The Dotte

Opinion: Karin Brownlee's Court-Packing Scheme

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:09:00 -0500

Fair and balanced.

That’s how Kansas House Republicans might describe a workers’ compensation reform bill they gave preliminary approval to on Friday. But here’s how the Topeka Capitol Journal described House Bill 2531 which changes the process for selecting administrative law judges for disputed Kansas workers’ compensation and unemployment cases:

“The bill, championed by Kansas Labor Secretary Karin Brownlee, would hand to business interests control of picking members of a new board that would assume responsibility for judicial appointments. Business groups would be guaranteed six seats on the board, while labor would have one seat.”

Legislation like HB 2531 hurts communities like ours the most.

This stacks the deck against workers who are injured on the job. Thank you to all of our Representatives who stood with Kansas workers and have opposed this bill, unfortunately not all Reps are like ours and are more interested in valuing their big business campaign contributors over the hard working families in our State.

Karin Brownlee and business groups will choose SIX of the new seven-member panel that picks judges for work comp and UI cases. The Kansas AFL-CIO would pick the seventh.

Brownlee and House Republicans are trying to blow up a process that has resulted in truly impartial judges that both employees and employers can trust.

You are probably outraged, and you should be.

So, before the final House vote on this bill, Kansas workers need you to make your voice heard.

Click here for a list of key Representatives to call before the vote and our notes on the bill. The vote could come as soon as Monday, so start calling over the weekend.

Take a moment to share this with your friends on your social networks and take action to stand with many of the member of our communities who are likely going to be some of the most hurt by this bill.

Twitter (copy & paste the following into a tweet): RT @workingkansans: Help Stop Karin Brownlee’s Court-Packing Scheme! Take A Stand Now! http://bit.ly/zzdCGy #ksleg #kslabor

Facebok (click here to like and share)

CHWC reminds consumers to beware of foreclosure rescue scams

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:30:39 -0500

With headlines touting the $25 billion dollar Mortgage Servicing Settlement announced on February 9, 2012 through the combined efforts of the U.S. Department of Justice, HUD, and the Treasury Department; there are concerns that some consumers might find a new twist to loan or foreclosure rescue scams. Community Housing of Wyandotte County (CHWC), NeighborWorks America, and our partners want to remind consumers to be cautious of potential scams that may be created from this settlement.

“The Mortgage Servicing Settlement announced yesterday is a great step towards repairing the damage done to the thousands of homeowners who may have lost their homes unnecessarily,” says Donny Smith, Executive Director of CHWC. “However, a new potential problem has also been created which is the opportunity for new loan scams. We have often told consumers to be wary of any offers not requested or initiated by the consumer, but in the case of the independent foreclosure review this is not the situation. Eligible consumers were mailed directly, informing them of the assistance or relief created by this settlement.”

To combat the ability of new scams, CHWC encourages consumers to take advantage of free counseling and be wary of any firm that asks for an up-front fee. Warning signs of a loan modification scam are:

Asks for fees in advance.
Guarantees that they’ll stop a foreclosure or get your loan modified.
Tells you to stop paying your mortgage company and to pay them instead

CHWC advises consumers to contact the Kansas Attorney General, a HUD certified counseling agency, or the national Foreclosure Hotline if they need more information about this settlement or potential scams. Other Important contact information for consumers:

Call 888-995-HOPE to Speak with a HUD Approved Housing Counselor, such as CHWC 913.342.7580 Call the Kansas Attorney General Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-432-2310
For additional information and answers to basic questions about the review process, visit www.IndependentForeclosureReview.com.

To report a loan scam at any time, call 1-888-995-HOPE. For more information about the Loan Scam Alert campaign, visit www.LoanScamAlert.org.

Borrowers or former homeowners seeking more information about the qualifications for relief from this settlement may also visit http://www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com/ for more information.

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If you are in or around the KC area this wednesday with nothing to do, read up.

