Independence Rises to New Heights

"New Heights" was meant to be literal.  On one of the highest  elevations on the most picturesque ridge along Blue Ridge Boulevard overlooking the Blue River Valley to the west and Rock Creek Valley to the east, there are large piles of demolition waste that tower up an additional 40 feet in the air.  Due to this vantage point and elevation on Blue Ridge Boulevard just north of 23rd Street, the piles can be seen from miles away.  If you recall, the City Council rezoned this property in May 2017, against the wishes of over 4,000 citizens/voters and neighbors and the City's Planning & Zoning Commission for a company ironically called "Blue Ridge Mountain," LLC, owned by Lance & Janet Houston.  The heavy equipment used on the uncontrolled land fill reverberates noises to decibels never heard in this once quiet residential neighborhood adjacent to this landfill.  There is even dumping going on as late as 2:00 am.  In a 1932 community planning document prepared under the direction of Jackson County Judge Harry Truman,  Blue Ridge Boulevard was referred to as "Kansas City's main sight-seeing  suburban road."  The document called "The Results of County Planning" highlights plans for greenways and recreation features that align with natural geographic and picturesque settings such as ridges and waterways.  It makes no mention of retail, high density housing, and, of course, landfills of waste.  Does the City Council and the Mayor really believe these 4,000 voters do not matter?  Do the visionary plans of our forefathers that wanted to highlight the natural beauty of our community matter?

More “DIrt” in Local Politics

Several professional archaeologists felt it was important to volunteer their time and expertise in the “Dirt” to walk the site at the MACO Northcreek publicaly-subsidized housing project on Jones Street just east of River Boulevard.  They found enough evidence and artifacts from the trails-era occupation and Native Americans to register the site with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources - State Historic Preservation Office as a Missouri Archaeological Site but it comes too late to make a difference.  An archaeological investigation was first suggested by citizens and neighbors over two years ago.  This suggestion was due to its location with respect to the National Trails as a likely camp ground and staging area for pioneers preparing for the westward journey, not to mention evidence of trails-era burials.  City Planning officials, City Preservation Manager, and the Missouri Housing Development Commission disagreed primarily because officials with the Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA) unconditionally supported MACO and their housing development while stating archaeology was not appropriate for this site.  It’s sad to see city and OCTA officials place politics before professionalism in supporting yet another politically connected developer.

