Planning For February 2011 (corrected version)

We have about 34 months until Election Day 2011
That's 36 months to identify candidates to replace those council people who are term limited as well as those who should be one-term wonders. As interminable as the federal elections have become; unfortunately campaigns are 3 years long anymore. However, I think we need to plant the seeds, cultivate, nurture the 2010 candidates now.

Many of you work with many, many members of all facets of the community who would you like to see as Mayor or council members. Let's start collecting names; let's start talking to people about running for office; let's help vet them early. Let's help the 3rd district find decent candidates. At community meetings who has impressed you? Let's get their names down; let's start some buzz.
Let's assess our needs. Neighborhood represenation on the council is imperative but so is having someone with a background in finance; there is such a thing as too many lawyers. The Mayoral candidates must have more than a vision and a slogan- they must have a plan that they can articulate; they must instill confidence because he/she must sell the community on the mechanisms that need to be in place to pay off our debts, not bankrupt our schoool district any further, pay for our water/sewage mess, lead us into some sort multi-modal public transportation system. More people will be forced to leave their cars at home as gasoline heads towards $4/5.00 a gallon - Let's talk about what kinds of skills we need on our City Council. More thought goes into placing someone on a Board of Directors or Advisory Committee than goes into those who govern our community.

We're accepting unofficial nominations - for discussion and starting rumors

Candidates So Far for Mayor:
1. Ed Ford (Ed, we already know you're running and it's really annoying to watch you posturing - you've already lost the votes of the Garden Party Skunks
2. Mark Funkhouser - enough said
3. Gloria Squitiro Funkhouser (kind of a Bill/Hilary Clinton see-saw thing going - Gloria -even Hilary dropped her Rodham
4. John Sharp?
Nominations:
1.
2.


Candidates for 1st District
Both Bill Skaggs and Deb Hermann are term limited - wide open -
Nomination:
1.
2.

Candidates for 2nd District:
Current: Russ Johnson seems to be the pick of the new litter, he just needs to roll up his sleeves, grit his teeth and get to work and quit complaining about how tired he is - we're all tired He could be a keeper. 2. Ed Ford - campaigning and grandstanding for mayor
Nominations:
1.
2.

Candidates for 3rd District:
Current: Sharon Saunders Brooks & Melba Curls - 3rd District deserves better than these prima donas who are more concerned about personalized stationery and having an entourage - they're not adjusting to the realities of municipal politics vs that of the state
Nominations:
1.
2.

Candidates for 4th District
Current: Beth Gottstein & Jan Marcason - Both are huge disappointments; Beth can't seem to keep her medication regulated and Jan The Everywoman - is trying to make everyone happy - and is succeeding in making no one happy. It's got to be uncomfortable on that fence.
Nominations:
1. Doug Gamble - let's talk to him again - he made a good showing for getting into the race so late; he has a good reputation as a businessman; his employees speak highly of him and are fiercely loyal - so he must be doing something right.
2.
We need nominations here because Jim Glover will fill the void if we don't have viable candidates

Candidates for 5th District
Current: Terry Riley is term limited and Cindy Circo who has also been a tremendous disappointment
Nominations:
1.
2.

Candidates for 6th District
Current: Cathy Jolley - it's hard to assess Cathy because she has been focusing on personal health issues but her membership in the Gang of Nine disappointed us immeasurably; John Sharp seems to be grinding multiple axes for every perceived or real injury or slight. John's not stupid but seems blinded by his search for revenge or personal justice - Maybe he's running for Mayor too
Nominations
1.
2.

We know we started this blog to help faciliate the removal of Wayne Cauthen as primary raper and pillager of the public coffers; However, Mayor "Murphy's Law" Funkhouser can't seem to not bungle things up; he has created the "F" Troop of City Councilmembers. So maybe if we can come up with a great slate of candidates to nip at their heels the next 30 or so months then we may actually get them to accomplish something of merit.

Let's get some names and nominations

New Blog: Telling the Truth Kansas City

You may want to view a new blog - as we head into the new year - fresh voice, fresh perspective,

Telling the Truth Kansas City
I don't want to Recall Funk or Defend the Funk. I don't want to start a race riot or embrace the Minutemen. I don't have any other agenda than the truth and the citizens are not hearing it. The Falling Star isn't doing it the Pitch has gotten lazy and lost credibility. If anyone else is interested -- Let's hear it. Don't worry about confidentiality. I am a long-time City Hall insider and would be in a whole lot of trouble too.

http://www.tttkc.blogspot.com

Credit Where Credit Is Due

Just to clarify - the website calling for a recall of Mayor Funkhouser is not affilated with the Not Ready For Prime Buzz Blog or the Garden Party Skunks. We don't want to take credit for something in which we played no part. A tip of the hat to those organizing.

New Website: RecalltheFunk

This was emailed to Garden Party Skunks 12/18/07 11:29am

Greetings,
We've just launched a new website - http://www.recallthefunk.com/ - tohelp spur discussion about recalling Mayor Mark Funkhouser. We havestood by and watched one embarrassing chapter after another. Some of ussupported Funkhouser during the elections and some of us opposed him,but we are all united in desiring change in our city's leadership. It'stime for the shameful saga of the Funk to come to end so that KansasCity can move forward united, instead of being torn apart.
We are not seeking to organize a formal recall campaign. We're not apart of a campaign or working with any group. We're just citizens whoare fed up and who expect better from our mayor. We're the "regularfolks" that Funkhouser promised to represent if he got elected.
Our hope is to help spark a serious dialogue about recalling the mayorand to serve as a conduit of information to the public about anydevelopments toward a recall. In the coming days and weeks ahead, wewill work to help keep citizens informed and aware of the latest newsand events.
We have also set up a Café Press store(http://www.cafepress.com/recallthefunk/)where the people can buy"Recall the Funk" t-shirts, buttons and bumper stickers. The purchase ofitems from this store will help promote the idea of recalling the Funk,and it also will help us to defray the costs insetting up our websiteand communicating with the public.
We thank you for whatever help you can offer in promoting this effort.
Thanks!
http://www.recallthefunk.com/

Beth, Cathy, Jan, Cindy and Ed, please grow up

This was posted by Anonymous 12/15/07 8:12pm

I will pass on the issue of whether W.C. is a good city manager or not. What disturbs me most about this situation is: (1) How poorly Funk handled it with his unilateral action, but then (2) how poorly the 9 council members responded with their own equally unilateral action. The 9 wish to claim that they were only responding to Funk's lack of inclusiveness (and rightfully so at first), but then they themselves respond with an equally non-inclusive action by ramrodding a 3.5 year contract down the taxpayers throat with NO, and I mean NO, notice or discussion. We voted for these people, and they left us (and the other council members) out of the loop as well. I for one would have like to have known what they were doing before it was done. This was bad government, and bad politicians, at their worst. At that point, the gang of 9 lost any credibilty to claim the moral high ground that they were only responding to, and thus trying to fix, Funk's lack of inclusiveness. This is clearly just a "show" argument without real substance. Clearly, this was nothing more than a power play by BOTH sides to get what they want. Saddly, in this power play the real losers are the citizens of this city that have to watch 13 adults behave like spoiled children. I have lived in this city for alomst 45 years, and I have NEVER been this disgusted with a council before. ALL of them are merely advancing their own agendas at our expense.I have watched the hearing twice and I am very disappointed in many of the people I personally supported with both money and time. However, I am most disappointed in two people: Cathy Jolly and Beth Gottstein (Jan a close third). Each ran on a platform of cooperation and advancing the agenda of the people/city over thier own. They showed their colors by joining into the fray and adding their voices to the cacophany of anger and hate. These two women know better, they just chose to pursue their own agendas over what was right: Attempting to work a resolution of the matter before embarassing this entire city with their conduct and chaos.As Shakespeare wrote, "A pox on all your houses," and truer words were never written about this council. This ENTIRE council should be ashamed and embarassed about how they are behaving. If they are not, then Lord knows I am embarassed enough by them for all of us. I have to spend this Christmas explaining once again to my in-laws in Kansas why I and my husband still live in KC. My residency has just become much harder to defend. I am sad tonight for my city, and that this is my city council.Beth, Cathy, Jan, Cindy and Ed, please grow up over Christmas, because right now you are killing us.

Mr. Mayor, Pull Yourself Up - Get On It

This is posted Sat 12/15/07 9:21 a.m.

Foghorn said...

Note to the mayor:Gloria CAN NOT STAY. It is that simple. She is about to cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Funk - While I applaud your loyalty, your statement "she will be there as long as I am" leaves us little choice. I smell a recall.

1-The debate so far has been about race, not about competency. The #1 problem - GLORIA - This is about Gloria. How much of the debate revolved around Gloria? It's obvious. She's a liability and needs to be controlled.

2-If you can't manage your own wife, how in the world can you manage this mess at city hall?

3-If Gloria gave a diddly about you, you wouldn't be able to drag her into city hall. If I was causing 1% of this grief to my spouse in ANY undertaking, I would back away. Gloria's insistence on staying around is NOT LOVE, it's control. There's another word for it, but I won't go there.

4-I'm not an attorney, but it would seem to me that NOT being a city employee, Gloria is PERSONALLY responsible for her actions. Now, that doesn't absolve the city and our deep pockets in that the city has ALLOWED the hostile work place to exist and continue, so our tax dollars will pay, BUT I don't see where city dollars can be used to defend GLORIA from personal liability or to protect her personal assets. If a city employee gets sued, their assets are generally protected, but I don't see that with Gloria. So, is it worth your house and savings?

