Micah Wilkins
Northeast News
Aug. 5, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Applause and cheers filled the watch party around 9:30 on Tuesday night  as people crowded around TVs and cell phone screens. The election results were coming in, and it quickly became clear to the crowd, even with just 90 percent of the results in, that the streetcar project was not going forward.

About 30 opponents to the streetcar project gathered at the Gates location on Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard to watch the results come in, including Jean Rosenthal, a South Plaza resident.

“I live 50 yards from where the streetcar would come,” Rosenthal said. “My objection to the streetcar is how it’s being funded. This is not going to address transportation needs.”

Financial concerns were also what brought another streetcar opponent, Rob Ryan, out to the watch party.

“Kansas City has greater needs to resolve before we spend money on the streetcar,” Ryan said.

Spike Nguyen, a Northeast business owner  who owns iPho Tower which is set to re-open next week, was excited and relieved to hear the results for the streetcar measure.

With projects like the proposed streetcar plans, “small businesses tend to lose more money before anything happens,” Nguyen said. “We never see the end results.”