The Beacon found the Kansas City Land Bank has potential conflicts of interest between board members and buyers, and fails to hold buyers accountable to its own requirements.
Emily Wolf
Posted inLocal Government
‘Trash doesn’t care what district you’re in’: Searching for a regional solution to illegal dumping
Every week, Gabrielle Stanley and a group of volunteers with the KC Parks Ambassadors program gather with a single goal in mind: Cleaning up illegal dumping at Indian Mound on Gladstone Boulevard & Belmont Boulevard. But every week, they’re greeted by a new pile of trash and litter. Indian Mound is one of hundreds of […]
Posted inLocal Government
A DOJ partnership is hoping to change how Kansas City handles violence prevention. It will be an uphill battle.
Several years after the embattled violence-reduction program known as KC No Violence Alliance faded from public view, Mayor Quinton Lucas’ administration is working with federal authorities and community partners to revive and broaden the strategies that for a time seemed to be making a difference in Kansas City, Missouri. The new program, dubbed the Community […]
Posted inLocal Government
KCPD pulled resources from Sly James’ anti-violence plan. Four years later, KC NoVA won’t quit
If you’re on parole in Jackson County, you might run into Heidi Jones. She isn’t there to make sure you’re following the terms of your release — she wants to help you make the most of your life post incarceration. Jones is a client advocate in Kansas City. The role is simultaneously very specific and […]
Posted inLocal Government
Shutdown averted — for now. But KC federal workers are still vulnerable to political whims
Signals from Washington that a threatened federal shutdown will be averted, for now, came as good news after partisan disagreements threatened to send an already fragile economy into a tailspin. In the Kansas City metro area, where more than 28,000 federal employees live and work, a shutdown would’ve meant thousands of furloughs and missed paychecks. […]
Posted inLocal Government
Who is Taking KC Back? Behind the PAC hoping to oust multiple council members
Clarification: Rita Olson-Stawicki is the president of Taking Back KC. She assumed the position after the resignation of former president Jami Bailey in July 2021. A new political action committee in Kansas City, Missouri, is quietly raising its influence and aims to have a say in how City Hall conducts business — and who is […]
Posted inEconomics
‘I’m praying they tear this down’: Dangerous properties owned by KCMO’s Land Bank draw frustration
Three properties are currently classified as dangerous buildings by the city, and they are not listed in the Land Bank’s inventory as available for sale.
Posted inLocal Government
A Chick-fil-A at the new airport? LGBTQ advocates say that won’t fly
UPDATE: Chick-fil-A has been removed from the list of potential restaurants in the new KCI airport terminal after pushback at a Transportation, Infrastructure and Operations Committee meeting. A plan unveiled last week to include Chick-fil-A alongside a mix of local and national restaurants inside the new Kansas City International (KCI) airport terminal is causing concern […]
Posted inLocal Government
Wildflowers or weeds? Under Kansas City code, it’s a matter of management
Plants taller than 10 inches can be classified as a “nuisance violation” in Kansas City, Missouri’s code of ordinances. So planting native and pollinator foods like milkweed could put a property owner at risk of a court date — and maybe a hefty fine.
Posted inLocal Government
Yes, a recall election could happen in Kansas City. Here’s how it works.
In 2020, there was a push to recall Mayor Quinton Lucas, but it failed to garner enough signatures to be put on the ballot. Now, there’s an ongoing campaign to recall Councilman Eric Bunch, who represents the 4th District.