To all -

What are we to do? Thursday will go down as one of the city's darkest days. I don't see a win here. Whatever happens will be about race, not performance. I saw little, if any, discussion on competency, leadership, or ethics. There were attacks on the mayor's wife for which he bears responsibility, but beyond that, not a lot of discussion about the real issues.

I think the mayor tried to take "the high road" but didn't do a very good job of executing it. He tried to go on record as saying he and the city manager "had different visions" and let Cauthen move on to work "his magic" somewhere else. Cauthen decided to play the race card and make a stink (personally I think he saw this coming and has been laying some groundwork to strengthen that card's value - the timing of the complaint against Gloria was awful convenient)so now the mayor needs to get honest with the people.

As sad as it is, Funk is still our only hope here (I don't see Blunt stepping in), but first he's got to lose Gloria from his staff. That's what kitchen counters are for. After losing Gloria, he's GOT to lay out all the issues. He HAS to lay out to the council and the people HIS REASONS for not renewing WC's contract.

The incompetency. Funk knows budgets and finance.

Point out the flaws in the direction we've taken. ANYBODY can rebuild downtown with borrowed money we can't repay. I could drive a Ferrari if I didn't have to make the payments! Point out the hundred's of thousands of dollars in waste and favors. Point out the deficit and budget shortfalls and draw the line back to WC. Point out the ethical issues. The documented and reported travel expenses are just part of the story. There are more and in the time he's been in the Hall, he should know where to look or just look here and we'll tell him. Point out the unlawful and unethical contracts and outright awards. If WC wants to make it a race thing, then go there. Equality is one thing, even a degree of MBE advantage, but MBE exclusivity is another. I am amazed at the number of MBE's we deal with that have NO OTHER CUSTOMERS. They cannot or will not compete in the marketplace! If WC wants it to be a referendum on racial preference, so be it.

Go to the HR issues. WC is the CEO here. He is ultimately responsible for it ALL. Go to LT's pornography and WC's refusal to deal with her. We're going to have to pay backpay and reinstate all other employees who have been fired for the same thing. Discuss the widespread hostilities throughout the city from upper management down, including the City Manager's Office. The voters would be shocked to hear the things that are going on under WC's nose and with his implied approval. It shouldn't be hard to find examples of the horrible morale of the employees and city wide fear employees have of management. The entire city is a hostile workplace and efforts to prevent it are nonexistent.

Let's look at the whole copier thing. That got a lot of traction with the public and there are more stories just like it. The early termination of 4 directors (3 white, 1 black) to be replaced with 3 black and 1 white (if memory serves me right). Look at the competency of the people WC has personally selected. The best people available for any job are always minorities from Denver? How is that? Any leader can be judged by those he chooses to assist him.

Funk, MAKE YOUR CASE! The case is there for somebody to pick up. Either YOU do it or pack your bags.

My prediction - Funk can't stand up to Gloria, he can't take the heat of city hall. I see a resignation. I'm not and haven't been a big Funk supporter, but nobody wins from a mid-term special election, especially one that will be 100% race based. I was just looking for a new job. If he doesn't get this mess right, I'll be looking for a new home town.December 15, 2007 9:21 AM.

Does Wayne Staying Mean Bankruptcy?

Posted by Anonymous 12/13/07 7:21 a.m.

Wait until the "citizens" that are coming out in support of keeping Wayne and his toadies find out how close the City is to being bankrupted by all of Wayne's pet projects. These TIFS are really making a dent in the city's funds. I hear there is a scandal brewing over another $10 million that EDC is claiming is still owed for old projects-- that's half the city fund balance! And I heard that all these TIFS and extra pet projects are the reason that Budget hasn't been able to finish the next year budget -- can't find the additional $50 million needed to pay for all the spending that WC won't cut back on. He's spending money like it grows on the trees downtown!And he keeps trying to hide the truth from the Mayor about the problems-- that's why he has to GO. Wake up Kansas City and check out the facts about the city's financial condition that WC has put it in! Come on KC Star, get the facts out in front of the citizens about how bad the budget situation really is.

Re-Positioning Gloria

This post came in 12/9 from Anonymous - sorry for the delay

Since Gloria is so dead set on stripping the Mayor of any dignity by insisting on calling him by that horrible nickname (outside of their home), I think we should share the joy and give her a nickname too. Squirt comes to mind. Short for Squitiro. Call her Squirty when we're feeling affectionate. Not only does she rub almost everyone the wrong way (except for the mayor; I guess she knows how to rub him the right way), but she refuses to accept criticism of any kind, and turns it all around to make it sound like it's all a jihad against the administration. Truly, Squirty, it's really all about you!

GPS Comments: From the sounds of the Steve Penn article Gloria talks like she's the decision maker and Funk, is the delivery mechanism. So why are we wasting time conferring with the Funk, the Hunk, the Big Lug, The Hubby etc when Gloria is the power behind the throne, well actually she's perched on his lap or holding his head up in her hands (his gray matter must be very dense since there are so many pictures of her holding his head in her hands - there must be some interesting symbolism here - any comments Psych Majors?)

Can we get the Law Dept. to weigh in on the City's liability issues with a volunteer who is the designated acting mayor? Can she be sued in Civil Court or do the taxpayers have to 'eat the costs of Mammygate?"

Continuing The Investigation

From our friends at The Pitch

I know you mentioned this a while back, so I thought you might find this interesting: http://www.pitch.com/2007-12-06/news/cauthen-s-travels/#comments Cheers, Eric Barton Managing Editor The Pitch 816-218-6782 www.pitch.com

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu

Someone posted on Blunt, "Did the GPS win?". From our perspective we all won. This is a good thing for Kansas City and those at City Hall who serve the community. With no posts coming and no emails with information we didn't want to waste your time.
We can use this blog to help urge the Mayor and Council to hire the right kind of person. To you, City Hallers, what sort of attributes should the new City Manager have? What would you put on his/her "To Do" list? Let the speculation begin.

Bluntly Speaking - We Need Blunt

This was posted to "Auditing The Auditor" 11/22/07 10:21pm by Anonymous -

We need to find that direct link to Jefferson City to go right to the govenor to order the State Audit on Kansas City. There are so many areas in which need to be audited! From construction accounts in CIMO, 1 Percent Art Program, the MBE/WBE program, WC himself, Phillip Yelder, Ollie Johnson, Councilman Riley, just to name a few. There needs to be an audit on the MBE/WBE program on how it is handle the goals that are set forth for participation. There are two BIG BULLYS on the 4th floor Phil Yelder and Ollie Johnson! You talk about racist! And when did those two men have the added job description of negotiation with minority contractors? Why does Phil Yelder get to ask a contractor "How much will it cost the "City" to keep you in business? The "City" does not want you to fail! Now if that is not opening the check-book, then I don't know what is. Aren't all contractor suppose to be able to perform the job that is specified without it costing the "City" extra, because WC says make this problem go away!So yes there is racial tension in the City of Kansas City, MO, and it all started when WAyne Cauthen came to town. He has an agenda and one adgenda only! So if you are a white professional then don't apply for a management position with the city, because he won't hire you! Sad to say but everyone in the metropolitan area knows that! Mayor and City Council wake up!!!!!!! What is in the "BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY?" My tax dollars are not being spent wisely!

"Leadership is action, not position" Donald H. McGannon

Submitted by Sir Humphrey Appleby

To the Mayor, City Council, and citizens of Kansas City,

As a long-term City employee, I cannot understand the lack of leadershipthat is being exhibited by the current Mayor and Council. You have beenpresented with multiple examples of racial impropriety and downright insubordination, yet you do nothing.
There have been some very disturbing allegations involving pornography on City computers and the use of racially offensive "nicknames" for members of the Mayor's staff. How can this behavior be condoned? Why is it acceptable fors ome people to get away with this sort of behavior and not others? All Ican say is "thank goodness" that most City employees have the good sense andawareness to know that neither of these types of behavior belong in the workplace. But again I ask, who's in charge here? I have always supported a City Manager form of government, and I think the ridiculous behavior of the current mayor and his wife bears out why this provides us a protection of sorts. But, where is the protection when the City Manager also decides to flout the policies and conventions that provide civility to this organization? How do you set a standard for the community and have any credibility, when you cannot set the standards of behavior for this organization? Regarding the pornography issue, it either exists or it doesn't. If you, the Council, feel that adequate documentation has been provided, then you owe it to yourselves, the other City employees, and the citizens to direct the City Manager to follow the dictates of the established City policy with this employee. If she's smart enough to be an Assistant City Manager, then she sure as hell better know how to read a City policy and know the difference between right and wrong; otherwise what qualifies her to do her assigned job? If the City Manager refuses to appropriately and adequately follow through on this established policy, then he, too, should be dealt with. We, the employees don't see the problem -it seems pretty cut and dry to us. If it were any one of us, how likely do you think it would be that we would get to argue our case in a closed sessionbefore the City Council or intimidate you with racial tyranny?
Mr. Mayor, I understand that your position is that you think you can'manage' the City Manager into doing what you want done and what you think needs to be done. On what do you predicate this position? You can't even handle your wife's dangerously stupid antics and Wayne Cauthen is intelligent enough to dance circles around Gloria. I voted for you twice because I thought that your experience in this organization would provide you the perspective to see the destruction in this City and in this organization that has been waged from the 29th Floor. But, unfortunately, because of your unfortunate decision to not cut the apron strings, you and your spouse are in the unenviable, unfathomable, and unconscionable position of putting this City into yet another the center of yet another racially-based circus. And you think that you can' handle the City Manager? You can't even control or counter the three Councilmembers who insist on framing every issue within the context of race. I think that it's time you wake up and smell the coffee! About the only way that you can redeem yourself at this point would be to stand up to the City Manager. You're the only one who can and I think that you'd be surprised that others would stand behind your leadership in doing so.
Allowing this arrogance to continue is unacceptable. What kind of example does this set for the rest of us City employees? Why should we strive to do our best when incompetence, waste, and a**-kissing has been rewarded time and time again, and diligence and hard work apparently account for nothing in this organization.
Someone needs to step up. There is all kinds of talk about recall elections for the Mayor and members of the City Council. It's not yet too late, but the time to act is now.

