Robert Layton Archives - Page 6 of 8 Voice For Liberty

Jan

Wichita ethics kerfuffle quashed; lessons learned

On Friday the Wichita Eagle reported that the involvement of Wichita public relations consultant Beth King in a project seeking city approval was a problem for three members of the Wichita City Council. Not so, however, for the city manager, the mayor, and three other council members. The crux of the problem is that King is engaged to be married to Wichita City Manager Robert Layton. But now, as reported in the Wichita Eagle King will step down from her assignment of providing public relations support to the project. With that, the problem is solved, according to city hall standards.…

Jan

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday January 16, 2012

Tax cuts = extra income? Commenting on Kansas tax reform, Wichita Business Journal editor Bill Roy said "Certainly for business people, it's the elimination of the income tax on business income. ... They'll appreciate having that extra income that they can use on other things in their business." I don't know how much thought Roy gave to these remarks, but his easy likening of lower taxes to extra income is symptomatic of the problem: We have become accustomed to government having a claim on our income. In the rare instances where government gives up part of that claim, we taxpayers…

Jan

By Bob Weeks

For Wichita city hall, ethics again an issue

Reports that the Wichita city manager's fiancee is involved with a group seeking approval from the city for a project indicate that the city's perspective on ethics could use reform. Nearly two years ago Wichita public relations executive Beth King was involved with a group seeking tax increment financing from the city. At the time I met with Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer and expressed my concerns that since King was dating City Manager Robert Layton, there might be a conflict of interest. If not, then at least the appearance of that. Brewer assured me that there were policies in place…

Dec

By Bob Weeks

Wichita’s political class

From June. The discussion at yesterday's Wichita City Council meeting provided an opportunity for citizens to discover the difference in the thinking of the political class and those who value limited government and capitalism. At issue was Mid-Continent Instruments, Inc., which asked the city for a forgivable loan of $10,000. It received the same last week from Sedgwick County. According to city documents, the State of Kansas through its Department of Commerce is also contributing $503,055 in forgivable loans, sales tax exemptions, training grants, and tax credits. At the city council meeting Clinton Coen, a young man who ran for…

Aug

By Bob Weeks

Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer to critics: stop grandstanding

Last week's meeting of the Wichita City Council provided a window into the attitude of Wichita elected officials, particularly Mayor Carl Brewer. Through their actions, and by their words, we see a government that cares little for the rule of law and good government, and one that is disrespectful to citizens who call attention to this. At issue was the circumvention of a statutorily required public hearing. In order to grant subsidies to a development team lead by David Burk of Marketplace Properties, the city is required to hold a public hearing, which it scheduled for September 13th. That schedule…

Aug

By Bob Weeks

Wichita City Council bows to special interests

Yesterday's meeting of the Wichita City Council revealed a council -- except for one member -- totally captured by special interests, to the point where the council, aided by city staff, used a narrow legal interpretation in order to circumvent a statutorily required public hearing process. The issue was a downtown hotel to be developed by a team lead by David Burk of Marketplace Properties. The subsidies Burk wants, specifically tax increment financing (TIF), require a public hearing to be held. The city scheduled the hearing for September 13th. That schedule, however, didn't suit Burk. In order to provide him…

Aug

By Bob Weeks

Wichita city council to decide between rule of law, or rule by situation

Tuesday's Wichita City Council meeting will provide an opportunity for the mayor, council members, and city hall staff to let Wichitans know if our city is governed by the rule of law and proper respect for it, or if these values will be discarded for the convenience of one person and his business partners. Here's the situation: a person wants to gain approval of a tax increment financing (TIF) district project plan. This requires a public hearing, which the city has scheduled for September 13th. But this schedule doesn't suit the applicant. He has a personal business need -- an…

Aug

By Bob Weeks

Wichita’s letter of intent for Douglas Place LLC

On Tuesday August 9th the Wichita City Council will consider passing a letter of intent to do something. Then, on September 13th, the council will hold a public hearing on whether the city should do the things contained in the letter of intent. Is this putting the cart before the horse? The agenda packet for the meeting is available at Wichita city council agendas, or an excerpt of the relevant pages is at Letter of Intent for Downtown Incentives for the Douglas Place Project. Mayor Carl Brewer Manager Robert Layton Gentlemen, I am concerned about the letter of intent for…

Jun

By Bob Weeks

Wichita and its political class

The discussion at yesterday's Wichita City Council meeting provided an opportunity for citizens to discover the difference in the thinking of the political class and those who value limited government and capitalism. At issue was Mid-Continent Instruments, Inc., which asked the city for a forgivable loan of $10,000. It received the same last week from Sedgwick County. According to city documents, the State of Kansas through its Department of Commerce is also contributing $503,055 in forgivable loans, sales tax exemptions, training grants, and tax credits. At the city council meeting Clinton Coen, a young man who ran for city council…

Feb

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday February 21, 2011

Kansas legislature website. Over the weekend a new version of the website for the Kansas Legislature appeared. It has a new design over what's been available for the last six weeks or so. It will take a while to shake out the new site, but here are a few observations: Finally, pdf documents are displayed in a standard -- that is to say plain -- method that should be usable on devices of all types. ... Attempting a search produces a "page not found" error. ... There is no mobile version that works on devices like an Iphone, which is…