Stand Up KC, other orgs, hold rally against stadium sales tax
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Stand up KC, the Missouri Workers Center, Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom and MORE2 held a vote no on Question #1 rally outside the Kansas City Election Board Office Monday afternoon.
“We were really hoping that the CBA would raise the wage and provide livable housing for thousands of workers and tenants that would’ve been really transformative for our city, but that didn’t happen,” Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom Tenant Leader Rori Carter-Hall said.
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During the rally, organizers said items to support low-wage workers and tenants that they demanded were left out of the Community Benefits Agreement, which was a significant reason the organizations encouraged people to vote no on Question #1.
“They need to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new plan. They need to negotiate with organizations like Stand Up KC if they want to be taken seriously about offering quality and good paying jobs,” Crossroads Business Owner Jill Cockson said. “They don’t get to be on the campaign trail bragging about the jobs they are creating when they can’t even come to the table with Stand Up KC to offer minimum wage floors for a liveable wage and basic amenities for affordable housing.”
The location of the proposed new stadium is another reason Cockson is voting against the sales tax measure.
“One of our businesses is on the demolition path, so that’s my incentive, but it’s also my incentive for my community,” Cockson said. “Even if this were good for me and my particular business, I would still vote no because I’ve watched the Crossroads evolve over the last 30 years. I know the hard work, passion and tenacity it takes to get the Crossroads to that state, and I’m not about to let billionaires take everything we’ve worked for so long just because they want a shiny new toy there that we have to pay for.”
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Jackson County Executive Frank White spoke at the rally about why he’s voting no on Question #1.
“The no vote gives taxpayers a chance to reset and bring people back to the table where we can get leases and agreements that are going to be equitable not only for the teams but for the community and the county itself, and that’s why I’m voting no,” White said.
