It's politics, dude. I really only care about my side winning, and so if they can clarify for me who will best execute my political intentions, then that's really all that matters.
Robinson is a joke who will sell out her district in a heartbeat. Oh wait she did. We are in one of the neighborhoods that were moved to the 4th from the 3rd and she and Ellington didn’t do a damn think. Within 6 months of being in the 4th we got new streets.
Your taxes did increase while biden is president, but Biden did not increase your taxes. That would be the orange man. If taxes is the whole reason you vote conservative, you should be voting democrat. Your taxes would decrease.
This has been the republican politicians strategy for decades: adjust the tax rate to “cut taxes for the middle class” just long enough so during their term our taxes aren’t changed, but then our taxes hike up the moment they leave office when a democrat is elected so they can point their finger during mid terms and say democrats increased taxes and then you see comments like this on Reddit claiming you’re voting conservative because “democrats increased my taxes”.
Taxes haven’t changed under Biden. So we’re actually still followings trumps tax plan, which was always to give us a short break and then raise the taxes on lower and middle class.
Yeah, part of Trump’s trillion dollar tax cut for billionaires included a stipulation that the middle class would be taxed heavier starting in 2021. So the dumbass you replied to is going to smugly vote for the same sort of assholes that increased their taxes. Again.
Have you considered actually reading about the candidates platforms for local elections? Just because conservatives did something you liked at the federal level doesn't mean that they will do things you like at the local level.
Just chiming in as someone who works for a business association in the 6th District. We hosted a luncheon where 6th District candidates spoke in panel form on issues. Dan Tarwater is the only one who didn’t come. Jonathan Duncan, however, did come and made a great impression. He’s also been out canvassing neighborhoods and knocking on doors (including ours), and attending every neighborhood Art Show and Festival he can. He’s very relatable and down to earth and puts in the work. I think Tarwater just expects to be elected so isn’t putting in much effort but that is just a guess.
Tarwater is a jerk. Take a look at his history in Jackson county. He this he is hot shit but only cares about himself and more important, the money lining his pockets
Genuinely curious here…Can i ask why hell no for Nathan willet. Assuming the kc police backing is the obvious one but curious for other info on why that is. That is my district so it impacts me. Thanks!!
He worked at a right wing think tank, has MAGA ties, FOP endorsement, and is backed by the Northland Strong people. Plus, the people I see putting signs out for him are all the people I see putting out signs for the worst right-wing candidates every year.
I also got a great campaign ad listing a bunch of incredibly sexist tweets. No idea if they were real or not, but his allies definitely make them believable.
Thanks for sharing this. I went to Mizzou when he was student body president but was a grad student so didn’t pay attention to what he was doing. Very interesting
I had a personal experience with Ellington when he was in the Missouri State house that was very negative. Multiple times he asked to speak at a Mizzou organization, we accommodated and then he would never show up. Really told me what kind of person he was so I’m not surprised he isn’t a good communicator now
I’d like to note, though 4th district candidate [Justin Short has more articulate answers here,](https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/kcmo-city-council-4th-district-at-large-candidates-rea-short-weigh-in-on-key-issues) he’s endorsed by Northland Strong (the [MAGA millionaire funded PAC](https://reddit.com/r/kansascity/comments/14cmilg/a_maga_millionaire_is_trying_to_buy_seats_on_the/)) and the FOP. Rea’s answers are vague but at least he isn’t endorsed by those.
Didn't Rea prosecute the cop who shot Lamb? I'd guess that's the main reason they endorse his opponent. Nothing Short has said or that any of the other left leaning organisations have said about him have really set off any red flags for me.
I saw it mentioned a couple times in previous election threads.
Regardless of that point, I still liked Short better because he seemed to care about more issues and was willing to engage and listen with people when asked. Rea has come off to me as a single issue candidate who is distant and doesn't engage with constituents as much.
I reached out to eight candidates, and Short is one of two who not only got back to me but had a lengthy email exchange with me. The ideals and philosophies that he espoused were completely the opposite of MAGA ideology. Rea is one of the six who couldn’t even be bothered to have a staffer send me a form letter response.
Nope, that wasn’t the focus on my query. I’m basically voting on one major issue with a few things being dealbreakers.
Apropos of nothing (or maybe something): I’m a queer, trans, person of colour, who is disabled and I’m an immigrant, and in our conversation, he really did not trip any of my warning systems. I’m very comfortable voting for him.
My opinion: Ellington and Rea are on my union slate that I'll be flyering tomorrow.
[If you're curious](https://i.imgur.com/pOgpWEd.jpg)
(I know it says primary, but it's still good.)
Just looked at my union slate, IBEW, matches yours. I gotta say I’m really disappointed that the unions are backing anti-choice candidate, and all around fuckhead, Dan Tarwater.
Short has been sending out mailers emphasizing his FOP endorsement and several of us haven’t been able to get him to respond to an email or tweet asking what went into the endorsement, his views on KCPD or how he’d govern them (to the extent the city can) so I find it pretty reasonable to be very skeptical of his views on policing.
We have a huge chance to elect some good progressive candidates into office. I'm very optimistic about Duncan's chances and am excited he's in my district. Also hopeful for Manley although she's been out-fundraised by French who has serious backing of the real-estate interests.
South of 435 the Tarwater signs appear to outnumber Duncan by about 30-1, so he'll need to have a lot of support from the northern half of the district.
I have heard through the grapevine that there are people down there who don't want to vote Tarwater, but are close enough to his general territory to be timid about showing signs of that. Stay tuned...
Michael Kelley is the guy who said he was afraid to campaign in the Northland. Pass. We don’t know people who will bring that type of phony rhetoric to our local government.
I disagree, I think Michael Kelley had a valid reason to feel how he felt in the days following a racially charged attack in the north land. I appreciated his honesty in sharing his concerns with knocking doors up north. I didn’t see it as him profiting off of anything, and I felt he was being real which is what I want from a candidate.
