Josh Merchant is The Beacon's local government reporter in Kansas City. After graduating from Seattle University, Josh earned a master’s degree in investigative journalism from Columbia Journalism School with coursework in data journalism. Josh has contributed reporting to The Seattle Spectator, The South Seattle Emerald and THE CITY in New York. They're a former Beacon intern. At The Beacon, they reported on issues of traffic safety, with a focus on roadway design, as well as tax-incentivized development at a variety of Kansas City agencies. They have lived in Kansas City since 2021.
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Half of the members of the Unified Government Board of Commissioners are up for election this fall, with the potential to shape decisions affecting Kansas City, Kansas, and the rest of Wyandotte County for the next four years.
Fifteen candidates are running to represent the four districts in the southeastern corner of the county, including four candidates in the race for District 4, where Harold Johnson has decided not to run for reelection.
In Wyandotte County, half of the commissioners in the Unified Government will be up for election on Aug. 1, and three districts will not have an incumbent. This includes District 2, in which Brian McKiernan has decided not to seek reelection, leaving an open seat being contested by three candidates in the primary.
A last-minute notice that the Port Authority of Kansas City would be considering tax incentives for a set of controversial housing developments at its July 17 board meeting drew a crowd of irate school leaders, neighborhood residents and business owners.
Gail McCann Beatty, Jackson County’s director of assessment, told The Beacon in April that much of this year’s 30% increase can be explained by a general increase in market value.
Her insights, along with interviews with other people familiar with housing trends in Jackson County, present a complex set of factors that are making it more expensive to live in Kansas City.
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority voted unanimously on Wednesday afternoon to dissolve the RideKC Development Corp. But the move does not mean that the agency is ending its foray into transit-oriented, tax-subsidized development.
The last time Kansas Citians voted for City Council members, Donald Trump was still president, renters were just beginning to organize under the working name of “KC Tenants” and many Kansas City residents had never considered wearing a face mask to the airport (still a horseshoe-shaped terminal), let alone a grocery store.
On June 20, Kansas City voters will elect a new City Council, which will get to work in August making important decisions about massive downtown development proposals, preparations for the 2026 World Cup, affordable housing and the city’s budget.
The Missouri River has historically represented a political divide within Kansas City, with the Northland voting more conservatively than voters south of the river in local and statewide elections.
When Kansas City voters go to the polls on June 20, their choices have the potential to dramatically change the way the City Council does business. At least six of the 12 seats will be filled with a new member.
For years, Kansas City has focused on reducing energy consumption among the largest contributors. But it is struggling to get building owners to cooperate.
