Michael “Concentration camps are bad, actually” Gier

“The worst presidential cabinet in history”?

So stipulated.

The problem, however, is that for four years the other side was fed a steady diet of “Joe Biden has the worst cabinet in history“ by FOX “News”, “News”max, OA”N”N, etc. If we don’t tackle the disinformation problem, nothing will change.

I have personally decided to lean straight into losing my shit

The press corps really can make this a scandal by focusing on his age and depleted stamina but nah.

Still crazy that the president’s lawyer spent two days with Ghislaine Maxwell, she “cleared” him of wrongdoing and was almost immediately transferred to a more pleasant prison and nobody in the administration will explain it and the media acts like two large dots are just impossible to connect.

Another American service member died today in the Middle East.

President Fortunate Son played golf.

Republican hostility has kept EV market penetration in America at Slovakia level. And then they voted for politicians who now jack up the gas price to $6 per gallon. Just an astonishing bit.

don’t forget to destroy your clocks tonight, walk away from your mortgage, just start driving, you’re free

May his memory be a blessing.

It’s been almost 11 years since I lost my father, also Larry. A lifelong union man, he railed mightily against the constant lies of the Republicans. I don’t know what he would have done to fight Trump and Trumpism, but he definitely would have.

The budget meeting has ended, though I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that in his closing remarks, CM Duncan *accidentally* referred to this as the “shitty” rather than the City. The usual snickers bubbled up around the room. :-)

#kcmobudget

“Police don’t prevent crime. I am a social worker.” Speaker asks the council to spend the minimum necessary on police and use that for community services.

Also says she’s from Boston and that traffic safety here is WAY worse. Probably won’t stay to raise a family over it.

#kcmobudget

“Just because you have a car… doesn’t mean they (bus riders) are ‘nobody’.”

#kcmobudget

I wish we wouldn’t so regularly diminish our need for sidewalks by using language that indicates they are only for children, but that’s another battle, I suppose.

#kcmobudget

Speaker here “again” to advocate for sidewalks. Voted years ago for the GO Bonds, still don’t have sidewalks in her neighborhood. “We should not have to be here begging for sidewalks and curbs to keep our children safe.”

#kcmobudget

PW guy: “We have money for 360 cameras, but we don’t have money for proper gloves or PPE.”

There are clearly a LOT of KCMO public works folks here. Another one up now, saying the work is worth more than $19/hour and mandatory overtime.

#kcmobudget

Water services employee starts with a prayer, then decries KCMO workforce attrition due to wages and their replacement with contractors. “I don’t know how to solve it.”

Also shares his mother was killed by a distracted driver, feels for the earlier speaker about bike lanes.

#kcmobudget

Speaker from the old Northeast advocating for using shuttered schools as gathering and training spaces.

#kcmobudget

Another speaker who advocates for fully funding KCATA and buses but also mentions that her husband was hit on a bicycle and wouldn’t have been if there had been a bike lane.

#kcmobudget

“Too many contractors doing the jobs that city employees could be doing.”

#kcmobudget

I think we need “I use KCMO bike lanes” t-shirts.

#kcmobudget

Another asking for transit funding. UMKC student living East of Troost without a car. Yes, they exist.

#kcmobudget

“I’m asking you to use the budget to fund busing and transit rather than the police and the world cup.”

#kcmobudget

Passionate speaker advocates FOR bike lanes and professes to use them for safety, as well as streetcar. Mentions the paradox that cutting bus service reduces riders which encourages cutting bus service.

#kcmobudget

I bet that bike lane hating lady thinks it’s A-OK that 43% of our entire KCMO budget is public safety, but like 0.1% is any non-car transportation infrastructure.

#kcmobudget

Sunrise Movement advocate now, from the 2nd district (here) complaining about the lack of bus service and walkable routes here.

Why money for elites and World Cup but not for us?

#kcmobudget

Let me take a moment to congratulate and lift up the speakers who have stepped forward and bravely overcome their fear of public speaking to passionately advocate for their causes.

Except that bike-lane hating lady.

#kcmobudget

“It’s embarrassing that this council treats (ArtsKC) funding as expendable.”

#kcmobudget

Speaker asking to maintain support for domestic violence funding.

#kcmobudget

Oh, I’m sorry… did I fail to mention that I don’t plan to be an unbiased reporter? :-)

#kcmobudget

Speaker now begging for councilors to kill all bike lanes and put all the streets back “the way they were,” without any potholes.

It was scary how loud the applause was for that backward, ignorant request.

#kcmobudget

First two speakers asked about the end of free bus service. Then Mark McHenry for fountains.

#kcmobudget