Funk's Front Porch

Town Hall - May 20, 2009

    The Original Loma Vista East Neighborhood Association hosted a Mayor's Town Hall Meeting on May 20, 2009, at the New Vision Christian Church in Southeast Kansas City.

    Bill Copeland, President of the Association, told Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser that the Loma Vista neighborhood is in transition.  "You see original owners moving out and renting their houses.  We've been hit hard with a lot of foreclosures because of the recession, so we have a large number of vacant houses."

    Mayor Funkhouser pointed out that what is happening in the Loma Vista neighborhood is typical of what has been happening in Kansas City for many years.  "Since 1970, we have lost 100,000 people from the urban core and, even today, people continue to leave," he said.  "The city has gone from having 40% of the income in the metro area to having less than 20%.  We are in an absolutely unsustainable posture right now, and have been for decades."

    The Mayor said that Kansas City must find ways to reverse the population trend. "I have implemented the New Tools Initiative which is about creating an economic development plan for distressed areas of the city.  This approach is absolutely critical, because if we continue to have the erosion of the tax base and declining quality of life in distressed areas of the city, it will suck resources away from the entire city."

    The Mayor has also implemented the City That Works Initiative, which aims to increase population retention rates by improving the overall quality of life for Kansas City residents.  "Each week I meet with the City Manager, a City Council member, and a Department Director," the Mayor said.  "We have selected a handful of measures to focus on each week.  We discuss the problem, determine what the impediments are, and figure out a way to fix the problem.  One week it may be streets, and the next code enforcement."

    "Another element of the City That Works program is citizen engagement," the Mayor continued.  "Citizens need ways to engage so they can become part of the solution."

    Copeland agreed.  "We can sit back and gripe, or get up and do something about it.  Working together, we can make the City the best it can be," Copeland said.

Town Hall - May 13, 2009

    The Swope Parkway Elmwood Neighborhood Association and Southeast Caring Communities hosted a Town Hall Meeting on May 13, 2009, at the Southeast Community Center on East 63rd Street.

    Mayor Mark Funkhouser listened intently to the concerns of neighborhood residents as they discussed some of the more pressing issues affecting their area.  One of the top concerns centered on neighborhood blight caused by vacant houses and overgrown lots, where landlords fail to maintain them.

    The Mayor pointed out that new procedures have been implemented for dealing with landlords who fail to keep their property in good repair.  "We used to have to take landlords to court," the Mayor said.  "We'd issue bench warrants, and then they wouldn't show up in court.  Now, under a new administrative procedure we implemented, we don't have to go to court.  The City can just clean up the property and send the landlord a bill."

    Mayor Funkhouser assured neighborhood residents that he will continue to listen to their concerns and take actions designed to improve city services.

    "I think the Mayor is doing a great job as it relates to trying to find out the needs of community residents," said Carla Williams, a community activist who works with the area's Neighborhood Associations.  "This is the first time I've seen a Mayor being so active in trying to work with neighborhoods.  I applaud his efforts to try to rectify some long-term neglect."

Town Hall - May 6, 2009

    The Kansas City Regional Police Academy hosted a Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, May 6, at 6:30 pm.  Approximately 40 police officers, along with Chief Corwin and other top officials, gathered to hear Mayor Mark Funkhouser address his position on public safety.

    Because of the recent cuts the City Council made to their budget, the fate of Police Department funding was paramount in the minds of those in attendance, as evidenced by the questions posed.

    Pointing to a row of charts that illustrate a 100,000 person decline in city population over four decades, along with a dramatic erosion of the City's tax base, the Mayor explained why he views public safety as key to reversing this trend.

    "People want to feel safe in their homes, they want good schools for their children, and they want quality services," Mayor Funkhouser said.  "We have to address public safety, education, and quality of services to get people moving back into Kansas City.  It's absolutely critical that our residents feel safe, and one way they feel safe is to see a lot of police officers on the street."

    Dan Haley, Captain of the Department's Budget Unit, was among those in attendance.  "The number one issue that citizens voiced during the budget hearings was funding for public safety and the Police Department," Haley said. "I think the Mayor has done everything he can do to keep full funding.  He's spoken out, he's gone on the record, he's put his message out to the public.  Now, I think this problem is greater than what the Mayor can handle by himself, and what it's going to take is some City Council people to support some of his ideas, and to see the light." 

