i don't understand why anyone would be against allowing the city's voters voice to be heard on the project, unless of course they were afraid that the city's voters might reject the idea
Because we have a representative democracy. I don't really want to vote on every road expansion approved by council. Nothing gets done if we ask every voter every decision the council has legality to decide on its own. Petitions are great when used appropriately...but they are bring abused.
simple solution- don't vote on every road expansion if you don't want to. no one is forcing you to.
what's being abused is the TDD process, that's it.
i have no issue with the council and mayor running the city and fixing sidewalks and infrastructure. when we're talking about major initiatives that will impact the main rough ridin' street of our city or 30+ year bond that will be around long after our council is no longer around, there's really no harm in bringing these larger issues to a public vote. delay and possibly nix the project? this development group is going no where, and if they do leave and there's money to be made, someone else will come and do the bait and switch hotel scheme.
KCMO city government has proven itself over the last 100 years to be completely incompetent when it comes to making big decisions and that's why the petition clause is in our charter in the first place. live by the sword, die by it.