Last fall I noticed and photographed toilet paper flushed to the street (Oak Street) during a heavy rain.
Runoff from Kansas City mixes with untreated sewage to flow into streams, gutters and basements after heavy rains.
The problem needs fixing for Kansas City to become a livable and healthy community.
Sure it will cost money, but we’re not talking frivolity here. These are basic services that must be provided to Kansas Citians.
Raymond Coveney
Kansas City
A Star editorial (2/10, “Don’t burden customers when constructing sewer proposal”) says Kansas City should not “burden customers” by passing on the expense of improvements to the sewer system needed “to prevent stormwater from entering sewage lines during heavy rains,” leading to pollution of waterways.
Instead, The Star calls for city officials to lobby for federal funds or increase the sales tax. I disagree.
Much needed momentum is building to curb “earmarks.” This is what earmarks looks like from the local point of view. People across America should not be forced to pay for local projects. Shoppers in Kansas City shouldn’t be expected to chip in either. People who use the sewer system should pay for the improvements.
To minimize rate increases the city should make sure city officials have “slimmed down” this “incredibly ambitious” proposal (as your editorial writer puts it) where possible, then pay for it by issuing tax-exempt bonds to be paid off over the life of the improved system.
Winston Apple
Independence
Maybe I’m one of those disgruntled Johnson County dwellers with a sense of entitlement. The taxes I pay to live in Overland Park seem to make the snow magically disappear from the streets and neighborhood roads. The taxes I pay to enrich Kansas City, where I work every day, don’t seem to have that impact. What makes the magic work on one side of the state line and not on the other?
Justin Amberson
Overland Park
A recent survey showed that Raytown had the lowest overall level of citizen satisfaction among 19 suburbs.
I don’t know who they polled, but I am in complete disagreement.
My show and ice have been removed in a timely fashion, our police department is outstanding and people are moving here for our schools.
When our downtown development is finished, look for us to be at the top of the list.
Don Merker
Raytown
Kudos to the city and its contractor for the resurfacing job on Brookside Boulevard.
Pavement flush with manhole covers makes a world of difference to tires, alignment costs and comfort. Tax dollars well spent make a difference.
Chuck Bishop
Kansas City
The infrastructure of the United States is in horrible condition. An 80-year-old steam pipe explodes in New York. A 40-year-old interstate bridge collapses in Minneapolis.
In Missouri we have hundreds of bridges in need of repair. Many rural roads are unpaved.
The Bush administration has poured billions of our taxpayer dollars into rebuilding Iraq, with even more to be spent there. This is so wrong. We should be spending this money in our own country where it is needed.
Michael R. Lawler
Columbia
Southwest Trafficway is one of the most poorly designed streets in the city.
Going south from Interstate 35 to Westport, there is no left turn. Thus, literally thousands of drivers every day are forced to turn onto side streets and turn around in people’s driveways, which is annoying and wears down private property.
In the Coleman Highlands neighborhood, just west of Southwest Trafficway, a recent traffic study showed that more than 100 cars every day turn onto my street in order to turn around in driveways.
I have contacted the city engineers, but apparently nothing can be done to correct this taking of private property for public use, short of suing the city.
This was just poor planning. Did it occur to no one that preventing folks from turning left for 10 to 12 blocks might result in some problems?
Additionally, traffic screams down the trafficway at high speeds. About once a month, a police officer gives out as many tickets as he can, but cameras should be placed along the trafficway to automatically ticket people who are exceeding the speed limit. Such cameras would pay for themselves several times over in only a few weeks.
Jay MowBray
Kansas City
The recent bridge collapse in Minnesota is a startling reminder to us that aging infrastructure needs have to be addressed in a more timely manner and not be left to the complacency and procrastination of the local bureaucracy.
Far too many roads and bridges in the KC metro area are in dire need of repair and/or replacement, and the civic leaders must find funding for such improvement projects. Perhaps we can look at a reasonable sales tax on gasoline to fund infrastructure improvements.