Top Ten for 2017

1.   Circus of corruption on Square, which this blog has been posting about for several years, has finally made it to the front page of the KC Star which has been reporting alleged FBI investigations.  The “Three-Ring Circus” includes  (1) politicians taking money from developers or campaign funds for their personal use, (2) politically-connected developers, who play by their own rules and are not held accountable for promises made, aiding and abetting those politicians, and (3) nepotism and patronage resulting in the mismanagement of public resources, including real estate, utility funds, and threats and negative impacts to national historic resources for which our nation has trusted us with.  This Circus is a part of most of the Top Ten below:
2.   We are beginning the fourth calendar year on the Market Square Townhouses project, a project that was started back in 2015 on an accelerated construction schedule and tight deadlines in order to fulfill the City Council’s prerequisites for free public land.  Now it appears the housing units are requiring substantial renovation for the entire exterior facades and more.  I dare anyone reading this post to ask building officials at City Hall how many times they had inspected this work.
3.   Loss of green space is not just adjacent to the Truman Library but also on one of the earliest historic and natural corridors in the county, Blue Ridge Boulevard which is also part of the National Historic Trails and hosts historic cemeteries.  The city approved the rezoning May 15, against the judgments of the Planning Commission and over 4000 petitioners/voters, for an uncontrolled demolition debris landfill on residential property on Blue Ridge Boulevard.  This corridor was described in a county planning document prepared by a young politician, County Judge Harry Truman, as one of the most picturesque in the county.  Harry likely took this route during his frequent travels between his family farm in Grandview and his home on Delaware Street.  Very sad!
4.   In September, we lost the historic home and studio of renowned local artist Sidney Moore located on 24 Highway and Lynn Street to bulldozers.  This demolition bypassed the open/public processes and responsibilities of the citizen’s-based Heritage Commission while city officials proclaimed the action was to fulfill the City’s Strategic Plan, “Independence for All.”  The owner of property had available all the resources of the city to assist him with his demolition-by-neglect plan.  He also owns the adjacent properties that included unattractive used cars sales and a payday loan establishment.  Social media posts suggesting citizens come see these properties before they were lost only accelerated the demolition process.  Ironically, Sidney Moore’s favorite subjects and inspiration for his art were the historic buildings and landscapes of Independence.  We need creative and artistic talents, like Sidney and folks he inspired, to have an appreciation for our historic natural and built environments so we can inspire future generations.  So if this new city plan benefits those who contribute to blight, sell used cars, support payday loan businesses, or all of the above, it seems we need to rethink our planning processes.
5.   Thank God for The Pitch investigative reporting that goes even further than the KC Star.  They presented a story (Aug. 2, 2017) exposing former ISD Superintendent Dr. Jim Hinson’s special relationship with ISD Board Member, Matt Mallinson, who was also Sugar Creek Mayor and OCTA Board Member, while facilitating the sale of Mallinson family real estate to the ISD at 6.5 times it’s appraised valuable.  The land required even further ISD and tax payer’s investments to make the site suitable for building on.  Inflated budgets from mismanagement and nepotism takes resources directly away from classrooms and our community’s youth.
6.   News continues with Dr. Hinson, under the leadership of the ISD Board, and the mismanagement of one of the earliest sites of public education in Jackson County in the very heart of the Truman NHLD, the Palmer School.  This represents the site where both Harry and Bess attended public school.  ISD decisions led directly to mold and environmental contamination of the Palmer Building.  The mistakes made at least followed the civic motto, “...in the Name of Progress.”  These mistakes were hidden from the public while situations were explained by Dr. Hinson in what we now call “Fake News.”  ISD facilitated local legal counsel to hide and actually cash in on those mistakes through questionable insurance claims.  And since the ISD is all about education, let’s see what we’ve learned from this experience.  For those few at the top, you don’t have to be accountable for your mistakes.
7.   To align with judgments and designations of the Truman National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) as being “Endangered & Threatened” in 1984 by the NPS, 1996 by the National Trust, and 2008 by Missouri Preservation, Missouri Preservation again listed the Truman NHLD as a Missouri “Place in Peril” (Aug. 25, 2017) due to pretty much everything that has been reported on in this blog.  At least, this time, City Hall acknowledged the judgement but ended up creating a whole new civic motto, “We Make Mistakes in the Name of Progress.”  At least we are consistent.  After 35 years and new generations of city leadership, there still is no planning to update preservation zoning and expansion of the local Truman Heritage District.  Very very sad!
8.   MACO finally broke ground in August disturbing one of the last undeveloped landscapes between the Square and the riverboat port on the Missouri River.  This once public land aligned with green space on the earliest (1850’s) community planning maps accredited to William Gilpin, circa-1968 city planning documents, and even the latest planning documents.  The site includes a hiking/biking trail marked with NPS “National Historic Trail” signs connecting the Truman Library, the Truman NHLD, 4 city parks, and NPS National Trails interpretive signs.  Almost 1000 citizens/voters signatures on a petition couldn’t stop the projects.  Knowing how unpopular the project was, 4 City Council Members and State Legislators Kidd, Rizzo, & Lasater sent official and secret letters of unconditional support to the Missouri Housing Development Commission.  Even OCTA, under Matt Mallinson’s leadership, decided to get into the “political dirt” with OCTA’s early support with no regard to archaeology.  OCTA routinely advocates archaeology in all communities along the national trails except here in Independence.  Notes from citizens to Jeff City questioning the state’s selection processes culminated in the Governor shutting down the entire low-income housing tax credit program.  But MACO’s Northcreek project is continuing forward with funding from Missouri coffers, using out-of-state contractors, and no archaeological oversight despite evidence of pioneer trails-era burials and artifacts from pioneers and Native Americans.
9.   In November, representatives of the owner of the Ott House at 710 West Maple applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition.  Bess Truman’s brother, Frank, married into the Ott Family, thus, connecting the Ott’s through family, social, and geographic ties in the heart of the Truman National Historic Landmark District (NHLD).  The property has been listed in the NPS Management Plan for the National Historic Site and NHLD since 1986 as a “Truman Related Property” and a part of the Truman story.  But in a rare stance on preservation neutrally, both city and NPS staff refused to make recommendations on the issue or even provide historical context except to cite current parking difficulties that could be alleviated from the hole in the block left from the demolition.  The Heritage Commission took their responsibilities seriously and voted against the demolition.  This is the first time in decades that the lack of parking has been discussed as a concern in the NHLD in spite of the fact that tourism head counts are just a fraction of what they used to be.  This case alone demonstrates how vulnerable the Truman NHLD is under current stewardship in Independence.
10.   After Bass Pro and the Event Center, the latest “Build it and They Will Come” capital venture (with no capital) by City Hall is in the works.  It’s the Farmers Market on the south of Truman Road between Liberty and Osage Streets.  As usual, the project aligns with no published city planning document and included no history/preservation stakeholder in spite of its impact to the Truman NHLD.  And just like the MACO Northcreek and the Market Square Townhouses, no one has discussed an archaeological component to the project site where past development goes back almost 190 years to our pioneer trails days.  Yes, OCTA is even silent.  One would think there would be lessons learned from the townhouse project; you have to be smart and know exactly what you are building on to control risks.  But since City Hall is taking public utility funds to finance the project, I guess, city leaders feel there are no risks.  Maybe these public utilities funds should be returned to the folks who actually own them through more affordable utility rates or use these funds to upgrade our utility infrastructure (read our City Charter).

