Reader's Letters
The Difference of a Good Mayor
I detect in the pages of Ingram's frustration among KC leaders who see important in- frastructure improvements not moving ahead. I lived in Kansas City for 25 years before relocating to the Chicago area ten years ago. Here, Mayor Daley, once he is convinced of a need, single-handedly takes the ball and runs--whether it's a new stadium, downtown improvements, or a new transit line. He lines up political support, twists the state and federal governments' arms for funding, and puts the bite on businesses for financial help, all the while ignoring howls of protest from a hostile press. He was recently reelected to a fourth term, capturing 80% of the vote in a four-way race. Does Kansas City need another Pendergast, but one who is basically honest?
Doug Criner ,Westmont, Illinois
Spreading Christmas Hope and Cheer
Thanks so much for the wonderful article you did on us and the MLM Christmas Store. Although we still aren't sure why you would have chosen us, it's been a very special experience for us and we've heard from a lot of different people who've seen the magazine. Best of all, it gives such a wonderful and important visibility to the Christmas Stores--I know what a tremendous help this will be in gathering future support. Thank you so much for your help.
Barb and Steve Mueth ,Kansas City
Show-Me KC's Museum
When I read the Editor's Note (Jan. 2003) "Where Have the Leaders Gone?" I said out loud, "Exactly!" The article referred to the former Union Station as a second-rate funhouse. Having been reared in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where we had a downtown museum that consisted of several floors of exhibits, I was disappointed to find that Kansas City had only a converted residence. We lived on Long Island, New York for nine years during which time we enjoyed the many museums in Manhattan. Then we moved to a Chicago suburb where we again had access to many museums along its lake shore. I've been to the station's makeover only once. In fact I'm having what's known as schadenfreude. Loosely translated that means malicious joy... whenever I read of the place's problems. Sort of an "I told you so" attitude.
Anne Warzyn Kansas City, Missouri
Real. Important. Journalism.
I've read Ingram's and its predecessor Corporate Report--Kansas City for several decades now, and I'm always impressed at how well the publication addresses the issues in the area and contributes to the benefit of the city. In my line of work I travel to many cities and have seen hundreds of pub- lications attempt to represent their markets. I may be biased, but Ingram's puts other publications, and competitors around here for that matter, to absolute shame. Thanks for the continued commitment to real...important...journalism and to serving our market.
J. Brennan Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Nearly Good Journalism
Cashill's "Between the Lines" column about the class action law suit against H&R Block was pretty good until you took a curious turn towards the end of the piece. The leap from good reporting (and usually good writing) to a finishing screed about Washington correspondents' overwhelmingly voting for Bill Clinton in 1992 sabotaged the validity of your observation overall.
Dennis McLaughlin Lenexa, Kansas Submissions:
Letters to the Editor may be emailed to editorial@ingramsonline.com, faxed to 816.474.1111 or mailed to Ingram's, 306 E. 12th Street, Suite 1014, Kansas City, MO 64106.