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:36:22 -0500

manspeaker:

Tim is my best friend from College. He was destined to be a writer. When I met him he told me that was what he was going to be. He was 16. Fast forward fifteen years and my friend has made a movie. And is actually a working screenwriter.

IF you are in or around the KC area on Wednesday night, he is having a free screening of his new movie. The first showing it has had. Here are the details and a link to the evite page.

This is a test screening for the rough cut of The Brass Teapot movie. We will be asking you to fill out a questionaire and stay after the movie to discus the film. Please only attend if you can stay for the entire movie and question & answer period.

ARRIVAL TIME: Attendees should arrive 15 min early (6:30PM)

START TIME: Screening will begin promptly at 6:45PM

END TIME: Approximately 9pm

The Brass Teapot stars Juno Temple and Michael Angarano. Directed by Ramaa Mosley. Written by Tim Macy who currently lives in Kansas City.

There is room for 140 people so RSVP ASAP to confirm a seat. Please feel free to forward this invite to as many people as you like. In order to attend the screening people must RSVP on this evite. You may bring guests but please indicate on the evite that you are doing so. RSVP list closes at 9PM Tuesday night.

We ask that you arrive promptly and allow for a 24hr cancellation to ensure that your seat can be filled. There will be a questionnaire for everyone that should be handed in at the end of the screening.

RSVP here

Kansas City Broadband Leadership Summit Mayor Reardon will...

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:22:16 -0500

Kansas City Broadband Leadership Summit

Mayor Reardon will discuss the importance of high-speed fiber infrastructure to cities as they look to compete in the marketplace of the future. He will focus on how data speed is relevant to residents and businesses and how public-private partnerships can help cities deploy this type of infrastructure.

http://www.broadbandleadershipsummit.com/

Statement by Unified Government Commissioner Mike Kane 2012 Unified Government Budget

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:31:20 -0400

Statement by Unified Government Commissioner Mike Kane

2012 Unified Government Budget

As a Unified Government Commissioner, I support the economic development successes Wyandotte County is experiencing. Developments like Village West, Hollywood Casino and LiveStrong Sporting Park are positive for the entire city and will help us make improvements and start new developments in older parts of the city, such as redevelopment of the Indian Springs mall.

I have never believed the misinformation put out by the Wyandotte County Taxpayers League, a small group labeled “the gang that can’t shoot straight” in a recent Kansas City Star editorial.

My opposition to the 2012 Unified Government budget had nothing to do with their unfounded allegations. My no vote was a protest against the timing of the budget vote, nothing more. I felt with three new Commissioners we all needed more time to review the budget and receive additional information. The Unified Government faces financial challenges like many cities, but the budget plan is sound.

I work hard to be an independent voice representing the best interests of the entire community, not just my district. I am a proud Union member, but I have no time for “gangs” or alliances which are damaging to the Commission and the community.

Fact Sheet: Unified Government Budget and Finances

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:49:03 -0400

The Unified Government is in compliance with all State budget laws and accepted governmental accounting practices. It is a balanced budget which accurately reflects the policy decisions adopted by the Unified Government Board of Commissioners.

The increase in property tax rate was necessary to avoid further cuts in service, employee lay-offs and rebuild cash reserves. Even with the tax rate increase property owners will pay less in city-county property tax for the 2012 budget than they paid in 2009. The property tax rate is still much lower than before the Unified Government was created. In 1997 it was was 97 mills. Now its 81.6 mills.

The Unified Government receives less than half of the total tax bill paid by a Wyandotte County resident.

A number of other cities in the KC metro and across Kansas also increased property taxes to fund their 2012 budgets. Overland Park increased its property tax nearly 40% because it had spent its cash reserves from a high of $63-million in 2007 to $18-million by the end of 2011.

Unified Government debt, the money borrowed to pay for streets, sewers and other public improvements, is in line with other communities. The total Unified Government bonded debt per citizen is $1,741. The total city-county debt per person for Overland Park is $1,536. The total city-county debt per person in Olathe is $2,108.

