For all the excitement, voters never wanted Kansas City streetcar extension | Opinion
Slid through
As excitement and hype grow about the KC Streetcar, it is important to remember the truth behind it. All the celebration, all the “can’t wait to ride it!” — perhaps those comments include many from people who didn’t want to see their taxes increased by the construction costs, but it’s all good when others pick up the tab.
When an extension was put to a citywide vote in 2017, Kansas Citians said no. Elected officials took the matter into their own hands and whipped up a special taxation district, then slid it through quietly and quickly. Some of us have been and will be in that extra-tax area for years.
The word “authoritarian” is in the news often now. How Kansas City government got what it wanted for the streetcar extension is an example of this very ugly new normal.
- Anne Johnston, Kansas City
Kirk’s love
Many of us simply do not grasp the tragedy or understand the implications Charlie Kirk’s murder has for our nation. It wasn’t just Charlie, but the truth that is being murdered every day in the media, public education and liberal arts colleges that refuse to allow free and open debate or teach the fundamentals of critical thinking.
Many Americans are simply not applying their God-given ability to reason or have lost any value for or inclination to fight for the truth, even when it’s placed in front of them, like the death of Charlie Kirk. Listen to Charlie’s videos and the voice of love, grace and encouragement to young Americans for their spiritual and economic challenges of the future, which are coming head-on to them and us.
- Charley Morasch, Leawood
Deserved nod
There ought to be an unofficial Witt Award for the rare occasion when a remarkable player gets gridlocked behind an Aaron Judge or a Shohei Ohtani in the MVP balloting. I’m not suggesting that every runner-up gets this. It’s not about whether the MVP vote was tight. Simply put, an “MVP-2” on baseball-reference.com is hardly sufficient in some cases.
Take the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr., who had a 30-30 season last year while batting .332 (stats nerds know it was actually .3317). And, of course, the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh this season breaking all sorts of home run marks as a catcher and switch-hitter — if Judge wins, as projected.
Witt’s 2024 season was the first one when I thought we needed this. If done right, it wouldn’t undermine the main award. And the 2025 Witt Award, recognizing a rare gem of a season, goes to … ?
- Adam Silbert, New York, New York
Cancer fight
For millions of people nationwide, cancer is personal. I know the importance of cancer prevention, research and early detection. That is why I traveled from Oak Grove, Missouri, to Washington, D.C., to tell our lawmakers that cancer must be a top priority.
Along with 700 other American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteers from across the country, I told our legislators that any cuts to federal cancer research and prevention funding threaten our progress in the fight against cancer. We must adequately fund the National Institutes of Health and ensure scientific breakthroughs can reach patients by passing the bipartisan Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, which would provide coverage for new early-detection tests once FDA-approved. In addition, we urged our legislators to extend the health care tax credits that help make insurance affordable for more than 383,000 Missourians.
Congress must seize this opportunity to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. If you want to add your voice to this fight, visit fightcancer.org to connect with volunteers like me in your community.
- Barbie Todd, Oak Grove
What’s old?
There are only three things to say about the age of Kansas City’s stadiums: Wrigley, Fenway and Lambeau. ‘Nuff said.
- Dean Stoner, Lee’s Summit
Resentment
I am not a Democrat. I am a right-leaning independent who has voted for Republicans, has supported conservative policies and believes in the value of limited government and individual freedom. But what I see from Donald Trump is not leadership — it is weakness, pettiness and a reckless abuse of the presidency.
Instead of focusing on solutions, Trump spends his energy scapegoating Democrats, labeling them the “radical left” and relitigating old grudges. This does nothing to strengthen our economy, restore trust in government or unite a deeply divided nation. It only deepens division and makes America look small and unstable on the world stage.
Strong leaders take responsibility. Weak leaders blame others. Trump has made blame his brand because it is easier than governing, easier than compromise and easier than delivering real results. That is not conservative leadership. It is cowardice.
America deserves better than a presidency consumed by resentment. We need a leader who builds rather than tears down, who speaks to all Americans rather than demonizing opponents. History will judge this presidency not as strength, but as insecurity disguised as power.
Enough is enough. America doesn’t need a blamer. It needs a leader.
- Jason Russell, Kansas City
Dim future
How our society has gotten to this point is very simple to explain. It is as basic as the foundational scientific principle of cause and effect: Every outcome is the result of a specific act or actions.
Our previous administration became obsessive regarding political correctness at the expense of logical, practical governance. The reaction was to replace it with someone furthest removed from political correctness. We are now witnessing our leaders implementing a detailed plan (Project 2025) to reshape our government and to impose their extreme values and beliefs (including religion) on everyone. We are also witnessing our federal government aggressively repressing the ability to dissent through free speech.
What exactly is the next option for those feeling oppressed and persecuted? Last month, Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison for his coup attempt in 2023. The coup failed because he had the support of only one of the three top military leaders.
Our current U.S. president is surrounded by loyalists. We see armed military in our streets and efforts to ban mail-in voting. It doesn’t take analytics to see what’s coming in November 2028 or January 2029 if their voter-suppression efforts fail.
- Jonathan Phillips, Osage Beach, Missouri