Because municipal budgets are often overextended, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find funding for such projects. If our local infrastructural needs are not met, then it will be only a matter of time before such a tragedy occurs much closer to home, causing the unnecessary loss of more innocent lives. In these times of rising costs, our leadership must not sacrifice quality for quantity, and should demand such projects be done in the most expedient timeframe possible.
Matthew J. Palcher
Kansas City, Kan.
The purpose of this letter is twofold. The first is to let whomever know we found your very sweet, old beagle dog in our front yard. His soft blond fur seemed to show recent good care. His injuries apparently were painful but minor. Perhaps he wandered away, or maybe you dumped him. Who knows?
Either way, the second point is to compliment the quick response of Kansas City’s 311 Action Center. Within an hour of our call, two folks came from Animal Control.
They approached the beagle with caution, kind words and a noose. They petted him, gained his confidence, told us he would be seen by their staff veterinarian and appeared savable. Then they gently coaxed him to their vehicle.
Thank you for your professionalism and kindness to human and beast.
I hope the ending will be a quick recovery, a happy reunion or perhaps an adoption.
Nancy Moylan
Kansas City
We have a young man, Jerry Dale Peters, who grew up in our neighborhood of 43rd Terrace and Blue Ridge Cutoff. He not only cuts grass for five families here, he cuts the grass on the lower quadrant of the Blue Ridge side.
Now you may ask yourself why. Why would he do that?
I personally called the city and Action Center because the grass turned into weeds and you could not see to get out of our neighborhood. They did not come.
Another neighbor, Betty Durel, picks up the trash several times a week and planted daisies, too.
So let’s give the credit to these two people who take the time out of their busy schedules to beautify our neighborhood.
We love and thank you.
Penny Ball
Kansas City
After driving through treacherous Kansas City streets in winter and over steel plates in the summer, seeing the Parks Department not doing enough for the parks, and considering numerous red tape episodes in City Hall, my vote has already been cast for re-election of Sam Graves as my representative in Congress over Kay Barnes.
Dan Hayden
Kansas City
Market can’t solve everything
Shawnee City Councilwoman Michelle Distler’s piece on smoking bans violating constitutional rights shows a real lack of understanding of our Constitution and the role of government (4/30, As I See It).
According to Ms. Distler, we should go back to the days of smoking in office buildings and rely on supply and demand to determine what will be smoke-free.
The whole reason for government is that free enterprise is not the answer to every problem and that shared common needs, such as fire protection, roads, schools and, yes, public safety, are best met by the people, not business.
Does government do everything best? No. However, we have never been able to rely on businesses to put public health before short-term profits.
People realize public indoor smoking is a severe health hazard and overwhelmingly support its ban. Our Constitution provides mechanisms to take this opinion — which is backed up by scientific research — and put it into law.
William Gist
Kansas City
A new way to pay the bills
After adopting the legal logic of Michelle Distler’s “As I See It” explaining the unconstitutionality of smoking bans, I have decided to make some changes to my single-family home in Overland Park.
I am remodeling it into a bar and strip club, and I am converting my lawn into a 30-car parking lot to accommodate the anticipated increase in visitors. I plan to pay my bartenders and strippers 50 cents an hour.
When the government comes calling regarding its zoning ordinance, liquor licenses and minimum-wage laws, I will simply refer them to the column and explain that I am exercising my individual property rights, which according to Distler are absolutely guaranteed pursuant to the Constitution.
I encourage Ms. Distler to Google “police power.”
Brian Dietz
Overland Park
Regarding the $3 pet license increase to fund low-cost spay/neuter for low-income residents, Councilwoman Deb Hermann said, “It’s most appropriate that those that have animals pay for the process of animal control.” (3/16, Local, “News across the metro”)
I respectfully disagree but am intrigued by the concept. As a childless person, I wouldn’t pay for public education. As a non-criminal, I wouldn’t pay for police, courts or jails. As a car owner, I wouldn’t pay for public transportation.