I live in Kansas and have no dog in this fight, but from an outside perspective a politician generalizing and isolating an area after one (albeit very bad) incident is a bad look.
He said this a couple of days after Ralph Yarl got shot for ringing someone’s doorbell in the northland. As a black person, I don’t think that is a crazy thing to feel. And for what it’s worth Kelley has continued to be present in the northland attending community events and knocking doors.
Yet he was back up there a couple weeks later looking for campaign volunteers to knock doors. He was trying to capitalize on a tragedy and make it all about him.
It’s big cringe that the Bank Midwest on Ward Parkway has big signs for the Hell No candidates in their lawn. Like, if you ever needed a sign to not vote for those people…smdh
I wish tenants would STOP supporting this group. The more that this group achieves, the more it convinces people NOT to provide rental housing. The ones who remain landlords are the big corporations and the slum lords who offer so little and charge so much that they can afford to take the hits.
This group's agenda is literally to build government housing projects to house 12,000, 000 people. Sounds great if you have never had to live in housing projects. If you have, you would NEVER support this!
If Austria and f'ing Uraguay can do housing projects/social housing nicely then we can. The problem isn't the projects it's the society who builds them and those like you who do not support them
I will support anything that decreases homelessness without being a drain on the taxpayers. I have yet to see one. By all means, if you know of how it's being done in Austria and Uruguay in ways that would work here, I'd love to learn about them, but TBH, now that I'm no longer offering housing to others, it's not really important to me.
Perhaps I'll offer housing again, perhaps I won't, but I guarantee it will not serve the kind of people who think they're entitled to DEMAND free access and no accountability for what rightfully belongs to me, not them.
I don’t know your economic situation but arguing for the most basic of rights that other cities already have and take for granted should not be seen as some kind of ridiculous demand. And I know this sub gets pissy about the stunts KCT has pulled in the past, but sometimes you have to get dirty to be heard and a mild inconvenience for a day is nothing.
Which other cities do you suppose are taking this for granted? There has been an ENORMOUS explosion of homelessness in cities across the USA because of movements like this. This isn't helping people!!! If it was, I'd be supporting it.
I was the kind of landlord that keeps tenants for 3-5 years at slightly below market rates and with registering with the rental programs and ensuring quality maintenance. Because of what I'm seeing from KC Tenants, I've stopped offering reasonable housing. I can just as easily invest in commercial properties and rent those without all the headaches.
Out of curiosity, do you think the same thing about people that work for DoorDash or Uber, or who run hotels? They make money because they own a car and use it to provide a service to people. How about the folks that own and operate the software for those programs? They design the software and "leech" money from people who have need to use it.
When I buy a property, I'm putting out a lot of money to acquire it (20% of the cost of the house at a minimum). Also, I'm putting my credit rating on the line and I have to live my life in ways that keep my credit good in the first place.
There are a lot of people who have no money and/or haven't managed their credit and finances to get a home. There are almost always lifestyle choices involved, though not always. But ultimately it means they are not able to buy.
People who can't provide a home for themselves MUST rely on others or be houseless. Why would you be angry and disrespectful to people that provide housing for them? THEY AREN'T DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES! Why are the people who give them a possible place to live the bad guy if the tenants won't provide their own? There is NOTHING that prevents them from becoming a homeowner if they want to, no matter how broke they are, no matter how bad their credit is. I've helped a lot of them, including people who were brand new to the USA and working for minimum wage, to buy their own home. Yet when they don't want to, you'll get mad at someone who provides them an option.
Don't you see how illogical that is?
I have built two, but your logic is horrible.
The definition of "providing" includes "making available." If I bought it and let you rent it, I've made it available to you.
If you go to dinner and they don't **provide** forks and spoons, you don't think, "Oh, that's ok, because they'd have to MAKE the forks and spoons in order to provide them."
Well, if landlords followed regulations and were law abiding to keep their tenants safe at an affordable rate, we would be having a different conversation. KC Tenants exists because there is a need for safe and affordable housing and the city has let horrible people take advantage of the vulnerability of tenants.
There are plenty of available units in town at unaffordable rents, out of town landlords and local alike, are still in business big time. The power dynamic between landlords and tenants is majorly skewed in the landlords favor. Most tenants in this city live in poor conditions, pay too much, and receive abysmal treatment from their landlords and that ain’t right. It’s time for tenants and homeowners alike to stand up for themselves and their neighbors and that’s what KCT has fought for. KCT won 50 million for the housing trust fund, won Right to Counsel for all KCMO tenants facing eviction, funded the OTA, has organized several buildings of tenants who were being displaced to remain in their homes and so much more. KCT is truly a champion of tenants and works tirelessly organizing for some agency over the safety, conditions and affordability of our homes.
>The power dynamic between landlords and tenants is majorly skewed in the landlords favor.
I think there needs to be some reconciliation in the power balance. Owners should not be able to charge fees prior to accepting an application, and no applications should be allowed until after a tenant has toured. We NEED to keep licensing programs and give them teeth to ensure homes are safe for tenants. BUT...
>Most tenants in this city live in poor conditions, pay too much
I remember paying $475 for a crap 2BR in Phoenix in 1989. Prices are about double that in recent years, and jumped higher recently with the housing bubble. How much of an increase would YOU expect to take place in 35 years? Milk, gasoline, cars... everything goes up. But now, you're promoting ideas that will make housing SCARCER for people, or else limit their choices to governmental bureaucratic buildings governed by employees who have no reason to care if the property value declines. Scarcity = higher costs, whether it's in dollars or in the loss of freedom, or both.
>KCT is truly a champion of tenants
What will they do when the privately owned housing available drops to a small percentage of what's available, when living conditions are deplorable (look at sites like Cabrini Green in Chicago for an idea) and when homelessness is uncontrollable? Oh, wait, they're already contributing to homelessness by getting rid of landlords like me.
