Web Staff (Fox4KC) — Kansas City, Missouri, has lost its focus, and needs to get back to the basics like new and improved infrastructure, police and schools, according to Mayor Mark Funkhouser in his annual State of the City address on Thursday afternoon.
Funkhouser, repeating the refrain “I choose you,” spoke to around 200 people in City Council chambers, where he addressed the need to focus on neighborhood projects over “glitzy” projects like a new downtown hotel.
“Decades of neglect have left the city with a $13 billion ‘to do’ list,” said Funkhouser, citing the need for infrastructure improvements like sewers, streets and sidewalks as well as more police officers and business development. The mayor also took aim at the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, noting that the majority of the members of the organization live outside of Kansas City, Missouri.
“I am tired of being the neglected stepchild of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce,” Mayor Funkhouser said. “We need a Chamber whose sole focus is the retention and growth of business in Kansas City, and jobs for the people living in Kansas City neighborhoods.”
Click here to read Mayor Funkhouser’s State of the City Address.
“I want our Economic Development Corporation and our new Kansas City Chamber of Commerce to focus on helping the businesses we have now succeed and grow right here in Kansas City,” said Funkhouser.
Funkhouser also renewed his pledge to continue to work to stop public spending on a proposed luxury convention hotel downtown.
“Someday it may be a good thing to help finance a new convention hotel and attract larger conventions to Kansas City,” said Funkhouser. “Today is not that day.”
Funkhouser, who is running for reelection following a first term that was often overshadowed by controversy involving his wife’s role at City Hall among other issues, told the audience that he thinks that Kansas City is well positioned as the nation begins to move out of the recession.
“Each of my efforts is designed to move Kansas City forward from the bottom up,” said Funkhouser.
