Try Googling, “violence on the Country Club Plaza”
You’ll get 822,000 hits. Scroll down that lengthy list and you can read stories from every media outlet known to man. The Daily KOS, The Blaze, WaPo, HuffPo, USA Today, TIME, KCC and every major TV network and blogger in the nation. Everybody’s covered it.
Why? Because it’s a big eff’ing deal.
Headlines include –
“KANSAS CITY BLUES: VIOLENT BLACK MOBS”
“Man says brother was surrounded and shot at by teens near the plaza”
“Kansas City police hope to lay to rest to the violence, supercharged by social media, flash mobs and memorialized in online videos”
“Teens say fun night on the Plaza took terrifying turn when woman brandished gun”
“Everyone arrested was black. Everyone kicked off the bus was black.”
“The Plaza in Kansas City is an entertainment district under siege.”
Then a week ago, “Police search for suspects accused of brutally beating 37-year-old Army captain outside Plaza restaurant.”
I grew up on the Country Club Plaza.
My grandfather, an executive with Coke, lived in the Longfellow for as long as I can remember. I remember the good old days, playing backgammon at Dirty Sallys, Sunday in Volker Park, listening to the music and eating dinner with him at Putsch’s. Those were the classic Plaza years.
There was no violence then. Nothing like now anyway.
In fact, there was a standing joke. “Did you hear about the lady attacked on the Plaza last night? Six gay guys wrestled her to the ground and did her hair.”
Under Highwoods, that’s all changed.
Highwoods took over the Plaza in 1998 and it’s been in decline ever since.
Once the home of distinguished retailers and one of a kind restaurants, Highwoods sold out to the bland appeal of endless chains and the lack of differentiation that once set it apart.
That clearly rests on Highwoods shoulders.
In their press release this week, the company said it intends to use the proceeds from the Plaza sale to finance purchases in other areas as they exit retail properties and focus strictly on office buildings. But the subliminal message screamed,
“We’re getting the hell out while we can still sell this pig because it’s worth less every day!”
Kansas City mayor Sly James issued a statement on the proposed sale, saying, “Highwoods Properties has been a partner with the city in many respects. As mayor, I believe the Plaza always has been a focal point of civic pride, and I don’t expect that to change with ownership.”
James made no mention of the night his security detail body slammed him into the bushes to avoid the gunfire.
The Plaza may be well on its way to becoming Indian Springs and Bannister Mall. What’s worse, our endless political correctness is going to provide a front row seat to watch it all happen.
We’ve attempted to use curfews to solve the problem. What level of support has that gotten? Congressman Emanuel Cleaver’s response was:
“All we are going to do is make a lot of black kids angry.”
I remember when the curfew was first instituted, one of KCMO PD’s first action was to arrest the creamy white daughter of Deena Blake when all she did was walk from the front door of the theater to her mom’s waiting car door. That case, needless to say, was dismissed.
Everything we’ve done since has been a half hearted effort to solve the problem.
Why? Because we can’t look racist.
This is a 100% black youth issue.
The kids who gather there on the weekends are not there to shop. They are there for one reason – to make their presence known, to intimidate shoppers and cause trouble.
Highwoods has a different ability than the rest of us. They can sell out and get out.
What are we, the residents of the city, left to do? Wait. Wait and see if this city develops the testicular fortitude to do what needs to be done.
Until we take a hard militaristic stance, enforce the curfew without exception and arrest each and every thug without regard to claims of racism, we’ll watch the Plaza’s not so slow decline towards becoming our next Bannister Mall continue.
Cerner has made it’s bold power play, rebuilding the Bannister war zone. I don’t think they’ll be showing up to make the Plaza its third mega campus operation.
Will we watch it happen or will we force the change?
And…………cue Harley.
PW, I’m a life-long Northlander. What does or doesn’t happen on The Plaza is of little consequence to me as it just isn’t a place I frequent. But, I recognize it’s a big damn deal to KC as a whole. The Plaza’s “culture” is in direct contrast to those who wish to destroy it. Too bad. It is/was a real gem for KC.
a.k.a, I’m not a big Plaza guy any more. It’s been several years since I went with any regularity. The sidewalk tables at Classic Cup is a frequent coffee/lunch client stop, but that’s it.
Doesn’t change my life either other than what you noted. It WAS our gem. It makes me sad we are so spineless we won’t just fix the problem for fear of how it will look if you arrest 50 kids who need to be arrested, white, black, pink or green.
