August 9, 2010

Dear Folks,

 This Week's City Business

   The stage was set this week for neighborhood revitalization to begin this fall across the city.
   The Public Improvement Advisory Committee on Friday voted to recommend more than four dozen neighborhood improvement projects. The recommendations will be presented to the Mayor and the City Council after the Council's one-week recess.
   The Council in June approved funding for $24 million worth of projects designed both to improve city neighborhoods and to create jobs for Kansas Citians.
   "This is a great day for Kansas City neighborhoods," the Mayor said. "People say you can't get things done at City Hall, and we're showing them differently."
   The First, Third and Sixth Council districts each submitted projects totaling about $4 million. The Fourth District submitted projects totaling about $2 million, but they plan to submit additional projects later this month. The First and Fifth districts did not get their projects submitted, but told the committee projects will be submitted.
   Residents and neighborhood organizations flooded City Hall with applications for projects after the Mayor and Council approved the funding. More than 1,000 applications were submitted.
   Projects recommended by the committee included almost two-dozen neighborhood sidewalk and curb projects, very much in line with the Mayor's Schools First initiative. Projects in the Sixth District include an aquatics center, a drainage project on 135th Street, curbs and sidewalks on Holmes and Walnut and improvements on 135th Street and 90th Terrace.
   "There should be a project in almost every neighborhood.  Even better, those projects mean jobs for our residents," the Mayor said. 
   The Mayor said the city staff did an outstanding job processing the applications for the Public Improvement Advisory Committee in record time.
   The Mayor attended two Town Halls this week.
   On Wednesday, the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation hosted a Town Hall at the Plaza Library. An overflow crowd talked with the Mayor about the city's plans for more marked bike paths on streets, as well as dedicated bike and walking trails.
   A crowd consisting of mostly avid cyclists encouraged the Mayor to continue his push to make Kansas City safer and friendlier for bikes and pedestrians.
   The Mayor said Kansas City has to do a better job of responding to the needs of its citizens.
   Comparing Kansas City to traditional businesses, the Mayor said, "We've got to fix the product, or folks like you won't be Kansas Citians for very long."
   The Mayor noted that Kansas City continues to work toward achieving status as a Platinum bike city.
   On Thursday night, the Mayor was in southeast Kansas City for a Town Hall hosted by the Canaan Worship Center.
   The Mayor talked about his Schools First initiative, as well as plans to add more police to patrol city neighborhoods by renewing the Public Safety Sales Tax.
   Asked by a business owner why the city hasn't done anything to promote business east of Troost Avenue, the Mayor said the City Council and local civic officials have been too focused on large, glitzy projects and have ignored the basics of good government.
   "For decades, your city government has been focused on one mega deal after another," the Mayor said. "I'm trying to push economic development into what I call the economically challenged parts of the city."

On A More Personal Note
 
   It has been a week since our daughter got engaged.  Everyone is excited to be adding a son/brother to our family.  We have gotten many responses from citizens who are looking forward to a "royal" wedding, but to us, we're just looking forward to a long-term marriage filled with many grandchildren.
 
In Faith,
Gloria and Mark

In faith, Gloria & Mark