This ol' newsy dog remembers the old days well. When another Historic Northeast neighborhood group asked a neighboring association for support on an important issue, you knew, as a neighborhood association president, that their support was there. Top to bottom, side to side, no wavering.

But apparently, the Save Thacher School movement was a little beyond the grasp of some civic and neighborhood groups. This begs the question from this news-pooch: Why? The only neighborhood groups who stood with the Save Thacher Save Our Schools group were Pendleton Heights, Indian Mound and Sheffield. Even the Historic Kansas City Foundation lent strong support to the effort.

If you’re noticing some glaring absences from that list, you’re not alone. Topping the list of Thacher non-supporters were Scarritt Renaissance and the Northeast Kansas City Historical Society. That leaves this lil' doggie scratchin' her long-eared head. With the support of these two heavyweights, maybe the Save Thacher committee would have brought some major league gravitas and swagger to the bargaining table when influencing the school district’s re-purposing committee to preserve an iconic and integral part of Northeast’s historical fabric. As we’ve noted before, repurposing in the school district’s eyes is akin to demolition. This doggie believes that a strong show of unified support shows such governmental agencies that communities won’t be bullied.

Sadly, however, that unified show of support, or lack thereof, transfers over from the apathy seen at the ballot box. A paltry 12 percent showing after last week’s primary election shows a stark lack of engagement on behalf of the community. Government entities tend to not bully an engaged electorate. This news-dog thinks it’s time to put personalities aside when such key issues require a strong show of unified support. This pooch also thinks that voter turnout must increase exponentially, as well. Standing together on important core issues builds community engagement and sends a strong message to elected officials, as does voter participation. To those who stepped up when history called, this doggie sends a high five paw slap. To those who didn’t, maybe it’s time to rethink your core purpose and mission.