Van Trust will be a player as will local companies representing kroenke/and other
developers….possibly even the morgans who owned a second on the plaza
at one time.
I think you’ve given up too quickly wislon. the Plaza still represents a diamond
jewel piece of commercial property that needs some redoing. don’t doubt this nationally known mecca that youfind in few cities. Seems as if most of the
properties are rented at some high rates..and whythey never got rid of that
theatre no one willever know. Get rid of that theatre….replace it with a live
act venue…and blow out the problems.
heck…even gate the area if needed.
Again…OTHERS KNOW nothing about real estate…so we see
theimmediate cry that this plaza is going to die.
Doubt it kiddos….
you don’t need a military operation…you need a company that understands
how to take this jewel real estate property and make it what it once was…the
top retail and entertainment area in the Midwest and maybe the nation.
And no glaze…it doesn’t need any danceclubs or strip joints like you
suggested…..it needs some changes to bring it back the its greatness.
Few places like it anywhere….at least not for 1000 miles….and while
the city may have grown south…someone with vision can bring it back.
I was down there several weeks ago…there for art fair and it was packed to
the brim.
kc lovesthe plaza!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wislon….maybe a cobbler down there might save it! hahahahahahaha!
Harley, since you seem half way lucid today, I’ll address what you said.
You said, “you don’t need a military operation…you need a company that understands how to take this jewel real estate property and make it what it once was…the top retail and entertainment area in the Midwest and maybe the nation.”
I’m sure you or I either one have the planning sense to know what that is, what that takes AND the ability to attract those top tier stores, restaurants and venues into that foot print. But that’s NOT the real issue.
Let’s say we bring back SAK’s, the coolest of cool adult clubs, 5 Star dining, another boutique hotel or two and turn Brush Creek Sewage into a mile long white water rafting stream with shuttles from start to finish. You and I will bring in THE best of everything. Lets flip on the lights to all the new signs and open for our first weekend at our newly designed, top shelf destination location, the now palatial Country Club Plaza. Heck, lets even INCLUDE a Country Club!
Saturday night rolls around….tweets go out, and the East of Troost tugs throw down the game plan and come IN mass to our new top shelf area. Harley, we have all our dream venues there and ready for business. But Craig can’t get out of his CorLotus with his girls because its over run, just like usual, with thugs there to throw a wrench in our brand new business plan.
Its not an issue of making it the crown jewel again. That can be done by several development firms. But the key is, once it IS the crown jewel, how do you protect it?
And then………….you find yourself in the same Plaza we have today. Today, its just an average place with average chain stores over run by thugs on the weekend. Tomorrow, after you and I redesign it, and the same problem exists, you just have thugs over running a NICER version of the Plaza and the problem hasn’t been addressed or solved.
Its not nicer stores, its protecting whats there today FOR a better tomorrow.
sorry wilsolongbongo man…
but this is not the first time that a retail area has had
problems.
the answers are at night…one night a week…3 months
a year or so.
someone with your lack of business acumen wouldn’t
get it.
There are many developementsinthe nation that overcame
problems…this is not the first or last. Remember this
problem you speak of started a decade ago.
But yet the shops are still paying huge rent…theres expansion…
companies like jack stack moved down there….there have
been new companiesexpanding and moving in since this
so called problem occurred.
since you’re not a businessman (remembering your
attempt to buy a small time jazz bar that FAILED!)
I WOULDN’T EXPECT YOU TO HAVE ANY IDEAS BESIDES
THE USE OF FORCE TO CORRECT A PROBLEM.
SORRY OLD GUYS…DON’T GO DOWN TO THEPLAZA.
YOU DON’T SPEND ANY MONEY ANYWAY.
IF YOU’RE LIKE CHUCK YOU CAN BARELY COUGH UP
ENOUGH FOR A STARBUCKS CUP OF COFFEE.
The plaza will be bought…it will survive…business will
continue…I mean have you seen the crowds at places
like kona grill/the shoppers on weekends…and of course
the mobs during the xmas holidays?
I think someone is doing real well down there at the plaza…
I would like to see the vacancy rate there versus other areas
of the city.
And besides…a guy who wear 40 year old shoes isn’t a shopper…he’s just a looker…and the stores down there really
want people with disposable income…not a stroller !
It will survive…I know it will….and its still considered
the jewel of this town…known nationally….and with
more conventions etc. coming as kc grows it will get better
and better.
A few smart minds will come in and make the needed changes.
why they haven’t done it is beyond me.
