Platte Dems
Newsletter of the Platte County Democratic
 Central Committee
    Volume 12 No. 1                                                                                                                                    January  2020
 
 
In This Issue
Truth, Justice Am. Way
NDC
Platte County Govt
PCDCC
News
Women's Club
Impeachment Trial
MDP Survey
Quick Links
  
  
Calendar   
  
 
February 10 -  Platte County Federated Women's Democratic Club - Platte County Resource Center, 11724 NW Plaza Circle, KCMO. 5:30 pm.
 
February 12 - Last day to register to vote in Missouri's March 10 Presidential Primary  
 
February 13 - Northland Progress - 4th Annual Stand Up For Progress - INFO 
 
February 18 - Northland Democratic Club - Sherwood Estates Office, 4120 NE Vivion Road (across from Penguin Park) starting at 6:30 p.m. Program starts at 7:00 p.m. 

February 20 - Platte County Democratic Central Committee
-
Platte County Resource Center, 11724 NW Plaza Circle, KCMO.  7:00 pm 
 
February 24 - Truth, Justice and the American Way - Public Forum - Sponsored by Platte County Democrats - See below. 
 
February 29 - Clay County Winterfest - Harrah's Hotel - INFO 
   
February 25 to March 31 - Candidate Filing period 
     
SAVE THE DATE:  
April 4th - Platte County Democratic Central Committee Spring Event 
 
 
 
Other Events:
 
Clay County Democrats - click here
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.         
'TRUTH, JUSTICE, & THE AMERICAN WAY'  
SPECIAL PANEL PRESENTATION & DISCUSSION
  
Are you overwhelmed by all the information you are being bombarded with from TV, radio, newspapers and social media? Not sure what is true anymore? On Monday, February 24, at 6:30 pm, a Panel Presentation & Discussion will be held on 'how to find the truth' in our current political environment.
 
We are excited to have on this panel the following outstanding individuals from our
Kansas City Community:  
 
Bill Grady - Bill Grady started in the broadcasting business over 40 years ago, recently retiring after more than 16 years with KMBZ Radio in KC. Mr. Grady has covered political campaigns from Reagan-Mondale on. He is also a past President and Board member of the Kansas City Press Club.
 
 
Lynn Horsley - Lynn Horsley, a graduate of Yale, retired after 30 years with the Kansas City Star including 19 years covering all aspects of KC City Hall, from politics to city services, economic development and business. Her most recent assignments included covering Johnson County, KS government, business development, and politics.
 
 
Julie Stutterheim - Julie Stutterheim has a B.A. in English/Journalism from Missouri Western State University and nearly 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Primarily her focus has been digital marketing, web development and social media.
After the panel presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask your questions.  
 
Please join us for an informative evening!This event will be held at the Platte County Resource Center, 11724 NW Plaza Circle, KC, MO 64153 (near North Ambassador Drive & NW Plaza Circle).
Light refreshments and dessert will be served.  
 
This event is free, but please RSVP at pcspecialevents@gmail.com. Hosted by Platte County Democratic Central Committee.
 
 
Northland Democratic Club      
Deb Hermann, CEO of Northland Neighborhoods Inc., described her organizations many programs to improve the lives of Northlanders. They are:
 
Economic Development:  Focus Vivion Road is a program that has addressed traffic problems, business renovation and other issues on an old, declining state highway.
 
Home Repair:  Last year NNI distributed $900,000 to residents who needed help with home repairs.
 
NNI at Work:  NNI fields all Northland Kansas City 311 calls regarding complaints on nuisance or poorly maintained properties that fail municipal codes.  NNI works with the property owners before code enforcement is activated.  Through this work, 70% of last years 2,258 complaints have resulted in the violation being abated.   This is good news for both home owners and Kansas City.
 
Neighbor Crime Watch:  NNI works with neighborhood groups  to organize local crime watch programs.  Last year 25 neighborhoods underwent training.  NNI also meets monthly with local law enforcement agencies to problem solve neighborhood needs.    
Views on Platte County Government by David Park  
PLATTE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGAINST OUR PARKS  

The Platte County Commissioners plan to cut funding for parks and recreation when they ask you to renew sales taxes in a vote sometime this year. And, they are going about it all wrong, just like they did with the tax proposed for a new jail that failed at the ballot last year. They will again make their decision on what to place on the ballot with minimal analysis and little public input.
 
Here is a list of what the commissioners decided NOT to do:
  • They will NOT review professional projections of population growth by total amount and distribution within the county,
  • They will NOT determine the inventory of parks and recreation facilities currently available to residents and recommended additions to satisfy the needs of a growing population,
  • They will NOT perform resident surveys to identify satisfaction with current facilities and unmet needs for additional facilities. For example, determine the feasibility of adding a third community center; and,
  • They will NOT prepare a recommendation for facilities to be added with an estimate of funding needed, both in capital costs and ongoing operations and maintenance.
The activities listed above were performed before the current sales tax was offered to the voters in 2010 and it was approved by a large margin. The process produces information that the Platte County Sales Tax Structure Advisory Committee should have available to make a sound recommendation for the level of sales tax needed for parks and recreation purposes in the future. The commissioners are limiting the information given to the committee, perhaps to guide the committee's recommendation to a predetermined conclusion.
 
