October 10, 2012

Last week’s stoplight conversion along St. John Avenue sure didn’t score any points for city government – and rightfully so. The city’s Traffic Engineering Department arrogantly tried to pull an end-around on neighborhoods when they foolishly applied some federal standard for traffic count at controlled intersections to justify the removal of traffic signals at key intersections and replace them with stop signs.

The backlash wasn’t just limited to Historic Northeast, no siree. Neighborhoods throughout Kansas City’s urban core were impacted by the sudden and arbitrary change. Interestingly, no suburban neighborhoods were impacted.  We won’t speculate as to why, but this news-pooch would like to offer up some advice for anyone thinking of becoming involved in neighborhood planning or collaboration with city government. Don’t naively believe this city does anything collaboratively. Such thoughts are foolish and dangerous.

The ongoing stoplight debacle should prove that the city is nothing but bullying bureaucrats who know more than you and go to great lengths to prove it. Again, sit down, be quiet and take your medicine.