Stay out at your little coffee shop and spend your three
dollars…
THE PLAZA IS FOR THE BIG BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Interesting, Harley, I thought the Plaza was the first business who ever had a problem of any kind and that it was also the first victim or black crime. Who knew, thanks for your incredible insight. We are all now better for it!
40 year old shoes, hmmm. I just lost 54 pounds, have a few more to go, so I was sorting my summer / fall closet. Guess what I found that slipped my mind? My custom made, hand tailored 3/4 length wool coat made on the spot in Hong Kong at Mr. Woo’s. Never heard of him? Not surprised. Point being, it’s worth more than your, oh let’s see, whole wardrobe! I also have on, single sport coat that would wipe out the rest of your value just in case.
Why don’t we have that beer you’ve offered to buy for two years and lay W2’s side by side and give you a little surprise. Bring your investment statement too and I’ll bring my VOYA summary.
Have a nice day, little man. (The above should tell you what the lawya already knows)
I DON’T WEAR A BUNCH OF OLD
SHOES WITH NO SOLES AND OLD COATS
THAT ARE TATTERED AND WORN.
If I remember right…most salesmen dress
like herb tarlick…..
Do you wear your spats out at night also?
You’re a day late and a dollar short Polar Bear. Get you own blog and stop taking welfare from Hearne! The rest of the media has already filed 3 or 4 posts on this one. Keep up the good work though, you might want to try writing more about your wife’s singing.
GreedoTroll, a few thoughts. First, I’m not Polar Bear. I’ve gotten emails from “him” saying its funny the mouth breather, knuckle dragging crowd at Tny’s thinks so, but I’m sorry, wrong guy.
Second, this isn’t an attempt to report the NEWS. Only commentary on issues in our city.
Third, if I didn’t have Hearne’s welfare I’d most certainly be unable to make it. I live for the love and adoration of people like yourself, but hey, 50 cents is 50 cents. I need every dime I can get. Thanks for being a fan.
And finally, its really easy for no name cowards like yourself to attack someone, his family, his wife, because it comes from feeling so worthless yourself, you build up your own vacuous life by attacking those who have done something. It makes me sad that you’re one of those little people who live to attack. Just because I think you’re a dick, find comfort in the fact Jesus loves you, regardless.
Happy Thursday. Pretty soon you can clock out from the old assembly line, go home to the little lady and drink a cold Keystone light.
Thanks again for reading my sad attempt at news.
POLAR BEAR? LOVE OF PEOPLE? NEED EVERY DIME
I CAN GET? DONE SOMETHING?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
where did this stuff come from?
54 pounds? what did you weigh before?
and who is the polar bear?
I don’t need to answer that, Harley. You know all the facts, all the time, Porky.
Another great joke. I call you on the “porky” comment, you back peddle and say you’re talking about f^cking RUSH, then directly reference me as such.
You’re a gem, sad, little man.
Comment again about the jewel thief story I did that wasn’t even my story! I’ve not heard that one for 48 hours or so; that’s considered FRESH CONTENT in your redundant, repetitive old, stale world.
Jesus, I own you. I write, publish, you show up in 30 seconds to comment then add 20 more repeating the same thing.
Missou J School? I think it’s time to prove that or shut up. Oh, that property MU was taking over for expansion? Huge surprise! NOT YOURS!!
Wilson is known as the polar bear?
wtf?????????????????????????????????????????????????????
hahahahahahahahahaha
Jesus, little Kitty Scrotum, please read for CONTENT!
Me thinks man Greedo needs to get a life
The cat’s got Greedo’s tongue. All the nameless rock throwers are the same, just small men, little cowards tucked away in the shadows. I actually feel sorry for him, that has to be a sad existence….
Agreed,
except those that give Glazer a hard time…that sh!t is funny
“All we are going to do is make a lot of black kids angry.”
Lawdy knows we fo sho don’t want to do that, now does we? Can’t be makin’ dees black kids abides by de rules, yous sho is some crazy crackas. Makin’ black kids angry… follow rules- HA!
No, we can’t have that, now can we? Can you imagine a Congressman actually making that statement, in HIS own town, when he knows what the problems have been?
I have to go now, I’m going to go hold up a 7-11. And the cops better not arrest me, that’s just going to make me angry! I want to be left alone to go spend my stolen bounty and drink my slurpy in peace.
“The Plaza may be well on its way to becoming Indian Springs and Bannister Mall. ”
Hitting the nail on the head. Oak Park is quickly sliding down the same slope.
Agree. I went to Oak Park a month ago on a Saturday. All I saw were blacks and Mexicans with a few white people who had this, “Why am I here? Look at this place.” look on their face.