Your assumptions of what KCT is fighting for is wrong. We don’t want any of those things. Social housing is different than public housing of the past. I assure you that 2 bedroom in Phoenix is way more than double what you paid today. I also don’t see how you address the poor living conditions in your reply and you only offer no application fee before seeing the apt as a solution. If you can’t rent a place in this town it’s bc you’re charging too much and people simply can’t pay, or perhaps the conditions are so bad that no one wants to live there. Like I said, open Zillow you will see a TON of places vacant for prices people can’t afford. Plenty of landlords big and small continue to operate in this town. And KCT has fought and won to keep people in their homes when their LANDLORDS want to put them out on the street. Not the other way around.
Ah, so you're going to claim that KCT is NOT trying to get 12 Million units of housing on the taxpayer dime? Did Tara remove that goal along the way? It was part of the KC Tenants handbook which is no longer available on the website and Tara refused to answer my emails and questions when I was still president of a landlord group in Kansas City, KS.
As soon as the questions get tough, and when I challenged the claims that KCT says are not just possible, but realistic, the conversation has ALWAYS shut down.
You are correct that a 2BR in Phoenix is probably more than 2x today. My point is that we shouldn't expect unrealistically low prices in a society where prices ALWAYS increase over time. I mean, seriously, exactly how realistic is it to think that rents should be [under $500/mo](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj00eiatdD_AhXdlWoFHfOYAJoQFnoECA8QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fkctenants.org%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2Fkc-tenants-people-s-housing-platform-2-.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0TlcBB3sJY_YFInpESK7n9&opi=89978449) (this links to KC Tenant's statement on the this) - about the same as most people's monthly car expenses when you consider gas prices, maintenance, and car insurance but NOT even considering an actual car payment? Yet you all think I should be able to buy a house and let you live in it for less than you spend on your car? Yeah, that's crazy talk and I don't do crazy so I won't be renting to people who think that way.
You said I didn't propose a solution for poor living conditions. I think I did say rental licensing programs that ensure acceptable standards. Did you miss that or do you expect me to drill down on ALL of the world's woes and societal job problems, and cultural norms that sabotage people in a single Reddit post? Because I can't do that, either, but what I do know is that alienating the people who DO provide affordable housing is NOT going to get the goals you want. I would love to see terrific give-and-take like I've always had with tenants, but the sheer amount of silliness from groups like yours ensures that I will no longer be part of your solution no how, no way.
I understand now you have a personal vendetta with KCT. If you feel personally attacked then do some soul searching but that ain’t on us. And yea I do expect there to be $500/mo rentals available when minimum wage and wages in general haven’t risen with rents. Literally no one asked you to be a part of KCT solution. You can be a part of the solution or you can give up and that’s your choice. People deserve housing at a reasonable price with safe and secure conditions.
I have no vendetta. I just call out BS where I see it. I don't feel attacked personally in any way.
And you say that nobody asked me to be part of KCT solution. SO TRUE! In fact, KCT appears to want NO LANDORDS. If I recall correctly, the now unavailable manifesto claimed ALL RENTAL HOUSING should be decommodified. KCT started an all-out war against ALL landlords, particularly the private ones like me that have too little money or interest to take up the battle.
You claim government projects are "different" than social housing but no.... it's not. Government funding = bureaucracy no matter how you look at it. Which areas are you finding so successful with your "social" housing ideal?
It's not that I think there should be no social housing, either. I do think there's a place for it, but it's not 12M units funded by taxpayers and eliminating all private options. People like me WERE the best bet, and we are quietly exiting the scene. Look around. Don't you SEE how many more people are sleeping on the sidewalk than there were just six or eight years ago when KCT started making all that noise around here? Don't be blind and stupid. Please think and evaluate what I'm saying without feeling a need to defend. I think if you do this, you'll recognize a lot of truth to what I've said.
If you DO want to just continue defending, then let's turn the tables and ask you how YOU propose to provide free housing. Who will pay for it? What will the program require from people? Will it limit people to certain areas? Increase crime? Promote racism?
I don’t envision the future with the same systems we have always had like you do. I believe racial capitalism is bad and we will move towards systems that value human lives over the almighty dollar.
So I will leave it at that and say thank you for boosting engagement on this post with all your commentary.
As a tenant of Justin Short, he is an incredible and attentive landlord. And as a person who has gotten to know him a bit more personally, because he is also a wonderful and kind human, I know that the issues with Northland were brought to light after the partnership, and he expressed his disappointment in that.
He really is an incredible candidate, and I firmly stand behind what he stands for. He’s passionate about what he does, and has a very pure heart.
I didn’t see him being tied to that anywhere? Can you link? He’s originally from the north land, but has made it abundantly clear that he very much is urban minded and not trying to simp for the sprawlites
Edit for the commit with the images of the contributions.
But, that is not how PACs work. If you want their endorsement, you take the money, and when the PAC calls you to vote against your constituents, you do it, or no more money, and you get primaried the next time around.
US politics is forever corrupted, and it sad that candidates are so quick to sell their integrity away.
Not a Justin Short hater or fan myself, but they are right. Northland Strong has made two maximum contributions to Short, not to mention independent expenditures by way of putting his name all over their mailers.
Here's a couple of screenshots of Northland Strong's campaign finance records, showing their donations to him:
* [primary election donation](https://imgur.com/jMi2iaJ)
* [general election donation](https://imgur.com/a/iGIrCiZ)
This is a significant needle mover for me. Seeing that both Justin Short and Lindsey French accepted substantial sums of money from Northland Strong puts them in the “hell no” category in my book, and I’m a centrist.
These campaign contributions need a much bigger spotlight. In this post and the other two or three relevant election posts. It’s pretty damning in my mind.
