Important breaking news, everyone: Mayor Sly James and several other Jackson County mayors have refused to endorse the sales-tax proposal.
Yael Abouhalkah of The Star reported the news in an online story this morning.
You might think that a non-endorsement is not important, but it is very much so.
Listen to the official comment from the mayor’s office:
“Mayor James is supportive of the broad concept of translational medicine but at this time is not taking a position on this particular ballot question.”
It’s easy to read between the lines, isn’t it?This particular ballot question SUCKS!
James
A person close to James told me a few weeks ago that James opposed the measure, partly because, if it passed, voters would be less likely to approve any other, higher-priority proposal that City Hall might bring to a vote in the next few years.
In addition, friction has developed between the city and the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, which is spending and pushing all out for the new medical-research tax.
Last year, the Civic Council refused to endorse a proposed half-cent sales tax for park and zoo improvements — a measure that James went way out on the limb for.
The civic big shots said they wanted to see a full financial plan from City Hall before they endorsed anything. (I think, like many other people, including me, the civic leaders want the City Council to deal with the sticky issue of pension reform before any more tax increases are proposed.)
Voters approved the sales-tax, giving James a big victory.
Today, it was payback time for the Civic Council.
It’s not a good idea to be on the Civic Council’s shit list, but it’s even worse to be on the mayor’s shit list.
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I apologize for the double posting; I had formatting problems with the first post.
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Be sure to keep reading the stopabadcure.org website for more scintillating information about the boondoggle tax.
This is huge positive news. I am really starting to believe that this crazy sales tax initiative is going to flame out and burn even though the backers are trying to confuse voters through an orchestrated disinformation campaign. There are much greater needs for any sales tax increase that would do way more good than this limited attempt to help out a scant few.
Right you are, Richie…I’m starting to feel like none of us jackson Countians is going to get poorer because of this hairbrained measure.
Jim,
Any good news is better than bad news. And this is a eye-opener when area mayors side against the tax. They feel the political winds and go in that direction.
That is another sign of great news.
But the fight is not over.
Jim, you are to be commended for your ideas and leadership! The supporters are helping, too!
We will not give up until it is not on a ballot 11/05 or it is defeated. We still have a hill to climb in the fight for a victory for the Jackson County taxpayers.
It’s well beyond the time when the proponents could have pulled the measure from the ballot, Larry. I called on them to do that a month ago, but to no avail. The way things are headed, they might be wishing they had done that.
You’re also correct, however, in saying “we still have a hill to climb.” We cannot assume that because momentum appears to be going in our direction that the opponents’ $1.5 million to $2 million campaign is going to fall flat. The professional consultants on the other side know how to spend money and get the most out of it. They also know how to identify people leaning their way and sit on them.
Every day, we need to talk to as many people as we can and tell them what this boondoggle is all about. No resting until 7 p.m. Nov. 5.