The whites have moved to Town Center or Online. Same thing for Independence Center. No one from Blue Springs or Lee’s Summit go there anymore. Too many blacks and Mexicans. They go to Summit Fair or Adam Dairy Landing or online.
When minorities and their problems flock to a shopping discrict, white people find another place.
in case you haven’t read any of my posts…the demographics
of the nation are changing. Blacks/Hispanics/non whites will
be the majority of the nation in the next 10-14 years.
Its just the facts…itsnumbers folks.
so get used to it…you can’t change it.
Was surprised to hear that the large per cent of catholic
schools in kc were Hispanic kids…now that’s a big change!
but keep bitching… nothing you can do but talk …talk…talk…
the world is changing…..get on board ……
Harley, for such a learned man with allllllll the facts, you’re an idiot! The Mexican people are primarily Catholic! So where are they going to put their kids when they come here? Catholic school.
Go down to the Boulevard and see who’s reinvigerated the big Catholic Church….
they are out at the catholic schools way out south Wilson….and they’re teaching the
non Hispanic kids Spanish.
that should tear you and chuckles a new one
when you read that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You’re wrong again, Brain Surgeon. My step daughter made the decision to go to an out of district school because of the diversity. She’s carried that decision from elementary through middle school. The Hispanic kids DO NOT teach Spanish to the kids. They speak impeccable English and only speak Spanish at HOME with parents who refuse to assimilate.
Again, you wildly misjudge me and how close I am to the facts. We had the entire staff of one of the single most popular area Mexican restaurants over for Thanksgiving dinner. The kids are fluent. Mom and dad, marginal. They are here for an income but maintain their community and culture. But we are one generation away from a new demographic; bright, fluent citizens who won’t vote Dem just because you say it’s a fact.
You need to stop commenting like a pathetic little fan boy; you keep showing how shallow your knowledge pool is. It’s similar to your gene pool and you only have your toe in it.
I dunno, I’ve wondered about the shelf life of Oak Park Mall for a couple decades and it’s still kicking butt and taking names
It’s fast becoming a mess. Parking lot crime abounds and a shift in the loitering demographics.
The media is always great at overhyping these things. And I don’t care what HuffPo or the Blaze or Drudge writes. None of the internet media are trustworthy to report what is actually happening. I have never had a problem on the Plaza or Westport. The media can say what they want, but for the most part they are full of shit.
Frank, I wrote a story last summer after talking to the cops and watching a near riot. I’ve spent too many Saturday nights researching the Plaza to not know its real. The Mayor knows it’s real when he climbed out of the bushes.
She has since moved, but over a three year period, I had occasion to take M, who is a close friend of my wife’s, home at least once a month, sometimes more on weekends after dinner or drinks. M lived just North of the Plaza. There was not one single time, that, as I drove through the Plaza, there were not crowds of under age (For the most part) blacks, clogging up traffic, flipping me off occasionally, walking through red lights so I could not travel back South, etc. etc. etc. This mob of “youths” is there, for EXACTLY the reason Paul says they are there.
Colin Flaherty wrote and entire book, based on Cleaver’s comment, “Don’t make the black kids angry”.
http://whitegirlbleedalot.com/kc-congressman-dont-make-the-black-kids-angry/
So Frank, if you are unaware of the problems on the plaza and throughout the entire nation, which, again, as Paul states, is because we are cowards and will not face the truth, then this is a nice wake up call for you.
I hope you enjoyed Paul’s article as much as I did.
Thank you, Chuck.
don’t drink and drive chuckles!!!! you might total your
82 ford!
If there is comfort in misery and that is what these mobs bring, than there is plenty of misery to go around.
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2015/02/forget_the_terrorists_malls_already_under_attack_from_black_mob_violence.html
Malls all over the country are being destroyed by violence.
That URL was from last Feb. This is a more recent article, again from the only reporter besides Jack Cashill (And Paul) with the nerve to tell the truth about this violence, who commits it and why.
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2015/02/forget_the_terrorists_malls_already_under_attack_from_black_mob_violence.html
It is categorical and replete with URL’s to local news outlets. The Liberal Main Stream Media, will NEVER touch this story.
Hope I have been of service Frank.
same here frank…never had a problem. But these old guys read some
b.s. from tonys blog and they repeat it over and over again.
violence…killings etc. are DOWN!!!!!!!!!
bUT chuckles and porky and others are all upset even though they
never get down there.
