Unfettered Letters

Part of sprawl problem

Melissa John wants to “escape the Overland Park cancerous growth” (2/27, Letters, “Overland Park annexation”) by moving out ahead of it again.

I am certain that those who are already out there consider her to be the front edge of the cancerous growth.

Melissa, you are part of the problem, and you are the reason that Overland Park has to expand outwards again and again.

The “city’s madness” is not following you again; you are part of the madness.

Matthew Nowak
Lansing

Comforts of Raytown

First I would like to congratulate Leilani Haywood for her wise choice to move to Raytown (1/18, Letters). I am in my 56th year living here. I think Raytown is the best-kept secret in the country.

The people are genuine and education is outstanding. (Two sons and two grandsons were lucky recipients.) Police, ambulance and fire department assistance can’t be beat. Taxes are reasonable. Access to all major highways is minutes away. In other words: all the comforts of home.

Raytown is hardly ever mentioned in all the comparisons with the surrounding communities. I think if they were, it would surprise everyone that we have the best right here in Raytown.

Josephine Byrne
Raytown

I’d like to say thank you to the Raytown Public Works Department. They do a great job of keeping our streets clear of ice and snow in winter. Whenever I’ve called with a concern, they have addressed it promptly, efficiently and with courtesy. We might have placed 19th in citizen satisfaction, but we do have a lot of good people working and living here.

Mary Monnin
Raytown

Raytown rules

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

Bad rap for Raytown

I was surprised that Raytown got such a bad rap from the citizens’ satisfaction survey (1/13, A-1, “Which burb is Happy Town?; Based on citizen surveys from 19 area cities, The Star tells which one has the most-satisfied residents …”).

I’ve lived here seven years and chose Raytown because of the schools’ reputation. My first day at my new job as a news editor for an online magazine, my co-workers didn’t know where Raytown was. “You need to move to Mission or Lenexa,” they said. “What’s in Raytown?”

For one thing, hardly any traffic! I don’t know everything that goes on at City Hall, but do I really want to know? All I care about is where to get my dog licensed and how to pay my water or sewer bill. City officials have created a civic organization to encourage downtown redevelopment, which is awesome.

Raytown is a sleepy burb with a lot of promise. The people are friendly, and I feel like a live in small town with easy access to the Plaza, Crown Center and other big-city attractions.

The cops are very responsive, probably my favorite part of this city. The bad rap mystifies me.

Leilani Haywood
Raytown

Sprint Center shows

I read Tim Finn’s R. Kelly review (12/8, Local) in which he comments on the entertainment booked so far at the Sprint Center. He mentions “grumblings” from some who think Sprint Center management had to this point only booked events that would attract “suburbia.” I have to disagree with the unidentified grumblers.

I am an African-American resident of midtown who has already attended four events at the Sprint Center: the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 10, both nights of the CBE basketball tournament, and the second performance of “High School Musical.” At each of those events, I observed a diverse mix of age and race. Those who assumed that the events held in the first eight weeks of Sprint Center’s existence were primarily for suburbia were mistaken.

Sean Akridge
Kansas City

Suburban arena

I wish to add my two cents to the debate on having a suburban arena in Independence.

I have always been in favor of having a small or midsize suburban arena in the KC area. As a resident of Lee’s Summit, I like the location of the facility that Global Properties is planning. With more residents coming into the Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs and Independence areas, there should be plenty of traffic for this new addition to financially succeed.

Several years ago I lived in Topeka, which at the time was home for a Central Hockey League franchise. I enjoyed attending the hockey games as a sports fan but noticed many others came simply because it was an affordable, entertaining evening for their family.

While the Sprint Center continues to pursue an NHL franchise, hockey fans here can get their fix with the CHL. Besides the chance for other minor-league sports at the new facility, I can only imagine the fun ways to utilize the place for trade shows, ice events and high school games during the winter months. I am really looking forward to adding events at this new facility to my to-do calendar.

Fred Liggett
Lee’s Summit

Walk around suburbs

I recently tried walking around Overland Park. Let me tell you, this was no easy task.

I had never been there before, so I didn’t know what to expect. Now I do: very few sidewalks and a conflux of cars zooming in from every direction.

It was not the picturesque Kansas City I had envisioned. Instead it seemed like a society drunk on gasoline, where a man who makes his way on foot is as rare as a horse pulling a buggy.

The point I’m trying to make is that Overland Park and its suburban sister cities appear to be headed toward complete automobile dependency. And nothing good has ever come out of this “all eggs in one basket” scenario.

To see my point, try walking for a day as I did. The results might just startle you.

Marius Dicpetris
Saint Petersburg, Fla.

Urban schools are key

Urban sprawl is nothing new (7/6, Yael Abouhalkah column, "With sprawl, we're being spread too thin"). There are three things I feel are essential to bringing families back to the urban core.

1. Fix the public schools

2. Bring corporations back to downtown

3. Light rail

The rising price of fuel and the expected escalation when China begins to drive will make living near your work desirable. Bringing jobs downtown will bring the workers downtown, but for one caveat: public schools.

I believe there is an underlying cynicism about our schools. Our leaders seem to ignore the issue. I don't think they realize the consequences. Or if they do, don't have a solution.

Clay Chastain is once again pushing for light rail, and once again he is just another leader who's ignoring the core issue keeping people away from the city.

Power and Light district: sexy

Moving the Royals downtown: exciting

Light rail: uber sexy

A leader willing to take on the school board: priceless

David Farnam
Kansas City

Downtown lofts

I have to laugh when reading in The Star about suburbanites rushing to occupy their new lofts in downtown KC. From 1979 until 2001, I lived in a loft in the Union Hill area.

The new urban pioneers will soon realize it is not safe to leave their gated, guarded concrete enclaves after 5 p.m. for a walk or a bike ride. Soon they will realize they must return to those dreaded suburbs to buy groceries, clothes, etc. Eventually they are going to have to deal with the Kansas City Water Department, trash pickup, codes enforcement or the police. At some point, they are going to notice the crumbling curbs, sidewalks, streets and traffic systems, and the ubiquitous gunfire, trash and broken liquor bottles.

Looking for a deal on a trendy downtown loft? Just wait a while. There will be lots of them.

Tom Hemmen
Olathe