Funk's Front Porch
25 January 2008
Dear Folks,
This week�s city news:
Funk and I are on our way home from the US Conference of Mayors. Funk made many important contacts and has learned a great deal. It�s clear to him that the US Conference of Mayors provides a useful way to learn about what other cities are doing about some of the most important issues facing Kansas City. We heard from top experts in the country on issues like crime, education, homelessness, vacant and abandoned property and immigration. Usually the session included �best practices� guides put together by federal agencies and national non-profits on what works in other cities. The Conference also provides a way to join with other cities to get federal legislation on issues important to cities.
The conference had 3 or 4 meetings going on at the same time. I went to many of them, mostly attending the ones that Funk was really interested in, but couldn�t attend himself because he was attending one that he felt was more important. I don�t know how much help I was to him because a lot of the meetings were filled with wonk-talk, but at least I made some extra contacts for him. One of the more interesting contacts was with Nate Hurst from Wal Mart. Mr. Hurst was attending the conference in the hopes of finding a city interested in having a �green� Wal-Mart in their urban core. I asked him if Wal Mart needed TIF funding and he said that the only thing that Wal Mart needed was help with finding a suitable site in the urban core. I told Mr. Hurst that I probably knew of such a city and then I made sure to introduce him to Funk at a luncheon.
DC reminded me a lot of where I grew up in New York as there seems to be an ease here among people of different ethnic backgrounds. When I was little, I remember thinking that I loved being around people that were different from my family. For me, there was always an excitement when I was in their presence; whether it came from just their accent or from the foods that they prepared. As an adult, I still love to be around people who are unlike myself. And it�s a cheap to do so; who needs to go on vacation to experience different ways of life when all one needs to do is strike up a conversation with someone different from yourself?
On a more personal note:
I got caught up on a lot of work while on the train, mainly with letter writing that had piled up over the holidays. In the middle of my efforts, I complained to Funk that, between the two of us, I was the only one working as he was just sitting there, reclining in his seat on the train reading a huge book by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Funk tried to say that reading was work, but he didn�t convince me, as he looked mighty relaxed while doing so.
As always, Funk is working hard to keep your faith and trust,
Gloria & Mark
You can respond by email to this newsletter at [email protected].
If you�d like daily news updates, please check the Mayor�s blog site at www.funksfrontporch.com.
The Mayor�s top ten priorities:
1. Establishing a good working relationship with the Council
2. Getting the City�s finances in order
3. Making downtown work
4. Tending to our neighborhoods
5. Implementing the Housing Policy task force recommendations
6. Improving the perception and the reality of public education in Kansas City
7. Reducing Crime
8. Repairing our sewer systems
9. Establishing an excellent regional transit system, which includes light rail
10. Improving citizen satisfaction with City services |
