Category: Business

Mayor seeks quality economic development projects

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Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor spoke about economic development opportunities for Kansas City, Kansas, at the monthly meeting of the Congressional Forum Friday, Oct. 18, at Children’s Mercy Park. The Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors the forum

Mayor Alvey said the challenge for a city is to provide basic services, such as street repair and police and fire protection, at a reasonable cost. Beyond that, it is important to encourage those businesses who will help increase the tax base.

There are about 3,500 vacant homes in the Land Bank in Kansas City, Kansas. Mayor Alvey said that during the 1960s, the trend was to bulldoze these properties. Today the approach is different as those properties can be improved and provide housing for lower-income families. He said he hopes that financial institutions will come together to help fund such efforts.

The mayor held up a document which forecasts the Unified Government’s revenue and expenses for the next five years. He said it is important to have a long-term plan that provides reasonably accurate information.

Mayor Alvey spoke of the long-abandoned Rock Island Bridge over the Kansas River that is near the former Kemper Arena in the West Bottoms of Kansas City, Missouri, and could become a destination place for entertainment and retail development. The project has also drawn interest of Quinton Lucas, the recently elected mayor of Kansas City, Missouri.

Alvey also spoke of the $25 million investment along the Turner Diagonal that will provide warehouses and ancillary development. It is estimated it will produce about 1,100 new jobs.

Two other projects he mentioned were the downtown grocery that will be near Sixth Street and State Avenue and the American Royal campus that will be built in Village West.

The mayor also told of the new owners of the Kansas City T-Bones, Max-Fun Entertainment. The Unified Commission approved an agreement with Max-Fun last Thursday, Oct. 17. Matt Perry, the new president of the T-Bones, has pledged he will make improvements to the stadium that the Unified Government owns.

Mayor Alvey said the Unified Government will continue to seek the collection of back rent and utility payments that is owed by the previous owners of the T-Bones.

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids spoke to the group, via a large television screen. She said that she was able to help convene a meeting of the Congressional Small Business Committee at Kansas City Kansas Community College. She said she continues to spend time with area businesses including YRC Freight, a trucking company.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.

Bridge could be turned into recreational space under proposal

Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas, left, and Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor David Alvey, right, met last week to review plans on the Rock Island Bridge, a proposed recreational space over the Kansas River. (Photo from Michael Zeller, Flying Truss LLC)

A proposed riverfront development, the Rock Island Bridge project, would connect Kansas City, Kansas, with Kansas City, Missouri.

The project over the Kansas River would convert the old Rock Island Bridge, built in 1905, into a recreational and events space that could attract tourists. The bridge is next to the Hy-Vee Arena.

It would be expected to generate millions of dollars of development in the riverfront area, according to developers.

A proposed trail across the bridge would connect it to the metro area’s network of trails. The project also includes a food hall.

The project is expected to come before community leaders at a later date for approval.

Leading the project is Michael Zeller, founder of Flying Truss LLC. The project has received a 50-year lease from the city of Kansas City, Missouri, which owns the bridge. For more information on the project, visit Rockislandbridgeproject.org.

The Rock Island Bridge over the Kansas River connects Kansas City, Kansas, with Kansas City, Missouri. The HyVee Arena is nearby. The bridge is proposed to be a recreational and event space. (Photo from Michael Zeller, Flying Truss LLC)
The Rock Island Bridge is under development to be turned into a recreational and event space. (Illustration from Michael Zeller, Flying Truss LLC)

UAW national negotiators announce proposed tentative agreement with General Motors

by Richard Ward

After five weeks of intense negotiations, today in an official announcement in Detroit, the UAW GM national negotiators and UAW GM Vice President Terry Dittes announced the achievement of a proposed tentative agreement with General Motors.


The elected national negotiators voted to recommend the UAW GM National Council accept the proposed tentative agreement as the agreement represents major gains for UAW workers.


Details of the tentative agreement were not disclosed. The strike was called just one month and a day ago on Sept, 15. UAW Local 31 members have maintained a strike line around the clock since then.


The striking workers at the Fairfax Assembly Plant have received encouragement and support from several local politicians and civic groups. Strike benefits were recently increased from $250 a week to $275.


“The number one priority of the national negotiation team has been to secure a strong and fair contract that our members deserve,” said UAW Vice President Terry Dittes, director of the UAW GM Department. “Out of respect for our members, we will refrain from commenting on the details until the UAW GM leaders gather together and receive all details.

“We are extremely grateful to the thousands of Americans who donated goods and helped our striking workers and their families. As we await the council’s decision, please know that the outpouring of community and national support will be etched in the memories of all of us at the UAW for years to come,” Dittes said.

“The dignity, grace, and solidarity demonstrated by our members during the last few weeks are prime examples of what this union is all about — supporting one another in the good and bad times and never giving up,” UAW President Gary Jones said.

“Our more than 48,000 members standing their ground have captured the hearts and minds of people across this country. I could not be prouder of our brothers and sisters, our national negotiators, and the National Council as they continue to fight one day longer to secure the best deal for our members,” Jones said.

On Sept. 15, the UAW GM National Council voted to strike. The UAW GM National Council will meet and review details on Oct. 17, 2019, in a private meeting, at which time they will vote on whether to recommend it to the full UAW-GM membership for ratification.

According to the UAW statement, until the council reviews and votes to approve the proposed tentative agreement the strike will continue. During the Oct. 17 meeting, the council will decide whether to continue the strike until ratification concludes or to stop the strike at the time of the council’s approval of the agreement.

Once the UAW National GM Council votes to approve the proposed tentative agreement, the contract language will become a tentative agreement and shared with the full membership.

Ultimately, the agreement will not be ratified until UAW-GM membership across the U.S. votes to approve it.