Will Rogers: "Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there."

A Countdown for Recall?

This was posted by Toadstool Watch on 11/15/07 t 11:30 am
Nuts and bolts.
1. How many signatures do we need?
2. How is this divided between the counties?
3. Do we start a political action committee to take this needed action?
4. Are city employees barred from signing or distributing a petition?
5. Next steps...organizing this effort. Can we put together an online meeting?
6. Can there be an online poll to count the initial participants?
7. And last, aside from city hall hierarchy, who else would work against this action?

We skunks will work out the math on signatures per county. Let's hear responses to the other questions.
As to the question of "Who else would work against this action?" we would venture almost anyone in this city that has something to lose with the Hooterville Trio and the Denver Vampires.
The flip side of this is who do we know that would run for Mayor that would be an honest, capable leader? Any names to throw into our imaginary Mayor's ring? (How about Ed Wolf - just kidding)

Auditing The Auditor Mayor

The Garden Partiers have spoken - the blog will continue to be there for City Hallers on the quest for, to paraphrase Superman, 'Truth, Justice and Honesty In Government." We will set up a mail forwarding account. Your written tips may circumvent the world before we receive it but we will eventually get the mail. When it is set up within the next week or so we will provide you with the mailing address to GPS. We're a team, we're a winning team - if it takes us the next 41 months to weed out the bad players, the corrupt players, then that's what it takes.

If we are serious about asking the State Auditor to step in then we can begin to take the steps to make that happen. There are two ways to request the State to do a municipal audit. One is to get petitions signed. The number of signatures required is a percentage of those who voted in the last gubenatorial election - so we would need a certain percentage from each of the 3 counties that KCMO includes. The second way to get the State to do a municipal audit is a direct plea to the Governor but we would have to have a smoking arsenal - just not the smoking gun. It can be done if we're serious. The State Auditor's Office would come in and audit the entire City operation - every single department. Municipal audits are time consuming and very expensive. We have the paperwork from the State Auditor's Office if we're serious about this. As stated previously, we would need people working to get the required number of signatures or we need the proof. In the meantime the State of MO Auditor's Office - Confidential Hotline Number for Fraud, Waste and Abuse 1-800-347-8597 or go to the website: http://www.auditor.mo.gov/
Let's discuss.

It Ain't Al Jolson's "Mammie"

Anonymous 7:33 PM left this comment in To Be Or Not To Be that we didn't want buried in the comments :

When is Mayor going to realize that he has a time bomb ticking right outside his office? Does he know what his wife calls the two black women that work on HIS staff. Mammie and Bernie Mac! Enough is enough Mayor you need to tell your wife to go home and stay home! The citizens of KC elected you to the Mayoral position not your wife! Now that these racist names have been made public by a discrimation complaint to the EOC, then I think you need to WAKE UP!

Well, well, well it seems that The First Family Funk-Squitiro Of Kansas City are on a roll - the Archie Bunker Family of the new milenia. Funk ticks off the Hispanics/Latinos nationwide; Funkette, some months ago, in an article in Kansas City Magazine implied that all Italians were on the take and part of the Mafia and now, those from the "black part of town" are Mammies and Bernie Macs - (and she's the one that knows about birthin' babies, humm). We should nominate her for some sort of recognition award for cultural insensitivity. All of this in just a mere 7 months; we can hardly wait to see what unfolds over the next 41 months. We still have the Native Americans, Chinese, Laotian, Arabs, Irish, French, Indonesians, Canadians etc, etc to insult. What a World Class City they are making us.

To Be or Not To Be Skunks

To all who wrote your concerns we’ve been busy and busy musing and we’ve been thinking what we need to do with this blog.

It was quite a to-do at the Council meeting last week. Not a proud moment for many we would say.

Terry Riley’s thuggery needs to stop. He’s a verbal bully and still is not accomplishing anything of note. If he’s interested in a political legacy he’s running out of time and allies. He’s a smart man who could have done a lot of good. Unfortunately he chose to play the games.

We started this blog for several reasons. One reason was to have a safe place for good City Employees to vent their frustrations, disappointments, rage etc because personally, I don’t want to lose any more good people, good and true and talented civil servants. We thought we could be the release on the pressure cooker.

We also thought we could be an instrument for positive change not solely an “Agony Aunt” venue. We have a metropolitan newspaper that for political and economic reasons has essentially opted out of any true investigative reporting. People had great hopes for the piece they did on the Citadel mess but the editor(s) whimped out or the reporters did a half-ass job or both. So the Star is not a help.

We have an impotent internal auditor, so there is no recourse there.

We have a new, naïve, inexperienced, gullible, uncourageous City Council. And of course, then there’s Gloria, Mark & Tara……

We hoped that this blog would entice, encourage those who have the power to change City Hall by exposing the abuses, the incompetence, the thievery, oh, the thievery. And this is not happening. Those who have the power to ‘fix’ City Hall have chosen to stay silent in their hell and want to be rescued. Nobody can ‘rescue’ you if you don’t give us something to hold on to.

We know there is suspicion that there is no true pornography on LT’s computer. It could be just incredibly poor taste or poor judgment. If true, what does this say about Wayne fueling the fire, adding to the intrigue and suspicions with blocking access to the computer, threatening Roy etc? If true, LT is still guilty of using City property in an inappropriate manner and as an Assistant City Manager her punishment should be more severe.

It doesn’t help anyone when a City employee writes in to the GPSs with stories of sexual harassment, verbal abuse, bullying bordering on violence, stealing (everything from padding the expense accounts to walking off with equipment, or using equipment for a private business or running a business on city time with city equipment etc) and then say “But you can’t print this because they’ll know I’m the one who told you.” What do you want us to do with this information? As we’ve stated before, you are a participant in the creation of your own reality. If it’s awful – then you have to take the risk to facilitate the change that you want.

This Mayor and City Council need a 2x4 between their eyes ‘to get it’. Watergate had ‘Deep Throat’ who led the investigators to the smoking guns. We need the same thing. Whether it’s this blog, the Star or going to the State Auditor’s office.

We skunks, want to be agents of change to help make City Hall the environment it can and should be for the sake of the citizens of Kansas City and for those who choose to be civil servants. We’re not interested in being the Ann Landers of the blogs.

Wayne Cauthen has been the focus because we are a strong City Manager form of government. If the head is corrupt and incompetent the body follows. We know there are others who deserve attention. We did not want energies to be diluted we wanted to focus on the most important position. Unless the City Manager changes, nothing else changes or gets fixed.

The Citizens of KC have very critical issues to deal with that will cost us all Billions of dollars. We need the best leadership and the best team to pull this off. If Wayne’s not the man then what can we do?. What are you willing to do?

We can be the diamond of the Midwest – or we can be west Detroit or Denver East – whichever you prefer. It’s up to you.

So this takes us back to the opening. To be or not to be the Agony Aunt or to be or not to be a viable tool facilitating change for true blue civil service and making Kansas City government the envy of all, not the laughing stock, wink, wink, nod, nod (for the Monty Python fans out there) corrupt joke we’ve are now.

We’re close to completing setting up a series of forwarding mail services. But before we pay for all of this – we need to know from you whether or not we should continue to be the Skunks at the Garden Party of KCMO City Hall. Let us know – let’s do a poll.

Wayne Musings

The passenger side of Wayne's car shows some fender damage. What a shame.

Spotting Tyrants

Perhaps our new councilmembers don't know how to identify a tryrant, pick them out of the crowd. Once again, from Sixth Sense by Stuart Wilde:

The tyrant, more often than not, is a nobody. Often he's a failure and a coward, and he needs others to march forward for him to fill the gap of his inadequacy. He places unreasonable demands on others, partly to dominate and control them, and partly in the vain attempt to bolster himself up to assist with his fears and insecurities. Meanwhile, he causes trouble, dominating, manipulating, and controlling those around him with negative emotion, violence, and threats. Tyrants are terrified of death.

Tyrants may sometimes be hard to spot, since they often cloud their tyranny by feigning reasonableness. But you can spot them from their expression, as it's hard to hide the anger and violence they project. Usually the tyrant takes his darkness to the grave.

Jan, Beth, Melba, Cindy, Russ, John we hope this helps clear your vision a little. We know Wayne is being nice to you , ingratiating himself to you - all the better to manipulate you, is duping you. Why won't you heed the words of those who have more experience than you? You don't have to make all your own mistakes at our expense.

Power players are rumbling, residents are grumbling - you need to lead, follow or get out of the way by stepping down or Kansas City could be the first city in history to recall an entire City Council and Mayor simultaneously. Now that you know how to identify tyrants please take corrective action. Next we'll begin to educate you on bullies and bullying.

Wayne Musing

Why has Wayne never bought property in Kansas City? Surely between his salary, bonuses, and 'finders fees" he could afford something in KCMO after all we're 322 square miles. If this is such a great city and he is such a booster - why hasn't he invested his money here?