The Unified Government can and will pay off the money it’s borrowed. While the Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s credit rating agencies expressed caution about low cash reserves, both give the Unified Government a “AA” bond rating. Statements that the Unified Government is on the verge of bankruptcy are lies.

The Village West and Kansas Speedway development is an economic success. The STAR Bonds used to finance the development will be paid off in 2017, four years ahead of schedule freeing up millions a year in sales tax now used to retire the STAR Bonds.

Unlike the Power and Light District in downtown Kansas City or the Bass Pro development in Independence, the taxpayers of Wyandotte County are not at risk if the Village West development would fail and the bond payments fall short. That’s because the STAR bonds are backed by private investors, not taxpayers.

The Unified Government will soon collect millions a year in property taxes and gaming revenues from the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway.

Fact Sheet: Citywide Development in KCK

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:29:44 -0400

A special interest group is spreading false information about the Unified Government budget and the economic success of developments like Village West. Here are the facts. Please share with your family, friends and neighbors.

§ The economic success of the Village West and Kansas Speedway development are well documented. 10-million visitors annually. $811-million in combined public and private investment. 114 businesses, including 28 restaurants, are open in Village West, employing nearly 5,000 persons. The Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway will open in February 2012 creating 1,000 new jobs. Construction of the Cerner Corp office complex will create 4,000 new jobs over the next several years.

§ The businesses in Village West pay $11.5-million a year in property taxes. They generate more than $610-million in retail sales. Local and state sales tax, use and transient guest tax collections top $41-million. The STAR Bonds used to finance the development will be paid off in 2017, four years ahead of schedule.

§ Village West gets a lot of public attention, but that doesn’t mean the rest of our community has been forgotten. The tax revenue generated by the crowds of shoppers and tourists have stabilized our tax base and are helping pay for improvements in the older urban neighborhoods of KCK.

§ Prescott Plaza at 18th and I-70 is a very successful project which brought the first new grocery store to the urban core in 30 years along with restaurants and shops. A new Sunfresh Market has opened in Turner and the new Happy Foods Grocery opened at 55th and Leavenworth Road.

§ The 39 Rainbow Project is under construction in Rosedale near KU Med Center. It is a $40-million mixed use development with a hotel, retail stores and housing.

§ New Dollar General and Family Dollar stores are opening in several urban neighborhoods bringing the convenience and economic boost of new retail to older areas of KCK.

§ The $14-million Children’s Campus building in downtown KCK is a landmark project in both its benefits to downtown and its important work to help KCK children.

§ The Unified Government commits $2-million a year to improve aging streets in the urban core. Reconstruction of Parallel Parkway from 5th to 9th streets is underway. 7th Street from State Avenue to Fairfax was repaved. New curbs and sidewalks have been built along a 10 block stretch of Quindaro Blvd. Millions have spent across the urban core… from Argentine and Armourdale to Quindaro and Midtown improving sewers to prevent flooding.

§ The Complete Streets program will bring curbs, sidewalks and bike paths to urban neighborhoods. Using federal funds, the Unified Government built sidewalks along State Avenue in Midtown and is moving toward the start of Bus Rapid Transit from downtown Kansas City, Missouri to Village West.

§ New housing has been constructed in Strawberry Hill, Quindaro, Rosedale, Turner and Midtown.

§ The Indian Springs project, while not yet redeveloped, demonstrates the Unified Government commitment to improvements in the urban core and eastern part of KCK.

Photo

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:18:41 -0400

Kultala Files for Second Term in Kansas Senate

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:16:56 -0400

Senator Kelly Kultala, D-Kansas City, today filed for a second term to the Kansas Senate’s 5^th District, covering Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties. Kultala was first elected in 2008.

“It’s been a privilege to serve as your voice in the Kansas Senate these past four years,” she said. “If re-elected, I’ll continue to focus on creating jobs, growing the economy and protecting public schools.”

