A “Trip” for Tourists this “Fall”

If we’re not going to fix the sidewalks, then we should at least warn citizens and tourists to watch their step. And if property owners along Delaware Street have been relieved of their responsibility to pay their property taxes, then MTRC needs to revoke their tax abatement until this gets fixed. It appears to me that our community just has lower standards on this side of town. Developers and Revitalization Corporations are expected to not finish their projects. And the presence of a “Presidential” neighborhood seems to have the opposite effect that it would have in a normal community. Most communities push themselves to be great and extraordinary. It would be great if Independence had an extraordinary push towards mediocrity.

Sidewalk Improvements Sidestepped

As a follow up to the 10-08-09 Blog “Walk the Walk” the above photo was taken to show progress. Yes, you are correct. Absolutely nothing has happened. In fact, the sidewalks are in worst condition. How can this be? A large group of concerned Delaware Street property owners actually had three meetings with City Hall department heads, City Council members, and even the Mayor to “Talk the Talk” about this problem and come up with solutions. Ironically, the Mayor represents both sides of this problem. He represents City Hall and he is a property owner on Delaware Street that sees this mess several times each day. The award-winning Midtown / Truman Road Corridor (MTRC) Neighborhood Revitalization Corporation also has some responsibilities that they have neglected even though the taxpayers are investing almost $40,000 a year to keep that organization in business. As a condition of “tax abatement” that was granted by MTRC for many of those property owners along Delaware, those sidewalks are suppose to be practically flawless. The failure to fix this very basic and blatant problem represents the dysfunctional nature of our community while reinforcing the main point presented in this series of blogs that the Truman Neighborhood is considered not that important to community leaders and local institutions. Could it be that our community leaders have been hit in the head too many times with hockey pucks? Should we change the symbol of our community from a “walking president” to a “falling tourist?” Should our Tourism Department be allocating a portion of their million dollar annual budget to place warning labels on their walking tour brochures? When taking the photo above, I was actually approached by a Park Service Ranger who stated, “I’m embarrassed to have visitors walk the neighborhood.” We are pleased to see the brand new sidewalks surrounding the Community of Christ Temple but community leaders need to recognize that there are other parts of town that are important also.

Is Independence a Presidential Community?

Last week, we traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia and toured the presidential homes of Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and James Madison. It was an interesting experience to spend time in a community that has embraced their presidential histories. The presidential homes were magnificent by themselves but the local community goes to great lengths to preserve and maintain the historic settings and landscapes surrounding these landmarks. And it is not the federal government or local government zoning doing this. It is private citizens through local not-for-profit groups and foundations taking on the responsibilities of protecting these landmarks and landscapes while making them accessible to the general public. And what a difference it makes when the community is supportive. Historians have ranked Jefferson to be the 7^th greatest presidents of our country. Monroe is ranked 14^th and Madison is ranked 20^th. Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence and Madison was the primary author of the US Constitution. Meanwhile, back in the hometown of the 5^th greatest US president, Harry Truman, how has the City of Independence responded to its national responsibility? It is great to have the federal government step in and assist with the preservation and protection of the Truman Home. And it is appropriate for the City of Independence to provide local zoning and historic district regulations for the protection of the historic setting of the Truman Home. But wouldn’t it be great if local citizens, churches, and institutions just wanted to do it anyway because it was the right thing to do?