Haven't had much time lately but LT shows up on Missouri Case. net if anyone is interested.

Does anybody know how much taxpayer dollars the Youth Advocacy Office spent on those glossy magazines? We spotted cartons and cartons of them in a dumpster.

Update on the Pornography Trail

Apparently Dave Helling has requsted copies of LTs emails. However, the emails have to be screened by the City Attorney's office for confidential correspondance. Unfortunately that can take months. So everyone needs to tell Galen to make this a top priority and speed up the process. Those who were on the receiving end of this pornography could come forward and help speed this up too. Unless of course they too forwarded these materials which then puts them in the same boat as LT.

Loving & Understanding Your Tyrant

Since it seems up to six councilpersons do not have the guts at this point to end Wayne's contract and since the Mayor seems too to be lacking in leadership and interest in fullfilling his campaign promises. Let's try to understand Wayne
This is what Stuart Wilde has to say in his book Sixth Sense

Tyrants are angry, usually because they're scared. More often than not, they're tyrants because they were abused as kids. Sometimes they're angry because they feel they haven't gotten half the breaks in life they think they should have had. If their image is wrapped up in material things, or if it's trussed in a power trip, they will be threatened by anything that vaguely hints of a "reality check". The tyrant lashes out when cornered by the truth. Inflicting pain on others helps them feel less disempowered, less terrified by their monsters and dark memories.

They desperately need to be loved, yet they live in an emotional desert because no one likes them; most are scared of them. That reinforces the tyrant's warped idea that the world is against them, and that making life hard for others is a way of experiencing power. Sometimes, if the tyrant is really powerful, they pull lesser, would-be tyrants around them, and a gang or a fascist outfit is born.

So we can equate Wayne & Lt et al to a 'fascist outfit"

Never Cut A Tyrant Slack

In the event we're stuck with Wayne until a new mayor and city council are elected in a few short years, (yes, Ed, we ALL know you are running for Mayor) it behooves us to understand the Tyrant That Would Be Wayne. The following is taken from Archetype Tyrant, "Sixth Sense" by Stuart Wilde:

If you don't have a Ph.D. in psychology and lots of time to spare, stay away from tyrants. If you have to deal with tyrants, remember this: Even though they're desperately unhappy, they become arrogant and dogmatic through the exercise of their tyranny. You will rarely get a tyrant to see reason. They live in their own rabid empire. Tyrants like and expect abuse. "Plank on head" is the only language they understand. Don't negotiate, don't accommodate, and don't try to please them. The more you try to do for them, the more it affirms their power of manipulation. It's sad to say, but you should never cut the suckers any slack. It's bound to backfire.

Obscenties and Tyranny

In part to respond to Anonymous 4:00 pm “Contract Confusion “ perhaps we can get Garden Partiers to direct the right people to the people who won't give up the contaminated dirt (information) on the Citadel or anything else that's dirty.

Whoever it is that does the investigation - Guy Noir, Horsely, Hellling, The Pitch, The State Auditor's Office, or Inspector Clouseau, they have to have enough specific information to search - so far nobody has handed over that kind of information though I think from the confidential emails we're getting a few of you are closer taking action. If you know of the wrong doing, and you do nothing, then you are part of the problem and not part of the solution.

If the sitting City Council member won't do anything, and Roy Greenway is impotent and ineffective because of his chain of command then we need to go outside of the City Hall garden gates. An option to think about is to go to the Governor’s office and plea for a State Audit – but we would have to go to the Governor with more than innuendo by anonymous. And who of us will come forward and take that drive to Jefferson City and speak up and hand over the documents?

The pornography is the least of the problems at City Hall. Paying LT over $100,000/year for her to be a prurient voyeur seems more obscene than the visual obscenity. It is obscene that some of the Waynettes & LaToadies make the money they make, have the benefits they have when you look at their credentials, capacity and output/deliverables. It is obscene that so many great people are looking for jobs outside of City Hall. It is obscene that they will be replaced, in all probability, by incompetent or mediocre persons who essentially are glorified welfare recipients. It is obscene that someone like Larry Frevert was ‘released from his job’ because Wayne needed a white guy to get rid of to balance his personnel adjustments. It is obscene when those who can end the thievery, fraud, incompetence etc, choose to do nothing, choose to say nothing. And we can go on and on about the everyday, non-sexual obscenities at City Hall.

We are in the process of setting up a mail forwarding system where the mail will be forwarded multiple times before reaching the Garden Party Skunks. Once that is in place we hope you will have the confidence to make that extra photocopy or provide the specific information needed.

For those who believe Wayne is tyrannical and LT – here are some words to ponder:
Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.— Frederick Douglass, civil rights activist, Aug. 4, 1857

As you cower and swallow hard when will you reach your limit and do what it takes to throw off the tyrant?

Contract Confusion

Great Question Anonymous 9:01am "Lets Get Sleuthing" ...
Anonymous said: Please put this in the right 'category' but I'm confused. What is the REAL status of Cauthen's contract? "Terminate" "renegotiate" "fire" - "9-3" we have the votes - we don't have the votes - what's the bottom line????
I'm sure you are not alone on this issue and greater minds than ours can answer it for all of us inquiring minds. Do you have any volunteers to tackle this question on Wayne's contract?

Let's Get Sleuthing

Enough about us skunks, you're making us blush black and white and pink. Skunks spray when fighting back creating quite a stink however some may not notice because of the stink of the things they're doing. Surveillance works two ways. We've all watched enough Hercule Peroit or read enough Micky Spillane or Stephanie Plum mysteries to detect. Wayne has to go home some time. (where ever that is) Who has friends on the cleaning crew that can check out his office, rattle a few knobs? Does Wayne need any work done in his office - listening devices are cheap and easy and little. Or does Wayne keep the really incriminating stuff at home? (Where ever that is). If we have any retired detectives reading and you're up for adventure and sleuthing, we hope you'll contact gardenpartyskunk@gmail.com When those who know get tired enough and humliated enough of Wayne throwing trash cans across the room, berating them publicly emasculating or defeminizing them - then maybe they will find their moral compass and lead us down the garden path to integrity, honesty and true civil service.

Checking In

Thanks for your concern Anonymous 2:46pm - we've been busier than ants at a picnic, checking out facts, checking it twice, finding out who's naughty or nice. We're glad Dave Helling is on the pornographic trail via the Sunshine Laws. Hopefully, LTs computer hasn't been totally purged and there is proof of the pornography and a trail to those with whom she shared. But you all have been very quiet, we know that you're scared but at some point you need to follow your moral compass. We skunks are dependent upon the party participants in the garden that is City Hall. So keep the information coming. We're really interested in the possible City Hall leak affecting property acquisitions.

Week In Review - Another Encore Comment

This comment was posted 10-12-07 10:04a.m on It's Up To Us. We think it bears an encore for our week in review. Mayor, City Councilmembers,- does this sound like a healthy organization to you? We'd love to hear from you particularly your plans fix it. If you don't have the stomach, then let Wayne move back to Denver where he is most of the time anyway, consulting with his consultants; hire someone with capacity to do the dirty deeds that must be done. You all - have just one decision to make - to maintain the status quo or bring honor, integrity and fiscal prudence back to the civil service corps at City Hall.

We need to recognize that this Council doesn't care about US -- the employees who are being terrorized and tyrannized by Wayne. They don't care about the fact that Queen LaToad picked fights and verbally abused employees all over City Hall, got Hinsvark fired for stupid reasons, and arranged for her La Toady girl friends to get special privileges like free parking in the City Hall basement, specially created jobs just for them, 15% to 30% raises after only a few months in the job( Judy Hadley isn't the only one that was showered with money!), annual promotions, outlandish travel and spending budgets, etc., ad nauseum. Nor do they care that Wayne wrote creative job specs to fit the candidate he pre-selected (African American or ethnic, of course), nor that he had staff "fix" job interview lists so that his pick (read African American again!) was always the best choice (like Hadley and Deletta Dean). Nor that he ignored the council ordinances outlining the merit system for City employees, trod on their rights, gave HIS staff annual increases that exceeded the City's HR policy of 4% max; reclassed HIS staff to higher pay ranges, etc., e3tc. They don't care that he gave Directors huge salary increases and increased their vacation leave and pension benefits to buy their loyalty--and replaced "those white boys" with new directors making 50% more than the previous incumbent or the amount that an internal candidate (read: best qualified!)would get under the merit system. They don't even care that he lowered the standards and re-wrote job specs so his Queen LaToad could be promoted to ACM! Or that he gave her a $15,000 raise when she was just an "Assistant". It doesn't really bother the Council that he is blocking the investigation of Queen LaToad's pornography and that she and only she will be allowed to keep her job despite what has been the norm in the past. But there one thing that would make a difference to this Council: PROOF that he (or the Queen LaToad) is guilty of a criminal malfeasance. Not City policy --I mean a bribe, theft, fixing City contracts, lining his own or the pockets of friends. Some one knows about this! Show us the "no bid" contracts he insisted on, or the inflated contracts he negotiated, or evidence of accepting special favors or money from contract winners! Come forth with how the list of no bid contractors used by PIAC came to include his contractor/political supporter friends from DENVER, forevermore! How about an explanation why when the City identifies land to buy (top secret!) the value of the land always doubles or triples by the time the buy offer is made. Who is tipping the owners off? Did the land change hands between the time the plan was made and the City started negotiating to purchase it?Some one knows! Give us the PROOF we need to end this nighmare!Better yet -- send it anonomously to the PITCH. Don't bother with the STAR -- they are Wayne supporters and will make any dirty stories disappear!

