Category: Opinions

Views

Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

Sharice Davids is learning about her new job—being the congresswoman from the Third District of Kansas. She told of her experiences in her district and in Washington, D.C., at the monthly meeting Friday, July 19, of the Congressional Forum. The Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors the forum. About 100 persons attended.

Rep. Davids is working with constituents in her district. Recently she spent time as a “tag along” with a United Parcel Service employee as he ran his route. She learned, as part of “Sharice’s Shift,” that the delivery man works hard and that he appreciates having a good health insurance plan.

Rep. Davids also recently visited the Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center in Olathe. She humorously said not to worry however—she didn’t do any work that would control aircraft.

She’s not afraid to get her hands dirty. She helped residents of Strawberry Hill with a recent neighborhood cleanup. And she visited the former St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, also on Strawberry Hill, where the Police Athletic League sponsors youth boxing lessons. Rep. Davids, a former mixed-martial arts fighter, donned a pair of boxing gloves and worked out.

She has formed an alliance with a fellow Democrat, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, who represents Kansas City, Missouri. She said Rep. Cleaver has been concerned about her personal matters such as finding an apartment in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Davids serves on the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She said she has found that assignment as very valuable in her relationship with the Kansas Department of Transportation.

A major concern of Rep. Davids’ is the private sector colleges who have closed their doors and left its students with no degree and huge debt.

Rep. Davids doesn’t always agree with fellow Democrats who favor “Medicare for all.” She agrees with Republicans in supporting visas for those with critical skills.

A new addition to Rep. Davids’ staff is a military veteran, who is a wounded warrior.

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

Opinion

Views

by Murrel Bland

If all goes well, the American Royal will break ground this fall on its new complex.

That was the message that Mayor David Alvey delivered at the summer membership meeting of Business West Wednesday, July 10, at the Rowe Ridge Vineyard and Winery in the Piper community. About 30 persons attended.

The American Royal Association announced in 2016 that it will move from the West Bottoms of Kansas City, Missouri, to a location in Village West in Wyandotte County.

The complex will be “an ideal location for a variety of food and agriculture events,” according to its website, www.americanroyal.com. The new location will be larger with more space for exhibitors, vendors and spectators. An events complex will offer 300,000 square feet of exhibit space and an arena that will seat up to 8,000 persons.

The American Royal is expected to attract various complementary retail development. The new complex is being financed with sales tax bonds from the state of Kansas and private donations.

Mayor Alvey talked about the challenges he faces as a public official. One such challenge was the need to manage storm water. He said he is well aware of the problem. He lives in the former Shawnee Township in Wyandotte County without the benefit of storm sewers. When it rains a lot, the mayor has water in his basement.

The mayor learned that certain businesses and nonprofit organizations in western Wyandotte County, including Business West members, are concerned about excessive fees for storm water treatment. Some of these businesses invested substantial amounts by building very costly retention ponds. The mayor was told that such businesses need to receive credits for their investments in abatement fees.

Mayor Alvey said in looking at the 2020 budget for the Unified Government, it was necessary to hold the line with no rate increase while paying down debt.

The mayor was rather humorous when he commented about how to deal with the population challenge in Wyandotte County. He suggested jokingly that younger couples have more children. He also joked that a wall needs to be built on County Line Road and that Johnson County would have to pay for it.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press.