Letters: Readers discuss KCI terminal proposals, Google Fiber and Three Percenters’ guns
Next KCI process
I never understood why no one seemed to seriously consider upgrading the existing terminals at Kansas City International Airport and connecting them with conveyors, restaurants, more seating, etc., at huge savings.
However, now that the Edgemoor design has been selected, the only way to restore sanity to the process is to pay it to write detailed specifications, down to the type of tile in the bathrooms, and then let all qualified bidders — including Burns & McDonnell — submit sealed bids on the facility.
This is the only way to get a true apples-to-apples comparison. If the bidders want to offer different ways to finance their proposals, that is fine, but this would ensure a fair bidding process.
Doug Reising
Overland Park
Reasoning seems not to be a consideration when council members advocate aggressively for the Kansas City International Airport single-terminal project.
As reported in the July 19 Star, Councilwoman Jolie Justus, chairwoman of Kansas City’s aviation committee, based her support for the new terminal on her “gut reaction that more is better.” (1A, “Another partnership interested in submitting proposal for KCI project”) Her support for the new terminal is dominated by an emotional gut reaction rather than a thorough and fully reasonable set of considerations.
Furthermore, Justus’ emotional response is motivated not by reason of need, but because, she said, “It’s exciting that so many companies are interested in Kansas City.” Certainly, she must be aware that “so many companies” are interested because they seek projects that will generate “exciting” profits.
Kansas Citians know the cost to the city will be great, encompassing the need for new roads, constant discussions with the private venture regarding its operation and constant surveillance of numerous matters, including employment demands, concession stands, changes demanded by travelers and so on.
Harris Winitz
Kansas City
Google Fiber rates
At what point did Google Fiber become another sleazy cable company? I just got the notice about my $20-a-month rate increase starting in November. I haven’t been on its plan even a year.
I seem to remember when Google Fiber promised it wouldn’t raise rates for many years as we dealt with it digging up our streets and running 18 months behind schedule.
Why is it raising rates? Because one of its providers is raising rates and because of poor planning.
As of June 30, Google’s parent company, Alphabet, reported in its SEC filings that it had $94.7 billion in cash on hand and in small short-term investments.
Here’s an idea: How about Google Fiber pays for its own poor planning and poor provider relationship, and not pass that cost to consumers who allowed Kansas City to be its test city and endured torn-up streets for years.
If Google Fiber were to invest $6 million into its poor planning, 25,000 Google Fiber customers would not experience a $20 increase for one full year. It certainly has the cast to do so.
Joe DeMarco
Kansas City
Why the guns?
Why would the Three Percent United Patriots be patrolling peaceful protests? That’s why protesters protest. They are against the use of force and the notion that everyone needs a gun to have peace.
This just looks like another hate group and adds to the violence already stirring up our society. Is it true that hate groups only obey a bigger force, more than any moral authority? Then we have a lot of work to do, but not with threatening fatigues and guns.
Ron Faust
Gladstone
This story was originally published September 13, 2017 at 10:17 AM with the headline "Letters: Readers discuss KCI terminal proposals, Google Fiber and Three Percenters’ guns."