Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
June 20, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Before the recent primary election, the Northeast News sent a questionnaire to the candidates running for Kansas City City Council.

With the general election this Tuesday, June 23, here again are the questions and responses from the candidates running for the Third and Fourth District seats who responded to the questionnaire.

First question: The Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department assumed management responsibilities of the Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall. Recent estimates of what it will cost to bring Corinthian Hall back to full usage range upward to $20 million. How will you help make the Kansas City Museum a vital community resource?

Jermaine Reed, incumbent running for Third District, In-District: The Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall has been a treasure to the people of Kansas City for many years. The historic facility is in desperate need of repair due in part to changes in management and the age of the structure. The city is committed to revitalizing the superlative structure; however, it will take time to renovate this historic structure that was originally built in 1910.

The Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department, after retaining management of the facility, appointed an Executive Director to oversee the operations. The executive director has extensive experience in managing museums and a passion for Corinthian Hall.

The city has invested over $10 million into renovating the facility. Public and private partnerships are necessary to restore Corinthian Hall to its former glory. These partnerships include, not only fundraising activities; but also expanding community use and making the facility a central point of civic engagement.

Under the leadership of the Executive Director and the Kansas City’s Parks and Recreation Department, the building is being renovated and I support the implementation of activities that encourage community engagement and the Museum being a vital part of the community. In addition, I will vigorously advocate on behalf of the renovation efforts with leaders in the private sector to partner with the Kansas City Museum to make it once again a focal point in our city and a showcase of our rich history.

John Fierro,running for Fourth District, In-district: I will make the Kansas City Museum a vital community resource by helping to leverage resources (private/public) and by bringing together the residents, community businesses, various organizations, programs and events that fulfills its mission to preserve local area history. I see one immediate opportunity that aligns with the need for more youth programming as identified in both Quality of Life Plans developed by Scarritt Renaissance and Indian Mound neighborhoods – utilize the Museum as an educational tool for our youth.

I would like to jointly determine — with input from the neighborhood, Kansas City Public Schools, area charter and parochial schools, area universities and existing museums — how the Kansas City Museum can be used to help youth develop the core skills of critical thinking, synthesizing information, ability to innovate and think creatively, and collaboration.

Jolie Justus, running for Fourth District, In-District: The Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall is integral to the structure and fabric of the Northeast and a cornerstone of our city. I will work with neighborhood leaders and public and private stakeholders to secure funding and implement strategies to ensure that Corinthian Hall continues to serve as a vital community resource for generations to come.

Katheryn Shields, running for Fourth District, At-large: Corinthian Hall is the center piece of a vibrant, exciting Northeast community. Needed funds to renovate the facility could be generated through public financing. One million dollars a year is designated for the support of Corinthian Hall and the Kansas City Museum. Using a portion of these funds as annual debt payment, the city could issue bonds to make significant improvements to the property. But, we also need an infusion of philanthropic and private monies. When elected, I would work with private entities to create broader community support of this Northeast treasure.

Quinton Lucas, running for Third District, At-large: For my entire life, the Kansas City Museum has been a vital resource in our community and an important part of my own education. It’s up to all of us as neighbors, elected officials, businesspeople, and beyond, to ensure the museum is a resource for future generations. As part of that, I would work with the Parks and Recreation Department to enhance the marketing of the museum. In a number of areas in our city, community centers have been used to host events for groups of different ages, including dances and other activities for senior citizens, to present speakers, and as a meeting place for city meetings, such as the recent budget meeting at Southeast Community Center. I would encourage the city to work with Kansas City Museum staff to increase the foot traffic coming into the museum through such events on a regular basis. I also would direct funding where possible, to the Kansas City Museum and other historically significant community assets in the city, for full preservation, rather than the tear down and construction of entirely new structures seen with other Parks and Recreation Department assets throughout the city.

Second question: There is a perception in Kansas City that the Northeast is an area not to be traveled to because of crime and blight. What will you do to help change that perception?

Fierro: Just as I have done as former Park Board President and as CEO of Mattie Rhodes Center, I will advocate actively for the Northeast to be included, and benefit from, in all discussions relating to the distribution of resources towards capital improvements and quality of life issues such as crime prevention, youth development, education and health. I will work with the community and engage the private sector, not for profit community, the City Council, the City Manager and the Mayor to find solutions for current community issues: code violations, gang activity, lack of investment for economic development and safety related to stray dogs and snakes. I will help to identify and place Northeast residents and business owners on various public/private boards [of directors] that offer resources for the Northeast. I will partner with existing programs and organizations that support minor home repair, new housing, economic development and youth development to leverage resources to increase the availability in Northeast of jobs, safe and affordable housing, financing for business start-ups and out-of-school programs for our children. Finally, I will be accessible to the Northeast community and rely on them to guide my advocacy efforts towards the long-term betterment of our area.

