Friday, July 06, 2007

Citizen Letter From KC-MO Mayor Funkhouser: "Notes from Funk's Front Porch" V

Notes from Funk's Front Porch

6 July 2007

Dear Folks,

A really sweet soul that Funk and I had the pleasure to meet and be supported by during the campaign passed a few weeks ago. His name was Jay Martin. As is frequently the case when someone passes, I feel bad for not having had more time to get to know the person better. I feel the same way about Jay. There were many people at his memorial that knew him well and consequently, were gifted for it. The stories they shared were of a man who I personally only got a glimmer of, but had we more time, I could tell that we would have been like two peas in a pod. Our prayers are with Jay and his family.

In other news regarding a friend of ours and campaign supporter: Chester White was working when his ladder touched an electric line that sent 7,500 volts coursing through his body and found it’s way out through his little toe. Other than the poor little toe exiting off his body along with the electricity, Chester is fine, if not just a titch teary and pondering the universe. We’re really glad Chester is alive as, like Jay Martin, he is a bright light that we weren’t ready to give up.

Funk went to a town hall meeting hosted by Jackson County Executive, Mike Sanders, last Saturday. As usual, Funk was only supposed to stay for an hour, but ended up feeling compelled by the importance of what the people in the audience were saying to make him want to stay for the duration of the event. He was especially impressed with Jackson County Prosecutor Jim Kanatzar, who spoke with passion and intelligence about addressing crime problems, and, as always, with what Mike Sanders and Chief Corwin had to say. The town hall meetings are always enlightening and I really feel the community feels better just knowing someone cares enough to listen. I can’t wait until they actually see the changes that their Mayor is going to make – then they will really have something to celebrate.

There has been a lot of news reported regarding us as a family lately. The focus on our family, instead of the job, seems a tad strange to us. We’re just not that interesting; at least we’re not any more interesting then the next person that someone hasn’t taken the time to get to know yet. I, myself, am especially not that interesting; being just a lowly mother and wife trying to do her best in the world. Given all this, I’m impatient for many reasons, so I’m prodding the Mayor to hurry it up and show the City some tangible evidence that he is making progress on his list of priorities. He will. He’s impatient to get the work done, too.

Our anniversary is tomorrow. Funk has been the “lucky man” for 28 years now. I read in the paper today that lots of folks are getting married tomorrow because it’s 7-7-07, which is supposed to be lucky. Fortunately for us, we’ve been blessed without having the triple 7’s on our side. All it has taken is deep adoration and a willingness to slug it out in the trenches when necessary. I hope your marriages are as delightful as ours has been.

Until next week.

All the best,
Gloria & Mark

You can respond to this newsletter at funksfrontporch@gmail.com

Please help us by forwarding this email to as many people as you think might want to be more informed about their city government.

The Mayor’s top ten priorities:

1. Establishing a good working relationship with the Council
2. Getting the City’s finances in order
3. Making downtown work
4. Tending to our neighborhoods
5. Implementing the Housing Policy task force recommendations
6. Improving the perception and the reality of public education in Kansas City
7. Reducing Crime
8. Repairing our sewer systems
9. Establishing an excellent regional transit system, which includes light rail
10. Improving citizen satisfaction with City services.
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