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To the editor:
Lately we’ve been reading about the Blue Springs City Council’s vote to “donate” $17,958 to the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance, a transit advocacy organization.
The council was told the $17,958 would be used for printing, educational videos, TV, focus groups, mailers, websites, etc., all to be used to “educate” the public. I looked up the definition of propaganda and it reads: information, ideas or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc. It certainly sounds like the City Council has voted to support a propaganda, advertising, or educational effort by an admitted advocacy group.
Last year during the campaign for the half-cent public safety sales tax, city officials were deliberate in saying they could not influence voters’ decisions by telling them how to vote, yet they are now subsidizing an advocacy group.
Speaking of public safety and the community’s 60 percent vote in support of our police, the council was reminded by Councilman Ron Fowler police wages have been frozen due to budget constraints. Although hearing that reminder, the council voted 5-1 to shell out the cash. I find it odd that the council, representing the citizens who apparently support their police, would so easily spend $17,958 for such an “educational” effort by an advocacy group, while telling our police there is no money for wage adjustments.
We have also read that our city councilmen have assured us the money will be well spent, although there is no budget, or plan, yet for this “educational” effort. The advocacy group is waiting to see how much they get before developing a plan or budget. We can all rest assured that through the collective wisdom of our City Council and the advocacy group this money will be well spent and then they will report to us they spent it well.
To the editor:
Lately we’ve been reading about the Blue Springs City Council’s vote to “donate” $17,958 to the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance, a transit advocacy organization.
The council was told the $17,958 would be used for printing, educational videos, TV, focus groups, mailers, websites, etc., all to be used to “educate” the public. I looked up the definition of propaganda and it reads: information, ideas or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc. It certainly sounds like the City Council has voted to support a propaganda, advertising, or educational effort by an admitted advocacy group.
Last year during the campaign for the half-cent public safety sales tax, city officials were deliberate in saying they could not influence voters’ decisions by telling them how to vote, yet they are now subsidizing an advocacy group.
Speaking of public safety and the community’s 60 percent vote in support of our police, the council was reminded by Councilman Ron Fowler police wages have been frozen due to budget constraints. Although hearing that reminder, the council voted 5-1 to shell out the cash. I find it odd that the council, representing the citizens who apparently support their police, would so easily spend $17,958 for such an “educational” effort by an advocacy group, while telling our police there is no money for wage adjustments.
We have also read that our city councilmen have assured us the money will be well spent, although there is no budget, or plan, yet for this “educational” effort. The advocacy group is waiting to see how much they get before developing a plan or budget. We can all rest assured that through the collective wisdom of our City Council and the advocacy group this money will be well spent and then they will report to us they spent it well.
