Council Repeals $13 Minimum Wage October 22, 2015

The City Council of Kansas City Missouri is trying to keep the issue of a minimum wage increase alive, in their own way.
After voting to repeal an earlier increase in the minimum wage on a 7-4 vote, the council passed a non-binding resolution.
Council members Thursday voted 11-0 in support of a resolution calling for an increase in the minimum wage in the city.
The previous council voted to raise the minimum in steps to $13 an hour.
Another petition was pressed in the city to raise the wage to $15 an hour.
A St. Louis court, however, ruled that only the state of Missouri, not its cities, set wages in Missouri.
The resolution called for the Republican-dominated Missouri general Assembly to raise the minimum wage from its current level of $6.75 an hour.
That is higher than the federal minimum of $6.25 an hour, the rate in Kansas.
The resolution also says if the lawmakers don’t raise it, then the council could support an initiative petition to increase it in Missouri.
In a statement, Kansas City Mayor Sly James said, ““I know today’s action will disappoint some, especially those who desperately need a raise. I understand and feel that very personally.”
He added, “It would be inaccurate and misguided, though, to construe this procedural action as anything other than a recognition of what Kansas City can and cannot do under state law.

Council Urged Not to Wait on Hotel Vote Petition September 29, 2015

One of the organizers of the opposition to a downtown convention hotel says the City Council should speak out.
Dan Coffey of the group Concerned Citizens for Responsible Government says the City Council should not wait 60 days to respond to the group’s successful petition drive.
The call for a city-wide vote on the $310 million downtown convention hotel was certified as valid late last week.
The Council has 60 days, according to the City Charter, to respond.
“And we don’t want to wait 60 days. We think it needs to be brought to a head, it needs to be finalized,” Coffey said.
Coffey group sent a letter to City Council Members this week, urging them to “make the city respect the democratic right of the electorate”, for a vote on the plan.
In its final weeks, the previous Council held hearings and voted to approve the convention hotel project.
Under the terms of the deal, the city’s financial obligation is limited to $35 million dollars, as the cost of acquiring the land for the hotel.
The city already owns most of the property next to the city’s Convention Center, just south of the downtown loop.
Booster of the hotel project says the city needs the new 800-room facility to regain position in the convention hotel business and that contracts have already been signed.
“Contracts are contracts. They all have opt-out clauses in them. So we don’t see that as a major stumbling block,” said Coffey.
There was no comment today from Mayor Sly James’ office. He supports the hotel project.

Nixon Vetoes Local Control Bill July 10, 2015

(AP) – A Missouri bill meant to block cities from raising the minimum wage or banning use of plastic bags has been vetoed.
Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed the bill Friday, saying it infringed on local control.
The bill would have stopped cities from enacting a higher minimum wage than the state minimum. It also would have prevented local ordinances to ban the use of plastic grocery bags.
Kansas City and St. Louis officials are considering raising the minimum wage. Columbia had discussed banning store use of plastic bags, but later dropped the proposal.
Supporters of the bill had said a patchwork of local ordinances would hurt businesses.
Lawmakers could attempt to override Nixon’s veto with more than a two-thirds majority during a special September session.
Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Sly james says the Nixon veto clears the way for the City Council to make a move towards raising the Kansas City minimum wage.
” The City Council and I fully intend to consider an ordinance to raise the minimum wage by July 16 ” James said.

Chastain Lawsuit Dismissed, Plans Appeal May 6, 2015

Former Kansas City mayoral candidate Clay Chastain says he’ll appeal his court defeat.

A Jackson County Judge, Joel Fahnestock dismissed his lawsuit against Kansas City Mayor Sly Kames.

Chastain claimed that James should be disqualified from running for re-election because he was late paying his city taxes.

In dismissing Chastain’s claim, the judge determined Chastain’s lawsuit misses the mark.

“Chastain’s time to challenge the Mayors’ qualifications in the primary
election has long expired, and he does not have standing to raise the same challenges in the
general election, as he is not a “candidate.”

The judge says Chastain’s challenge should have been filed within five days after the primary election on April 7. His suit was filed April 15.

The Judge also says Chastain doesn’t have a place in the case because he was eliminated in the city primary when his finished third in a field of three candidates and was eliminated.

James today said he was happy the matter was over. He called it “a distraction”.

“There was never a time when there was intent,” the Mayor told reporters Wednesday.

“Every time there was a mistake, I corrected it.

Chastain also tried to bring the mayor’s challenger, Vincent lee into his suit, But the judge ruled lee was already on the ballot.

Lee and James spoke briefly Wednesday at an announcement for a new grocery store on the city’s east side.

Later the Mayor said he saw no reason to debate lee before the June 23 finals.

“Because I don’t think there is any purpose in it, to be honest with you,” James said.

Lee and Vincent were at the same forums twice in the city primary.

James Tells KCPS & French Charter to Try Again March 11, 2015

Kansas City Mayor Sly James says the Kansas City Public School system and Acadrmie Lafayette should keep trying to merge high school operations at Southwest High.
Thursday says the two side should change their minds and continue to work towards a deal.
“And that’s one if the things I’m going to ask them to do. Go back at look at every single option. Go back and try it again,” said the Mayor.
He added, “If it’s worth spending this much time on, it’s worth spending a little more time on. ”
Wednesday, the two sides a noun Ed they were mutually agreeing to “step back” from the deal.
The two sides had been working on a building sharing plan.
The project would allow Acadrmie Lafayette start its long-sought French Language honors high school within Southwest while the public school system operated a conventional high school.
The problem was how to a compadre the charter school’s students and advanced studies without seeming to slight the public school students.
Critics say without settling that problem. They were creating a “separate and equal” system within a public school building.