This session, Senator Kultala introduced legislation to help students living on the Fort Leavenworth military base. “The Federal Government announced it would no longer pay for buses needed to transport more than 100 kids to and from Leavenworth High School, essentially stranding them at home. Senate Bill 11 would allow USD270 to continue transporting these students without losing transportation state aid.”

As Ranking Member on the Senate Transportation Committee, Senator Kultala also helped craft a comprehensive 10-year transportation plan. “At a time when local economies are still struggling, it’s vital for the state to support programs that attract new companies and create good-paying jobs,” said Kultala. “In the next decade, this plan will create 175,000 new jobs and bring $6.4 billion to our state’s economy.”

In 2009, Senator Kultala worked with local and state leaders to bring the Sporting Kansas City soccer stadium, the Cerner office building and the CPAC call center to Wyandotte County. “These investments have already created thousands of new jobs and a number of new economic development opportunities to Kansas City and Leavenworth,” said Kultala. “They should be models for all regions of our state to follow.”

Senator Kultala is Ranking Member of the Senate Transportation Committee and the Senate Utilities Committee. She is also a member of the Senate committees on Ethics and Elections; Ways and Means; Local Government; the Special Committee on KAN-ED Study Commission; the Joint Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight; the Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations; the Joint Committee on Home and Community Based Services; and the Joint Committee on Special Claims Against the State.

Senator Kultala previously served as 5^th District Commissioner on the Wyandotte County/Kansas City Unified Government from 2001 to 2005. She also served on the Piper USD 203 School Board from 1999 to 2001 and 2006 to 2007.

As a Commissioner, Kultala sponsored local laws making it illegal to leave a child under the age of 10 unattended in a car, enhancing the penalties against people who vandalize property, and requiring sidewalks on at least one side of the street in new housing subdivisions.

Senator Kultala and her husband Daniel live in Kansas City, Kan.

class schedule for the EPIC-Community ARTS Cooperative in Kansas City Kansas

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:06:33 -0400

State Legislative Redistricting Town Hall Tomorrow

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:56:21 -0400

The Kansas Legislature Special Committee on Redistricting is touring the State taking public comments about how to re-draw Congressional and State Legislative district boundaries. The committee will hold public hearings in KCK and Leavenworth this Friday.

The KCK hearing is set for 9am-11:30am at the Jack Reardon Convention Center, 500 Minnesota Avenue in the Wyandotte 1 room. The Leavenworth hearing will be from 2:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. at Kansas City Kansas Community College-Leavenworth Center, 225 Cherokee in room LVC 17.

A major topic of conversation has been a rumored plan to remove Wyandotte County from the 3rd Congressional District and place it in the 1st Congressional District which covers all of western Kansas. The Unified Government presented testimony opposing such a change because it would split up Wyandotte and Johnson Counties, placing them in separate Congressional districts with different Congressman.

Redistricting is mostly about math—making sure every district has the same number of people— but the process of drawing those lines offers significant challenges. Keeping communities of interest together and ensuring district lines are as compact as possible are two of those challenges. Another is resisting the temptation to gerrymander boundary lines for perceived partisan political advantage.

Johnson County and Wyandotte County are now more communities of interest than perhaps ever in their history. Both are significant contributors to the State economy, including premiere tourism and shopping attractions. The nature of the urban and regional issues facing both counties mandates that Wyandotte and Johnson Counties are represented by the same Congressman.

The legislative committee has already met in Chanute, Hutchinson, Manhattan, Pittsburg, Salina, Lawrence, Overland Park and Wichita. In December, the Special Committee on Redistricting will release its report and proposed maps to the 2012 Legislature.

Individuals wishing to present testimony at the KCK or Leavenworth public hearings should contact Corey Carnahan, Kansas Legislative Research Department, at (785) 296-3181 at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

Festival of Bad Films: The Preview!