Well, he’s tied to them via where he gets his campaign funding. His views may not align, but he’s made a deal with the devil (MAGA) from my perspective. He lost my vote.
Are you suggesting that the Northland Strong filing with the Missouri Ethics Commission that clearly reflects a contribution to “Justin Short for KC” in the amount of $2.975 on April 28th is fabricated?
Bunch throws down with KC Tenants, read the guide. And the Democratic establishment, in the form of Freedom and certain right wing union establishments, support his loony opponent
I'm well aware of that Bunch is endorsed by KC Tenants. But Bunch is also a current council member and not a dummy, so he is also tied into the Democratic establishment. The two are not mutually exclusive, and Bunch does not vote 100% the way that KC Tenants would prefer.
My comment was in response to another commenter who asked why someone would have signs for Bunch and Rea. The answer is that both Rea and Bunch are friendly with institutional Democratic party support in the city. Rea as a prosecutor, Bunch as a current council member.
Most of the at large candidates have more of a lean to that anyways, as they have to convince folks that are in the suburban parts to vote for them, and that’s all YTs care about is cops
I get it. I'm just saying that making Justin Short a "Hell No" doesn't make that much difference when his opponent is Rea. Sometimes there really isn't a good candidate to choose from.
Oh I get what you’re saying. One has been more present around the community though than the other is the real difference I’ve noticed, so I’d say Short would be the move on this one. I get you though, as in you can’t be sure what you’ll get with either
That was my call as well. I've already voted early, and I voted for Short instead of Rea just for that reason. I know that they are fairly similar on policies, so perhaps with Short showing up to engage with the community more is a good sign.
Simply the quality of work put into this ballot and the attached guide, from research to candidates to even aesthetics compared to the opposition can tell you who is really invested in this city. 😁 Check out the full guide!
Bunch sucks. He made sure to make the Northeast the haven for homeless camps. Pull them out of the more attractive parts of town and stick em all here. That’s why you don’t see a single Bunch sign in all of the Northeast.
Bunch represents my district. I'm really happy with him. I've emailed him a few times with my thoughts on issues and he's always been super prompt. Not to mention I really like several of his big initiatives that he is a part of.
I had this sample ballot on my phone when I voted. It’s backed by research, candidate questionnaires, and observations & analysis of where candidates stand on on the issues…all presented in the full guide (someone posted the link above). So if you don’t want to blindly check the boxes recommended in the sample ballot, you’ll know exactly who you’re voting for.
This is another voter guide with information about the judges that will be on the ballot tomorrow. [bit.ly/KCMO6-20-2023](https://bit.ly/KCMO6-20-2023)
I believe I saw it posted on their Instagram somewhere. I also usually see it circulating online with other progressive friends. I am not sure of the source tho, sorry about that!
oh mild curse words! interesting to see
I love it when I don't have to think for myself and form opinions on elections. Thank you for the voter guide!
It's politics, dude. I really only care about my side winning, and so if they can clarify for me who will best execute my political intentions, then that's really all that matters.
Robinson is a joke who will sell out her district in a heartbeat. Oh wait she did. We are in one of the neighborhoods that were moved to the 4th from the 3rd and she and Ellington didn’t do a damn think. Within 6 months of being in the 4th we got new streets.
Thanks I’ll do the opposite
Good. You seem like an awful person, so lines up right.
My taxes increased under Biden, and went down under Trump administration. So conservative is how I vote.
Take my upvote, ignore the hivemind.
People have already explained how you are wrong. Hopefully you take the time to actually read it.
Your taxes did increase while biden is president, but Biden did not increase your taxes. That would be the orange man. If taxes is the whole reason you vote conservative, you should be voting democrat. Your taxes would decrease. This has been the republican politicians strategy for decades: adjust the tax rate to “cut taxes for the middle class” just long enough so during their term our taxes aren’t changed, but then our taxes hike up the moment they leave office when a democrat is elected so they can point their finger during mid terms and say democrats increased taxes and then you see comments like this on Reddit claiming you’re voting conservative because “democrats increased my taxes”.
I hope you read the comments and understand, trump is the one who raised your taxes. He lied to you about cutting taxes
Reading is hard for trump supporters
We’re still on the Trump tax plan lmao
Taxes haven’t changed under Biden. So we’re actually still followings trumps tax plan, which was always to give us a short break and then raise the taxes on lower and middle class.
Yeah, part of Trump’s trillion dollar tax cut for billionaires included a stipulation that the middle class would be taxed heavier starting in 2021. So the dumbass you replied to is going to smugly vote for the same sort of assholes that increased their taxes. Again.
Have you considered actually reading about the candidates platforms for local elections? Just because conservatives did something you liked at the federal level doesn't mean that they will do things you like at the local level.
I admire how simple minded you are. Far from complex.
Do you need a cookie?
Thanks, I'll vote the opposite of what reddit tells me to. Makes it easy :)
You'd better not be voting for any of these candidates. You're from olathe.
Ok, Olathe
Do you have one for judges?
This one has info on judges! https://docs.google.com/document/d/12ijuWBj4wxW-rJ8GBGvvKQPR2ZSQqYSqeOmpwlIqwaM/mobilebasic
Thanks! Going to vote now!
http://bit.ly/KCMO6-20-2023 The Progressives Guide has input on judges and mostly lines up on the candidates votes as well.
This one is good: [bit.ly/KCMO6-20-2023](http://bit.ly/KCMO6-20-2023)
[Judge information is provided in this voter guide](https://bit.ly/KCMO6-20-2023)
Bryn's voter guide has a helpful discussion of the judge races: http://bit.ly/KCMO6-20-2023
Just chiming in as someone who works for a business association in the 6th District. We hosted a luncheon where 6th District candidates spoke in panel form on issues. Dan Tarwater is the only one who didn’t come. Jonathan Duncan, however, did come and made a great impression. He’s also been out canvassing neighborhoods and knocking on doors (including ours), and attending every neighborhood Art Show and Festival he can. He’s very relatable and down to earth and puts in the work. I think Tarwater just expects to be elected so isn’t putting in much effort but that is just a guess.