We are now writing new chapters about local history and the history of a community worthy of being designated as a “World Heritage Site.”  Independence should “Think Big” and utilize it’s greatest asset for community revitalization, economic development, education, and self promotion.  We can’t accomplish this through “Pot Luck” city planning and through maintaining the “Three-Ring Circus” in the heart of the Square and the Truman National Historic Landmark District.  And a City Hall that goes against the wishes of over 5000 voters, who sign petitions to protect green spaces and their quality of life in favor of politically connected and out-of-town developers, this has to change.

Our "Run-Of-The-Mill” Tourism Program

The historic exterior facade of the Victorian-era Mill Office of the original Waggoner-Gates Mill was beautifully restored in 2000. This ambitious project, which had NO funding from any level of government, included reconstructing the original Mansard-style roof with dormer windows, millwork, windows, and custom built-in eave gutters/downspouts. The entire roof had literally blown off its supporting walls from a massive explosion of the adjacent mill operation in 1967. 33 years later, a group of preservation-minded citizens volunteered their time and talents and a very proud and honorable gentleman from Lee’s Summit, Jim Noel, descendant of one of the original pioneer families in Jackson County, donated his Victorian family home on Pleasant Street to the cause. This also initiated the beautiful restoration of the Noel House in the heart of the Truman National Historic Landmark District, blocked further parking lot expansion by a politically-connected church, and generated around $60K for the Mill Office restoration project. The Noel House was listed by the National Park Service as a “Truman Property” with personal connections to the Truman family. Jim Noel, God rest is soul, passed away June 14th of last year at the age of 98. In the last 17 years under the city’s stewardship, they’ve done practically nothing but to allow deterioration, vandalism, and criminal trespassing into the structure. Now the city is complaining that it will take $300,000 of public money to reverse this neglect and poor stewardship. It seems ironic that the city plans to solicit substantial donations of private money for the expansion of the National FrontierTrails Museum property after it wasted past private donations and investments in the property. This neglect also created blight at the very entrance of the city’s premier museum. It’s no wonder that tourism head counts are just a fraction of what they used to be. And as we learn of the mismanagement of Event Center funds from the Missouri State Auditor, citizens should also be asking how is the City’s $1.4 million Heritage Tourism budget spent.