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:21:11 -0400

Are you tired of seeing movies that are actually good? Then it’s time to meander over to the Main Branch of the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library for their Festival of Bad Films: The Preview!! We’ll tempt you with a small taste of the bad that is yet to come in November. Stop by and be stunned by the stilted acting, wowed by the poorly constructed storyline and amazed these star’s agents didn’t advise them better. You’ll rock and roll right off of your chair with laughter. All movies start at 6:00pm and admission is Free! These movies are not intended for younger viewers. Parental supervision is strongly suggested!

September 14th - Monster Dog (1984): Starring Alice Cooper, this Italian horror film leaves you with many unsolved questions. Who has been committing all the recent murders? Where are all these dogs coming from? And most importantly, what happened to Alice Cooper’s voice?!? Unrated .

September 21st - Trick or Treat (1986): Marc Price, better known as Irwin ‘Skippy’ Handelman from Family Ties, stars as Eddie in this horror-ible tale of rock and revenge. With appearances from Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osbourne, this movie will teach you never to play your records backwards! Rated R.

The Main Branch of the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library is located at 625 Minnesota Ave. Kansas City, KS 66101. If you would like more information please call 913-279-2340.

The mission of the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library is connecting a dynamic community with tools, resources, and welcoming spaces to enrich lives in Wyandotte County. For more information about the Library’s programs and services, please visit http://www.kckpl.org.

KCK Launches O.K. Program

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:01:05 -0400

The first of many O.K. Program mixers to recruit African American men for the program was held last Spring at St. Andrew Missionary Baptist Church. The founder of the National O.K. Program, Donald Northcross, gave a rousing presentation to kick-off the Kansas City, Kansas O.K. Program.

“African American men of Kansas City, Kansas came out in record numbers in support of changing the course of our community” said KCK Police Sgt Emmitt Lockridge.

“Kansas City has produced the largest 1st meeting numbers of any program in the nation thus far,” said Donald Northcross, the founder of the national program.

The K.C.K.O.K. Program officially begins this Fall with one High School, F.L. Schlagle High and one “feeder” Middle School, Coronado Middle School. These two schools will be the first O.K. program chapter in Kansas City, Kansas.

The O.K. Program was founded twenty one years ago in Rancho Cordova, California. It became a national organization in 2005. This year, the organizations began offering memberships to other organizations concerned about the crises of young African American males and helping to change their plight.

Kansas City Highlighted in The Wall Street Journal

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:12:56 -0400

Kansas City Highlighted

in The Wall Street Journal

Kansas City was listed among seven cities as locations “Where the Action Is” according to an article published in The Wall Street Journal this week.

Since Google’s announcement of Kansas City as its selection of the deployment of the ultra-high speed broadband network, Kansas City has become an even more attractive location for many tech professionals and businesses looking to relocate.

“Kansas City ranked in the top five cities for strongest information-technology employment expansion, according to a 2011 report by KLG Advisors, a New York City firm that helps companies scout new business locations,” stated the article written by Emily Maltby.

Welcome to “Silicon Prairie” read the headline that lead into the section about Kansas City. Click here for the full article.

Kansas City Get Your Business Online – a new program from Google!

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:51:24 -0400

Wednesday August 31st & Thursday September 1^st

This program provides an easy, free, and fast way to get your business online.
If you don’t have a website or Google Places listing, you’ll find everything you need to get started.
If your business is already online, you’ll find tools and resources to help your business succeed online.

