Kansas City Mayor Sly James has been praised and criticized for his handling of the explosion at JJ’s.
There is no doubt that he was assertive, but was he more concerned with appearing to be in charge than making sure he was on the side of public health and welfare?
The problem with Sly’s initial response — we’re not going to play the blame game (paraphrasing), and the fire department “doesn’t do gas” — is that he didn’t think his comments all the way through.
Instead of a measured response — we will get to the bottom of this with all deliberate speed (paraphrasing again) — he opted for an assertive, knee-jerk reaction that made him appear to be defending the fire department and beating back the press. (Oh, the press! Those turds in the punch bowl…always asking niggling questions and trying to make us public officials look like we’re picking our noses.)
…It didn’t help that Sly was wearing a fire-engine red, KCFD shirt at the news conference. Instead of trying on shirts before the news conference, he should have been sitting in a corner, or in his car, thinking about what he was going to say and asking the Holy Spirit for guidance.
But what’s done is done, and what was said has been consigned to Google.
So, what now?
A City Councilman I spoke with this week (he didn’t want to go on the record before the results of the fire department’s investigation has been released) noted that it’s easy for a public official to make a mistake and say something wrong in the midst of a crisis. The key, he said, is for public officials not to be afraid to reverse course once they analyze a crisis in hindsight and realize they erred.
If, after the fire department investigation is made public, James comes back and says that mistakes were made…and if he lays out a plan aimed at decreasing the chances of something like this happening again, then, yes, all is forgiven. The mayor will have reassured us that our safety is his top priority.
But if he sticks to “we don’t do gas,” he’s burying his head in the trench, and he will have used up a good measure of the trough of good will that every public official starts out with.
So far, Sly has taken only a baby step toward making amends with the public. In an interview with The Star’s Dave Helling last Friday, James said:
“If it turns out that something should be tweaked or done differently, that will certainly be something we will take a look at. But I’m not looking for somebody to blame… I’m not coming in with a preordained conclusion that somebody screwed up.”
Clearly, city procedures in the handling of gas leaks need to be more than “tweaked,” and blame must be assessed, no matter how uncomfortable it makes the mayor.
Unfortunately, Sly’s comments so far have put him in the position where he has to lead from behind in order to get back to the front.
The next time he talks about JJ’s, I want to see him playing mayor not fire fighter.
I heard that KCFD red shirts are given to the new recruits and although they look pretty snazzy they get dumped as fast as possible so as to pick up the “experienced” blue shirts and blend in. Just a thought but if that is the case maybe the red newbie shirt was more appropriate than the blue of experience in this situation.
But here’s the thing, someone on site in authority, made a conscious decision that directly resulted in the, entirely preventable, death of a KCMO citizen. KCFD left the scene when they could have stayed to help. MGE bumbled around when all the stops could have been pulled out. It even appears that utility management didn’t know where their shut off valves were located…… Keystone Cops in tragic, real time and it just keeps getting curiouser. Who of us is going to trust the KCFD or MGE or the Mayor or X when the poo hits the fan next time? And, there will be a next time. Let’s hope this SNAFU doesn’t turn into a SUSFU when all the finger pointing stops. But great work Fitz. Grateful to see you keeping this up front and center so please keep those cards and letters coming to my inbox. Jayson
Good to have you back in the comments dept., Jayson.
A leopard can’t change it’s spots so no surprise Sly turned off the mayor switch and turned on the lawyer switch. Another example of why Shakespeare said, “First thing, let’s kill all the lawyers.”
Sly is not a very effective political leader. His hear me now and believe me later attitude might work in the Marines or courtroom, but not on Main Street.
The war of words between the contractor and City Hall reveals another level of ineptitude that he will have to address.
Mistakes were made by the contractor, KCFD and MGE. Let’s cut through all the BS and put the BIG BOY pants on. Real leaders are quick to admit mistakes, accept responsibility and lay out a plan to make sure it doesn’t again.
Heads must roll. Victims must be fairly compensated. Justice must be served immediately, not deferred to a later date.
Keep up the good work Fitz!
Fitz and others,
Everything done since the fire was down to just smoldering has been for the attorneys.
Can you type wrongful-death litigation? Whatever insurance companies involved will also sue. MGE and the city have no sound defense. The Mayor’s and the KCFD’s comments have put them in a less defensible legal position.
It is sad that a life was lost because of the inept work of the contractors and the inept troubleshooting from MGE and the KCFD. Prayers to the victim, families, friends, colleagues and customers.
Take Care.
Thanks, Larry…A lawyer told me that he expected the plaintiffs to sue everybody — Time Warner, Heartland, MGE and the city — and that each of the defendants would then file counterclaims against the other defendants. In other words, it will be a huge finger-pointing exercise until the order and level of culpability becomes clearer through filings and depositions. Then, let the settling begin…
Off-topic for this post, but I’m sure you’re read Publisher Mi-Ai Parrish’s comments about “Whiteout didn’t deter newspaper’s work”.
That sure wasn’t what The Star said back in the year when DIck Nichols was the first full-time “correspondent” for Johnson County. That January he had constant trouble getting through the snow drifts on old Kansas City Road (pre I-35 days), a trip often made necessary to reload the film carriers for those pesky old Speed Graphics.
John Colt called Dick over to his desk and instead of complimenting him on a job well-done, told him, “We’d like for you to move to Olathe.”
You’ve mentioned that before in passing, Peg, and I was skeptical. But now I believe it…It’s the only case in which I’ve ever heard of editors expressing a desire for somebody to live in a certain part of the area.
I’ve always thought, however, that if you cover City Hall or Jackson County, or if you love Johnson County government and want to cover it for a long time, it’s better if the reporter lives in the coverage area. It gives you more of a vested interest.
I’ve always lived in Kansas City, and that worked out well when I covered the Jackson County Courthouse, City Hall and even KCK. (I attribute that to the urban nature of the place.) But it didn’t fit so well during my short-lived stint as bureau chief in Johnson County and eastern Jackson County. I just wasn’t very interested in those areas, and it showed.