Comments By janus2city

For those of you who don't stay on top of Comments - We think these comments posted on Return of Waynette from janus2city need front page, top of the fold placement

janus2city said...
10/13 8:49 is only partially right. Competent??? Hinsvark was strong and stood up to people, but NOT because she was necessarily trying to do the "right" thing. DH was power hungry, controlling, and opinionated--thought she was smarter and better than than every one else. She never bothered to check "facts" or think things through. She would butt in and claim expertise on EVERY topic -- when there were better and smarter heads that should have been speaking.Consider these points and judge for yourself her "competent" performance":She said the tax amnesty would bring in $9 million in 6 weeks and $60 million more in 5 years. Hmmm... Finance doesn't talk about THAT any more and is avoiding giving out final numbers (which I heard was about $2 to $2.5 million).She said that a new audit staff would bring in millions in taxes from businesses that were cheating. Audit tax collections are down $2 million from where they were BEFORE she hired a consultant to "train" them in auditing!She said that her new Commissioner of Revenue would streamline and improve processing -- instead she screwed around and failed to get $10 or $15 million in checks into the bank by year end (which had NEVER happened in previous years). So DH creativley changed the city's cash rules to back date all the money and get it on the books! CYA.There was some strange stuff going on with the IRS after the missing tape fiasco. The IRS told Finance to correct poor security practices, did a follow up audit and Finance failed. The IRS no longer shares data with the city and took all the IRS tapes away. Finance is pretending like they don't know what the IRS has decided.Hinsvark's problem was that she thought that she could beat every one at any game -- including politics on the 29th floor. Right 8:49, she wasn't a "yes" toadie to Wayne; but she didn't understand business or politcs!Let's hope she DOES decide to do the right thing and bury Wayne. But I think she'll take the money (= bribe to keep quiet)from Wayne and laugh at us all the way to her Denver bank. Maybe this exit was the plan from the beginning -- after all, she never bothered to move to the city and she had been playing CFO for 2 years. . .
October 13, 2007 11:08 AM

Return of a Waynette?

Why was Deb Hinsvark in City Hall today?

Supporting Terry Riley

Just asking a question here. What does Terry Riley do for a living? Is $50,000.00/year that he earns on City Council really covering his cost-of-living expenses? He must be really good at utilizing coupons.

Earning Trust and Confidentiality

To Anonymous 10-10-07 4:18pm "Courage" and other inquiring minds. Anonymous wrote, "Comments must be approved by the blog author???" We skunks have published every comment that has been submitted to the blog. We have not held back. We do reserve the right to not publish comments, if for example there are lots of swear words or somebody wants to graphically describe the pornography on LT's computer. Although it could be titillating. (Sorry, we couldn't resist.) Separately, some information has come in directly to the email site - gardenpartyskunk@gmail.com where we have edited at the person's request or they have asked us not to put the information on the blog at this particular time and we are honoring their request. Many of you are being managed by tyranny, we know. Clearly the onus is on us to earn your trust as so much is at stake. We are exploring alternative communication options as many are fearful of computer tracing, and when we come up with something we'll let you know. We just don't want Waynettes hanging out at the post office on the public dime waiting for one of the skunks to show up to pick up the mail. We must be good stewards of the public dollar.

It's Up To Us

In looking over the newly amended Charter it looks to us like the only way City Council can investigate Wayne is if they have the support of the full council. We're not lawyers so we could be wrong. With so many spineless and/or self-serving councilmembers this is probably not going to happen, so it's up to us.

There are many wounded former City Hallians who know where the bodies are buried. We hope you too find the courage to exhume those bodies. They can't get you now! (unless of course, you have pending lawsuit) To current City Hallians - you know what you need to do..it's up to us.

Edward R. Murrow:
A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves

Wayne Watch - More #1

In England the bathroom is referred to as a WC - water closet - in our case WC stands for the Wayne Cauthen - Chief Flusher of tax payer dollars down the toilette. We hear that Wayne’s travel expenses are over the top, maybe the Star could check into this.

Rumor swirling around says that Wayne doesn't really live at the library lofts. He has left that 'crib' to his son. So, if indeed Wayne is not at the Library Lofts where does Wayne live? Johnson County?

KC After Dark -

No, not the new power and light district but a summer youth program from Youth Czarina Thalia Cherry. 'Columbo' emailed the GPS with these questions:
Why was this event only advertised for one week before the program started?
What made you think that urban kids had the money to pay for this, $50.00?
What was the budget for this program?
Is there a post analysis? How many participants? From what zip codes? What genders? What ages? What was the actual cost per kid?
As budgets are being put together now, how can decisionmakers make a good decision with regard to funding this program. Office of Management & Budget - watch this when it comes through your office.

Let's Take A Poll

When you get home or go to the library - take the time to complete the poll at the end. Email me your ideas for future polls.
Thanks
GPS

Courage! What makes a king out of a slave? Courage

You're right, I am a coward! I haven't any courage at all. I even scare myself.
Courage! What makes a king out of a slave? Courage - Quotes from the Lion in The Wizard of Oz

The one thing that is coming through loud and clear from City Hallians is that few of our City Council members are instilling support among the proletariat. They are not considered leaders. They have failed to garner the confidence and trust of the people who are the foundation of City Hall, particularly those that are worth keeping. Rumors are circulating already about recalling Beth Gottstein; concerns are voiced about Jan's need to be liked by absolutely everyone versus having the courage to make hard decisions. A boss once told this skunk that if everyone likes you, you can't possibly be doing the job I'm paying you to do. Melba seems disoriented which could be due to the loss of her helpmate/husband, Sharon Saunders Brooks - well what can we say here, Plus the two ladies from Jefferson City seem to think they should have the same sort of set up they had in Jefferson City - sorry ladies this is municipal politics there are no research assistants etc. no posse of aides Did you really need your own personal stationery at this time? It's less about appearances, than it is performance, delivery and accomplishments. Councilmembers, the comments you are reading are pleas for you to find your courage, make it less about politics and more about leading in the here and now. We can't do the job that needs to be done for Kansas City with Wayne Cauthen as the City Manager or LT Underhill as his faithful minion.

Mayor - Council - Order That Man

Mayor, Councilmembers - it is your responsibility to a order Mr. Cauthen to turn over computers or other materials necessary for the internal auditor to do his job in investigating the allegation of pornorgrahy on LTs computer. Just as the members of a board are responsible for the actions of an agency and its staff - you too could be held liable. Give Wayne a direct order and if he is insubordinate and he refuses - fire him.

Follow The Pornography Trail

One of the things we skunks want to stay focused on is this pornography thing with LT (and whoever else). Who did she send these pictures to and did those folks in turn forward them to others? As I understand it, the offense is in the forwarding pornorgraphic material. And, if WC was among those to whom she forwarded pornographic materials, did he in turn forward them and to whom? This mystery could be very exciting, if the auditor is allowed to do the job he was hired to do, the job that he is expected to do, the job that we pay him to do. And, if he is being thwarted by the City Manager's office then we hope he will take the necessary steps.

Recaping The Waynettes

From my burrow it looks like the cast of Waynettes looks like this:
Thalia Cherry
Deleta Dean
Ava Gardner
Judy Hadley
Deb Hinsvark - now gone
Stacia Johnson - now gone
Cathy Lee
Tracie McClendon
Gayle Roper - now gone
Ling Xiao
LaTrisha Underhill
Dee Williams - now gone

And, we wonder, when it's LT's turn to leave will she go quietly and mysteriously like Gayle Roper or kicking and screaming with lawyers and lawsuits in tow like Stacia Johnson. And how much money will she cost us in hush money/"severance" pay.

There are so many other terms of endearments for this bevy of beauties - Wayne's Harem, La Toadies - send in your favorite

More Wayne Things That Make You Go Hummmmm

Wayne, how did Carol Coe's son get the minority bond counseling contract for the airport having absolutely no experience? This contract is worth a pot load of money and it's on-the-job training?

Wayne, when you came up with the tag line "We're on it" what exactly are we on? The take? the lam?

Wayne, exactly what does Ava Gardner do? We can't find a job description. And, she does it for how much money?

New Denver IT Person On Board - Mum's The Word

Just a reminder that Wayne's new Denver IT person is on board; do not expect privacy your computer usage and your phone calls can be monitored. These words of caution apply to you too Councilmembers. Wayne watches you too.

Don't Let City Business Interfere With Your Book-Self-Promotion, Mr. Mayor

This Post is submitted to the Skunk by Sir Humphrey Appleby

It would appear Mr. Mayor, that since you and the Mrs. have decided to limit comments on your official blog, the only ones that get published are the ones that either directly support your point of view/opinions, etc., or are designed to argue to broad based positions much to the effect of "can't we all just get along." In which case, this ceases to be an instrument of discourse where citizens can vent their feelings and opinions freely - yes, even dissenting points of view. As such, it is now just an instrument of propaganda that only puts forth views that don't question the authority or autonomy of the powers that be, The Big Lug and Mrs. Lug.

I really find it hard to believe that the Mark Funkhouser that I thought I understood based on his campaigning and therefore voted for, would position himself in this manner. I think it is just further reflection of the inappropriateness and inexperience of those with whom he chooses to associate. Adding to that, we must deal with an ego and/or a wife that does not allow for conceding that he may have made a mistake. Oh yes, he has shown that he can bow to public pressure (the use of the 'free' car), but even then he could not bring himself to admit that perhaps he and Gloria had made a colossal error in judgment. He still acknowledges that he couldn't believe all the fuss. I, for one, feel very strongly that he should understand all the fuss. Just like he should understand the fuss regarding the Semler appointment to the Parks Board.

