Funk's Front Porch 5/15/2009

This may seem confusing for some that read my stuff but I actually support Mayor Mark Funkhouser. Politically he and I don't agree on a lot but I think he is trying and he certainly was better than the other option. Plus the Mayor wants everyone to be informed and involved. Could you have imagined Alvin Brooks being mayor of Kansas City for five minutes let alone five years. That's a scary thought right there! Because I live in Kansas City as well as Clay County it thought it would be good to post his newsletter as well. Here is the most recent:

Dear Folks,

This Week’s City BusinessThe Mayor spent the large majority of his week with leaders in the community that he’s chosen to help him work on his next two major initiatives: education and public safety. The Mayor’s strategy with his initiatives is to find others who have similar beliefs and values, coupled with a deep interest in the areas that he’s moving forward and then enlist their help in carrying out his vision for the City. The beauty of doing things this way is that you get a diverse creative energy coming together and this typically brings a higher level of change. The Mayor is putting this cooperative approach to work on behalf of his residents in the areas of public safety and education. Stay tuned for more information as these initiatives come together.

The town hall meetings continue on an almost weekly basis. The Mayor appeared on Hot 103 Jamz to do a broadcast town hall meeting, with people calling in with their questions. Then he did a traditional town hall meeting at the new Southeast Community Center. Citizens in Kansas City are still quite mad about conditions for regular folks, but they usually feel better just from being heard by their Mayor at these meetings. Things will get better for them in this city. It has to. If the Mayor keeps focusing his attention and working on the problems as he is, change for the better will come. The Mayor intends to keep up the good fight and to fulfill the promises that he made to his voters.

The Mayor testified at Finance and Audit this week on behalf of the low income and homeless children that are being served at Operation Breakthrough. Sister Burta’s organization is so crucial to so many Kansas City families, and she is the only provider of daycare for the children of homeless families. The City budget does not include money for Operation Breakthrough, but the Mayor is working with Councilwoman Sharon Sanders Brooks and other council members to find funding. The Mayor feels that children come first and in a budget of more than one billion dollars, surely the City can find 200k for homeless children.

The Mayor spoke at the Kansas City Convention and Visitor’s Association Annual Tourism Celebration this week to promote tourism in Kansas City. With the recession, people are staying closer to home. If you’re within a 10-hour drive, what better place to come to than Kansas City?

On a More Personal Note

Our children are home and the dance to balance time between a job that never ends and giving them their fair share of their father ensues again. But it’s all good. Luckily, Funk is used to going on very little sleep, so late nights on the porch are our time to be together as a family.

The Mayor’s Public Appearances – Beginning May 16, 2009
Saturday 12:00 p.m. Northeast Summer Safety Extravaganza Northeast Branch Library 6000 Wilson Rd
4:45 p.m. Haitian Flag Day Cultural Celebration Gem Theater 1616 E 18th St.

Monday 4:00 p.m. Kansas City Chamber Board Meeting 911 Main, Suite 2600
5:00 p.m. Shanin and Parks 980 KMBZ

Tuesday 3:30 p.m. A City that Works Weekly Public Meeting, 414 E. 12th St. 10th Floor

Thursday 1:30 p.m. Council Business Session, 414 E. 12th St. 10th Floor
3:00 p.m. Council Legislative Session 414 E. 12th St., 26th Floor
7:00 p.m. First Thursday Republican Club St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 100 E. Red Bridge Rd

Friday 11:30 a.m. Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City's Annual Awards Luncheon Kansas City Club, 918 Baltimore

The Next Town Hall Meetings
When: May 20, 6:30 p.m. Where: TBD (check website) Host: TBD (check website)
When: June 17, 6:30 p.m. Where: 148 N Topping Who: Mattie Rhodes

In faith,
Gloria & Mark

You can respond by email to this newsletter at funksfrontporch@gmail.com.If you’d like daily news updates, please check the Mayor’s blog site at www.funksfrontporch.com.

The Mayor’s top ten priorities:
1. Establishing a good working relationship with the Council
2. Getting the City’s finances in order
3. Making downtown work
4. Tending to our neighborhoods
5. Implementing the Housing Policy task force recommendations
6. Improving the perception and the reality of public education in Kansas City
7. Reducing Crime
8. Repairing our sewer systems
9. Establishing an excellent regional transit system, which includes light rail
10. Improving citizen satisfaction with City services