From Mayor Funkhouser and KC's First Lady Mrs. Funkhouser:
22 June 2007
Dear Folks,
We've had a slower "news" week this week. Which is good, because the really great things that did happen around city hall last week, one of them being the formal promotion of Gary White into the position of City Auditor, were completely overshadowed. Gary has worked in the Auditor's office even longer than Funk had and was the obvious choice to succeed Funk. Not only does Gary know City government backward and forward, but he was also trained at the feet (size 16's) of an internationally recognized government auditor, who now goes by the name of Mayor Funkhouser. Councilwoman Deb Hermann worked hard to make Gary's position official and we really appreciated that. Gary is the first African American city auditor in Kansas City and we are very lucky to have him.
This week the Council voted to extend a moratorium to keep new "pay day" lending companies from opening in Kansas City until September 30th. This gives the Council time to travel to Jefferson City to lobby for placing much needed restrictions on predatory lending companies. Councilwoman Jan Marcason became an honorary City Auditor this week for being the one to uncover the fact that the original moratorium was about to expire and for making sure that the Council was aware of the problem in time to act.
Funk has decided not to accept the free use of the hybrid car. While most of his supporters saw the use of the car as a non-issue, the media's constant attention was slowing our office from doing the work that is really important to us: providing clean, safe neighborhoods in a city that works for regular folks. So, for probably the next eight years, Funk will continue to drive his little red Toyota around town. I just hope the floorboard doesn't rot out on this one like it did the last one that he drove.
The Mayor's office is getting ready to have a dishwasher installed. We found it odd that Funk was admonished for not driving dignitaries around in a luxury vehicle, yet on a daily basis, we are red in the face to be serving those same dignitaries water out of plastic bottles and coffee out of Styrofoam cups. Luckily, an abundance of donations came in to our campaign fund account, after Funk was elected Mayor, so there is enough money to donate the dishwasher and real plates, cups and glasses to the Mayor's office from that fund. We will be using no City money to enhance the Mayor's office in this way, yet we'll be saving the City money in the long run and thankfully, we'll look a little more dignified when serving the many guests who frequent the Mayor's office.
With that, we hope you have a great first week of summer.
You can respond to this newsletter either at funksfrontporch@gmail.com or at mayor@kcmo.org.
All the best,
Gloria & Mark
22 June 2007
Dear Folks,
We've had a slower "news" week this week. Which is good, because the really great things that did happen around city hall last week, one of them being the formal promotion of Gary White into the position of City Auditor, were completely overshadowed. Gary has worked in the Auditor's office even longer than Funk had and was the obvious choice to succeed Funk. Not only does Gary know City government backward and forward, but he was also trained at the feet (size 16's) of an internationally recognized government auditor, who now goes by the name of Mayor Funkhouser. Councilwoman Deb Hermann worked hard to make Gary's position official and we really appreciated that. Gary is the first African American city auditor in Kansas City and we are very lucky to have him.
This week the Council voted to extend a moratorium to keep new "pay day" lending companies from opening in Kansas City until September 30th. This gives the Council time to travel to Jefferson City to lobby for placing much needed restrictions on predatory lending companies. Councilwoman Jan Marcason became an honorary City Auditor this week for being the one to uncover the fact that the original moratorium was about to expire and for making sure that the Council was aware of the problem in time to act.
Funk has decided not to accept the free use of the hybrid car. While most of his supporters saw the use of the car as a non-issue, the media's constant attention was slowing our office from doing the work that is really important to us: providing clean, safe neighborhoods in a city that works for regular folks. So, for probably the next eight years, Funk will continue to drive his little red Toyota around town. I just hope the floorboard doesn't rot out on this one like it did the last one that he drove.
The Mayor's office is getting ready to have a dishwasher installed. We found it odd that Funk was admonished for not driving dignitaries around in a luxury vehicle, yet on a daily basis, we are red in the face to be serving those same dignitaries water out of plastic bottles and coffee out of Styrofoam cups. Luckily, an abundance of donations came in to our campaign fund account, after Funk was elected Mayor, so there is enough money to donate the dishwasher and real plates, cups and glasses to the Mayor's office from that fund. We will be using no City money to enhance the Mayor's office in this way, yet we'll be saving the City money in the long run and thankfully, we'll look a little more dignified when serving the many guests who frequent the Mayor's office.
With that, we hope you have a great first week of summer.
You can respond to this newsletter either at funksfrontporch@gmail.com or at mayor@kcmo.org.
All the best,
Gloria & Mark
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