Ruckus - April 4, 2013

>>> PRODUCTION UNDERWRITING FOR RUCKUS HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROUS   CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FRED AND LOU HARTWIG AND FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.   THANK YOU. >>> WELCOME TO RUCKUS, OUR WEEKLY FOOD FOR THOUGHT FIGHT   OVER THE NEWS OF THE DAY AND THE TRENDS OF THE TIMES. I'M MIKE SHANIN JOINED BY THE   RUCKETTES, EDITORIAL WRITER YAEL ABOUHALKAH, URBAN LEAGUE PRESIDENT GWEN GRANT, MEDIA   CONSULTANT, MARY O'HALLORAN, AND OUR SPECIAL GUEST, CROSS CRORKS HEAD OF -- CROSBY KEMPER, HEAD F   THE KANSAS CITY LIBRARY SYSTEM AND HOST OF MEET THE PAST ON KCPT.   ONLY THE THIRD MAYOR IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OF KANSAS CITY,   KANSAS AND WYANDOTTE COUNTY WILL TAKE OFFICE NEXT MONTH. COMMISSIONER MARK HOLLAND WHO   HAD THE BACKING OF MAYOR JOE REARDON AND REARDON'S PREDECESSOR CAROL MARINOVICH WON   EARLY TUESDAY, PULLING 56% OF THE VOTE. AN MURGUIA GOT 43%, LOSING TO   HOLLAND BY JUST OVER 2,000 VOTES. THROUGH THE HIS CAMPAIGN AND   AFTER HIS ELECTION, HOLLAND TALKED ABOUT THE FOLLOWING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PATH BLAZED   BY HIS TWO PREDECESSORS. JOE REARDON AND CAROL MARINOVICH, FOR OF TWO OF THEM   TO COME TOGETHER THAT WAY AND REALLY GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD IS A TREMENDOUS GIFT.   >> MARY, I GUESS THE RESULTS OF THE MAYOR'S ELECTION WOULD SUGGEST THAT WYANDOTTE   COUNTYIANS ARE GENERALLY HAPPY WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING. >> I THINK IT DOES, MIKE, AND I   THINK IT WAS A VERY STRONG MESSAGE, AND I THINK JUST AS AN OUTSIDE OBSERVING, FAIRLY   CLOSELY ACTUALLY, SUCH DESIRE FOR STABILITY AND FOR CONNECTING WITH THE MARINOVICH REARDON   TRADITION. MARK HOLLAND IS NOT A -- YOU KNOW, HE'S NOT EXACTLY LIKE HIS   PREDECESSORS, BUT HE BRINGS THIS ETHICAL -- A STRONG EMPHASIS ON ETHICS.   THAT WAS ONE OF THE BATTLES BETWEEN MURGUIA AND HOLLAND PRIOR TO THE ELECTION.   HE ALSO IS A VERY -- ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, A VERY ACCESSIBLE, LOW KEY, KCK   PERSONALITY. I MEAN, HE'S NOT TAKEN WITH HIMSELF.   HE'S A METHODIST MINISTER WHO IS FULL TIME AT THAT, TOO. SO HE IS A PROGRESSIVE GUY.   HE DID REPRESENT THE WHOLE CITY AT LARGE. I THINK PEOPLE CAN BE VERY   CONFIDENT THAT HE WILL CONNECT UP WITH REGIONAL EFFORTS AS MUCH AS JOE REARDON DID.   >> WELL, HE'S NEW ON THE JOB. THERE ARE SEVERAL NEW COMMISSIONERS, AND ONE OF THE   THINGS THAT HOLLAND SAID HE'S GOING TO DO IS REACH OUT TO THEM VERY, VERY SOON.   >> WELL, THE FIRST THING IS WE'VE GOT FOUR NEW COMMISSIONERS, AND SO WE NEED TO   REACH OUT AND BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER AS A TEAM. WE HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT   WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. WE NEED TO REGROUP ON THAT,   BECAUSE THE WEEK AFTER WE GET SWORN IN, WE BEGIN OUR FIRST BUDGET HEARING, SO WE'RE HITTING   THE GROUND RUNNING. >> BY THE WAY, WE THINK KMBZ CHANNEL 9 FOR MAKING THAT VIDEO   AVAILABLE. YOUR REACTION TO THE ELECTION IN KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.   >> WELL, I COVERED IT, TALKED TO ALL THE CANDIDATES, TALKED WITH THE COMMISSION MEMBERS WHOM HE   JUST MENTIONED. I WOULD HOPE THAT MARK DOESN'T FOLLOW EXACTLY WHAT CAROL AND   JOE DID, WHICH IS CONCENTRATE TOO MUCH ON WESTERN WYANDOTTE COUNTY.   HE SAID DURING THE CAMPAIGN AND ANN PRESSED HIM ON IT CORRECTLY SO, WE NEED TO DO MORE IN KANSAS   CITY, KANSAS, IN THE URBAN PARTS OF THE AREA. AND MARK, TO HIS CREDIT, HAS   AGREED. SO THAT'S, I THINK, ONE OF THE VERY KEY THINGS HERE, IS CAN   THEY DO THAT, CAN THEY FIND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEIGHS TO SPUR THAT.   