Kansas City Get Your Business Online events are completely free. Space is limited, so we highly recommend that you pre-register online. Click on the link below to find out more about this program and to reserve your spot:

http://www.kansascitygetonline.com/

Job Fair and Resource Expo

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:00:06 -0400

The Opportunities 2011 Job Fair and Resource Expo is scheduled for Thursday, September 8 at the Jack Reardon Convention Center located at 5th & Minnesota Ave in Kansas City, Kansas. The schedule is as follows:

9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. has been set aside exclusively for Veteran’s Only
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. is open to the public

This is one of the largest job fairs held in the metro area. Last year, over 70 employers participated. Jobseekers should dress professionally and bring their resumes. All are welcome. There is no cost to employers or job seekers and parking is free. The job fair and expo is sponsored by the following organizations and companies:

The Hilton Garden Inn
GFI Digital Inc.
Employer Support for National Guard & Reservists (ESGR),
In partnership with Builders Association, Kansas City, Kansas Community College and Technical Education Center, KCK Public Schools, KANSAS Works, Unified Government, Workforce Partnership, and YWCA of KCK

Residents Unite to Fight Crime

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:00:06 -0400

Wyandotte Countians Against Crime 16th Annual Summerfest will be held on September 10, 2011 at Bethany Park located at 12th & Central Ave.from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Crafts, Games, Food, Booths.

Hollywood Casino Works for February Opening

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:00:05 -0400

Officials with the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway say construction is advancing so quickly the $411-million casino could open its doors in February.

The casino has started the hiring process for some of the 1,000 full-time workers needed. A job fair for dealers took place last week. A training school for dealers starts in October. For more information about job opportunities go to www.hollywoodcasinokansas.com.

Brownback Puts Energy Smart Home Program at Risk

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:00:05 -0400

Governor Sam Brownback’s administration is pulling the plug on a popular and growing program set-up to assist Kansans get no interest loans to make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes. The program, Efficiency Kansas, is funded with federal stimulus dollars which are repaid by homeowners with the money they save on utility bills after making the energy improvements.

In Wyandotte County, the program is called Energy Smart Homes and is operated as a partnership between the Unified Government and Board of Public Utilities. The Energy Smart Homes program launched in late 2010. So far, more than 700 local residents have inquired about the program. More than 400 have been pre-approved, 325 are conducting energy audits and in the pipeline for no-interest loans to make energy efficient improvements. Nearly 70 people have already completed the recommended projects and are reaping the benefits and repaying the loans. The average energy improvement loan is $7,000.

Most of the interest comes from older areas of the community where homes are not as energy efficient as they need to be. The positive response experienced in Wyandotte County is being replicated across Kansas. At least it was until the decision to suddenly pull the plug on the program.

Governor Brownback wants to shift the money from home energy improvements to other projects including an ethanol fueling project in Wichita; a bio-methane production facility in western Kansas; and a statewide bio-based energy supply project.

Eliminating the federal funding for the home energy saving program leaves utilities, energy auditors, contractors and citizens in a confusing lurch. The decision to end funding is itself confusing. The energy efficiency program is creating new jobs, helping heating/air companies and contractors retain existing jobs, improving housing stock and saving hundreds of citizens money on utility bills. Creating jobs and reviving the Kansas economy are both major goals of Governor Brownback’s Roadmap for Kansas.

The benefits of the Efficiency Kansas and Energy Smart Homes programs are widespread and positive. Now, some new energy auditing businesses may be forced to lay-off workers or even close their doors as a result of the State move to shift the funding to other projects.

The Unified Government and Board of Public Utilities are urging Governor Brownback and his administration to reverse their decision. Concerned citizens can contact Governor Brownback by emailing him at governor@ks.gov or calling 877-KSWORKS (877-579-6757).

Public Works Making Progress on Parallel Parkway Rehabilitation Project

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:00:05 -0400

Road construction crews completed the pouring of concrete on the west-bound lanes of Parallel Parkway between 5th and 7th Streets last week. The east-bound lanes of this section have also been completed.

Kansas Heavy, the contractor for the road rehabilitation project, will be paving the west-bound portion from 9th to 5th Street within the next month. According to Public Works, the side-street work is nearly complete.

“Progress has been going well this summer thanks to the clear, but hot weather,” Bill Heatherman, County Engineer said. ”The City hopes to have the project finished by early November.”