Reed: The Northeast Neighborhood contains some of the most historic treasures in our city. Unfortunately, crime and blight exist throughout the Third District. I would support the neighborhoods, community improvement districts and community groups in obtaining funding through the Public Improvement Advisory Committee (PIAC) and Neighborhood, Tourism and Development Funds. PIAC funding allows residents to suggest infrastructure improvements and projects that can assist in installing public safety devises to detour crime and address blight.

The Neighborhood Tourism and Development Fund will support activities to promote the Northeast neighborhoods and encourage people from surrounding communities, cities and states to participate in these activities. The Northeast is enriched with diverse cultures. Highlight and promoting the neighborhoods and the cultures can be benefit to the community.
In addition, crime is an issue that cannot be ignored. I am supportive of community policing efforts and implementing measures to deter crime due to unemployment, homelessness, mental illness, in addition to exploring new ways to deal with repeat offenders. I also support changing how the police deal with citizens on an everyday basis. I am a proponent of more walking and bike patrols in certain areas so our officers can more readily interact with business owners and residents to build relationships and listen to their concerns. Through the newly established CID and neighbors, we can make these things a reality. I believe the business districts in the Northeast corridor would be an ideal place to implement this type of policing.

Shields: I believe that we need to stop buying into this misperception ourselves. The Northeast neighborhoods are beautiful and vibrant and wonderful places to live and work. That said, there are many things that a councilperson working with neighborhoods can do to impact crime and blight.

First, I would support the adoption and implementation of “Parcel to Parcel” linkage. Currently, the city is investing $40 million in a totally new housing development north of Kansas City International Airport. The current Fourth District council members should have insisted that the grant of $40 million to a private Northland developer be contingent on a commitment by the developer to renovate existing housing in the city’s historic neighborhoods. Imagine the impact that could have had in the Northeast. When elected, I will champion this type of linkage and make sure it takes place.

We also need to address abandoned buildings. Some buildings need to be saved. For example, during my prior tenure on the City Council, I worked to insure that the deserted Osteopathic Hospital developed a new life as a satellite center for various city services. This brought needed jobs and people to an important Northeast entry point. Also, we need an infusion of both public and private money to fund the demolition of buildings that are beyond saving. Kissick Construction recently demolished 10 buildings at no cost to the city. I have a long standing relationship with the Heavy Contractors Association, and I will work with them to stimulate this type of private contractor action.

Enforcing existing codes against weeds and dumping is critical. But in addition, I would put vacant lots to use. I would encourage the planting of gardens and orchards. As executive director of Westside Housing, I worked with JaCo Land Trust to identify vacant parcels, and then worked with neighborhood leaders to plant gardens/orchards. I also sponsored the painting of murals on walls covered with graffiti. Two of these major art projects are in the Northeast. I generated the philanthropic dollars to fund these projects. We need to allocate city money wisely, but we also need to generate private dollars.

Justus: I will build on recent successes, such as the CID, and push for neighborhood-based economic development in the Northeast. During my eight years in the state senate, I passed laws to move quickly on nuisance properties and get smart on crime. I will use that expertise and my relationships with state and federal lawmakers to create even better tools to clean-up abandoned properties, responsibly reduce crime and get people back to work.

Lucas: I have visited with a number of business people and families in the Northeast area and discussed the perception issue. I think the easiest way to address the perception is to continue to support investment in our community through targeted tax incentives, particularly for those going to support small businesses in historic structures, continued and enhanced upkeep of basic city services, such as streets and sidewalks, and basic development that will foster growth in the Northeast. As people experience the Northeast, do business in the Northeast, and see what life is like each day for the many residents living there, they will see that it is not a zone to be feared. I struggle often with that same issue in my own area off of 19th and Paseo, but have seen that we cannot simply release a public service announcement, but instead show the type of community we have by exposing them to the life, business, and family interactions seen where we live each day. I think the Northeast has actually done a superior job of that and I hope to be part of that message in the future.