Northeast News
May 11, 2016

Recently, in grand fashion, City Manager Troy Schulte along with Councilmen Jermaine Reed and Quinton Lucas announced some big funding dreams for the 18th and Vince District.

Twenty-seven million dreams in fact, with a private leverage of $12 million – bringing the project total to the $39 million range. Big dreams require big money, you know. We’ll not get in to how these funds will be repaid, if at all, or how these big money dreams will be achieved given there’s no strategic plan. This dog has been told that not only was there still quite a bit of dialogue to be had in regard to direction, but there was no plan in place for any of it, including the “Buck” O’Neil Education Center.

Wait, what? No plan? “We don’t even know what we’re going to do with this facility,” I believe were the exact words.

Additionally, this dog has learned that other museums in town have already sidled up with their hand out, fishing for city funds, specifically the Mattie Rhodes Center’s ask for $10-12 million. We wonder what other non-profits are lining up at the city’s treasure chest for potential funding given the precedent that’s already been set with the 18th & Vine rollout.

The dog is hopeful that when the time comes for the Kansas City Museum to start their project in 2017, the city will respond in due course with the proper funding without raising the MIL Levy, as City Manager Schulte indicated at the 18th and Vine rollout. The Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall is the region’s only facility tasked with the archiving and display of the region’s history. Additionally, being a city-owned and managed facility, it should be at the top of the priority list when funding requests are evaluated. Relegating said facility to the use of PIAC requests and MIL Levy expansions demeans not only the cause and mission of the Museum, but also takes funds from other taxpayer initiated projects such as streetlights, sidewalks and other infrastructure improvements. This dog, however, fears Pandora’s Box has already been opened.