More on Clay...

Why can't Clay Chastain just leave us alone? What did we do to him? I was listening to Chastain rant and rave on Steve Kraske's show on KCUR Friday morning. Clay was argumentative, repetitive, and completely irrational. So one would ask, how is this any different from normal? Truthfully it's not, but that's part of the problem.

Chastain spent the interview arguing with the other guests, and hammering the same tired, discredited points over and over again. His light rail plan will cost MUCH more than what he claims. Including inflation (remember, even if his plan did get approved, actual work wouldn't start for 5 or 6 years), his projected cost for the light rail proposal falls nearly a billion short. Even without inflation, he's still 500 million short.

So Clay's not an economist. So? Well, he's also not much of a civil planner. His idea is to cross the Heart of America bridge and head north to the airport. It has been established by city engineers that the bridge cannot handle the weight of the trains and the infrastructure required to support them. His solution? A stoplight. That's right, a friggin' stoplight, to keep cars and trucks off the bridge while the train passes. Yeah, that makes sense. Even though he's been told that the bridge can't handle a train with or without cars, he still stubbornly clings to his stoplight idea. Why? Because reinforcing or replacing the bridge would cost at least 60 million.

Let's see, what else is wrong with his plan? Oh yeah, Broadway. That's right, Broadway is the main drag he wants the track to take. Businesses on Broadway have all objected to having light rail run down their street. Broadway was not built to handle light rail. Main Street, on the other hand, is. Businesses on Main want light rail. Light rail actually makes more sense on Main than on Broadway. So, of course, Clay wants light rail on Broadway instead. Jeez...

After all of this, Clay still is threatening to sue the city if they decide to propose a new plan. He's been told that his idea as it stands now is unfeasible. He knows that the current city council and Mayor Funkhouser all want some form of light rail. Why does he have to be so irrational about this? For someone who doesn't live here, he's awfully obsessed with messing with the town.

I understand that his proposal did pass. I understand that the voters agreed to it. But I also understand a little common sense is in order. The description on the ballot was long, complicated, and I imagine very few people actually read all of it. The voters also didn't realize the many errors in planning and funding that the proposal's architect made. So, I don't see the problem in throwing out something that simply won't work, and replacing it with a new, more moderate and sensible proposal. I don't think it's undemocratic. The people of Kansas City will still get a chance at light rail. Hopefully though, with a plan that won't screw up the city. Hopefully crafted by someone with some sense, and without an axe to grind.

Forgive me for constantly ranting about Clay Chastain, but I feel a certain amount of outrage. Here is a man who is hell-bent on spending taxpayer money on unfeasible projects. He's correct in that Kansas City needs better public transportation. But, spending money that isn't there for a huge train system that nobody will use is just plain lunacy. I personally think he should be banned from proposing ANYTHING for Kansas City again. Especially considering HE'S NOT A RESIDENT OF KANSAS CITY. I don't care that he used to live here. He moved away, so he shouldn't continue to haunt us.

Phew, that feels better...