I enjoy the parks, public library, smooth roads and fire protection, so I would pay for those. However, I could survive without the Chiefs, Royals, the new downtown arena and many of the arts, so their users could pay.
Yes, it’s an interesting philosophy but unrealistic. It’s most appropriate that all residents pay for city services, including those provided by the Department of Animal Health and Public Safety.
Debra Duncan
Kansas City
My husband and I moved into a newly constructed home in Kansas City, North, some weeks ago and were dismayed to find the streetlights were not turned on and there was an empty pole on the corner where the street signs should have been.
I filed an e-mail complaint with the 311 Action Center. Early the following morning, I received a courteous reply assuring me the problems would be investigated by the Public Works Department.
I was astonished that very evening to see the streetlights shining brightly on our driveway when darkness fell. I felt much safer.
In less than three weeks, the missing street signs had been replaced.
What a relief to know that emergency responders and other service providers will be able to find the addresses in our neighborhood without difficulty.
I applaud the efficient and caring city employees who addressed our concerns so promptly. It’s wonderful to live in a big city that knows how to give small-town service to its residents.
Francy Chapman
Kansas City
While watching national news on TV in Colorado recently, I saw that a small child was bitten and mangled by rats while sleeping in her Kansas City home.
One can drive by certain areas of Kansas City and see the trash, debris, etc., in yards and around houses. This is home for rats to breed.
Come on, Kansas City. I thought we are getting on the map as a first-class city now, and getting away form the cowtown image.
City officials: Let’s clean up Kansas City of the rat infestation like New York City did a few years ago. We do not want to be called rat town.
Art Kinder
Kansas City
How much further will we go in our efforts to disenfranchise voters? The ability to vote absentee at satellite sites has vanished the last few years, routing voters to the downtown Walnut Street office of the Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners.
If this is an effort to save money by not staffing these sites with workers — thus depriving underpaid dedicated workers from contributing to the economy or to their livelihood — what’s going on here?
Shame on us.
Yvonne S. Wilson
Missouri state senator
9th District
Kansas City
On Saturday, Feb. 17, I contacted the Water Department about a water main break at the street level in front of my house. I called again on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, as did my neighbors. There were at least 30 calls.
Finally, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 20, the Water Department arrived to fix it. That took until 1 a.m. (No water during that time.)
I was told that the reason the problem wasn’t fixed sooner was that Saturday and Sunday is the weekend and Monday was a holiday (Presidents Day).
As a registered nurse for 51 years, I have worked more evenings, nights, weekends and holidays than most anyone else. If there is an emergency, you respond.
Come on, Kansas City Water Department: Do your job. Don’t make up excuses.
Nancy A. Richart
Kansas City
This in response to Jeanne A. Martin’s letter (2/18) regarding snow and ice on the roads. I am unfortunate enough to have to travel in the snow and ice and not just observe it from my window. I live in Kansas City and work in Kansas, and I have to say that Kansas City does a better job of getting the major roads cleared quickly than does Johnson County, especially on Interstate 435 in the south.
I obviously haven’t driven every inch of every road on both sides of the state line after a snowstorm, but the roads that I do travel on are in a lot better condition in Missouri.
My residential street usually gets a plow through, with no salt or sand. But the residential streets that I’ve seen on the Kansas side haven’t looked much better.
Chris Lamb
Kansas City
Hooray for the women and men who deliver the mail, pick up the trash and repair frozen water mains in this frigid weather. Thanks, folks.
John M. Tilton
Kansas City
Once again I watch from my home on the Missouri side of State Line Road and see Johnson County quickly and efficiently clear snow from its residential streets. After four snow falls, we have yet to have a snow plow, let alone sand, touch our road.
I read in The Star (2/14 editorial) that Kansas City didn’t have the money to clean the streets. Snow and bad weather are new to them? Did the entire decision-making team move here last June?