The Circus Around The Independence Square

“There is a circus around politics.  But if you think its a game, then you forget what the purpose of politics actually is” (quote by Johann Lamont, former Scottish Labor Party leader).  Calls for more integrity and an end to the circus are coming except that we have an entirely alternative meaning for the word, “integrity.”  A campaign fund labeled “Integrity in Law Enforcement” was allegedly used as Mike Sanders’ own personal piggy bank, as reported by the KC Star, and used to write checks to his political cohorts including those at the very top in Independence City Hall.  The irony and hypocrisy over the use of the word “integrity" is typical Independence politics.  Sanders also had ties to several law firms including Humphrey Farrington McClain (HFM) who actually hired Mike after he abandon his elected post after only a single year into his term as the highest elected official in Jackson County government.  Mike also served as leader of the Missouri Democratic Party which as been loosing ground in Jefferson City.  As an employee of HFM, Mike was seen on TV news programs pushing the Farmer’s Market project and redevelopment on the Square which, of course, benefitted the personal investments of his employer.  The Second District Councilman who was enlisted to lead the Downtown Redevelopment Coordinating Committee also allegedly received contributions from “Integrity in Law Enforcement.”  His hand-picked committee follows the current trend of excluding history and preservation stakeholders in spite of the fact that the Square is a National Historic Landmark District, a designation of highest importance to the nation and it’s 325 million citizens.  As for all of Mike’s accomplices and enablers, they are still out there.  Keep in mind that here in Independence, you can actually serve time in the federal penitentiary and still have a life practicing law.  Yes, there is a future for Mike at HFM.  In his absence, I'll close with a quote from one of my favorite philosophers and comedians, George Carlin, “Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn’t mean the circus has left town.”  And so the circus continues and we all have ring-side seats.  And you thought Santa-Cali-Gon was the only carnival on the Square!

 

Silverstein Eye Center Arena Lacks Vision

It took 10 years to final get the financing and operations of the Silverstein Eye Center Arena, formerly known as the Independence Events Center, audited.  No, it wasn’t an internal audit.  The independent review came from Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway.  It appears the city has been pulling the proverbial “Zamboni” on local taxpayers not unlike the “Pain in the Crackerneck” we got from the Bass Pro development upstream in the Little Blue Valley.  Findings indicate some of the obvious such as conflicts of interest by the Community Improvement District (CID) Board represented by mostly city employees and an executive from a local bank with ties to City Hall leadership.  The CID Board is supposed to make judgements on how much to tax and how much to give City Hall for administering the CID.  It appears the CID Board gave away its responsibilities back to the city who controlled all aspects of the planning, design, construction, financing, and operations of the Events Center.  This presented unique opportunities for City Hall to raise taxes without a public vote and to fill voids in a city budget that’s on “thin ice” using funds dedicated to the CID and the Events Center.  The City took advantage of the situation inflating their fees 10 times the market rate for administering the CID, according the audit.  With the current system, there is no incentive to be efficient and successful.  When you come up short, just raise taxes.  With Bass Pro, the Event Center, and, coming to a Square near you, the $3 million Farmer’s Market, all founded on the old sports cliché, “Build it & they will come” (I thought the public servant motto was “Protect & Serve”), this completes the “Hat Trick” to the taxpayers of Independence.  Next project, a “Penalty Box” for City Hall. 

Gov. Greitens Cuts MHDC Program

This was actually not a big surprise to the neighbors of the MACO Northcreek project currently under construction in the Mill Creek Valley.  After witnessing poor planning, corruption, and lack of transparency for a project that negatively impacted a National Historic Trail hiking/biking trail and a presidential library, not to mention the Missouri Housing Development Commission’s (MHDC) plush Class A commercial space with great 14th floor view of downtown KC, several neighbors sent letters to both the Governor Greitens and the State Auditor Nicole Galloway early in the year asking for them to carefully review this program that appears to be blatantly broken.  The Governor would eventually echo those concerns calling the MHDC low-income housing tax credit program a “failing program.”   Examples were cited where, for every dollar spent, “only 35 cents made its way directly to the development of housing.”   The remaining 65 cents on that dollar gets divvied up between MHDC and developers who invest further into the campaigns of city council members and state legislators who send MHDC their secret letters of support away from the TV cameras on City 7.  This is how you get projects like Northcreek that are literally impossible to stop, even with thousands of signatures of dismayed neighbors and voters who don’t matter.  Our local politicians are more beholden to these developers rather than the voters who put them in office.  This parallels what has been happening at the federal level with HUD and exposed on a recent PBS Frontline series entitled “Poverty, Politics and Profit” showing developers getting rich off the backs of the taxpayers and the poor.  And here in Independence, we have taken this even further down into the mud when we approve projects that negatively impact historic resources, recreational facilities, green spaces, balance of housing diversity, and even placing housing projects within FEMA flooding areas.  For Heritage House Apartments, we even wave what are supposed to be minimum standards for fire and public safety.  Our low-income citizens, seniors, and taxpayers deserve better responsibility and accountability.