Café trio is upthe street from the plaza ////someone actually
did a report from there about the plaza. When they went to the
fountains did they get stuck under the horses asses?
I visited KC/Indep/Blue Springs a few months ago after being away for about 15 years. It’s totally changed. It was obvious most everybody fled to the Kansas side and what’s left on the Mo. side is ghetto or quickly turning ghetto. I drove up and down 7 highway in Blue Springs and half of the businesses were closed, run down, or plain ruined. I drove by the Blue Springs movie theater and they were showing movies but nobody was there. Independence wasn’t as shocking probably because it never was as nice as Blue Springs was back in the 80’s. Independence Center isn’t totally ghetto yet but I can imagine it’ll go the way of Bannister Mall in a few years.
If I moved back to KC I don’t think there’s anyway I’d live on the Mo. side and that’s the side I know and love!
Yes, I live in Eastern Independence. Grew up here and have always loved it. Now it is a rat hole with the only new businesses being thrift shops and Boost mobile stores. The QT down the street is moving to across 291 because the housing project Hawthorn around it causes it so much problems. It is like the local Government has completely given up and left it to die.
This is a classic case of white flight. I would certainly leave to the Kansas side(Practically EVERYBODY has already done this) if possible. Things aren’t going to get any better that’s for sure!
Chuck, I wrote an entire piece on this about a summer ago. My wife and I were having drinks and dinner on the deck at Cafe Trio, overlooking the fountain down below, when I could see the crowd swell and about 15 cop cars so up. Then, portable lights. I told her I was going to walk down into it and see what was going on, and I did. Leaving her there to drink alone!
I talked to a number of cops who said they were trying to contain the crowd to the fountain area and there had already been multiple fights. So, we have 20-30 of the city’ finest, standing there, just to monitor it and keep the peace. As I said, complete with flood lights so they could see!
Now, if this was TWO white guys roughing people up in front of Cheesecake Factory, they would have been asked to leave or arrested. They would not have had 4 cops come and stand close by in an effort to make sure they stayed cool!
We’ve gone way too far to appease the masses of hood rats instead of enforcing the laws we have in place. And now, we’ll watch it all deteriorate instead, so we don’t hurt anyone’s emotions or look like racists.
It’s really sad, but I think you’ll see it happen just as I said….
The Plaza is in sharp decline. Glazer has taken note of it and I have seen it at night with my own eyes. By the way, in spite of what Progressives would like, I think it is still a good idea, to believe you own “Lying Eyes”.
There is some backlash to this decades long pandering to African Americans. The tipping point, in my opinion, was the Michael Brown incident. I grew up rarely if ever, hearing the word ni66er. Just didn’t hear it, except very rarely. It is impolite and was never used, especially in a work place environment and NEVER in mixed company. The few that did use it, including black people I worked with and knew, were ostracized and avoided.
Again, this is just my experience. Now, I hear it every day, day in day out and I hear it from people in all walks of life, moneyed, landed gentry, right on down to the blue collar guys like me. The shift in attitude and the rancor, disdain and antipathy, that I see now, has only surfaced since the Treyvon Martin – George Zimmerman show trial. The Liberal media has doubled down on positions that are illogical and completely untenable when it comes to Race and the concomitant problems. This exacerbation of the racial divide, in order to excite the black base during elections, is a disgrace and at some point, it will be more than just you, Flaherty and Cashill telling the truth.
p.s.
and yes, I hear it from people I grew up with, that never, never, never used it, ever. Now, it is part of the vernacular.
OH GREAT….we talk about the plaza and the hooded wonder
blames it on two black teenagers a thousand miles away.
go back under the rock you came out from!
Harley, you idiot, READ FOR CONTENT. He didnt blame any black kid for Plaza activity. You surely aren’t that stupid, are you?
same with you Wilson…don’t drink and drive.
would hate not to have you writing on kcc and laughing my ass off
at your comments.
be safe…seriously….and the worst place to drink then drive is coming
from the plaza to outside in the south part of town.
be careful…stil luv ya…..Harley.
Wait a minute. You left your wife all alone, knowing full well that there was a good chance that some black thug, or gang of black thugs, was gonna run up there and rape your wife. Shame on you
She never got out of the car. What are you talking about?
another faceplant for chuck…..you left your wife
in the car? how gentlemanly of you. does she
carry guns too? hahahahahaaha!
HEY OLD GUYS…..ITS SIMPLE….IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT…DON’T GO DOWN
THERE.
HALF YOU AIN’T GOT THE MONEY FOR A STEAK AT PLAZA THREE OR
ARMANI SHIRTS.
