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Newsletter of the Platte County Democratic
Central Committee
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Volume 11 No. 8 August 2019
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Calendar
August 28 - Senator Blunt, are you a chicken? Why won't you meet with us? Meet in front of his office at 1000 Walnut, KCMO at high noon. Signs and rubber chickens welcome.
September 7 - NDTC Blue Bench Campaign Training - Kansas City. See below.
September 9 - Platte County Federated Women's Democratic Club - Platte County Resource Center, 11724 NW Plaza Circle, KCMO. 5:30 pm.
September 12 - Democratic Presidential Debates - 8:00 pm on ABC.
September 17 - Northland Democratic Club - Ice Cream Social, Happy Rock Park, Questions? Donna Cushman 816-668-8273. Everyone welcome!
September 19 - Lauren Arthur's Kick-off Event - Summit Grill, Gladstone 5:30 pm. Info.
September 19- Platte County Democratic Central Committee - Platte County Resource Center, 11724 NW Plaza Circle, KCMO. 7:00 pm.
September 27 - Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus - El Torreon KC, 3101 Gillham Plaza, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Keynote Speaker will be Auditor Nicole Galloway 2020 candidate for Governor of Missouri. Tickets here.
Other Events:
Jackson County Democrats - click here.
Indivisible Kansas City -
click here.
Greater KC Women's Caucus - click here.
Heartland Alliance for Progress -
click here.
Northland Progress -
click here.
ResistHate KC -
click here.
Buchanan County Democrats - click here.
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Platte County Democratic Central Committee Forum
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The first Platte County Democratic Forum "What is Good Government" featuring Missouri State Representative Judy Morgan House District 24 took place on August 20th in the Community Room at the North Patrol Police Station. The presentation began with a reminder that the Preamble to
 the Constitution of the United States provides a very concise description of Good Government.
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We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America."
In those few words, the Founders summarized the need for a judicial system to define justice as the rule of law and provide ways to correct injustice. They acknowledged the need to protect the peace in cities and towns and to defend the country as a whole. They envisioned a country that would provide an environment that promotes physical and economic health and recognized that we will continue to seek a More Perfect Union.
The first in the first ten Amendments, the Bill of Rights ratified in 1791 are evidence of the commitment to creating a country which is a work in progress. The First Amendment enumerates what are arguably the most important rights: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, the Right of Assembly and Freedom of the Press. There have been debates from the beginning about whether the Constitution should be interpreted narrowly (Madison's Strict Construction) or expansively (Hamilton's Implied Powers). And the Constitution has been amended to expand the right to vote - the essence of democracy - to include minorities (former slaves) and women who were excluded in the beginning. Current debates include ethics reform, economic opportunity, income inequality, women's rights, and the needs for health care reform, immigration reform and the need to protect our environment and the ongoing need for educated and engaged citizens.
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Views on Platte County Government by David Park
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UPDATE ON ZONA ROSA LAWSUIT AND QUESTIONABLE CONTRACTS
In regard to the Zona Rosa lawsuit, Judge Van Amburg ruled on May 30 that the Platte County Commission was not obligated to make a payment to cover the shortfall in sales tax revenue used to pay off bonds issued to construct parking garages. However, the case has not ended yet. United Missouri Bank (UMB), representing the bondholders, filed a motion on July 1 asking the judge to modify his ruling. There has been no ruling on the motion, and UMB may still file an appeal. Regardless of the outcome, Platte County's credit rating will remain junk status.
Meanwhile, Graves Garrett submitted an invoice for June in the amount of $13,213.89. A detailed number without any specifics provided to back it up, which brings the total paid so far under this contract to $509,601.61.
Last month, I mentioned a questionable contract with UHY Advisors. The contract, with no end date and no maximum dollar amount specified, was approved by the commission on February 19, 2019. Payment is to be at the rate of $125 to $300 per hour, depending on the UHY staff person handling the work and invoices were to be submitted weekly according to the contract. As of July 1, no invoices had been submitted so I pointed out the growing unknown debt to the commission at their meeting that day. They were not concerned.
