Leave it to this town to devise yet another scheme in which the entire metro area can worship something big, dumb and white without any serious questions about the cost or benefit to this Cowtown.
Seriously, the last time this town was so enamored with something this large and pale — Jared Allen was playing for The Chiefs. And we all remember that ended in disappointment as well.
In this instance, what’s so disgusting is that the price tag has been underplayed. $11 million is just the beginning of the expense to keep Kansas City’s Polar Bear in nicer digs than most people in this town will ever enjoy.
Let’s really put that number in perspective:
I haven’t been outside in days because this heat had killed as many as four people locally. Earlier today, KMBC reported that “A disabled woman has been sleeping on a porch after her electricity and water were shut off last week.” Meanwhile, The Polar bear at the zoo is enjoying 65 degree water thanks to Kansas City Taxpayers. Obviously, there’s no real interest in helping the poor or less fortunate from so many clueless d-bags taking their cues from The Tea Party and other privileged interests.
But the money dedicated to the polar bear might represent Kansas City’s leaders putting their faith in a theory that has been consistently proven incorrect.
They call it “Tin Cup Urbanism” and it’s a school of thought that encourages metropolitan areas to take on HUGE AMOUNTS OF BAD DEBT in order to draw crowds and then enjoy the (theoretical) revenue produced. We all know how this story works out: From Union Station To The P&L District and now the Polar Bear at The Kansas City Zoo — There is NEVER a payout for these pricey undertakings. The P&L District bleeds more than $12 million a year in red ink, Union Station is empty and the City recently tried to pawn off The WWI Museum on the Feds. Kansas City simply has a losing record on developing attractions that pay for themselves. Maybe next time we should just go ahead and buy a White Elephant to clearly demonstrate this town’s lack of acumen when it comes to developing revenue producing projects.
Tony Botello
bobv
Dude, you GOTTA lighten up!
🙂
MoCrash
There’s no helping someone who doesn’t like zoos.
Here’s a flash: not every government entity must pay for itself. While I won’t attempt to defend every crackpot non-starter the city’s geniuses have cooked up in the interest of economic development, some — like museums, parks and zoos — are not intended to be profitable since they are designed for the cultural enrichment of its citizens, hence improving the quality of life in the community.
If a polar bear brings more families to the zoo, and interests more children in pursuing an education in the natural sciences, then it serves its purpose.
kcredsox
If you keep giving handouts, you will have more people out of work. Why work when the government will support ya?
Tim
Wow, you are the most left biased turd I have ever read. Let me get this straight…wealthy, white, Tea Bag party = BAD…poor, non-white and lazy = GOOD. Got it!, thanks!
Can’t wait for the next article!
Oh, and by the way, we know what you are doing. Write articles to stir people up ala Jason Whitlock, and make a name for yourself. Here is the difference, Whitlock was interesting.
Collective Noses
Shocking…another negative post dripping with flawed logic and personal bias. Keep up the great work there slim.
Peter Putz
Most n egative writer around…do you agree with anything?
laughing at the troll tony
push the button,
pull the chain,
out comes chocolate cho-cho train.
Really?
He doesn’t like the polar bear because it’s white
Vic Throxton
Tony I want to party with you. Dude you just put out there whatever crazy crap that pops into your head. You are like the crazy uncle at holiday gatherings, what he says is usually totally off base but it is always entertaining. Now go get yourself some pie.
gsp
douche
conk
I’ve been reading KC Confidential a year now. I’ve read TKC for nearly as long. At first I enjoyed TB’s take on most fails here in KC. I was stoked when KCC picked him up as a contributor as I think TB posts relevant newsworthy stories on his TKC blog. However, after reading entry after entry and negative opinion after negative opinion, well, it just gets old. I’ll continue to read KCC and TKC for that matter, but am losing more respect for TB as the droning continues.
It’s one thing to comment on the fails of your city from time to time. It’s another thing to do it on a daily basis. After a while people just take you for what you are…just another blogger expressing his opinion rather than a journalist out to inform the public.
…BUT, you’ve found your niche and your sticking to it. Que Sera Sera.