THATS COOL THAT YOU FEEL THAT ITS GONE DOWNHILL…BUT SOMEONE
IS MAKING A LOT OF MONEY ON THE PLAZA WITHOUT YOUR $3.00
YOU SPEND WHEN YOU GO OUT.
SO STAY AWAY….THE MERCHANTS HAVEN’T MISSED YOU. THE
STORES HAVEN’T MISSED YOU. GO TO THE OUTLETS OUT SOUTH
OR WHEREVER YOU SHOP.
JUST STOP BITCHING LIKE OLD MEN AND DON’T GO DOWN THERE.
I GUARANTEE YOU THE MERCHANTS WON’T MISS YOU A SINGLE BIT!!!!!!!!!!!
STAY IN SOUTH KC WITH CHUCKLES ….THE PLAZA JUST ISN’T THE
PLACE FOR YOU ANYWYE . I DOUBT ANY OF YOU BOUGHT ANYTHING
FROM THERE IN THE LAST 20 YEARS!!!! AND THEY STILL ARE DOING
A BANG UP BUSINESS.
As is to be expected, your solipsistic, less than nuanced reply misses the entire point. The Plaza has been the Crown Jewel of our city for over 3/4 of a century. The destruction of this area is a serious and perhaps mortal blow to the city’s image and tax base in the short and long term. This diminishes every Kansas City citizen, as the tax base dwindles, property values fall and families flee to the suburbs. It is, not a metaphorical cancer, it is a metaphysical cancer, real and incipient.
Your inability to click on the URL’s which I provided, that reveal this problem is a nation wide necrosis, destroying the Rule Of Law and the Social Contract, is, however, to be expected. Reading and comprehension in conjunction with the ability to compare and contrast were never your strong suit. Leona Helmsley type insults are your strong suit and we hoi polloi have taken note of your disdain. However, one more time, my individual purchases on the Plaza are a non sequitur, the issue is the destruction of this shopping area and neighborhoods and cities all over America by the Brown Shirted products of the African American Sub Culture, aided and abetted by the Left, that law abiding citizens are forced to look away from, or suffer the usual “rayciss!” slings and arrows .
By the way, me personally, I think you are as rich as you are brilliant.
chuck…they don’t want people like you down there…all
you’d do is take up space and waste the workers time.
take your money and go buy somewhere else.
all you do is complain….bitch…and use racist vile
language.
stay out south…they like bluecollar guys out there…
its your home.
you don’t hav the money for the places on the plaza and
they are doing finewithout you so I think they really don’t
want drifters walking thru the plaza who don’t buy anything.
In other words…if you don’t like the place…stay away…
and don’t take that lady driving when you’ve been drinking.
Just don’t worry about the plaza…those people will be fine.
THEY DON’T NEED NOR WANT YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And still KCPD hasn’t made an arrest in the case of the guy getting almost beaten to death two weeks ago. Police have the perps name from an open tab at the bar and almost two weeks later no arrests. Pathetic. It’s a matter of time until some tourist gets seriously hurt there. This makes me sick. To me the Plaza should be the line in the sand that we’re not going to let the plague destroy. But no, we have to cater to a segment of society that brings nothing positive to the table. It amazes me that many years ago when I was in high school if 10 of us hung out at the McDonalds parking lot the Lenexa cops would run us off even though we weren’t bothering anyone. Yet hundreds of black kids are allowed to gather on the Plaza and Westport, fucking with people, grab girls boobs, and six of them beat up their boyfriend if he protests. Hundreds of white kids would NEVER be able to loiter in Westport, the cops would run them off.
http://demographics.coopercenter.org/DotMap/index.html
Check out this “racial dot map”. It tells the entire story of what’s going in KCMO. Note the stark difference between the Missouri and Kansas side.
Everyone in Kansas City knows very well whose fault it is that we can’t have nice things, and it has nothing to do with “endless chains.” Congressman Cleaver has pointed out that large number of his constituents simply cannot be expected to behave civilly in public spaces and that there is nothing anyone can do about it. Setting such an expectation would result in (even more) violence, chaos and death. So Congressman Cleaver thinks we should just get over it. He offers no solutions, nor does the Mayor. The powers-that-be have bought into this argument. Given all that, Highwoods has made a rational decision, resigned to the low expectations that have paralyzed elected officials and law enforcement. Oh, and racism.
Many white people have elected blacks in the hope that they will do something about the crimes that black people continue to make. Cleaver, James, and Obama show that this does not work.
