UPDATE:  November 15th. Today, I am closing the online petition to keep confusion to a minimum. If you did sign online, you will still need to sign the OFFICIAL paper petition that will be submitted to the KCMO City Clerk.

Please go to our PUBLIC Facebook page to receive updates on our efforts going forward and where you can go to sign (see link below). NOTE: You do not have to be a registered Facebook user to view it.

W 17th St TIF Petition Drive

A thousand THANKS to everyone for getting us this far. We need all the help we can to get the word out about this Referendum Petition in order to reach our 3,417 signature goal.

We are making a difference. Today, the Kansas City Star ran an editorial referencing our petition and its potential to spur a much-needed discussion about the proper use of tax incentives in our fair city. Thanks again and keep up the good work!

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UPDATE: October 29th, the Council voted to approve Ordinance 150849. Councilman Wagoner voted NO, Councilman Barnes ABSTAINED and the remaining councilpersons and the Mayor voted YEA.

The next step is to submit a NOTICE for a Referendum Petition to the City Clerk, which we hope to do shortly.

We will leave this online petition open so that others may continue to sign their name and leave comments.  We will also use this petition to keep people up-to-date on our efforts.

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UPDATE: October 22nd, the Council voted to hold over the resolution for one week, giving us another 7 days to continue spreading the word and gathering signatures. For those so inclined, maybe even a call to your in-district and at-large representatives too!

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On Thursday, October 22nd, the City Council of Kansas City will vote on whether or not taxes intended for public schools should be used to finance the development of 1640 Baltimore in the West Crossroads area (see above illustration).

As students, parents, teachers and community members of the Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS), we wish to inform the City Council that it is NOT okay to continue to subsidize development in non-blighted areas such as the Plaza, the Crossroads and Downtown at the expense of our students.

As voters, taxpayers and residents, we deserve for our voices to be heard as loud and clear as those who are paid to lobby City Hall. We deserve representatives with the courage to listen to the people they were elected to represent and to act in a manner that balances the needs of all Kansas City citizens.

Stand up for being heard -- sign this petition, share on Facebook and Twitter, forward in email to your friends and neighbors who care about their public schools and the future of Kansas City.