First off, it's my understanding from talking to City Hall insiders that he didn't miss the information about her association with the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps because he never actually googled her. He completely circumvented the process that all other interested citizens had to go through to seek appointments to various boards and committees. All of this because Gloria promised Mrs. Semler a place on the Parks Board even though she apparently wasn't particularly interested enough to seek it out on her own. I don't recall seeing anything in the City Charter that authorizes the Mayor's wife to make appointments to boards and commissions; However, I'm not so naive as to think that spouses can't have political influence. It would just be nice if Gloria could develop some political awareness and discretion so as to at least pretend to be serving as a trusted advisor rather than just leading 'hubby' around by the ring in his nose.But I digress.

I bring up the Semler appointment not to discuss the pros and cons of it yet again, but to discuss the very serious backlash that this one episode has created for the City. As someone who has been reading a variety of blogs, articles, and public opinion sources regarding this appointment, I have to say that I am shocked by the overt racism that I see expressed. It's no secret that Kansas City has always been a racist city, but it somehow seemed to be that 'dirty little secret' that we kept hidden from outsiders and those that visited our city. But now, because of Mayor Funkhouser's stubbornness and political naiveté or unwillingness to cross the Mrs., our secret has been exposed to all and sundry. I know that the City wants national attention, but surely not this kind of attention.I have seen many comments regarding the purported racism being espoused by La Raza and the NAACP because they are threatening to boycott the City in terms of hosting their national conventions.

I personally would not want to go to a city where the people are so overtly racist that I would fear for my safety. I don't see how they can take any other position given the public response that has been presented to this situation. Boycotting is a legitimate response to public and private decision-making and luckily we live in a country where we can still demonstrate this stance. It's about more than just two conventions not coming to town; it's about the image of the City.

The Mayor is intended to be the leader and figurehead for this City. I would ask, Mr. Mayor, how does it feel to be single-handedly responsible for costing this City millions of dollars at a time when we have risked so much to position ourselves in the American market? Are your principles really worth so much?

You talk about dealing with problems of education. Surely you know that the TIF issue has a huge impact on the funding of the educational systems within this City. The entire downtown area stands to eventually generate hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Kansas City School District, but how can that happen if nobody is coming to the City? As far as I can tell, from the funding mechanisms through the marketing, the entire Sprint Center/Entertainment District project has been predicated upon bringing large amounts of visitors into the City. Who is going to want to come to an environment such as the one that currently exists?

I saw in your blog a statement that you've been flying all over the country to meet with people to try to resolve the 'Semler issue.' What a waste of time and money. Not a particularly bright approach given the fact that apparently we are facing large budget deficits yet again, if the Star is to be believed. Especially when all it would take is a strong stance that indicates that you're going to do the right thing by this City. It will never undo the damage that has been done, and there will be no winners. This situation has created a losing situation for all citizens because now when we say that we're from Kansas City, they'll look at us with 'that look' because they know our "dirty little secret." Thanks Mr. Mayor or more appropriately, perhaps the thanks belong to Gloria. I can't wait to see what new debacle awaits us.

And hey, Mr. Skunk, thank you for creating this outlet for us to express our views. At least you have the guts to allow all points of view to be represented unlike others...........Way to go, man.

Definition: La Toadies

In response to the person who asked what La Toady/ La Toadies meant
Accoring to Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Toady - one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors -
this led to
Sycophant - servile self-seeking flatterer
this led to
Parasite - something (someone) dependent on something (someone) else for existence or support without making a useful or adequate return

We assumed the original author added the French "La" to feminize the word and make it more elegant. If you prefer we suppose you could shorten La Toady/La Toadies to "l. t. " We hope this helps you.

Wayne - Redux - Franklin As City Manager

Hopefully we're all getting some things off our chests so we can start dealing in specifics. We need specific information in order to make change. For example. a comment made by Anonymous 9/28/07 8:10pm/Councilmemebers Please Take The Helm, stated

"Hell, most of the time CIMO didn't even bother with a slush fund. They ran thousands and thousands of dollars of catering (including alcohol, witch is strictly forbidden by City Charter) through regular accounts, which were then assigned to city projects. John Franklin signed and approved any bill that came under his nose. John, btw, is trash talking Wayne to anyone who will listen. September 28, 2007 8:10 PM"

Mr. Franklin has aspirations to be City Manager, yet how could that be considered when he has signed off on expenses that are clearly in violation of policy? How often does John look the other way? If he is duplicitous with Emporer Wayne - in breach of ethics, morals and laws - why would he behave otherwise as manager. He would be born again? And if Wayne was holding a gun to John's head, where is John's moral compass to go to the Star? Councilmembers? City Attorney? to report these crimes. Why would John allow Wayne to compromise his ethics? It's less offensive that John is talking trash about Wayne, since so many are, it is offensive that he is playing a major role in abusing the people of Kansas City.

A Tale of Two Policies

A month or so ago a City employee was discovered to have inappropriate materials on his/her computer. After appropriate investigation of the computer history, the employee was quickly dismissed. Now it seems that someone in the City Manager's office has inappropriate materials on his/her computer and the City Manager seems to be obstructing the investigation. Could it be Tony's KC? On-line gambling? The Big "P"? What could it be? Why are there two sets of policies/rules - one for non-Wayne staff members and another set of policies/rules for those under the protection of Godfather Wayne? Are these separate policies published someplace so everyone knows what the rules are for the Waynettes & LaToadies?

Let's Stay Focused

Ladies & Gentlemen, let's stay focused on the job at hand. We do have an incredibly naive and gullible City Council. Hopefully, via this blog we can help educate them so they can make good decisions. Unfortunately, not many of them were neighborhood leaders that had the experience of working with many City staff members to get to know them and develop trust and a working relationship. They barely got their seats warmed up and the City has been embroiled in controversy on so many fronts. They need to know you and mutually earn trust. The job at hand is to have honesty, integrity, transparency and good government. Which as far as we're concerned means Wayne, the Waynettes and according to the comments LaToadies need to go before the City is sucked dry - of money, good employees, good government etc. City Hall cannot be the place it needs to be until Wayne's contract is not renewed. We know there were problems BW (Before Wayne) but for the sake of change, for the sake of good honest government, let's stay focused. Find your courage, find your voice, name names, and tell us where to look and what rocks to look under. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem. We do have a responsibility in our own reality. Just as Wayne and his Watchers are watching and sneaking around watching you, let's make sure everyone is on Wayne Watch. Just as Wayne has had people followed, someone should follow Wayne. So, ladies and gentlemen, first we'll focus on Wayne, the Waynettes and LaToadies.

Councilmembers - Take The Helm Please

As you assess Wayne Cauthen’s contract – you must do your due diligence. A good source is the David Martin’s piece “The Mile High Club” in the April 26, 2007 PITCH http://www.pitch.com/2007-04-26/news/the-mile-high-club/ (and we're sure this is nothing compared to rumors we're hearing now.) And, now, we’re hearing rumors of a CIMO slush fund. Wherever there is something stinky in and around City Hall– there’s Wayne in the background, the puppet-master manipulating the strings, benefiting in some way. He covers his tracks well, he never does the dirty work himself.

Council-members, find the courage to lead, find the courage to not re-contract with Wayne. Wayne was a chief of staff for a questionable mayor (think Denver Airport); for god knows what reasons, Kansas City ignored his lack of qualifications and hired him and this on the job training is to the detriment of the well being of the City. We have spent millions and millions and millions of dollars on his Denver collaborators Denver consultants, Denver companies. He has imported way too many staff people from Denver, who have come on board at outrageous salaries, received outlandish raises and we have to keep lowering the bar in order for them to be put in these positions. It’s simply “extreme” welfare. And is Wayne getting a finder's fee or commission?

As the mayor’s office fumbles about, somebody needs to grab a hold of the helm of this ship – we’re running aground. so it needs to be the City Council. Take a deep breath, pull up your socks, get a grip, find your courage, thank Wayne for his time (be courteous which is more than he would do for you) and bid him adieu, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, so long, adios, arrivederci. With our help, he has priced himself out of the market. However, we don’t have time to wait for him to find another job, he’s been looking for 2 years. If other cities thought he was a prize - don't you think he'd be gone by now?

Glitch on the Blog

Sorry folks, for some reason, where it says 0 comments, there actually are comments but the counter is not functioning on blogspot. There are some emotional and interesting comments - so please check them out. Blogs are not my area of expertise so bear with me until I can figure this out.

Ethics Hotline - Working or Non-Working Number

Blog friends. I know that many of you want to do the right thing and I can't believe that you haven't tried to do the right thing. Who has tried to report questionable practices, behavior etc to the Ethics Hotline? Did anything happen as a result of your call? Or, did it get buried?

Severence or Pay Off?

Wayne said that he didn't know whether or not Debra Hinsvark resigned or not; he was just taking it from Dave Helling's piece in the Star. (Dave Helling/Lynn Horsely are running personnel now?) According to sources, Ms. Hinsvark been calling in sick. If she has indeed resigned in writing to City staff then why do we want to give a 'severence package" (which could total up to $50,000.00) to someone who has resigned? (Remember, we're looking at a $15,000,000.00 budget shortfall.) Why isn't someone from the City speaking directly to Ms. Hinsvark? Why is the Star in the middle of this personnel issue?

Cyber Caution

Just a word of caution; we would like to suggest to those responding with information or general comments that you do so from home or the library other than a computer at City Hall. We're not saying that the IT people will start tracing web usage etc but you know how controlling and paranoid Wayne C. is. People fight dirty when power is at stake. The only casualties we want are those who's continued employment with the City is a casualty to the residents of KCMO.