CAN THEY IMPROVE SOME OF THE BASIC SERVICES OFFERED THERE? BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS THIS   PULL FOR THE NEXT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEAL TO GO TO WESTERN WYANDOTTE COUNTY.   THERE IS ALWAYS THIS PULL OF, IF WE CAN GET ANOTHER TAX BRACH -- BREAK HERE, WE CAN GET MORE   REVENUE MONEY. AT SOME POINT, KCK WILL GET SOME OF THAT MONEY SPUN OFF AND WILL   BE ABLE TO USE IT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY. BUT EVEN BEFORE THEN, THEY NEED   IT IN OTHER PARTS. >> CROSBY, THERE WAS RUMORS, ALLEGATIONS PLYING THAT MURGUIA   WAS SOMEHOW ASSOCIATED WITH AND BEING BACKED BY CONSERVATIVE AND REPUBLICAN GROUPS AND THAT SHE   EVEN HAD SOME LINKAGE TO THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNENER OF KANSAS. >> THE MOST AMUSING THING ABOUT   THIS CAMPAIGN WAS THE WORST THING YOU COULD SAY ABOUT SOMEBODY WAS THEY WERE A   REPUBLICAN, AND HERE THEY ARE ALL ACTING LIKE REPUBLICANS IN CARRYING ON THE TRADITION OF   ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I AGREE WITH YAEL. THAT AMOUNTS TO GIVING AWAY TAX   BREAKS, AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT REALLY WORKS IN THE LONG RUN, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY   AMUSING. IT IS A CONTINUATION OF A GOOD GOVERNMENT TRADITION IN THE   UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OF CAROL MARINOVICH AND JOE JOE, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING, I THINK, AT   THE END OF THE DAY, FROM BOTH CANDIDATES. >> GWEN, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI   HAD SEVERAL ELECTIONS. THE ANSWERS WERE YES, YES, NO, AS YAEL SUGGESTED WERE THE   CORRECT ANSWERS. ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME OF THE THREE QUESTIONS ON THE   BALLOT? >> VERY HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME, VERY HAPPY.   I THINK I WAS REALLY PLEASED WITH THE VOTE ON THE HEALTH LEVEE.   >> THAT WAS QUESTION 1. >> YES, ESPECIALLY DURING THESE TIMES WHEN WE'RE REALLY   CONCERNED ABOUT CARE FOR THE INDIGENT, AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT THE LENGTH   OF EXTENDING THE TAX, BUT AS WE GO FORWARD WITH OBAMACARE OR THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND MAYBE IF   IT WORKS THEN WE WON'T HAVE TO RENEW THE LEVY DOWN THE ROAD. BUT RIGHT NOW, THE BEST THING   HAPPENED FOR HEALTH CARE FOR THE INDIGENT, AND I REALLY AM PLEASED WITH THAT OUT COME.   >> IF IT WORKS, OBAMACARE? >> YEAH, I MEAN --. >> WHOO.   >> GWEN. >> WE HAVE A LOT TO LEARN DID ITMENT I SUPPORT IT.   WE JUST HAVE A LOT TO LEARN. >> WE HAVE TO MOVE ON. >>> PATRICK TUOHEY, WRITING FOR   THE SHOW-ME INSTITUTE, SAYS RECENT STUDIES FROM ENGLAND SUGGESTS THAT WHERE LIGHT RAIL   EXISTS PEOPLE CONTINUE TO OWN AND DRIVE CARS AT ABOUT THE SAME LEVEL AS BEFORE THE OPTION WAS   AVAILABLE. ANY GROWTH IN LIGHT RAIL RIDERSHIP IS SIMPLY THE RESULT   OF BUS PASSENGERS CHANGING SYSTEMS. AND TUOHEY CLAIMS THAT'S THE   CASE IN ST. LOUIS AND WOULD BE THE CASE HERE. OF THE RECENTLY APPROVED   TWO-MILE STREETCAR SYSTEM, HE SAYS IT WON'T ATTRACT PASSENGERS IN LARGE NUMBERS AND WILL NEED   TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES FOREVER. BUT HE CONCLUDES SUPPORTERS OF LIGHT RAIL IN KANSAS CITY WILL   NEVER CHANGE THEIR MINDS REGARDLESS OF ECONOMICS, THINK-TANK STUDIES OR REJECTION   AT THE POLLS. WELL, WHAT A HAPPY COINCIDENCE THAT THE CHAIRMAN AND COFOUNDER   OF THE SHOW-ME INSTITUTE IS SITTING NEXT TO ME THIS EVENING. CROSBY KEMPER, WHAT DO YOU THINK   ABOUT MR. TIEW -- TUOHEY'S OBSERVATIONS? DO YOU SHARE THEM.   >> OF COURSE, I SHARE THEM, AND THEY'RE RIGHT. EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT LIGHT   RAIL, HAVE YOU TO HAVE HIGH DENSITY URBAN LOCATIONS FOR THEM TO WORK.   THERE IS A CLAIM YOU CAN CREATE IT, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE. AND WE'RE ABOUT TO BUILD THE   MOST EXPENSIVE PER MIGHT LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM ON THE MOST UNDEMOCRATIC ELECTION THAT WE'VE   HAD SINCE THE PENDERGAST AREA, AND EVERYBODY SEEMS HAPPY ABOUT THIS.   I'M NOT SURE WHY. IT'S THE SINGLE DUMBEST IDEA. IT'S UPPER MIDDLE CLASS WELFARE.   >> ARE YOU HAPPY ABOUT THIS, YAEL? >> THAT IS A STRONG OPINION, AND   IF WE WERE BUILDING LIGHT RAIL, I WOULD AGREE WITH CROSBY. WE'RE BUILDING STREETCARS.   THAT IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE. >> IT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE PROJECT IN THE COUNTRY.   >> I WILL AGREE THAT THE STREETCARS BY THEMSELVES ARE NOT A GREAT TRANSIT ALTERNATIVE, AND   THAT HAS NEVER BEEN ONE OF MY REASONS FOR SUPPORTING A SMALL LIGHT RAIL LINE IN THE MOST   DENSE PART OF KANSAS CITY, WHICH IS THE THING I'VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED, BASICALLY PLAZA TO   DOWNTOWN. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THAT LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM.   WE'RE GETTING THE STREETCAR. SO ON THAT, ARE WE GOING TO GET DEVELOPMENT?   WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT, BECAUSE THE ONLY REASON I'VE REALLY EVER SUPPORTED STREETCAR -- I THINK A   LOT OF PEOPLE SUPPORTED STREETCAR OR LIGHT RAIL IS IT'S SUPPOSED TO ADD AN ATTRACTIVE   ELEMENT TO DOWNTOWN. WE'VE SEEN DOWNTOWN GROW. THIS IS INCREDIBLE.   I'M SORRY, DOWNTOWN POPULATION HAS GONE FROM ABOUT 4,012 YEARS AGO TO 20,000.   THAT IS AMAZING. THE INVESTMENT IN THE POWER AND LIGHT AND SPRINT CENTER, AND WE   CAN TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH IT COST, AND IT COST A HELL OF A LOT, IT'S REALLY WORKED IN THAT   REGARD. >> THAT'S THE IMPORTANT POINT, YAEL.   PARDON ME, I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH YOU. THE ISSUE HERE IS REALLY WITH   REGARD TO WHAT YAEL SAID, POPULATION DENSITY. DOWNTOWN IS GROWING.   THIS TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM HELPS THAT, AND THAT HELPS DEVELOPMENT, AND SO, I   MEAN, I REMEMBER WHEN CLEAVER CALLED IT TOURISTY, AND HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT THAT IN SOME REGARD,   BUT WE DO WANT TO ATTRACT TOURISM. WE DO WANT TO BRING MORE   BUSINESS INTO THE CITY. I THINK IT HAS A LOT OF VALUE. >> WELL, THIS IS THE BEGINNING   OF THE LINK, CROSBY. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS IS --.   >> $4 BILLION. >> WE ALREADY ARE BEGINNING TO TALK WITH NORTH KANSAS CITY.   >> NORTH KANSAS CITY COUNCIL PUT THAT ON HOLD. >> I UNDERSTAND IT'S GOING ON,   THE CONVERSATION. >> HOW MUCH ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR THAT BRIDGE?   >> PLUS, CROSBY, A LINK WITH A COMMUTER RAIL SYSTEM THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, TRUST ME.   SOME DAY WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS GOING, AND THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE LINKAGES FOR A VISION IN A   COMMUTER SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE. BESIDES, YOU KNOW THAT YOUNG   TECHIES OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM PREFER TO LIVE PLACES THAT HAVE THESE KINDS OF   AMENITIES. THEIR GOAL IN LIFE IS NOT TO SIT IN A GLASS BUILDING IN AN EXIT   OFF 435. >> WHY DON'T WE JUST WRITE A 50,000-DOLLAR CHECK EVERY YEAR   TO THESE 20-SOMETHINGS, BRING THEM FROM GOOGLE, WRITE THEM A CHECK INSTEAD OF BUILDING THIS   THING WHICH WILL NOT BE USED. >> BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE.   >> IT WILL BE USED. >> CROSBY, WE WILL FIND OUT IN FIVE YEARS SOME OF THE   EXPLANATIONS. >> A GREAT EXPERIMENT. >> IF IT'S A FREE RIDE -- WHICH   IS GOING TO BE FREE, BECAUSE SOME OF THE PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS WILL BE USED IN THIS.   I'M GOING TO BE USING IT BECAUSE MY TAX DOLLARS ARE HELPING PAY FOR IT.   I MIGHT GO DOWN TO THE CITY MARKET. IF I GO RIGHT NOW, I HAVE TO   DRIVE MY CAR. >> LET ME QUOTE ANOTHER SHOW-ME INSTITUTE PIECE.   HE ASKED ABOUT THE STREETCAR PLAN IN KANSAS CITY. HE SAYS, IS A TROLLEY PROJECT   REALLY THE BEST USE OF ALREADY DEPLETED CITY DOLLARS? >> AND IT'S REALLY GOING TO CUS   $200 MILLION, BASED ON SALES TAX, TAX ON THE WORKING POOR. THEY'RE TAKING MONEY ALREADY,   WHICH THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO, AND THEY'RE ALREADY TAKING IT FROM THE BUS SYSTEM, WHICH   THE WORKING POOR USE TO GET TO WORK. I DISAGREE WITH YAEL COMPLETELY   ABOUT THIS. THERE IS NO NATURAL RIDERSHIP FOR THIS WHATSOEVER.   I WALK THE ROUTE EVERY DAY FROM MY APARTMENT TO MY OFFICE. NOBODY IS ON IT.   IT WILL BRING A FEW 20-SOMETHING'S, I AGREE, AT AN INCREDIBLE COST.   >> ALTHOUGH THIS CAME INTO EXISTENCE IN A CONTROVERSIAL WAY.   I THINK WE ALL AGREE ON THAT, IT'S HERE TO STAY, IS IT NOT? THERE IS NO CHANGE LIKELY TO   HAPPEN NOW. THE TAX IS ALREADY BEING COLLECTED ON IT, TAXES ARE BEING   COLLECTED, SO WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT.   >>> WHEN I SAY LOCAL VERSUS STATE CONTROL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU'RE LIKELY TO SAY   BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, I'M CHANGING CHANNELS. BUT HOLD ON.   THIS TIME IT'S DIFFERENT. WE'RE FOCUSING ON WHAT SOME FORMER KANSAS CITY POLICE CHIEFS   ARE SAYING, AND NONE OF THE THREE, JIM CORWIN, FLOYD BARTCH, OR RICK EASLEY, ARE SAYING   ANYTHING GOOD ABOUT THE POSSIBLE CHANGE. CORWIN PREDICTS LOCAL CONTROL   WOULD LEAD TO A BLOODBATH WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS FIGHTING OVER RESOURCES FOR THEIR DISTRICTS.   BARTCH DESCRIBES THE CURRENT SITUATION, HE LIKES IT AS A VERY PRECIOUS THING, AND EASLEY   POINTS OUT THAT NO STATE APPOINTED POLICE BOARD MEMBER HAS EVER BEEN SENT TO PRISON.   ARE THESE VIEWS SURPRISING? WELL, NOT TO YAEL WHO WRITES, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM GUYS WHO   BENEFITED FROM THE CURRENT SYSTEM? IS THAT TOO HARSH AN ASSESSMENT,   GWEN? >> NO, NO, NO. I AGREE WITH YAEL.   IT'S NOT TOO HARSH OF AN ASSESSMENT AT ALL. I LISTEN TO THE RHETORIC THAT   THESE GENTLEMEN WERE SPEWING AS THEY TALKED ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL, ESPECIALLY USING LANGUAGE THAT   WOULD WANT TO STIR UP THE STIGMA OF THE PENDERGAST ERA, WHICH IS TOTALLY BASELESS AT THIS POINT.   AND YOU KNOW, I FIND IT REALLY SELF-SERVING I AGREE WITH YAEL ON THAT POINT.   I BELIEVE CORWIN STATED SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT IT WILL BECOME HIGHLY POLITICIZED.   WELL, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS POLITICAL IN THIS PROCESS. TO INFER THAT A LOCAL POLICE   BOARD IS GOING TO BE MORE POLITICAL THAN ONE APPOINTED BY A GOVERNOR, A -- GUBERNATORIAL   APPOINTMENTS ARE POLITICAL. LET'S BE REAL. ALL APPOINTMENTS ARE POLITICAL.   SO TO IMPLY THAT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IT'S GOING TO BE MORE SO THAN HAVING THE GOVERNOR DO THAT   IS RIDICULOUS. >> AGAIN, AND FORTUITOUSLY, WE HAPPEN TO HAVE CROSBY KEMPER   WITH US, AND HE HAPPENED TO MODERATE THE DISCUSSION INVOLVING THE FORMER CHIEFS OF   POLICE. