Clay Chastain Launches Another Mass Transit Concept March 31, 2013

Light rail activist Clay. Chasten has developed another mass transit plan for Kansas City.
In an e-mail,Chastain says his plan would connect the Missouri side of the metro with a combination of light rail, commuter trains, bike paths and make the restored Union Station a mass transit hub.
Chastain now lives in Virginia, but now identifies himself as a “KCMO community activist, part-time KCMO resident and KCMO registered voter”.
In his statement, he says the project will “single handily…rejuvenate the city itself”.
The layered plan comes as Kansas City, Missouri is launching it’s own 2-Mille street care line from the River Market to the Union Station area.
Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders has pulled his plan for a commuter rail road system because of difficulties getting the rights of way with some railroads.
Chastain says the first phase of this plan will cost $750 million by raking the city sale tax by 3/4 of a cent for 25 years. He also expects to gain additional federal funding for the plan.
Earlier, Chastain had said he was going to try and recall Mayor Sly James and perhaps some City Council members for not permitting voters to decide on an earlier mass transit plan.

Sanders Pulls Commuter Train Plan March 14, 2013

Sanders

Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders has pulled his plan to put a commuter train sales tax question before voters this summer.
It is a major setback for one of Sanders’ key proposals of his term.
The plan was to offer a one-cent sales tax question to voters to help pay for the commuter rail line that would extend through Jackson County and lead into downtown Kansas City.
The plan has been pulled, according to a statement from Sanders’ office because of “unresolved issues with the Omaha-based Union Pacific Rail Co and Kansas City Southern Railway Co”.
The Kansas City Business Journal reports, “The railroad said it “strongly believes that such commuter service should serve Union Station” and that it has discuss doing study to see how that could be accomplished. Tracks around Union Station are controlled by Kansas City Terminal Railway, a joint venture of Kansas City Southern and four other railways whose trains pass through the city.”
“Given the historic coalition that has come together to support this comprehensive transit plan, it would be disheartening to see our community miss what may be a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” Sanders said in the statement,” Sanders said in a Wednesday statement.
This is the second setback for increasing mass transit in and around Kansas City this year.
A plan to develop a $100 million dollar street car line from the River market area of downtown Kansas City and the Union Station area is now in court. Some business owners along the proposed line have sued the city.
They are challenging the voting process that authorized the street car line last year.

Sanders Names Jolly Senior Advisor January 29, 2013

Cathy Jolly

Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders has appointed former Kansas City Councilwoman Cathy Jolly as a ‘senior advisor”, to his administration.
““Throughout her career, she has been a tireless advocate for the citizens of Kansas City and Jackson County and I have no doubt that she will continue to do so in this new role,” Sanders said.
Jolly will work on health and public safety issues.
Jolly served on the City Council of Kansas City. She is a former member of the Missouri House of Representatives and a former assistant county prosecutor.
Sanders also announced the county’s Chief Administrative Officer, Fred Siems is scaling back his role.
He’s been part of the Sanders’ administration since 2007.

Sanders Keeps Post as Missouri Democratic Chair January 29, 2013

Sanders

(AP) — Missouri Democrats have re-elected Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders as chairman of the state party.
Sanders initially became party chairman in November 2011. The state party said Monday he was re-elected during a leadership vote Saturday.
Democrats also elected St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green as vice chairwoman and Kansas City School Board chairman Airick West as party treasurer. He is currently the president of the Kansas City School Board.
Democrats hold five of the six statewide offices in Missouri’s executive branch but have struggled in legislative races. Republicans now control a veto-proof supermajority in both the House and Senate.

Joe Duffy Hired By Mo. Dems December 12, 2012

Missouri Democratic Chairman, Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders, says the state’s Democratic party has a new day-to-day chief.
The Democrats have hired Joe Duffy as Executive Director.
In the announcement, Democrats say Duffy ran the field operation for Governor Jay’ Nixon’s re-election bid this year.
He has also worked for the Obama campaign’s, ‘Organizing for America’ in several states, including the President’s break-through victory at the Iowa Caucus in 2008.
He’ll replace Kelsy Thompson who is returning to Governor Nixon’s staff.