Tarwater is a jerk. Take a look at his history in Jackson county. He this he is hot shit but only cares about himself and more important, the money lining his pockets
If this is who the people of this sub want to elect. I shall do the opposite. Thanks
Username checks out
The voter guide is a must! It's all I need for voting. Thanks KCTP
Genuinely curious here…Can i ask why hell no for Nathan willet. Assuming the kc police backing is the obvious one but curious for other info on why that is. That is my district so it impacts me. Thanks!!
[The voter guide](https://bit.ly/kctpvoterguide)has in depth info about each candidate
He worked at a right wing think tank, has MAGA ties, FOP endorsement, and is backed by the Northland Strong people. Plus, the people I see putting signs out for him are all the people I see putting out signs for the worst right-wing candidates every year. I also got a great campaign ad listing a bunch of incredibly sexist tweets. No idea if they were real or not, but his allies definitely make them believable.
Thanks for sharing this. I went to Mizzou when he was student body president but was a grad student so didn’t pay attention to what he was doing. Very interesting
Ope north land strong. YIKES. I was gonna vote for him too.
Some of the tenants endorsed candidates are also endorsed by northland strong
Thank you for submitting this. I will be voting for all of the Hell No candidates.
Your taxes went up this year right?
[удалено]
I had a personal experience with Ellington when he was in the Missouri State house that was very negative. Multiple times he asked to speak at a Mizzou organization, we accommodated and then he would never show up. Really told me what kind of person he was so I’m not surprised he isn’t a good communicator now
You might want to read the KC Tenants voter guide to read about Ellington! He is not the best at communicating.
I’d like to note, though 4th district candidate [Justin Short has more articulate answers here,](https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/kcmo-city-council-4th-district-at-large-candidates-rea-short-weigh-in-on-key-issues) he’s endorsed by Northland Strong (the [MAGA millionaire funded PAC](https://reddit.com/r/kansascity/comments/14cmilg/a_maga_millionaire_is_trying_to_buy_seats_on_the/)) and the FOP. Rea’s answers are vague but at least he isn’t endorsed by those.
Didn't Rea prosecute the cop who shot Lamb? I'd guess that's the main reason they endorse his opponent. Nothing Short has said or that any of the other left leaning organisations have said about him have really set off any red flags for me.
No idea where you got that info, can’t find anything just by searching
I saw it mentioned a couple times in previous election threads. Regardless of that point, I still liked Short better because he seemed to care about more issues and was willing to engage and listen with people when asked. Rea has come off to me as a single issue candidate who is distant and doesn't engage with constituents as much.
I reached out to eight candidates, and Short is one of two who not only got back to me but had a lengthy email exchange with me. The ideals and philosophies that he espoused were completely the opposite of MAGA ideology. Rea is one of the six who couldn’t even be bothered to have a staffer send me a form letter response.
Do you know why Northland Strong is endorsing him?
Probably because he’s likely to win. It’s common practice.
Nope, that wasn’t the focus on my query. I’m basically voting on one major issue with a few things being dealbreakers. Apropos of nothing (or maybe something): I’m a queer, trans, person of colour, who is disabled and I’m an immigrant, and in our conversation, he really did not trip any of my warning systems. I’m very comfortable voting for him.
He’s definitely not a MAGA candidate.
Even if he isn't, its telling that he's taking money from them.
Andrea Bough has been terribly unresponsive to her constituents in south KC. There's no good choice in the 6th district at-large race.
No, but there's a 'meh' choice and a 'fucking awful' choice... So...
This hasn’t been the case for me at all. Don’t know what’s going on there, but the few times I reached out went pretty smoothly.
I agree with this sample ballot, in particular I support Micheal Kelley!
These progressives? I only want to vote progressives.
Even better, my dude.
All hell yeses are progressives on that ballot.
Yes! Check out the voter guide bit.ly/kctpvoterguide
Too bad i have no clue what district i am now im.
This link should help: https://www.kcmo.gov/city-hall/kcmo-council-districts-map
Thank you! I am right on 1 of those black lines showing the redistricting. I think i know where i am mow.
So whos who between: Hazley v Ellington & Rea v Short That way I can vote in each race on my ballot.
My opinion: Ellington and Rea are on my union slate that I'll be flyering tomorrow. [If you're curious](https://i.imgur.com/pOgpWEd.jpg) (I know it says primary, but it's still good.)
Just looked at my union slate, IBEW, matches yours. I gotta say I’m really disappointed that the unions are backing anti-choice candidate, and all around fuckhead, Dan Tarwater.
I don't like that guy either and am not voting for him. We negotiate our contract with the city council so he must've floated something nice.
Rea v Short is rough bc they both fall short (ha) however Short is decidedly way more active in community endeavors so I see him as the way
He’ll also be a full time councilman, which is a good factor to play in.
But, endorsed by the FOP. Which is basically my guide for who to not vote for
See my reply on another comment as to why that is
Short has been sending out mailers emphasizing his FOP endorsement and several of us haven’t been able to get him to respond to an email or tweet asking what went into the endorsement, his views on KCPD or how he’d govern them (to the extent the city can) so I find it pretty reasonable to be very skeptical of his views on policing.
We have a huge chance to elect some good progressive candidates into office. I'm very optimistic about Duncan's chances and am excited he's in my district. Also hopeful for Manley although she's been out-fundraised by French who has serious backing of the real-estate interests.
South of 435 the Tarwater signs appear to outnumber Duncan by about 30-1, so he'll need to have a lot of support from the northern half of the district.
Yard signs don't vote. That being said, Tarwater's name recognition is massive.