I am ready to vote for any mayoral candidate who will proclaim loud and clear that taking care of neighborhoods includes snow removal. And I don’t want to hear all the excuses of large geographic areas and population centers. Johnson County is not exactly small, with only a few people living in it.
This is just another thing that threatens to make us a third-rate city.
Jeanne A. Martin
Kansas City
Open poll for all Kansas City mayoral candidates:
P.S. If you have an automated dialer with a recorded message calling my home, you will not receive my vote.
Paula Murdock
Kansas City
Sorry, fellow Brooksider and Longfellow neighbor (2/1 and 2/6, Letters), I am all for the “mini Dumpsters.”
We recently moved back here from Southern California, where we used three different-colored carts for trash, recycling items and yard debris. It is an efficient, clean and environmentally friendly solution to a trashy problem.
I was astounded to learn while house hunting that none of the neighborhoods (including some very affluent spots on the Kansas side) utilized this system. It is a concept that would work with ease in the suburbs and in many, if not all, of Kansas City’s neighborhoods.
If three bins could be stored on postage stamp-sized California lots, it could work here.
I say goodbye to trash bags and the critters that make a game of scattering trash around our neighborhoods. Bring on the “Dumpsters.”
Colleen Bauman
Kansas City
I was delighted to read in the Urban Living advertising section of The Star that the wealthiest segment of the population who will be living in opulent splendor in One Park Place and The View will pay no city property tax.
They should hang their heads in shame. Do they not use city services like the rest of us? Does it not bother them that a poor person will be paying their share of the city services?
I would like to suggest a regulation for consideration by the City Council. No person living in tax-abated property should be allowed to vote in city elections, or to hold city office, or to compete for city contracts.
Surely no wealthy person would be crass enough to make a living from the city while paying nothing.
Ralph Nite
Kansas City
Recent snow storms have brought something into the spotlight for me: Our city’s system for plowing the roads is clearly not working.
As a student, I cannot complain about bad weather, because sometimes it gets me out of school. But as a driver it is extremely frustrating. Even in my four-wheel-drive truck, it is a struggle to get from Point A to Point B.
What really blows me away is that I can be traveling on Ward Parkway, then go one block west into Kansas, and the roads are magically clear.
Maybe instead of spending millions to revamp stadiums, we should put that money toward making our roads somewhat traversable the next time Mother Nature sends us her worst.
Andrew Whittaker
Kansas City
Since moving to Kansas City five years ago, I have become accustomed to the winter mixture of snow, sleet and ice.
Growing up in Chicago, I was used to several inches (six, eight or more) of snow falling in one day. During the next day or two, the roads would be cleared.
I can remember the first snowfall shortly after moving here. I was amazed that just three inches of snow completely shut down the city, and a week later I was still battling snow- and ice-covered streets.
In the last five years I have seen many snowfalls with the same poor city response. I made the assumption that this was a regional problem.
Recently I changed jobs and now spend most of my work time in Johnson County, while still living in the Waldo section of Kansas City. During the recent winter weather I was amazed while driving to work across State Line Road onto completely clear roads, free of snow and ice.
Why are other cities prepared and able to clear streets so quickly? Why am I still sliding down my street when similar streets less than a mile away are completely clear?
Brian Strief
Kansas City
About the fall leaf pickup: We here on the 2900 Ashland Ridge Road worked to get our leaves ready for the Nov. 13 pickup. After a week, I called to tell them they were not picked up. Still no pickup. I called again the next week and was told we should have called within three days to let them know that they were not picked up. (I did not know this.)
So at this writing, the leaves are still here. They were, of course, covered by snow in the recent storm.
How can we keep our city clean if the city does not do its part?
O. Baldwin
Kansas City
Two years ago, Kansas City’s recycling naysayers were in full voice, even continuing to lament the loss of those now infamous free trash bags. Happily, we are now surviving on a weekly diet of two free bags for trash, and RecycleFirst, our curbside recycling program, is used by 68 percent of householders.
However, curbside recycling is not available to those living in large apartment units and condominiums. As The Star’s editorial urged (11/24), we need to make curbside recycling pickup available to those residents, too.