“A City That Works” Meets Today on Solid Waste Collection

Today, May 26th, Mayor Mark Funkhouser will hold the third "A City That Works" public meeting on Solid Waste Collection.

The Mayor, City Manager Wayne Cauthen and Councilman Terry Riley will continue their discussions with city staff and follow up on action items and questions raised in earlier meetings.

"We need to keep this process moving," said Funkhouser. "It is critical to have the right data with which to make good decisions down the road."

The session will take place this afternoon from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on the 10^th Floor of City Hall, 414 E. 12^th St.

For more information contact Kendrick Blackwood in the Mayor’s Office at 513-3513 or

kendrick_blackwood@kcmo.org

.

 

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Newsletter

Dear Folks,

This Week’s City Business

The Mayor will deliver his State of the City speech this Thursday in the Legislative Chamber on the 26th floor of City Hall at 1 p.m. He has worked long and hard on putting together a speech that is an unvarnished version of the state of Kansas City. He put in many preparatory hours at “CampFunk” a few months ago and has been putting the finishing touches on it over the past couple of weekends as well. You can watch him deliver it live on Channel Two, or if your schedule permits we’d love to have you attend in person and stay for the reception afterward.

The New York Times sent a reporter to do a profile piece on the Mayor this week. Of course the recall effort by the Mayor’s opponents was the trigger that motivated her, but the Mayor knows that any light that brings Kansas City to the forefront nationwide is, all things considered, a good thing for Kansas City. You can read the story at the following link,

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/us/24funkhouser.htmlpagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=todayspaper.

The Mayor testified a few weeks ago at Finance and Audit on behalf of the low income and homeless children that are served at Operation Breakthrough. He is happy to report that an ordinance was passed last Thursday that restores funding to this much needed program.

On a More Personal Note

Ever since the campaign and Funk’s first two years in office, Funk and I have neglected our health. But not any more. We have gone back to our Doctor of Oriental Medicine who gave us a tongue lashing about how health comes first, and especially if you’re a role model. Her reprimand had the effect of shaming us back into taking care of ourselves. To that end, we have been vegetarians for the past two months, and have been walking over three miles a day, among other horrid, but good for you, things. I will never let this happen again, as climbing back on the horse has been grueling, not to mention being scolded by a parent figure at the age of 50 plus years old.

The Mayor’s Public Appearances – Beginning

May 25, 2009

Monday 9:30 a.m. Liberty Memorial WWI Memorial Day Service 100 W. 26th St. 11:45 a.m. 127th Memorial Day Observance VietnamVeteran's Memorial Fountain, 43rd and Broadway

Tuesday 3:30 p.m. A City that Works Weekly Public Meeting, 414 E. 12th St. 10th Floor

Wednesday 5:30 p.m. Chamber’s Spotlight Greater Kansas City Congressional Tour Reception, Boulevard Brewery, 2501 Southwest Blvd

Thursday 1:00 p.m. The Mayor's State of the City Address 414 E. 12th St. 26th Floor 3:00 p.m. Council Legislative Session 414 E. 12th St., 26th Floor Friday 7:40 a.m. Friday’s with Funk 710 KCMO

The Next Town Hall Meetings

 

When: June 17, 6:30 p.m. Where: 148 N Topping Who: Mattie Rhodes.WHEN: June 24, 6:30 p.m. WHERE: SymingtonElementary School, 8650 Ruskin Way. WHO: Ruskin Hills Homes Association WHEN: July 1, 6:30 p.m.

 

WHERE: TBD WHO: TBD WHEN: July 29, 6:30 p.m.WHERE: Wexford Place, 6500 N Cosby Ave. WHO: Wexford Place

In faith,

Gloria & Mark

You can respond by email to this newsletter at funksfrontporch@gmail.com.

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

Mayor to Host Town Hall Meeting Wednesday

Mayor Mark Funkhouser will hold a town hall meeting Wednesday, May 20, at New Vision Christian Church, 9101 Blue Ridge Blvd. The hour-long town hall meeting will be sponsored by the Original Loma Vista neighborhood association. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a 15-minute introductory address followed by 45 minutes of questions and comments from the audience.

If you are interested in hosting a town hall meeting, please contact Crispin Rea in the Mayor's office: 816-513-3503, or crispin_rea@kcmo.org.