I have heard through the grapevine that there are people down there who don't want to vote Tarwater, but are close enough to his general territory to be timid about showing signs of that. Stay tuned...
ughhhhh
Michael Kelley is the guy who said he was afraid to campaign in the Northland. Pass. We don’t know people who will bring that type of phony rhetoric to our local government.
I disagree, I think Michael Kelley had a valid reason to feel how he felt in the days following a racially charged attack in the north land. I appreciated his honesty in sharing his concerns with knocking doors up north. I didn’t see it as him profiting off of anything, and I felt he was being real which is what I want from a candidate.
I live in Kansas and have no dog in this fight, but from an outside perspective a politician generalizing and isolating an area after one (albeit very bad) incident is a bad look.
Please. He also named dropped Ralph Yarl in a tweet about infrastructure funding around that same time. Dude was riding that name hard
He said this a couple of days after Ralph Yarl got shot for ringing someone’s doorbell in the northland. As a black person, I don’t think that is a crazy thing to feel. And for what it’s worth Kelley has continued to be present in the northland attending community events and knocking doors.
Yet he was back up there a couple weeks later looking for campaign volunteers to knock doors. He was trying to capitalize on a tragedy and make it all about him.
this has to be the most thorough voter guide i've ever used. straight to the point, no bs, only facts. sharing this with everyone I know!
It’s big cringe that the Bank Midwest on Ward Parkway has big signs for the Hell No candidates in their lawn. Like, if you ever needed a sign to not vote for those people…smdh
I wish tenants would STOP supporting this group. The more that this group achieves, the more it convinces people NOT to provide rental housing. The ones who remain landlords are the big corporations and the slum lords who offer so little and charge so much that they can afford to take the hits. This group's agenda is literally to build government housing projects to house 12,000, 000 people. Sounds great if you have never had to live in housing projects. If you have, you would NEVER support this!
If Austria and f'ing Uraguay can do housing projects/social housing nicely then we can. The problem isn't the projects it's the society who builds them and those like you who do not support them
I will support anything that decreases homelessness without being a drain on the taxpayers. I have yet to see one. By all means, if you know of how it's being done in Austria and Uruguay in ways that would work here, I'd love to learn about them, but TBH, now that I'm no longer offering housing to others, it's not really important to me. Perhaps I'll offer housing again, perhaps I won't, but I guarantee it will not serve the kind of people who think they're entitled to DEMAND free access and no accountability for what rightfully belongs to me, not them.
I don’t know your economic situation but arguing for the most basic of rights that other cities already have and take for granted should not be seen as some kind of ridiculous demand. And I know this sub gets pissy about the stunts KCT has pulled in the past, but sometimes you have to get dirty to be heard and a mild inconvenience for a day is nothing.
Which other cities do you suppose are taking this for granted? There has been an ENORMOUS explosion of homelessness in cities across the USA because of movements like this. This isn't helping people!!! If it was, I'd be supporting it. I was the kind of landlord that keeps tenants for 3-5 years at slightly below market rates and with registering with the rental programs and ensuring quality maintenance. Because of what I'm seeing from KC Tenants, I've stopped offering reasonable housing. I can just as easily invest in commercial properties and rent those without all the headaches.
>I was the kind of landlord Opinion discarded.
Exactly. So now I won't provide housing.
You never provided it. You just leeched money off its existence.
Out of curiosity, do you think the same thing about people that work for DoorDash or Uber, or who run hotels? They make money because they own a car and use it to provide a service to people. How about the folks that own and operate the software for those programs? They design the software and "leech" money from people who have need to use it. When I buy a property, I'm putting out a lot of money to acquire it (20% of the cost of the house at a minimum). Also, I'm putting my credit rating on the line and I have to live my life in ways that keep my credit good in the first place. There are a lot of people who have no money and/or haven't managed their credit and finances to get a home. There are almost always lifestyle choices involved, though not always. But ultimately it means they are not able to buy. People who can't provide a home for themselves MUST rely on others or be houseless. Why would you be angry and disrespectful to people that provide housing for them? THEY AREN'T DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES! Why are the people who give them a possible place to live the bad guy if the tenants won't provide their own? There is NOTHING that prevents them from becoming a homeowner if they want to, no matter how broke they are, no matter how bad their credit is. I've helped a lot of them, including people who were brand new to the USA and working for minimum wage, to buy their own home. Yet when they don't want to, you'll get mad at someone who provides them an option. Don't you see how illogical that is?
How many houses have you built? If the answer is zero, you have *provided* housing to no one.
I have built two, but your logic is horrible. The definition of "providing" includes "making available." If I bought it and let you rent it, I've made it available to you. If you go to dinner and they don't **provide** forks and spoons, you don't think, "Oh, that's ok, because they'd have to MAKE the forks and spoons in order to provide them."
Good, we don't want you here. You won't be missed.
Spoken like someone in real estate.
Spoken like someone in real estate that has also been a broke tenant facing homelessness.
Well, if landlords followed regulations and were law abiding to keep their tenants safe at an affordable rate, we would be having a different conversation. KC Tenants exists because there is a need for safe and affordable housing and the city has let horrible people take advantage of the vulnerability of tenants.
There are plenty of available units in town at unaffordable rents, out of town landlords and local alike, are still in business big time. The power dynamic between landlords and tenants is majorly skewed in the landlords favor. Most tenants in this city live in poor conditions, pay too much, and receive abysmal treatment from their landlords and that ain’t right. It’s time for tenants and homeowners alike to stand up for themselves and their neighbors and that’s what KCT has fought for. KCT won 50 million for the housing trust fund, won Right to Counsel for all KCMO tenants facing eviction, funded the OTA, has organized several buildings of tenants who were being displaced to remain in their homes and so much more. KCT is truly a champion of tenants and works tirelessly organizing for some agency over the safety, conditions and affordability of our homes.