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE   DISCUSSION? >> ALL THE CHIEFS, INCLUDING CHIEF MCNAMARA, WHO IS PRETTY   FAR AWAY FROM US NOW, AT THE HOOVER INSTITUTION, WERE AGAINST IT.   I THINK THEIR VISION, WHICH I KIND OF ESSENTIALLY AGREE WITH, IS IT'S NOT BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.   BUT I THINK THERE IS ONE REALLY GOOD ARGUMENT AGAINST LOCAL CONTROL.   I AGREED PRETTY MUCH WITH EVERYTHING GWEN SAID, EXCEPT TO THIS, THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL   MAYOR SYSTEM WE HAVE IN KANSAS CITY IS UNABLE TO DEAL WITH THEIR OWN PENSION PLAN SYSTEM,   ET CETERA. AND WE SPEND MORE MONEY ON PUBLIC SAFETY TODAY THAN ANY   OTHER CITY OUR SIZE IN THE COUNTRY, BIGGER PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET, ET CETERA, AND HUGE   PENSION PLAN PROBLEMS. THE PO LIT -- POLITICALIZATION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL I THINK COULD   LEAD TO WORSENING THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN MAKING IT BETTER. >> I THINK I DISAGREE WITH YOU A   LITTLE BIT HERE, CROSBY, BECAUSE I THINK GENERALLY SPEAKING WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GOVERNANCE,   AND THAT'S WHAT THIS QUESTION IS, IS IT NOT, THAT THE CLOSER THE ACCOUNTABILITY IS TO THE   PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CHARGE, AND THAT IS THE PEOPLE, AND THEY DO CARE ABOUT THEIR POLICE   DEPARTMENT, THE CLOSER THEY ARE TO THE GOVERNANCE IS TO THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE VOTING, THE   BETTER IT IS. RIGHT NOW YOU'VE GOT THE INTERNAL GOVERNANCE, AND YOU'VE   GOT THE POLICE BOARD AND THE GOVERNOR AND STATE LEGISLATORS GET INVOLVED.   THEN YOU HAVE THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL. NO ORDINARY CITIZEN KNOWS REALLY   WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THIS OPERATION. WHO HAS TO STAND UP, LOOK IN THE   CAMERA AND SAY, I'M PROPOSING X, AND THEN SEE WHETHER OR NOT IT WORKS.   AFTER ALL, THIS IS ALL ABOUT LOWERING CRIME RATES, FOLKS. THIS IS NOT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AND   AND -- OTHER ISSUES. >> THE LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, *** COZAD WAS ON THE   PROGRAM, AND HE WAS EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL WOULD LEAD TO GREATER UNION   INVOLVEMENT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. >> RIGHT.   >> THAT UNION WOULD JOIN FORCES WITH THE FIRE UNION AND UNIONS WOULD DOMINATE CITY POLITICS AS   NEVER BEFORE. >> WELL, THAT IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE, AND THEY ARE TAXPAYERS   AND RESIDENTS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. AFTER LOOKING AT THIS FOR MORE   THAN A DECADE, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING INHERENTLY, ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY BAD WITH   STATE CONTROL. HOWEVER, WE'RE THE ONLY ONES IN THE NATION WITH IT AFTER ST.   LOUIS GETS RID OF IT IN JULY. SO KIND OF TO MARY'S POINT, LET'S HAVE THE LOCAL PEOPLE,   HAVE THE MAYOR WHO IS ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE, IF THEY'RE GOING TO GO OFF ON SOME POLITICKING   VENDETTA, THEY'LL BE FOUND OUT, THROWN IN JAIL, VOTED OUT, WHATEVER.   HOWEVER, TO SUGGEST THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THE BEST ONE IN THE NATION OR EVEN ONE OF   THE BEST IN THE NATION WHEN WE HAVE A VERY HIGH CRIME RATE AND OTHER PROBLEMS I THINK IS   LUDICROUS. THE BEST ONES IN THE NATION ARE LOCALLY RUN.   >> AND THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR ME IS, IT'S LOCALLY FUNDED. THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THE STATE   DOES NOT FUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE CITY DOES.   >> AND I SHOULD POINT OUT, YOU'RE ON THE 30-MEMBER COMMISSION STUDYING WHETHER   LOCAL CONTROL SHOULD EXIST FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE'RE STILL CURIOUS ABOUT HOW YOU   FEEL. >> YES. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY.   >> ALWAYS CURIOUS. >> IF IT AIN'T BROKE, FIX IT ANYWAY.   >>> SHOULD FORMER FELONS BE FUTURE EMPLOYEES IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI GOVERNMENT?   THOSE WHO ANSWER EMPHATICALLY YES ARE FIGHTING FOR A PLAN CALLED "BAN THE BOX".   THE BOX REFERS TO THE SECTION ON THE APPLICATION FORMS THAT INQUIRES ABOUT CRIMINAL HISTORY.   CITY OFFICIALS SAY SERVING TIME IN JAIL DOESN'T PRECLUDE GETTING A CITY JOB RIGHT NOW.   BUT BAN THE BOX ADVOCATES WANT THE QUESTION REMOVED TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.   A COUNCIL COMMITTEE HAS ADVANCED THE MEASURE. WHAT DO YOU THINK, YAEL, THE   FULL CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO DO WITH THIS? >> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S AN   APPROVABLE ISSUE. IN OTHER WORDS, I THINK IT WILL BE DONE THAT WAY AND BE   IMPROVED. BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THOSE SMALL THINGS THAT EVENTUALLY MAY   NOT HAVE A LOT OF IMPACT. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ALREADY ARE FELONS WORKING FOR THE CITY AND   PROBABLY PRESUMABLY WORKING FOR ALL KINDS OF PRIVATE COMPANIES AROUND HERE, TOO.   >> IS THERE A FELON PREFERENCE? >> NO. >> BUT WHEN YOU CHECK THAT --   THE CONCERN IS, WHEN YOU CHECK THAT BOX EITHER HERE OR A PRIVATE COMPANY OR KANSAS CITY,   THEN IT'S LIKE, WELL, THEN YOU'RE AUTOMATICALLY EXCLUDED. NOW, I THINK THE CITY HAS   ALREADY PROVEN THEY DON'T DO THAT, BUT I THINK WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS OR WHATEVER   IT MIGHT BE, IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. SO I DO SEE THE POINT IN SAYING,   WELL, LET'S NOT EVEN ASK THAT QUESTION. EVENTUALLY, OF COURSE, WHEN   YOU'RE DOING YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND HIRING SOMEBODY, THAT'S AN ALLOWABLE QUESTION TO ASK, AND   IT PRESUMABLY WILL BE ASK. >> YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THE CRIMINAL HISTORY WHEN YOU   INTERVIEW THE PERSON; IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S RIGHT.   >> AND ALSO, LET'S GO TO A POINT YOU YOU'VE SAID. YOU'VE PAID YOUR DEBT TO   SOCIETY. YOU MAY HAVE BEEN A CRIMINAL IN THE PAST.   YOU THEN SERVED YOUR DEBT. SO WHEN DOES THE EXTENSION ON YOUR BEING A CRIMINAL -- OR THE   BAD PART ABOUT IT RUN OUT? >> THAT'S A GREAT POINT, YAEL. WE -- WHEN PEOPLE SERVE THEIR   TIME, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND RE-ENTER SOCIETY AND BE WELCOMED TO GET A JOB AND   IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. THE TOTAL OPPOSITE HAPPENS. MOST PLIERS IN THE GREATER   KANSAS CITY AREA DO NOT HIRE EX-OFFENDERS. SO BY THE CITY HAVING THIS BAN   THE BOX IDEA, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE A MATERIAL IMPACT ON ANYTHING, BECAUSE WHEN YOU   LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, THEY SAID THAT IN THE PAST TWO OR THREE YEARS, THEY'VE HIRED 38 OUT OF   40-SOME-ODD APPLICANTS WHO CHECKED THE BOX, WHO DID CHECK THE BOX, AND THEY GOT AN   INTERVIEW AND THEY WERE HIRED. SO I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, WHAT IMPACT WOULD THIS HAVE ON A   BIGGER, LARGER SCHEME OF THINKS? THERE WAS TALK AT THE CITY A WHILE BACK OF SOMEONE TRYING TO   PUT FORWARD AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD ADDRESS EX-OFFENDERS AS A PROTECTED CLASS BECAUSE OF   DISCRIMINATORY HIRING PRACTICES CITY-WIDE. THAT TYPE OF A MEASURE COULD   HAVE IMPACT WHERE YOU CAN THEN SAY PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THEIR TIME AND BEEN REHABILITATED   SHOULD BE AFFORDED EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO A JOB.   >> I'M TRYING TO IMAGINE THE PUBLIC REACTION AND OUTRAGE IF A FELON WORKING FOR THE CITY   COMMITS A FELONY. >> WELL, YOU KNOW, BUT WE HAVE PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE CITY WHO   ARE NOT FELONS WHO COMMIT FELONIES. >> WELL, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.   >> WELL, YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN SOMEONE IS -- THE THING -- WHICH IS WHY WE CAN'T GET PAST THIS   PROBLEM IN SOCIETY ABOUT PEOPLE BEING HELD PERMANENTLY GUILTY AFTER THEY SERVED THEIR TIME.   >> SOME PEOPLE ARRESTED AND CONVICTED OF JAYWALKING NOT PAYING THEIR PARKING TICKETS,   NOT MAJOR CRIMES. >> SOME COMPANIES THAT DO HIRE EX-OFFENDERS, THEY KNOW THEIR   BACKGROUND. THEY DON'T PUT THEM IN SITUATIONS TO GIVE THEM THE   OPPORTUNITY TO REPEAT. >> I'VE HIRED A FELON ONCE. IT WAS THE WORST DECISION I EVER   MADE IN TERMS OF HIRING, AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE INTERNAL DIFFICULTIES ON MY OWN STAFF IN   THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT I WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS. >> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, HOW   DOES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HANDLE THIS? >> WELL, THERE IS A BOX.   I WASN'T NOTIFIED. I WOULD HAVE ASKED DIFFERENT QUESTIONS OF THIS PERSON.   I WOULD HAVE, I THINK, DELVED MORE CLOSELY INTO WHAT IT WAS THAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND SO ON.   IT WAS A TERRIBLE DECISION, AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE DECISION ANYWAY.   BUT I DO AGREE THAT JAN AND OTHERS ARE TAKING A SORT OF MODERATE VIEW ON THIS.   IT'S STILL GOING TO BE AVAILABLE INFORMATION, BUT THEY WANT THE PERSON TO HAVE A CHANCE AT AN   INTERVIEW. >> CROSBY, YOU HIRE PEOPLE AT THE KANSAS CITY LIBRARY, WHAT   KIND OF A POLICY DO YOU HAVE? >> WE DON'T HIRE FELONS. WE'RE WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND   THERE ARE ISSUES AROUND THAT, BUT LET ME SAY THIS. THE LIBRARY, PROBABLY AS MUCH AS   ANY INSTITUTION IN KANSAS CITY, IS OPEN TO EVERYONE, AND WE SERVE THE FOLKS WHO COME FROM   THE COMMUNITY RELIEF CENTER DOWN IN THE WEST BOTTOMS WHERE HALF OF THE SERIOUS FELONS IN THE   STATE OF MISSOURI COME, AND THEY COME TO THE LIBRARY, AND WE HELP THEM GET JOBS.   WE THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. WE NEED TO BE REALITY BASED UPON THIS.   THE TRUTH IS THAT THOSE GUYS, MOSTLY GUYS, ARE THE MOST LIKELY TO COMMIT A CRIME OF ANY GROUP   IN THE CITY, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE DOWNTOWN STATISTICS, THEY ARE COMMITTING CRIMES, AND WE   NEED TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THIS, THAT WE SHOULDN'T DISGUISE THIS IN ANY WAY.   >> AND NOW IT'S ON TO ROASTS AND TOASTS WHERE THE RUCKETTES PAN OR PRAISE PEOPLE AND EVENTS IN   THE NEWS, AND WE START TONIGHT WITH OUR GUEST, CROSBY KEMPER. >> THE CITY COMMUNITY CEASED TO   EXIST A FEW YEARS AGO IN KANSAS CITY, CIVIC LEADERSHIP. THAT MAY BE BEGINNING TO CHANGE.   I WANT TO TOAST DON HALL JUNIOR AND BILL HALL WHO ARE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARE STEPPING UP.   