Pete Meitzner Archives - Page 2 of 8 Voice For Liberty

Aug

Wichita being sued, alleging improper handling of bond repayment savings

A lawsuit claims that when the City of Wichita refinanced its special assessment bonds, it should have passed on the savings to the affected taxpayers, and it did not do that. A lawsuit filed in Sedgwick County District Court charges that the City of Wichita improperly handled the savings realized when it refinanced special assessment bonds at a lower interest rate. The case is 2018-CV-001567-CF, filed on July 13, 2018, and available here. The suit names David L. Snodgrass and Leslie J. Snodgrass as plaintiffs, and a long list of defendants, namely: The City of Wichita, Kansas Wichita City Manager…

Is the pursuit of intergovernmental grants wise?

Jul

By Bob Weeks

Is the pursuit of intergovernmental grants wise?

Is the pursuit of intergovernmental grants wise? Would local governments fund certain programs if the money was not seen as "free?" An eariler version of this article failed to distinguish Jim Howell's position from the majority of candidates. I regret the error. At a forum of candidates for Sedgwick County Commission, the subject of intergovernmental grants was discussed. All candidates except for current commissioners Richard Ranzau and Jim Howell were fully in favor -- enthusiastic, even -- of the grant system. Both Ranzau and Howell expressed skepticism of the wisdom and efficacy of the grant system. Other candidates participating in…

May

By Bob Weeks

Wichita in ‘Best Cities for Jobs 2018’

Wichita continues to decline in economic vitality, compared to other areas. NewGeography.com is a joint venture of Joel Kotkin and Praxis Strategy Group. Its annual "Best Cities for Jobs" project ranks metropolitan areas according to growth in employment. Of 422 metropolitan areas considered, Wichita ranked 383, dropping 28 spots since the previous year. Among 100 medium size metropolitan areas, Wichita ranked 93, dropping 5 spots from the previous year. NewGeography.com uses employment data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics from November 2006 to January 2018. [2. "The methodology for our 2018 ranking largely corresponds to that used in…

Wichita metropolitan area population in context

May

By Bob Weeks

Wichita metropolitan area population in context

The growth of population in Wichita compared to other areas. Several Wichita city officials have noted that the population of the City of Wichita now exceeds that of Cleveland. This, to them, is a point of pride and sign of momentum in Wichita. It's true, at least the population facts. For 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population of Wichita as 389,902 and Cleveland as 385,809. From the 2010 census, Wichita's population was 382,368; Cleveland's 396,815. [1. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places of 50,000 or More, Ranked by July 1, 2016 Population: April 1, 2010…

WichitaLiberty.TV: John Todd and the fight against blight

Mar

By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: John Todd and the fight against blight

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: John Todd explains how cities in Kansas are seeking additional power to seize property, and tells us why we should oppose this legislation. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 188, broadcast March 17, 2018. Shownotes John Todd’s video at YouTube John Todd’s written testimony to the Kansas Legislature Kansas Legislature: HB 2506: Rehabilitation of abandoned property by cities. This is where you can find the text of the bill, supplemental and fiscal notes, plus the legislative history, including votes. Bob Weeks: Property under attack in Kansas

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Property under attack in Kansas

Local governments in Kansas are again seeking expanded power to seize property. In Kansas, officials of many city governments feel they don't have enough power to deal with blight. This year, as in years past, there is legislation to expand the power of cities to seize property. [1. Kansas Legislature. HB 2506. Rehabilitation of abandoned property by cities. Available at http://kslegislature.org/li/b2017_18/measures/hb2506/.] [1. Weeks, Bob. Power of Kansas cities to take property may be expanded. Available at https://wichitaliberty.org/kansas-government/power-kansas-cities-take-property-may-expanded/.] John Todd, along with Paul Soutar, made a video to explain the bill and the surrounding issues. It's just five minutes in length.…

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Growing the Wichita economy

Wichita leaders are proud of our region's economic growth. Here are the numbers. Greater Wichita Partnership is our region's primary agency responsible for economic development. On its website, it tells us, "We are an organization built upon teamwork and the idea that, when everyone is advancing in the same direction, we can create a powerful force to effect change -- and, thanks to our numerous investors and partners, we are." One of the things GWP says we are doing is "Growing primary jobs." [1. Greater Wichita Partnership. Available at http://www.greaterwichitapartnership.org/about_us/about_us.] Recently Greater Wichita Partnership president Jeff Fluhr told a group…

CID and other incentives approved in downtown Wichita

Sep

By Bob Weeks

CID and other incentives approved in downtown Wichita

The Wichita City Council approves economic development incentives, but citizens should not be proud of the discussion and deliberation. Today's meeting of the Wichita City Council saw the council discuss and approve economic development incentives for a project in downtown Wichita. The item contemplated economic development incentives for redevelopment of an empty building in downtown Wichita to become a Hilton Garden Inn Hotel. The incentives being considered were a Community Improvement District (CID), Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB), a parking agreement, and a skywalk easement. The discussion by the council was useful for revealing two members who are opposed to some…

WichitaLiberty.TV: News media, hollow Kansas government, ideology vs. pragmatism

Jul

By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: News media, hollow Kansas government, ideology vs. pragmatism

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: New outlets for news, and criticism of the existing. Is Kansas government "hollowed out?" Ideology and pragmatism. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 124, broadcast July 17, 2016. Shownotes Kansas Memo on Facebook A short video on using Kansas Memo and other pages of Facebook The Honest Media on Facebook Renee Erickson's Facebook post Article: In Wichita, Meitzner, Clendenin sow seeds of distrust Article: Kansas government ‘hollowed-out’ Prager U: Free Courses for Free Minds

In Wichita, Meitzner, Clendenin sow seeds of distrust

Jul

By Bob Weeks

In Wichita, Meitzner, Clendenin sow seeds of distrust

Comments by two Wichita city council members give citizens more reasons to be cynical and distrusting of politicians. In a recent Facebook post that someone sent to me, Wichita City Council Member Pete Meitzner (district 2, east Wichita) wrote: "Hmmmm.....of note; Wichita is the only sizable city in Kansas that does not ADD any sales tax on top of the State and Sedgwick County sales tax rate." It is astonishing that council member Meitzner would brag of this -- that Wichita has no city sales tax. That's because Meitzner, along with all council members but one, voted to place the…