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Newsletter

Funk's Front Porch

15 May 2009

Dear Folks,

This Week’s City Business

The Mayor spent the large majority of his week with leaders in the community that he’s chosen to help him work on his next two major initiatives: education and public safety. The Mayor’s strategy with his initiatives is to find others who have similar beliefs and values, coupled with a deep interest in the areas that he’s moving forward and then enlist their help in carrying out his vision for the City. The beauty of doing things this way is that you get a diverse creative energy coming together and this typically brings a higher level of change. The Mayor is putting this cooperative approach to work on behalf of his residents in the areas of public safety and education. Stay tuned for more information as these initiatives come together.

The town hall meetings continue on an almost weekly basis. The Mayor appeared on Hot 103 Jamz to do a broadcast town hall meeting, with people calling in with their questions. Then he did a traditional town hall meeting at the new Southeast Community Center. Citizens in Kansas City are still quite mad about conditions for regular folks, but they usually feel better just from being heard by their Mayor at these meetings. Things will get better for them in this city. It has to. If the Mayor keeps focusing his attention and working on the problems as he is, change for the better will come. The Mayor intends to keep up the good fight and to fulfill the promises that he made to his voters.

The Mayor testified at Finance and Audit this week on behalf of the low income and homeless children that are being served at Operation Breakthrough. Sister Burta’s organization is so crucial to so many Kansas City families, and she is the only provider of daycare for the children of homeless families. The City budget does not include money for Operation Breakthrough, but the Mayor is working with Councilwoman Sharon Sanders Brooks and other council members to find funding. The Mayor feels that children come first and in a budget of more than one billion dollars, surely the City can find 200k for homeless children.

The Mayor spoke at the Kansas City Convention and Visitor’s Association Annual Tourism Celebration this week to promote tourism in Kansas City. With the recession, people are staying closer to home. If you’re within a 10-hour drive, what better place to come to than Kansas City?

On a More Personal Note

Our children are home and the dance to balance time between a job that never ends and giving them their fair share of their father ensues again. But it’s all good. Luckily, Funk is used to going on very little sleep, so late nights on the porch are our time to be together as a family.

The Mayor’s Public Appearances – Beginning

May 16, 2009

Saturday

12:00 p.m. Northeast Summer Safety Extravaganza Northeast Branch Library 6000 Wilson Rd

4:45 p.m. Haitian Flag Day Cultural Celebration Gem Theater 1616 E 18th St.

Monday

4:00 p.m. Kansas City Chamber Board Meeting 911 Main, Suite 2600

5:00 p.m. Shanin and Parks 980 KMBZ

Tuesday

 

3:30 p.m. A City that Works Weekly Public Meeting, 414 E. 12th St. 10th Floor

Thursday

 

1:30 p.m. Council Business Session, 414 E. 12th St. 10th Floor

 

3:00 p.m. Council Legislative Session 414 E. 12th St., 26th Floor

 

7:00 p.m. First Thursday Republican Club St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 100 E. Red Bridge Rd

Friday 11:30 a.m. Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City's Annual Awards Luncheon Kansas City Club, 918 Baltimore

The Next Town Hall Meetings

 

When: May 20, 6:30 p.m. Where: TBD (check website) Host: TBD (check website)

When: June 17, 6:30 p.m. Where: 148 N Topping Who: Mattie Rhodes

In faith,

Gloria & Mark

You can respond by email to this newsletter at funksfrontporch@gmail.com.

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

Mayor to Attend Northeast Summer Safety Extravaganza

On Saturday, May 16, Mayor Mark Funkhouser will attend the Northeast Summer Safety Extravaganza. The event will include food, crafts, and entertainment. Residents will have the opportunity to find out what safe activities there are for Northeast youth this summer. Last year’s event drew over 1,000 people.

The event will take place tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the North-East Branch Library, 6000 Wilson Road.

For more information contact Kendrick Blackwood in the Mayor’s Office at 513-3513 or

kendrick_blackwood@kcmo.org

.

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Mayor's Daily Schedule 5-11

9:00 a.m. Bike Week Kick Off and Press Event

2:45 p.m. City Manager

Green Workforce Development Summit

Attached is a report conducted by ACI on developing a green workforce for energy efficient home improvement.

ACI, a non-profit organization, works to advance the performance of residential buildings through unbiased education.

Download Greenworkforce1

Download Greenworkforce2