Speaking of Architectural Integrity

What is with the 11th Street exit to City Hall? Whose idea was this ugly, ugly additon to City Hall? Who approved this design? How much did we pay for it? Did the job come in on time and on budget?

Hurrah! To The True Civil Servants

One of the reasons we created this post is to have a vehicle for the honest, well meaning, and true civil servants in KCMO City Hall to have a voice. We want to bring pride, honor and integrity back to the position/title of civil servant in Kansas City. We don’t need assistant city managers who are a well-paid joke with authority. Kansas City municipal government has lost many wonderful civil servants because of the assault on their integrity, their intelligence, their morals and their ethics. They have been devalued, undervalued, scorned and sometimes bullied – physically and verbally. Some were fired; some quit or were made to quit and others shuffled off to made-up jobs or jobs that insult. The real loss is to us the taxpayers. A civil servant job should not be political payoff or payback; it is not a form of glorified welfare - a check and benefits with no expectation of providing labor or producing. Unfortunately there are many City Hall employees who are just that. They need to go. We need to expose them; we need to hold them accountable and responsible. And we need to start with Wayne Cauthen; we need to start with the Waynettes moving them on to jobs more suited to their capacity. Putting people in positions where they fail or cause the failure of others or they jam up productivity - is a theft - it is a theft to the taxpayers as they are cheated out of their expectations of performance and achievement on their behalf. And it's a theft to those who are the true civil servants. So those of you who have chosen to serve the community through service to the City - those of you who have watched idiots be hired, promoted and given outlandish raises at the expense of good business and at the expense of the citizenry, I hope you will find the courage, and your voice to help us root out the incompetent, the torpid, the lazy, the crooks, the thieves, the self-serving, and the slimy parasitic bureaucrats. We hope to not only engage but incite the residents of Kansas City MO to demand more bang for the bucks we are paying out. To those employees who are disheartened, frustrated, snap out of it! Let’s work to change the environment. If you are one of those employees – sliding – to maximize your retirement benefits – get your second wind, roll up your sleeves, get to work, or get out of the way – take your retirement – otherwise you’re a thief. If you’re bored and not giving it your all – find your passion someplace else – just get out of the way, we deserve better than you.
So, let’s name names on the “smelly” Citadel deal. Let’s make the Waynettes earn their money or move on. Let’s air the skeletons in Wayne’s closets. This will be the start of having the municipal government that we not only want but that we deserve. This is a great city and we deserve great people who want to serve her and well. So let the house cleaning begin, shine the light on the dirt and have a clean sweep (pun intended).
To all those civil servants who have integrity and caring, ethics and morals and are a tue servant to the community - thank you, you have our sincerest appreciation and regard. This blog's for you.

Dueling Waynette Divas Tiff over TIFF

KCMO's Chief Financial Officer & Director of Finance, Deborah Hinsvark, (a former Denverite and a Waynette) seems to have disappeared from City Hall - her email has been disconnected. Apparently Despot Wayne, Hinsvark and Waynette, LT (LaTrisha Underhill) an Assistant City Manager, the one that Human Resources lowered the criteria for the position in order to have her qualify were in a meeting. Rumor has it that the two Waynettes, or dueling Divas got into a very loud discussion over the 63rd/Prospect/ Citadel TIFF Project, the project that Councilman Terry Riley is trying to shove through. LT is in favor, Hinvark opposed. (the word is that LT is also real tight with Riley- we may need to watch those two) If this weren't such a serious issue with our taxpayer money it would be comical. So, Councilman Riley, what is so important about the Citadel Project that one of the Waynettes had to be sacrificed. We don't mind the thinning of the Wayne's herd/harem but this is smelling fishy.

KC Please Welcome Another Out-Sourced Denverite

Wayne guy pal Ivan Dinks Sr. is relocating to KCMO as part of Wayne's out-sourcing project/business for Denverites. Mr. Dinks will be the new chief informationi officer for the Information Technology Dept. - he starts October 1st - will he be a treat - and actually a competent person or another one of Wayne's tricks - another incompetent, overpaid import from Denver? (Note to Wayne - enough already with the Denver people - haven't you imported enough friends yet?)

Hurry Up Gary - We Want To See The Audits

When Gloria's "Hubby" took office as Mayor he also took four very good people out of the audit department. This in and of itself may not have been a bad idea, in fact it is one of da Funk's better moves. However, when Gary White got the job as City Auditor, and deservedly so, he had to staff up at the same time he was in the middle of crucial audits. Of the many interesting audits we are awaiting with bated breath is the CIMO audit. Gary, just so you know, your fans are eager. I'm persoanlly anxious to see how much was spent on Denver outsourcing.

Wayne's Fiefdom - Another thing that makes you go hummmmmmm

During Wayne's reign, the budget of the City Manager's Office has gone from $4.something million per year to in and around $15,000.,000.00 (million) a year. This from the guy that was supposed to thin out the over-inflated ranks of management - well nature hates a void I guess, and Nature in Wayne World has re-filled the voids with 'his people" or as some of like to call it - Denver's outsourcing of displaced bureaucratic parasites, oh, I think they call them consultants. Let's demand a moratorium on hiring any person, any company from Denver.

Gloria - Please No More Public Meltdowns

A Message To G-L-O-R-I-A
It was told to me that you were seen sobbing in a lobby area full of people waiting to do business at City Hall, You were overheard telling someone that you were distraught over your daughter going away o school. Gloria, get a grip. Gloria, you do a disservice to your husband and your children with these dramatic public meltdowns. And more importantly – you do a disservice to the residents and businesses of Kansas City. If you need therapy; there are lots of great therapists in Kansas City. Thousands of mothers sent their children off to school yet they did not feel a need to turn it into a soap opera. You make it difficult to respect you and even worse, you make it difficult to respect the man that a small majority elected mayor. You say you want to help your husband and the City. I would not be alone in saying – then in the name of love and in the best interest of the City, put your shoes on and find something else to do, some other worthy cause. There are thousands children being served by social service agencies that could benefit from your attention and title as 1st Lady of KCMO. Our senior population needs a champion to bring the needs of their growing ranks to the forefront. Pick a cause suitable to your passions and your capacity other than that of your husband and City politics. Think "Noblese Oblige." Your misguided, ill conceived interference has ignited our barely suppressed racism; Kansas City will need years to rebuild local bonds and our national reputation. Admit that you have no political acumen – and try to make amends by being successful in your own right fulfilling a need in Kansas City. Pack up your chachkes/knick-knacks, put your shoes on and go find yourself, find something that you’re good at. Thousand's of us will be rooting for you.

Lowering the Bar To Be Assistant City Manager

Human Resources lowered the qualifications in order for overpaid, underperforming, (at City Hall that is) Waynette- LT could be promoted to Assistant City Manager. Hey Mr. HR Director do we or don't we have a merit system for City employees? And, doesn't it apply to all employees the same? (See Judy Hadley posting) LT is reportedly earning $100,000 plus. As a curious footnote though, Gary O'Bannon, HR Director, has received a $21,000.00 increase in his salary over a two year period. Things that make you go...hummmmmm.

Where's Wayne?

Rumor has it that Wayne goes out of town almost every weekend, often Denver sometimes other places. Who is paying for these trips? Just curious if he is or he has benefactors.

Inquiring Minds Want to know - 30% Raise?

What was the justification in giving Judy Hadley, Commissioner of Revenue/Finance Dept. received a 30% raise - although her tax amnesty program did not bring in enough funds to cover the expenses of the program. I think I want to be Wayne's friend and work for City Hall.

Tara's Tiffany Springs Party - Taxpayers Get Soaked

Taxpayers - you will be picking up the tab for Tara Squitiro's Tiffany Springs Aquatics Park Party for the 18-23 year old set who can't entertain themselves. Apparently, this expensively promoted party needed a minimum of 500 to break even. In addition to wet wild fun there were DJs and security. The official head count was 70 and apparently that count includes the staff. So much for the Funk/Squitiro's being "regular folk" How many of you would like to have the tax payers pick up the tab for your kids' party, bar/bat mitzvahs at the Springs?

Despot Wayne

There was quite a todo over City Council's efforts to renegotiate City Manager Wayne Cauthen's contract. Somehow or other it became a race issue rather than a merit issue, business issue, but then race colors just about everything in Kansas City these days.

The City Manager's compensation package looks something like this:
Base Pay: $215,000.00 per year
Incentives: $ 90,000.00 per year
Car Allowance: $ 800.00 per year
Benefits: $
10% of his wages are put into deferred compensation which has a value of about $224,000.00.
6 weeks paid vacation (keep in mind that benefits are generally figured at about 17% of one's base salary.)

All in all - Wayne's benefit package is approximately $350,000.00 per year. Nationwide, the average compensation package for city managers in cities our size or larger is approximately $200,000.00 per year. If Wayne's contract is renewed as is, his base pay will be $247,000.00 per year - but his performance measures (or lack thereof) remain the same.

Dear fellow citizens, are you okay with this? Don't you want better performance measures to ensure getting more bang for our bucks? We still don't have a functioning housing department after The Despot dismantled it with no plan in mind; we have the debaucle of CIMO with neighborhoods and businessess saying City Hall is less responsive than ever. And still we don't want performance measures for the City Manager? This is not a race issue. This is business, and it's business with our money. Wayne has hired his buddies, particularly those from Denver, and the Waynettes at outrageous salaries regardless of whether they can do the job or not. We elected to keep a strong City Manager form of government. We didn't make it a fiefdom with no accountability, no transparency, no integrity. If we want accountability and transparency in government, then demand your City Councilmembers have the courage to address Wayne's contract from the perspective of good business rather than racial bullying. The rumor mill has it that the issue is not really about keeping Wayne as the City Manager, but just to see that he can get as much money out of the situation as possible. Is this what they call honor among thieves or 21st Century Carpetbagging?