As a volunteer, I give talks in area schools about environmental issues. Often, a child will sadly tell me: “They won’t let us recycle at our apartment.”
Let us give all families a chance to participate in the RecycleFirst program.
Reta Jo Mitchell
Kansas City
I read where Kansas City and Kansas City, Kan., have dreamed up the idea of placing surveillance cameras in high-crime areas with the hope of reducing and solving crimes and boosting residents’ peace of mind (11/21, A-1, “Police to test street cams”). KCK’s immediate tap is noted at $50,000!
I have a better idea for KCK that has already been proven as a deterrent to crime and a way to improve residents’ peace of mind. Why not make sure that streetlights are adequately maintained and replaced?
They could start by replacing the utility pole in front of 1713 Metropolitan, which was struck and knocked down by a car on Nov. 11. I have made various calls to BPU with no success. I quit calling after I was told that the pole and lights, if replaced, would take three weeks or so. I do know that the police and utility are aware of the missing pole and lights.
So, how can KCK justify spending $50,000 for a pilot program when BPU cannot even replace street lighting when needed? What makes KCK think that the surveillance cameras will not be damaged and will not take “three weeks or so” to be replaced?
Domingo Soto
Kansas City, Kan.
Recently there was an article in your paper about properties in need of repair and no action being taken by the city. After reading it, I called the reporter to let her know that it is a problem all over the city. Funny because when the new city manager came here he said he would get rid of all the dead wood in the city, making sure the changes that needed to be made would be.
I called the city manager’s office to complain about the lack of attention and the answers I was getting from Neighborhood Preservation. I asked for a call back from him. Instead, I got a call back from the person that I wanted to complain about! So much for cleaning up dead wood in city agencies
We can only hope that the new mayor will know where the Northeast is and get rid of city officials who don’t care about the taxpayers who pay them.
For five years, people in my neighborhood have been calling about houses that need to be fixed and slumlords who rent to anybody, drug dealers included. The only response we get is when the East Patrol police officers call the city. Neighborhood Preservation is full of canned answers and nothing more.
Steve MacAdams
Kansas City
In regard to Kansas City voters’ rejection of the fire inspection fee:
(Sung to the tune of “Old McDonald Had a Farm”)
Old KC had some fees
E-I-E-I-O
On top of those they wanted more
E-I-E-I-O
With a rental fee here, a ticket fee there,
Here a fee — there a fee —
Everywhere a fee —
Finally we just said no
E-I-E-I-O
Ginny Magers
Kansas City
We have a big problem here in Independence. We live on R.D. Mize Road, as we have for over 26 years. Now the city has decided that the street needs to be widened.
I realize that they have the right to use their easement. But the city is also planning to take another 6 ½ feet of our yard, which leaves us about enough room to park two cars or our truck. No room for visitors to park.
We will lose three big crape myrtles and a butterfly bush. They are beautiful all summer, and it has taken years for them to get this large. We will have to cut down our big magnolia also to make room to widen the driveway.
We had a small yard to start with. Now we will have almost none, and it will reduce the value of our home.
I think it is just criminal. I know it took years to plan all this. At that time, there was enough land on the other side of the street to widen it if it needed to be done, before the new houses were built. There is a sidewalk on that side of the street, so we don’t need one on this side.
Now there is nothing we can do. But I just needed to complain.
Patricia Sullivan
Independence
While I appreciate the city’s fall leaf and brush pickup program, the postcard I received in yesterday’s mail informs me that my leaf pickup day will be on Oct. 30.
I can rearrange enough of my weekend to get the currently fallen leaves raked, but 90 percent of the leaves that will eventually end up in my yard are just beginning to turn and are still tightly clinging to the trees.
Can anyone at City Hall give me a few tips on how to persuade them to fall before the pickup deadline?
Janice Raach
Kansas City
Editor’s note: The City has announced a second pick-up to begin after Thanksgiving.
