James Clendenin Archives - Page 4 of 6 Voice For Liberty

Jul

WichitaLiberty.TV July 14, 2013

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV, host Bob Weeks explains the attitude of the Wichita City Council regarding ethical behavior and reports on incidents that illustrate the need for campaign finance reform and pay-to-play laws in Wichita and Kansas. Also, Bob notices a document produced this year titled "Wichita Area Future Water Supply: A Model Program for Other Municipalities" and wonders why the city boasts of expensive water projects and long-term planning at the same time it's forcing an austerity campaign on its citizens. Episode 4, aired July 14, 2013.

May

By Bob Weeks

Starwood calls on Wichita

This Tuesday the Wichita City Council considers economic development incentives to Starwood Hotels & Resorts for a call center to open in Wichita. Besides the usual problems with cronyism and corporate welfare (see Wichita-area economic development policy changes proposed for explanation of some problems), there are a few issues to consider regarding this item. First, the site where the Starwood call center will be located is owned by Max Cole. He and his wife are significant campaign contributors to Wichita City Council Member James Clendenin (district 3, southeast and south Wichita). Under the concept of pay-to-play laws that Wichita needs,…

Apr

By Bob Weeks

Ambassador Hotel Industrial Revenue Bonds

The City of Wichita should not approve a measure that is not needed, that does not conform to the city's policy (based on relevant information not disclosed to citizens), and which is steeped in cronyism. This week the Wichita City Council will consider authorizing industrial revenue bonds (IRB) for the Ambassador Hotel project in downtown Wichita. In most cases, the major benefit of IRBs is exemption from paying property taxes. Since the Ambassador Hotel is located within a tax increment financing (TIF) district, it's not eligible for property tax abatement. (Because of the TIF, the developers have already achieved the…

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Wichitans have choices; perhaps not information

The Wichita Eagle publishes a voter guide before each election. While this is a useful civic service, readers of the newspaper might wonder what is the point of allowing candidates to make statements and claims without being held accountable. Here are two examples of candidates responding to the question "Assess the city's success in downtown revitalization so far. How do you see that role evolving in the future?" Council Member Lavonta Williams (district 1, northeast Wichita) responded as follows: The trend in downtown redevelopment is showing a definite payoff in private investment exceeding $250 million since 2009. People are moving…

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Wichita economic development and the election

As Wichitans decide their preference for city council members, voters should take a look at the numbers and decide whether they're satisfied with our city's performance in economic development. As shown in the article Wichita economic statistics, Wichita is not doing well in key economic statistics. Debt has risen rapidly in recent years. Growth of private sector jobs lags far behind the nation and the state of Kansas, and government jobs have grown faster than private sector jobs. While inflation-adjusted spending per person is holding relatively steady, the city is cutting services and generally sending a message of budgetary distress.…

Feb

By Bob Weeks

Is graft a problem in Wichita?

In his paper History and Constitutionality of Pay-to-Play Campaign Finance Restrictions in America Greg Schmid explains the problems that result from the "soft corruption" that pay-to-play laws combat. Is this a problem in Wichita? Is it possible that "Graft takes the collective wealth of working taxpayers and transfers that wealth to the benefit of corrupt government officials and their private sector accomplices" in Wichita? Yes. Absolutely. As explained in In Wichita, a quest for campaign finance reform, we have a problem. An example: In August 2011 the Wichita City Council voted to award Key Construction a no-bid contract to build…

Feb

By Bob Weeks

Downtown Wichita issues not appreciated

Once again, the Wichita Eagle editorial board misses the point regarding downtown Wichita development. There may be some that are opposed to downtown simply because it's downtown, or for other silly reasons. That seems to be the focus of Rhonda Holman's editorial today. But speaking from a perspective of economic freedom and individual liberty, it's government interventionism in downtown that I object to. This is what harms Wichita, not the fact that people are living and working downtown or anywhere else, for that matter. The political cronyism involved in many projects in downtown Wichita is what harms our city. When…

Jan

By Bob Weeks

Carl Brewer: The state of Wichita, 2013

Much like President Barack Obama in his recent inaugural address, Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer displayed his collectivist instincts in his "State of the City" address for 2013. His speech, as prepared, may be read here. Opening, the mayor said "Wichita has overcome great challenges in the past and will overcome these as well, but we’ll need to work together." Near the close, the mayor said "THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW! We have reached a point where we MUST come together as a community, and create a plan that defines our priorities and the City we are to become." And…

Jan

By Bob Weeks

Campaign contributions show need for reform in Wichita

Candidates for Wichita City Council have filed campaign finance reports, and the filings illustrate the need for campaign finance reform in Wichita and Kansas. Two incumbents, both who have indicated their intent to run in the spring elections, received campaign contributions in 2012 from two sources: A group of principals and executives of Key Construction, and another group associated with theater owner Bill Warren. The incumbent candidates receiving these contributions are Wichita City Council Member James Clendenin (district 3, southeast and south Wichita) and Wichita City Council Member Lavonta Williams (district 1, northeast Wichita). Except for $1.57 in unitemized contributions…

Dec

By Bob Weeks

Wichita could do better regarding open government, if it wants

Tomorrow the Wichita City Council will consider renewing its contract with Go Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau. The renewal will provide another opportunity for the council to decide whether it is truly in favor of open government and citizen access to records. Go Wichita, along with the Wichita Downtown Development Corporation and Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition, contends that it is not a "public agency" as defined in Kansas law, and therefore does not have to fulfill records requests. Mayor Carl Brewer and all council members except Wichita City Council Member Michael O'Donnell (district 4, south and southwest Wichita) are…