The US Congress is in process of changing sentences for blacks in prison … look for more violence, more crime, more murder.
The only black leader that seems to understand that it’s not ok for blacks to commit crimes and murder each other is Dr. Carson — and he’s made fun of as an uncle tom by the liberal media.
Blacks … make some changes in your life before walls have to be built.
Jack, this will be impossible to comment on without the obligatory cry of “racism” but I’d disagree with you on one point. I don’t think we’ve elected black leaders with the hope they could repair black dysfunction. I think it’s been the vote of white guilt, a vote for “its time for a black (insert elected office here)”
Much like the steam behind the deflating Hilary campaign; “it’s time we have a female president.” Not that she’s the best choice, not that any female is the best choice, it’s just TIME. We have to be fair, equal, diverse and elect one to prove our selflessness.
We have a black president – blacks have lost ground in the last 7 years.
We have Cleaver – he was spit on and called the N word, yet three camera angles prove it a lie. We can’t protect the Plaza with a curfew; it will only anger black youth. And don’t get me started on the Emanuel Spic and Span Car Wash.
So we are on the journey for female and minority candidates out of white and male guilt. Very little more matters, with the exception of Carson, who is a REAL LIVE candidate, without looking at his race.
My good friend and attorney Mr Dreiling spent considerable time with Mr Carson last night, one on one, in West DesMoines, at a private party. I think it’s fair to say he came back a convert.
+100!
Always a solid contributor, Lydia. Thanks
http://demographics.coopercenter.org/DotMap/index.html
Check out this “racial dot map”. It tells the entire story of what’s going in KCMO. Note the stark difference between the Missouri and Kansas side.
There is no place left to go young man. Your politicians, your professors, your journalists, your heroes are traitors and cowards.
Turn and fight young man.
That is freaking crazy! Wow
St. Louis and Kansas City have some of the highest per capita murder rates in the nation, and, of course we can count on Reverund, Congressman, ex Mayor Cleaver to bring race into the discussion. They, however seem to be able to identify the problem, but can do nothing to correct it lest it affect voter support. The Plaza is definitely a depreciate asset, but what part of the city isn’t? In other cities, like Chicago and Detroit, the solution, typically progressive is to declare the entire city a gun free Zone and say something has been done. Doing has always been harder than saying. The Plaza, city, county, state and country owe us streets, highways, education, and law and order. They do not owe anyone a job, a good time, midnight basketball, lunch, breakfast, or happiness, only its pursuit. All of our cities are dying, and it is a combination of factors, from intercity decay, to corporate welfare like forgiving the taxes on the Kansas City Star. The dollars seem to increase, but the results are nil. Across the country, we have 277000 first time job claim, while we created 142000 jobs, with no increase in the unemployment rate. Really? They bought the Plaza for what? They’ll sell it for what? Goodbye Highwood; it’s been nice knowing you…not.
You are correct, Cowboy. And your friend, Harley, delivers the liberal cure; get used to it, you’re becoming a minority, shape up and get with the program. If you dislike where America is headed, well, you’re just old, not hip, etc..
Does that sound like a fix to you, or just more “give up and hide in your basement” liberal babble while feral violence is allowed to rule?
“All we are going to do is make a lot of black kids angry.”
Brilliant deduction, Cleave.
Especially since its black youth commiting all the shenanigans.
Love me some Lib!! Good to read you.
good post, paul. and a lot of good comments, perspectives. easy to chime in on this one, but do not have time right now.
but one thing i’ll say, i’m glad highwood is getting out. they never did respect the Plaza. deaf ears to the public and to the retailers. it was all just about the money, nothing else.
their biggest problem, aside from really taking a stand against the mobs and leaving the city to deal with it for the most part, was not understanding the Plaza and what it was to local residents and “in the know” visitors. They brought in the chains for the recognizable names, to cater to the tourists and convention crowds, to maximize what they could out of their investment, without regard to the impact it was having on a cherished shopping district. their disdain and ignorance opened the door to the thugs and the violence, because they DID NOT CARE. and when you don’t care, the opportunists begin taking advantage.
yes, i’m glad they’re getting out, taking their profit to pay off DEBT (an insult by the way); it’s long overdue.
i hope the new owners come in determined, dedicated, smart, and fearless… and take the Plaza back.
Perfectly stated – dead on accurate. Thanks for always being a rock solid comment, for OR against my position!
Absentee landlords seldom care about the area in which they own property. They are there to maximize profit whether it is the Plaza or Section 8 housing.