Back In The Saddle Again

Sorry, seekers of truth, honesty and integrity in government. I've been out of town addressing some family matters that took precedent over the chaos, sloth, incompetence, inanities, and idiocies, of City Hall. Although I was glad to be with my family, it seems I have missed a good deal of excitement. You have been having all the fun. So, now I'm back, things are good with the family and it's once more into the breach, dear friends. Let's go get 'em!

Parks Commission -
Perhaps the Funk should just start over with the Parks Commission - thank them all for their time, energy, and controversies and pick a few more, this time following proper protocol and procedure, properly and thoroughly vetting the candidates and keeping G-L-O-R-I-A and T-A-R-A out of the process.

The Frances Semler appointment has garnered national attention and drawn the Minutemen's National Convention to town, the only thing missing from this three-ring circus is her personal appearance on Lou Dobbs or Jay Leno. Frances hopes to further the agenda of the Minutemen and the Federation of Americans for Immigration Reform so she comes with a bias. Aggie Stackhaus has infuriated the dog-park advocates as has John Fierro with their support of back-room deals - so much for transparency in government. Tyrone Aiken is a talented dancer and choreographer but he has contractual obligations with many dance companies - how much time does he really have to devote to Parks & Rec. issues? (not to mention he is Princess Tara's pick). Mr. Webster and his family have so many business ties to City Hall - he has a myriad of conflicts of interest on very important issues that need open, honest discussion and every vote is important - and he can't or shouldn't be voting on these. Municipal Ethics Commission - pay heed here - keep your eyes open - ask questions - take nothing for granted - do your own research. The "Big Lug" can openly apologize to the the residents of Kansas City saying that he promised honesty, integrity and transparency and to follow the rules and he didn't and he's sorry and he's going to do a "Do Over."

P&R - 18-23 year olds - Extended Day Care

Parks & Rec. has a new request from the Mayor's new Youth Czars (or Tsars if you prefer) Tara S. & Crispin R. They think therefore it must be that the City should provide activities for Adults 18-23. I may have missed something but if you are old enough to vote, hold a job, have all the privileges and responsibilities of adulthood, shouldn't someone 18-23 be able to entertain one’s self in a healthy, lawful manner. If not perhaps we should up the age of consent to 24. Let’s extend an already prolonged childhood into adulthood. We’re living longer, why not? Most of the world thinks Americans are stuck in adolescence anyway, let’s just codify it.

As a taxpayer I don't want my dollars going to entertain 18-23 year olds. You bet, I want supervised activities for children and I do want programs for seniors on a fixed income. They've paid into the system in one way or another and deserve our care. But an 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 or 23 year old needs to be entertained? Supervised? On the public dime? Come on you four (Funk, Gloria, Tara & Crispin) give me a break. Our limited Parks & Recreation dollars do not need to be set aside for adults. If you're bored and can only think of entertaining yourself by breaking the law, supervised activities by P&R are not going to help you. However, someone 18-23 could keep themselves busy by getting a job, getting a second job, volunteering, getting a 3rd job, going to school, go to a museum, read a book, write a book, read to someone, learn something new, give one’s time to someone who needs a little help, but don't expect me to entertain you. (As an after thought, isn’t Ms. Cherry was Wayne’s Czarina of youth? Well maybe she just czars over youth under 18 and Chip and the Girl Child czar over 18-23 years olds). Maybe someone from the Funk’s Kitchen Cabinet could ask P&R to develop and implement programming for that next dangerous age group – the 40 to 50 year olds. They’re prone to mid-life crisis, divorce, buying expensive sports cars and many other inappropriate behaviors.

Memo to Parks Commissioners

According to Matt Campbell, KC Star 7-22-07 – “KC park board’s mandate from new mayor: Make people happier” you, the new board will be taking a retreat to map a strategy. While on retreat please:
Consider that the director of Parks & Recreation, who at this time is Mark McHenry, serves at the pleasure of the board and that you have the authority via the City Charter to ask for Mr. McHenry’s resignation should he not be able to meet the deliverables you set before him. Somehow along the way this has become a job for life once in that seat – with no performance measures or accountability. This should not be. The buck stops on his desk. If you don’t hold him responsible and accountable the buck stops with you.
Contract out pool management; the Aquatics department is a mess. How can you have lifeguards that can’t pass the certification until the 3rd pass? Some lifeguards we are not sure that they can swim.
Word on the street is that one of the regional managers is not allowed into the Bruce Watkins Cultural Center when a certain employee is on duty? Why is that?
Why does the Tony Aguirre Center still not have anyone who can give swimming lessons and summer is half over.
Why do so many Parks & Rec. employees show up on Missouri Case.net? Employees include persons who have been charged with embezzlement, assault, and domestic-violence. Some of these people are working in, around and with our children. How do they get around the background checks? Is there a fault in the hiring process? Or is someone in a position of authority circumventing the system.
Why don’t the Community Center directors get a budget that they have to adhere to?
Why do Community Centers not have cash registers or a better cash tracking system? Or why are pants pockets acceptable surrogate cash registers?
What is the strategy to build our urban forest?
Why won’t Parks & Rec. more aggressively go after more Federal & State grants? I was told that they don’t have the staff to do the reporting paper work required. Is this true? How do we change it?
Why don’t the kids in summer camp in Central Region, not have their t-shirts? The camps are almost over? The other Region’s camp kids have their t-shirts. Did summer camp once again catch the Central Region Manager off guard?

More things to consider are to follow

Parks Board - Another Thorn For The Rose Garden

I heard via the grapevine that the administrative staff were dancing in the hallways upon the Funk’s appointments to the Park’s Board. They were afraid that one or more of their detractors or nemeses might have been appointed; then the skeletons would come tumbling out of closets. However, the relieved jocularity might be short-lived when P&R realizes what they’ve lost with Hubby, Hubbette & Child Tara’s cavalier appointments to the Board. By soothing his childhood scars (living at the bottom of the coal slag and the mine owner lives at the top of the hill), with his remarks on elitism - the Funk has jeopardized a tremendous funding source for P&R.

It is private donations from the ‘elite” that supports much of the award winning Loose Park, it is private donations that help fund Liberty Memorial, the upkeep and maintenance of many of our signature fountains, the KC Zoo and even private funds contribute to Starlight. Thousands and thousands of dollars that come from the ‘elite’ he seems to disdain. Not one of these current appointees have entree to the demographic, yes, class, of our society who have the dollars to invest private dollars in the infrastructure of our parks and cultural amenities. Not one of these appointments has the social capitol, credibility or peer relationships necessary for “the ask.” And if they do show some moxie to ask, why would the funders invest in them, there is no quid pro quo here. So when P&R starts putting their budget together for 2008-2009 – they may be asking for more money to compensate for the loss of private dollars. And if our parks begin to slide again – remember to thank the Funk Squad and the unforeseen consequences of working your therapy out in public and at public expense..

Moratorium Neccessary On Cauthen Appointments

Cauthen's contract is up for renegotiation. Therefore, until it's resolved, wouldn't it make sense to restrict his ability to make additional, questionable staffing appointments?

Paper or China?

Gloria decided that serving VIPs and people of import cannot be served plastic serveware or styrofoam but she can serve them running around the office barefoot? Where 's the distinction? Kind of like Ellie Mae Clampitt does the 29th floor.

Now I agree guests should be served one's "Sunday Best" so Hubbette runs down to Williams of Sonoma to buy appropriate china and serveware. However, this was a missed opportunity to go to the Crossroads artists or to the Kansas City Art Institute to have a design competition for serviceweare for the Mayor's office that was uniquely Kansas City and could have been a marketing piece for Crossroads, local artists or the KC Art Institute.
Note to Gloria: this is not engaging the community; what another missed opportunity.

Amsterdam - City Business or Funky Holiday

Did the City pay for the "Funk's" trip to Amsterdam? What part of this trip was City Business? Or is this all for his book?

Automated Trash Carts - Another Cauthen Folly

KC City Manager, Wayne Cauthen, was determined to provide trash carts in order to address neighborhood littering, and dumping. It was a time of serious budget challenges and the investment in these carts was not small. Members of the Neighborhood Advisory Council hosted a "Trash Forum" to advise how expensive this was going to be. But good sense be damned, we now have trash trucks with an automated arms, pilot neighborhoods have beautiful blue carts (owned, maintained and replaced by the City). However, the trash men won't use them.....it takes too much time. The trash men roll the carts to the trucks, manually take the bags out of the carts and toss the bags into the truck and roll the carts back. Sometimes they don't even move the carts, just pluck the bags and it's business as usual. Trash that didn't make it into the bag stays at the bottom of the cart sort of a mini landfill on wheels. Do we get extra carts when it is filled up to the brim? Kind of an analogy of our landfill challenge. Is this a $400,000.00 folly?

One positive aspect is that we shouldn't have to pay out too much for maintaining the automated arm and hydraulics on the trucks other than for atrophy. We can hardly wait for the $2,000,000.00 roll out.

This could be nothing, but another curious aspect to this is that when this is reported to "311", the City Manager's Action Center, there's no follow up. Could this be a cover up?