I asked the commissioners to include funding in the 2019 budget, and again in the 2020 budget, to provide for this appropriate level of analysis and public input. I explained why it was needed and how to easily fund it. They decided not to include the funding.
 
Apparently, the commissioners have already made their decision to eliminate funding for new parks, trails, etc. and they are not interested in data, facts, and public opinion. This is an example of the way they make decisions on how to spend your money and what your quality of life will be like in Platte County. We need commissioners who are more interested in what you, the public, want.
Platte County Democratic Central Committee   
The PCDCC met on Thursday January at the Platte County Resource Center. Two candidates for office attended: Vic Abundis, running for Missouri House District 13, www.realvicfor13.com and Dr. Gina Roth running for the 6th Congressional District of the U. S. House of Representatives.
 
Information about the Speaker's Forum "Truth, Justice & the American Way" scheduled for February 24th at the Platte County Resource Center was circulated.  The event will feature a panel discussion on how to find the truth in our current political environment. The panelists are: Bill Grady, retired KMBZ radio reporter, Lynn Horsley, retired Kansas City Star Journalist and Julie Stutterheim, digital marketing specialist. The event is free. Bring your friends and neighbors. RSVP at pcspeciaevents@gmail.com is appreciated.
 
Preliminary plans for the Spring Event were presented by Missy Green. The Spring Event Committee has settled on April 4th 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Tiffany Springs Golf Club. The theme will be Turn Missouri Blue and the search for an exciting speaker is underway. Suggestions are welcome!
News   
January 31, 2020 AM - After watching mesmerized (and horrified) the impeachment drama that's been playing out since October 31st I am not happy with what is happening today. I am afraid this will be a sad sad day for America. I don't want fear to win. I will try to imagine courage and hope that someone out there a Senator or news commentator or activist like me (maybe all three) will find the strength to stand up for Truth, Justice and the American Way. Our childhood heroes like Superman, the giants of history like Truman and Eisenhower, the Kennedys, TR, FDR, Churchill, Eleanor Roosevelt and many more provide inspiration. This is the moment that history is calling us to stand up and demand that our leaders stand for goodness and hope and decency. If we cannot always be all of those things we can demand that our leaders are or at least try to be. This is our time. This is our moment to decide to take action. This is our year to reawaken the ideals that have made this Great Nation the hope of the world. Alice Wadsworth 
Platte County Federated Women's Democratic Club 
The Platte County Women's Club met on January 13 at the Platte County Resource Center. Our guest speaker was Shane Bartee, veteran, Attorney and Counselor at law practicing in Weston, Missouri. His topic - how to thank a Veteran for their service translated to "You can thank them personally, but even better is to prepare to do your duty." He explained this does not necessarily mean in the military but that each of us has a duty coming. It might be to your country or your state. It might be to your family. It might be to an accident on the highway. Be ready, someday your duty will become clear. Have yourself mentally, physically and emotionally prepared. Thank a Veteran by being prepared.
 
Our February meeting will feature Platte County Democratic Central Committee Chairman David Christen who will be on hand to explain the delegate selection process that begins with the Presidential Primary on Tuesday March 10th, 2020.
Delegate Selection Calendar
  • Last day to register to vote in primary Wednesday February 12, 2020
  • Presidential Primary Election: Tuesday March 10, 2020
  • County Mass Meeting: Thursday April 9, 2020
  • Congressional District Convention: Thursday April 30, 2020
  • State Committee Meeting: Saturday May 9, 2020
  • State Convention: Saturday June 20, 2020
Impeachment Trial    
The impeachment trial of Donald Trump began January 16, 2020 in the United States Senate. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts and all members of the Senate swore an Oath of Impartiality after the Articles of Impeachment were read. Each member of the Senate was called upon to sign the oath book.  
 
The Senate has voted NO on issuing subpoenas for witness testimony and documents related to the Articles of Impeachment. Mitch McConnell has expressed a quick conclusion to the proceedings as his highest priority in spite of the fact that it appears likely that testimony from John Bolton could provide relevant information about what happened that led to impeachment charges. Bolton's book "The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir" will be published on March 17th. This information will certainly be public long before the November 3 election.  
 
The votes of each Senator refusing to hear evidence will be recorded for posterity. This will be a very important election year. Safeguarding our democratic republic and striving for a return to hope and decency will be on the ballot. Stay tuned for information about how you can help us turn Missouri Blue.
Don't Forget the Missouri Democratic Party Survey    
At the end of this year, the Missouri Democratic Party is taking a pause to reach out to all of our stakeholders and friends to find out their opinion on how we're doing and what they would like to see from us. We hope that you can take a few minutes to complete this survey and help us plan for 2020.