I love Kansas City. My family is from the area dating back to the 1800s. I’ve been lucky enough to be a full-time resident since December 1990 and I wouldn’t live anywhere else.
First and foremost, it’s the people that make this metro area a great place to live and raise a family. I’ve lived a few other places around the country, and I would put Kansas City up against most cities and metropolitan areas.
Beyond the people there are other things that make this town great. Two of those things are the Chiefs and Royals. Being a major league city is a big thing that I think a lot of people in this town take for granted.
If you live in Jackson County like I do there is a question on the ballot April 2 that will affect the next 25-40 years of this city. It’s the continuation of the 3/8 cent sales tax that has been in place since 2006. It’s not a new tax, it’s a continuation.
I lived in Virginia Beach, Va. when I was in high school. Virginia Beach is part of the Hampton Roads part of Southeastern Virginia. Along with the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Suffolk and Chesapeake, Virginia Beach makes up a metro area that is the 44th television market in the United States.
On that same list Kansas City is 33rd. Behind Hampton Roads are Memphis, New Orleans, Oklahoma City and Buffalo. All those cities have at least one franchise in the four major sports. Heck New Orleans and Buffalo have two like Kansas City.
I’m sure many of you never would have thought a place like Southeastern Virginia is a bigger market than New Orleans or Buffalo but it is. The reason you don’t think like that is the biggest franchise in that area is the Norfolk Tides, the AAA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.
I’ve lived in that area and while life at the beach and the other amenities in that area are great, it’s not Major League Baseball or NFL type of great.
This town is a major league town because of the Chiefs and Royals. A lot of things come to this town because of the stature we have nationally because of these teams. If you don’t think so you are fooling yourself.
I’m not here to tell you how to vote but if this doesn’t pass there is possibility these teams will leave. I don’t think the teams want that but continually battling some in county leadership that continue to throw up roadblocks or dealing with a handful of business owners that don’t see the great good could cause the teams to have a souring opinion of being in this town.
The same vote no people who say the teams will never leave are the same ones who say you shouldn’t believe the billionaires who own the team when it comes to what they are willing to do.
You can’t have it both ways. Either the owners are telling the truth and want the continuing sales tax to help the county and the Metro, or they are liars who don’t deserve any money.
I’m not willing to be in a town without these franchises. If I wanted that I would just move back east and get in plenty of beach time. Trust me that is the one thing Southeastern Virginia has that Kansas City doesn’t.