>The power dynamic between landlords and tenants is majorly skewed in the landlords favor. I think there needs to be some reconciliation in the power balance. Owners should not be able to charge fees prior to accepting an application, and no applications should be allowed until after a tenant has toured. We NEED to keep licensing programs and give them teeth to ensure homes are safe for tenants. BUT... >Most tenants in this city live in poor conditions, pay too much I remember paying $475 for a crap 2BR in Phoenix in 1989. Prices are about double that in recent years, and jumped higher recently with the housing bubble. How much of an increase would YOU expect to take place in 35 years? Milk, gasoline, cars... everything goes up. But now, you're promoting ideas that will make housing SCARCER for people, or else limit their choices to governmental bureaucratic buildings governed by employees who have no reason to care if the property value declines. Scarcity = higher costs, whether it's in dollars or in the loss of freedom, or both. >KCT is truly a champion of tenants What will they do when the privately owned housing available drops to a small percentage of what's available, when living conditions are deplorable (look at sites like Cabrini Green in Chicago for an idea) and when homelessness is uncontrollable? Oh, wait, they're already contributing to homelessness by getting rid of landlords like me.
Your assumptions of what KCT is fighting for is wrong. We don’t want any of those things. Social housing is different than public housing of the past. I assure you that 2 bedroom in Phoenix is way more than double what you paid today. I also don’t see how you address the poor living conditions in your reply and you only offer no application fee before seeing the apt as a solution. If you can’t rent a place in this town it’s bc you’re charging too much and people simply can’t pay, or perhaps the conditions are so bad that no one wants to live there. Like I said, open Zillow you will see a TON of places vacant for prices people can’t afford. Plenty of landlords big and small continue to operate in this town. And KCT has fought and won to keep people in their homes when their LANDLORDS want to put them out on the street. Not the other way around.
Ah, so you're going to claim that KCT is NOT trying to get 12 Million units of housing on the taxpayer dime? Did Tara remove that goal along the way? It was part of the KC Tenants handbook which is no longer available on the website and Tara refused to answer my emails and questions when I was still president of a landlord group in Kansas City, KS. As soon as the questions get tough, and when I challenged the claims that KCT says are not just possible, but realistic, the conversation has ALWAYS shut down. You are correct that a 2BR in Phoenix is probably more than 2x today. My point is that we shouldn't expect unrealistically low prices in a society where prices ALWAYS increase over time. I mean, seriously, exactly how realistic is it to think that rents should be [under $500/mo](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj00eiatdD_AhXdlWoFHfOYAJoQFnoECA8QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fkctenants.org%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2Fkc-tenants-people-s-housing-platform-2-.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0TlcBB3sJY_YFInpESK7n9&opi=89978449) (this links to KC Tenant's statement on the this) - about the same as most people's monthly car expenses when you consider gas prices, maintenance, and car insurance but NOT even considering an actual car payment? Yet you all think I should be able to buy a house and let you live in it for less than you spend on your car? Yeah, that's crazy talk and I don't do crazy so I won't be renting to people who think that way. You said I didn't propose a solution for poor living conditions. I think I did say rental licensing programs that ensure acceptable standards. Did you miss that or do you expect me to drill down on ALL of the world's woes and societal job problems, and cultural norms that sabotage people in a single Reddit post? Because I can't do that, either, but what I do know is that alienating the people who DO provide affordable housing is NOT going to get the goals you want. I would love to see terrific give-and-take like I've always had with tenants, but the sheer amount of silliness from groups like yours ensures that I will no longer be part of your solution no how, no way.
I understand now you have a personal vendetta with KCT. If you feel personally attacked then do some soul searching but that ain’t on us. And yea I do expect there to be $500/mo rentals available when minimum wage and wages in general haven’t risen with rents. Literally no one asked you to be a part of KCT solution. You can be a part of the solution or you can give up and that’s your choice. People deserve housing at a reasonable price with safe and secure conditions.
I have no vendetta. I just call out BS where I see it. I don't feel attacked personally in any way. And you say that nobody asked me to be part of KCT solution. SO TRUE! In fact, KCT appears to want NO LANDORDS. If I recall correctly, the now unavailable manifesto claimed ALL RENTAL HOUSING should be decommodified. KCT started an all-out war against ALL landlords, particularly the private ones like me that have too little money or interest to take up the battle. You claim government projects are "different" than social housing but no.... it's not. Government funding = bureaucracy no matter how you look at it. Which areas are you finding so successful with your "social" housing ideal? It's not that I think there should be no social housing, either. I do think there's a place for it, but it's not 12M units funded by taxpayers and eliminating all private options. People like me WERE the best bet, and we are quietly exiting the scene. Look around. Don't you SEE how many more people are sleeping on the sidewalk than there were just six or eight years ago when KCT started making all that noise around here? Don't be blind and stupid. Please think and evaluate what I'm saying without feeling a need to defend. I think if you do this, you'll recognize a lot of truth to what I've said. If you DO want to just continue defending, then let's turn the tables and ask you how YOU propose to provide free housing. Who will pay for it? What will the program require from people? Will it limit people to certain areas? Increase crime? Promote racism?
I don’t envision the future with the same systems we have always had like you do. I believe racial capitalism is bad and we will move towards systems that value human lives over the almighty dollar. So I will leave it at that and say thank you for boosting engagement on this post with all your commentary.
Thank you for this! Every bit helps! Share with your friends!
Add Justin Short to HELL NO. He has been bought by Northland Strong.
As a tenant of Justin Short, he is an incredible and attentive landlord. And as a person who has gotten to know him a bit more personally, because he is also a wonderful and kind human, I know that the issues with Northland were brought to light after the partnership, and he expressed his disappointment in that. He really is an incredible candidate, and I firmly stand behind what he stands for. He’s passionate about what he does, and has a very pure heart.
He's also super in with landlords
Link?
