Funkhouser to citizens: I know better than all of you
| The mayor is unrepentant about his free car. This morning on 980 KMBZ when asked about why he's not giving back his car allowance since he's getting a free car, he basically said the money is "part of his income" for him to spend as he pleases. Later on 89.3 KCUR he again refused to back down from his position. Even when slapped at every turn by an ethics professor on the show, he took the attitude of "I'm right and you're just not smart enough to understand." I'm a pretty smart guy myself and I know better than to argue ethics with an ethics professor. I know my criticisms have pretty much ended any chance I had for the TIF Commission appointment I so strongly desired. Not that I ever had a chance in hell anyway. I just feel too strongly about the mayor's bizarre behavior to remain silent. I've never been able to "play the game" and at my age it's probably too late to start. As I was listening to Steve Kraske interview Mayor Funkhouser, I was typing the mayor's answers for interesting quotes. I figured I would use something germane to the car situation or the Parks Board situation. Instead, I heard something much more disturbing. "I'm not interested in managing the image, I'm just interested in doing the job." I'm frustrated to have to say this but "the image" is part of the job. Like it or not, you Mr. Mayor, are the face of Kansas City. Everything you do reflects on all of us as a community. If the mayor takes a free car, regardless of "being transparent about it" then Kansas City has taken a free car. If the mayor is obstinate to a fault, so is Kansas City. You can't just pick and choose the parts of a job you want to do. How long would a quarterback last if refused to throw the ball. "I only like handing off, I'm not interested in throwing." In my inbox I see a press release that says you will hold a press conference at 1 PM regarding the Frances Semler appointment to the Parks Board. Perhaps you are going to admit the err of your ways? If so, I'll edit this post and sing your praises. I'll also assume if Ms. Semler resigns, she will be given the free use of a car from a local dealership... |
posted by Mark at 11:51 AM
Comments on "Funkhouser to citizens: I know better than all of you"
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crm said ... (6:30 AM) :
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Xavier Onassis said ... (7:42 PM) :
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mainstream said ... (9:54 PM) :
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Xavier Onassis said ... (10:53 PM) :
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Xavier Onassis said ... (10:57 PM) :
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mainstream said ... (11:11 PM) :
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Michelled said ... (11:51 AM) :
post a commentThis interview was still going strong when I arrived home for lunch yesterday and I had what NPR likes to call a "driveway moment". It was like not being able to turn away from a heinous accident. His obstinance is jaw dropping.
He surely was concerned about image (I'm for the regular folks in KC, etc.) pre-election, but now he doesn't give a shit about what his "regular folks" think about him.
With regard to his transparency argument, I call bullshit. That does not give you a free pass for unethical behavior.
why all the discussion about the car allowance. when past mayors also took free stuff and nothing has been brought up about that. funkhouser will do his job and do it well. as far as parks board i think that there is some people in the west side that is up set because funk hasnt offered her a board position. the laraza is the same if not worst then the minuteman they are radicals about the white race so where does that leave everything.
Anonymous: I hate to point out the obvious, but just because others have been party to nefarious dealings in the past does not give the present mayor - one who for all intents and purposes vowed to govern without the shady dealings - the right to manipulate the system however he sees fit. Mark is right on the money when he says that image is part of the job, and right now, Funk's image needs a makeover.
It's crunch time for the Funk. As Mrs. Livingston said on an episode of The Courtship of Eddie's Father: "Change all plans immediately and stop making mistakes".
His administration has no Merlin, no Obi-Wan. Dare I say it, not even a Glorioso.
Courtship of Eddie's Father?! Nice reference anonymous! There's somebody reading this blog that's as old as I am.
Anon at 7:10,
The La Raza political club in Kansas City is not affiliated with the National Council of La Raza, to which you refer.
La Raza political club of Kansas City which is locally run, and presided-over by Lali Garcia. Lali is a great lady, the nicest person you'd ever want to meet with a ton of class.
(And she provides killer breakfast burritos and hot coffee for the Westside poll workers on election days.)
During the debates, I was awestruck with Funkhouser's lack of civility. I was genuinely surprised he clicked with the progressive community because he was such a "pill" at the debates.
When the voucher comment came up the day before the debate, he literally crossed his arms & pouted.
I think he has some great ideas but he needs some help politically.
And telling the Star that he can't afford a new car - that is downright offensive to the common working woman who is making FAR less than the Mayor.
Peace.
I think that leasing an expensive, gas-guzzling Lincoln Towncar (at taxpayer expense) and pulling trained, professional, law enforcent officers off of their law enforcement duties to serve as your personal chauffeur (at tax payer expense) to safely drive you through neighborhoods where violence is rampant (due to your neglect) is FAR more unethical than anything that Mayor Funkhouser has been accused of.
Cut him some slack. Let him make some mistakes. He will learn, grow and be whatever kind of mayor he will be.
Think YOU could do better?
How many votes did YOU get in the last election?
I got zero votes in the last mayoral election.
Note to XO -
I agree with you, let him make some mistakes. But he won't know he made a mistake and he won't learn something unless some one calls him on it, and he's forced to deal with consequences.
Don't you agree?
If we leave the guy alone, what's he gonna do?
It's like a guy hitting himself in the head with a hammer - if it doesn't hurt, or alter his consciousness, how in the heck is he gonna know he should do something different?
Mark - "he won't know he made a mistake and he won't learn something unless some one calls him on it, and he's forced to deal with consequences"
That is the exact same logic that I use to justify my screaming, finger-flipping road-rage at people on my daily commute for such criminal violations as reading, talking on their cell phones, or simply being behind the wheel of a lumbering 18 wheeler.
Doesn't make me right.
In fact, it sort of amplifies the fact that I am a reactionary, hot-tempered, unreasonable asshole.
Funkhouser hasn't been in office long enough or accomplished anything of any substance to justify the sort of criticism that I have seen in the press and the blogosphere.
It reeks of criticism for the sake of criticism. Because personal expectations weren't immediately gratified or because of personal vendettas that can't wait to be satisfied.
Let the man get his "civic legs". Let him actually DO SOMETHING before you jump on him like a pack of hyenas.
Dog-piling on a newly elected mayor like a bunch of meth-snorting pit bulls at the first hint of anything "blogworthy" diminishes the credibility of journalistic bloggers everywhere.
Sorry! My previous comments were directed at "mainstream", not "Mark".
Guess someone should "call me" on that and "force me to deal with the consequences".
I understand the mistaken identity, and of us moderates sound alike to you....
damn, I should never drink tequila and type, meant to say "...and all of us moderates must sound alike to you..."
You know XO, we're both pathetic bloggers.
I've never seen a meth-snorting ptit bull...
I'd hate to see what happens when it starts humping your leg.
Heather - ask Alan Hill.