UHY Advisors submitted their first invoice on July 30. It stated, "For professional services rendered through July 15, 2019" and was in the amount of $4,613.00. The invoice did not list the staff person who performed work, the hours involved, or the hourly rate. It listed four general statements, like "met with county commission to confirm project objectives". No dates or amount of time involved were indicated with any of the statements.
UHY Advisors was hired to provide financial advising. Their first advice to the commission should be to require more detailed invoices from their contractors!
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Platte County Federated Democratic Women's Club
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The Platte County Federated Women's Democratic
Club met on Monday August 12th
at the Platte County Resource Center. Kevin Grooms from the Thomas Hart Benton Sierra Club was the guest speaker. He spoke about the many activities of the Sierra Club whose motto is Explore. Enjoy. Protect. Sierra Club events and social activities are listed on Meetup -
Heartland Sierra Club Friends.
Activities include conferences like the August 11th meeting on the Green New Deal co-sponsored by the Sierra Club and the Sunrise Movement and the upcoming Metro Kansas City Climate Action Coalition on September 14th,
https://www.mkccac.otg/summit
. Activities are also listed on the Sierra Club Facebook Page "Sierra Club / Thomas Hart Benton Group". Four members of the Women's Club attended the Green New Deal presentation.
Women's Club members continue to participate in IJAM sessions. The Clay County Women's Democratic Women's Club (formerly Les Fems Dems) resumed meetings on August 19th with a meeting at Chappell's Restaurant.
The next meeting of the 6
th Congressional District Federated Women's Democratic Clubs will be a luncheon (still in the planning stages) on October 5, 2019, in Brookfield, MO, at the Burris Center. The speaker will be Elad Gross, former MO Assistant Attorney General and candidate for Missouri Attorney General.
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Northland Democratic Club
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Lori Slettehaugh,
Associate Professor and Physical Therapy Assistant, Kansas City Kansas Community College, made a dsetailed presentation in favor of Medical For All.
Our current system is the most expensive in the world and provides lower results than most systems in the developed world. Lack of access puts care out of reach for many. Medicare has  been successful for 51 years and is approved by most Americans.
Medicare For All would mean all healthcare needs including vision, dental, etc. would be provided for everyone at a LOWER price than our current system. Medicare For All is a single payer system (as is used everywhere else) that would lower costs by eliminate the costs of profit taking by insurance companies and negotiating system prescription costs. Administrative costs would be similar or lower to those of insurance companies.
There will be tremendous opposition from insurance companies and conservatives. Republicans are already painting Democrats in favor of this system as socialists. This will continue and intensify. But getting the truth out about this system will counter these attacks.
HR1384 and S1129 are the current bills in Congress addressing Medicare for All. More information can be found here and here.
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Platte County Democratic Central Committee
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The
Platte County Democratic Central Committee met on August15th at the Platte County Resource Center on Thursday August 15th. Members who attended Clay County's "Night at the Elms" reported that it was a great Success. Congressman Joaquin Castro, twin brother of former U. S. Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and current Presidential Candidate Julian Castro was the guest of honor. Discussion turned to plans for Platte County's fall fundraiser. After a discussion of possible venues the Committee voted to postpone the event in order to allow time to plan it well. We will need all the momentum we can build heading in to the 2020 election season.
Paula Willmarth reported that finding candidates for every open seat in every elective body continues to be the highest priority. She said the next meeting of the State Committee is coming up and she will have more to report at the next Central Committee meeting. Missy Green reported that Northland Progress is going through some changes. She and Blake have decided to step back in favor of family priorities and the current Executive Director has resigned. The Committee voted to approve Ed Casey as Committeeman to represent district 14-5 and Rex Martin as Committeeman to represent district 12-1.
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NDTC Blue Bench Training: Kansas City, Missouri
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Join the Missouri Democratic Party and the National Democratic Training Committee in Kansas City, Missouri on September 7th for a free in-person training focusing on fundamental aspects of running a campaign, including fundraising, messaging, digital communications, and field operations National Democratic Training Committee 9:00 a.m. to 4:30. Registration required sign up now
here.
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Contact Information for Kansas City Council
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