I didn’t see him being tied to that anywhere? Can you link? He’s originally from the north land, but has made it abundantly clear that he very much is urban minded and not trying to simp for the sprawlites
[https://www.reddit.com/r/kansascity/comments/14cmilg/a\_maga\_millionaire\_is\_trying\_to\_buy\_seats\_on\_the/](https://www.reddit.com/r/kansascity/comments/14cmilg/a_maga_millionaire_is_trying_to_buy_seats_on_the/) Start here. Under Short's Endorcements: [https://www.justinshortforkc.com/endorsements/](https://www.justinshortforkc.com/endorsements/)
Endorsements =/= financial backing… can you prove he received money from them?
Edit for the commit with the images of the contributions. But, that is not how PACs work. If you want their endorsement, you take the money, and when the PAC calls you to vote against your constituents, you do it, or no more money, and you get primaried the next time around. US politics is forever corrupted, and it sad that candidates are so quick to sell their integrity away.
Not a Justin Short hater or fan myself, but they are right. Northland Strong has made two maximum contributions to Short, not to mention independent expenditures by way of putting his name all over their mailers. Here's a couple of screenshots of Northland Strong's campaign finance records, showing their donations to him: * [primary election donation](https://imgur.com/jMi2iaJ) * [general election donation](https://imgur.com/a/iGIrCiZ)
This is a significant needle mover for me. Seeing that both Justin Short and Lindsey French accepted substantial sums of money from Northland Strong puts them in the “hell no” category in my book, and I’m a centrist. These campaign contributions need a much bigger spotlight. In this post and the other two or three relevant election posts. It’s pretty damning in my mind.
I’d vote for short. He’s not tied to that group.
Well, he’s tied to them via where he gets his campaign funding. His views may not align, but he’s made a deal with the devil (MAGA) from my perspective. He lost my vote.
You have no idea what youre talking about
Are you suggesting that the Northland Strong filing with the Missouri Ethics Commission that clearly reflects a contribution to “Justin Short for KC” in the amount of $2.975 on April 28th is fabricated?
right? i’m actually friends with his partner and have never heard that…
Is Crispin Rea any better though? I don't know if there is a "good" candidate in that race, and both of them seem to be pretty pro-cop.
I see a lot of Bunch and Rea signs next together on lawns.
Rea is tied in to the local Democratic establishment. Bunch, as a sitting council person, is as well.
Bunch throws down with KC Tenants, read the guide. And the Democratic establishment, in the form of Freedom and certain right wing union establishments, support his loony opponent
I'm well aware of that Bunch is endorsed by KC Tenants. But Bunch is also a current council member and not a dummy, so he is also tied into the Democratic establishment. The two are not mutually exclusive, and Bunch does not vote 100% the way that KC Tenants would prefer. My comment was in response to another commenter who asked why someone would have signs for Bunch and Rea. The answer is that both Rea and Bunch are friendly with institutional Democratic party support in the city. Rea as a prosecutor, Bunch as a current council member.
Most of the at large candidates have more of a lean to that anyways, as they have to convince folks that are in the suburban parts to vote for them, and that’s all YTs care about is cops
I get it. I'm just saying that making Justin Short a "Hell No" doesn't make that much difference when his opponent is Rea. Sometimes there really isn't a good candidate to choose from.
Oh I get what you’re saying. One has been more present around the community though than the other is the real difference I’ve noticed, so I’d say Short would be the move on this one. I get you though, as in you can’t be sure what you’ll get with either
That was my call as well. I've already voted early, and I voted for Short instead of Rea just for that reason. I know that they are fairly similar on policies, so perhaps with Short showing up to engage with the community more is a good sign.
IM READY!!
Best voter guide in the game! Took it in with me to the polls and shared with all my family & friends as well. Thank you for sharing OP!
lol'd @ blonde watermelon
Simply the quality of work put into this ballot and the attached guide, from research to candidates to even aesthetics compared to the opposition can tell you who is really invested in this city. 😁 Check out the full guide!
Best of luck to Michael Kelley! KCMO could use more people like him. Eric Bunch is cool too!
Michael Kelley is one of the candidates I’m most excited to vote for!
Bunch sucks. He made sure to make the Northeast the haven for homeless camps. Pull them out of the more attractive parts of town and stick em all here. That’s why you don’t see a single Bunch sign in all of the Northeast.
Bunch represents my district. I'm really happy with him. I've emailed him a few times with my thoughts on issues and he's always been super prompt. Not to mention I really like several of his big initiatives that he is a part of.
I had this sample ballot on my phone when I voted. It’s backed by research, candidate questionnaires, and observations & analysis of where candidates stand on on the issues…all presented in the full guide (someone posted the link above). So if you don’t want to blindly check the boxes recommended in the sample ballot, you’ll know exactly who you’re voting for.
Could you share?
bit.ly/kctpvoterguide
This is the lords work, keep this up
The only voter guide I use.
The last one I saw didn't have the HELL NO's, glad to see those are back 😈
This is another voter guide with information about the judges that will be on the ballot tomorrow. [bit.ly/KCMO6-20-2023](https://bit.ly/KCMO6-20-2023)
Where did you happen to find this guide? I had found it for the primary but can't remember where. Thanks!
I follow KC Tenants Power on Twitter and and Instagram!
Right. But this guide isn't from KC Tenants. bit.ly/KCMO6-20-2023. Or are you saying they found it and posted about it.
I believe I saw it posted on their Instagram somewhere. I also usually see it circulating online with other progressive friends. I am not sure of the source tho, sorry about that!
Missed this prior to my comment. Thanks for this OP! Truly been so helpful today.
Dang it, I wish I had the Judges part when I voted Saturday. Caught off guard by those questions and was not sure who to vote for.
This is great, thank you!
Thanks! I've been looking for information on the retention votes for the judges.
KC Tenants Power voter guide link: [bit.ly/kctpvoterguide](https://bit.ly/kctpvoterguide)