Full Frontal Disclosure

This entry is to give equal billing and to provide full disclosure of tax-exempt properties posting signs to persuade citizens to vote on tax-related issues (see blog entry from 10-27-10 "Would Jesus Vote Yes on Amendment 3?"). In the recent election last Tuesday, several frontal areas of the front yards on Delaware Street were displaying "Vote Yes for a Safer City" here in the Truman Neighborhood. At least 2 of those homes had been granted tax abatement through the Midtown / Truman Road Corridor (M/TRC) Neighborhood Revitalization Program. And one of those homes is the residence of a familar face on City 7 (the taxpayer-supported public access information channel which is accessible through Comcast Cable, Facebook, YouTube, Vineo, & the City's website and had been broadcasting "Vote Yes" messages for many weeks from the City Council chambers). It's certainly noteworthy that homeowners who do not pay any property tax are willing to post a sign and actively campaign for higher taxes for the rest of the community. It was just a few weeks ago that the Kansas City Star Editorial Board published a column in the newspaper commenting about the campaign and City Hall using expressions like "damage their creditability" and "neither honest or transparent" and "should not be trying to mislead residents." As most citizens are aware, the "No's" won that election last Tuesday (by almost a 3 to 1 margin, the highest margin I recall in any election over the last few decades). Frankly speaking, I don't believe anyone came out a winner on this issue. I recall a few years ago when we had a spike in neighborhood crime and a few citizens complained about it to their public officials. City Hall soon after that removed most of the annual crime statistics from their website and accused those annoying complainers as being alarmists and spouting harangue. Those same officials would end up doing a complete 180 and use the same tactics they criticized to convince voters that the crime wave is upon us. As folks try to put a spin on the election results, we are starting to hear that it was all about our poor citizens who couldn't afford the extra tax. But from what we heard in the community, not to mention the KC Star, it seemed to be about creditability, honesty, transparency, and leadership. In hindsight, our "Vote Yes" efforts to fight crime and improve public safety here in Harry Truman's hometown might have been more successful if the City Council had not campaigned at all or had actually come out against the tax!