BILL HALL HAS WRITTEN A GREAT PIECE ON THE BORDER WARS, AND DON DID A VIDEO FOR THE NEW YORK   TIMES IN THEIR SERIES ON TAX INCENTIVES, AND I WANT TO THANK THEM.   IN TRADITION OF DON'S MOTHER, ADELE HALL, WHO PASSED RECENTLY, WAS ONE OF OUR GREAT CIVIC   LEADERS, SO TO THE HALL FAMILY. >> I WANT TO TOAST THE VOTERS FOR GETTING OUT AND VOTING ON   TUESDAY AND FOR YOUR VOTE OF YES, YES, NO ON THE IMPORTANT INITIATIVES FOR KANSAS CITY,   ESPECIALLY THE INITIATIVE TO EXTEND THE HEALTH LEVY TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR THE   INDIGENT. >> I WANT TO TOAST A NEW LEADER IN JOHNSON COUNTY WHO WAS   ELECTED THIS LAST TUESDAY AND SOMEBODY WHO JUST RAN FOR OFFICE FOR THE FIRST TIME.   HIS NAME IS LEE CROSS. LEE CROSS RAN FOR OFFICE AND RAN FOR THE JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY   COLLEGE BOARD AND CAME IN SECOND. HE RAN A WONDERFUL CAMPAIGN, AND   I ASKED LEE, IF YOU COULD SAY SOMETHING AFTER YOUR ELECTION THAT IN ONE SENTENCE WOULD   CAPSULIZE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, THIS IS A YOUNG MAN WHO CAME FROM A FAMILY FROM A TRAILER   COURT UP. ALL THE FAMILY WENT TO JOHNSON COUNTY'S COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND   HERE IS A NEW ADVOCATE. HERE IS HIS SENTENCE, I AM HONORED THAT THE PEOPLE OF   JOHNSON COUNTY RECOGNIZE THAT BEING AN EFFECTIVE TRUSTEE INCLUDES EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY   ABOUT THE IMPACT OF STATE CUTS AND ADVOCATING AGAINST LEGISLATION THAT THREATENS THE   COLLEGE SUCCESS ON ANY LEVEL. A NEW ADVOCATE FOR JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE.   >> WELL, THIS IS A TENTATIVE TOAST TO ALL THE KCI OFFICIALS AND THE PEOPLE SUPPORTING THE   NEW TERMINAL AT KCI. THEY'VE PUT OUT THERE INFORMATION ABOUT WHY THIS WOULD   BE GOOD FOR KANSAS CITY. THEY HAVE A LONG SLOG AHEAD TO PROVE IT'S GOOD FOR KANSAS CITY,   BUT AT THE VERY LEAST, THEY HAVE TO PUT OUT AND HAVE TO DEBATE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO   PAY FOR THIS THING THROUGH BONDS AND USER FEES AT KCI WHY IT'S A GOOD IDEA.   THEY NEED TO ENGAGE IN THIS AND NOT BE DEFENSIVE, AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER RUSS JOHNSON WAS   TODAY WHEN SOMEBODY PUSHED BACK ON HIM. YOU CAN'T BE DEFENSIVE.   YOU HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE IN RESPONDING TO THE PEOPLE WHO ASK GOOD QUESTIONS.   >> AND FINALLY, A TOAST TO THE TRUMAN GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD FOUNDATION FOR ATTRACTING A BIG   NAME HONOREE AS THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENT. FOUNDATION MEMBERS WORRIED THAT   LANDING A FORMER PRESIDENT WOULD BE NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE, BUT THEY NEVER GAVE UP HOPE.   AND AS A RESULT, THE MAN FROM HOPE, BILL CLINTON, WILL APPEAR AND SPEAK AT THE MAY 8th   EVENT, COMMEMORATING PRESIDENT TRUMAN'S BIRTHDAY. RESERVATION INFORMATION   AVAILABLE AT TRUMAN AWARD DOT ORG. >>> AND THAT'S RUCKUS FOR THIS   WEEK. FOR MORE LOCAL COVERAGE, JOIN NICK HAINES FOR KANSAS CITY WEEK   IN REVIEW FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:30. IF YOU'RE A GLUTTON FOR   PUNISHMENT, RUCKUS IS REBAWD CAST SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 11:30. NOW ON BEHALF OF THE RUCKETTES   AND RUCKUS CREW, MIKE SHANIN SAYING THANKS FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.   >>> PRODUCTION UNDERWRITING FOR RUCKUS HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROUS   CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FRED AND LOU HARTWIG AND FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.   Captioning provided by Caption Associates, LLC www.captionassociates.com