In my youth there was an exclusiveness to the Plaza. Most of the stores located there had no other stores in the city and the suburbs with malls were still in the future. Businesses and patrons felt an obligation to keep thing hoity-toity. Franchise owners don’t always have that connection with their business and customers. Not because they are bad but dealing with the home office is often a full-time job. The franchise owners are selling product while the home office’s business is selling franchises.
The Plaza is now a myth like the family farmer and the noble savage. Romanticized into something people wish it was rather than what it is.
Over/under on the amount of TIF money ending up in the hands of the next owner?
Sorry, Paul. That’s Glaze’s expertise.
agree, orphan. doubt there is one kcc reader, over 40, raised in the kc area, who doesn’t wax nostalgic about the plaza to some extent.
i’m 62, didn’t live down there myself until the mid-80s, but had an aunt and uncle who lived in a duplex where the intercontinental sits (alameda then). she later moved to the regency.my grandmother was a buyer for harzfeld’s. for a time, my mom worked at jack henry’s. the family pediatrician had his office there. i was down there all the time.
we were far from wealthy, but my grandmother believed that when it came to furniture and clothes, you bought the best possible quality you could. so we shopped the rothchild’s and woolf bros’ and jack henry’s. ate at putches cafeteria and coffee shop, bowled at the plaza bowl, and on and on i could go… but this comment is starting to take on harley-like symptoms.
i guess my point is that i don’t think i’m romanticizing it, and know that it was not a myth. it WAS better back then. but it was a different time, too. (chuck and others who are better versed in sociology have spoken to that of course.) suffice to say that jc nichols and other city leaders would never have allowed then what we see today.
and in that respect i am wistful, saddened and nostalgic. because as much as i would like to see the plaza be that kind of place again, i have little faith that any new owner or city leaders will have the balls to actually draw the line.
and i certainly don’t expect the “teens” to develop a new found sense of respect and right and wrong, either.
+1
You can kiss all of these shopping centers good-bye in jackson County because Jean Peter Baker has made it clear that she will pander to the thugs and punish any shop keeper who takes the steps necessary to try to stay in business.
And, do some of you actually read harley’s drivel? Why bother? Why inflict that nonsense on your self. No one pays any attention to him. I’d sooner wade through a cess pool than read anything he writes.
masochism, maybe? i mean it IS painful to wade through some of them. but in the end, it can give your ego a little boost in knowing you’re at least not THAT batsh@t crazy.
damn,but you guys do digress.black kids do run amok on the plaza.chain establishments abound.blame,as i see it,is highwoods.when i was a teenager,we tried to run around on the plaza,and they had their own rent-a-cops,who would follow you,harass you,and if they could,eventually call the real cops on you. i don’t believe i’ve seen plaza security in years.and back then,there were a lot of them.and they were arrogant assholes.just what the kcpd is not and can not be.i assume highwoods did away with them. have you seen any order enforced? i suggest new owners take a page from the little town of nkc.yes,it’a run like a fiefdom but its legal…and the cops there act like rent a cops.i wouldnt want to live or own a business there but its a nice place to visit
if you’re scared to go down there….don’t…
millions of people go to the plaza without any problems. all those companies
are there paying the rent that’s in another stratosphere.
I don’t see where theres a huge flight away from the plaza…its just the
old dudes on tony and hearnes site.
how do these businesses make money down there? have you been to the
plaza and seen their business down there. Upscale people with money paying
$10 for drinks.
and glaze mentioned blonde…which was nothing but filled with hos/drugs and
football players who beat their girlfriends. Is that a place you would frequenet
with your girlfriend or wife? that’s why they’re gone!!!!!!!!
please…stay away…all you do is fill up space for all the people in the city who
love and enjoy the plaza.
Bannister was never a “war zone” BS!
James, just why do you think it closed? War Zone may have been a little strong…but I don’t know many white people who would have risked going there towards the end….
It was hurt much more by malls in general going out and the changing economic demographics of Hickman Mills, Raytown and Grandview.
You speak of white and black in a way that allows no space for equality. The damage you inflict with your writing is as severe as the crimes on the plaza. Do you think you are a great writer? Do you think you understand sociology? You are the fuel for the fire that you condemn.
To a young black person who might read this,
All white people do not think like this man. There can be positive future for whites and blacks, but you will not find it here in this blog. This blog is for old white men to excercise a mediocre vocabulary they picked up in law school and use it to show off on easy critical writing. If he was a real writer, he would write about solutions. He would write with passion and conviction. He would write with love.