Community thread

9 Comments

  1. JWink
    Posted June 18, 2007 at 6:40 am | Permalink

    I visited Sedgwick County’s relatively new “Household Hazardous Waste Facility” a few days ago. I dropped off several items including one of those new coil-shaped florescent bulbs. Because florescent bulbs contain mercury which could poison our water aquifers if disposed improperly, the facility technicians send these bulbs to a special facility in Phoenix.

    While there, I picked up a free quart of white paint to touch up some trim on a garage.

    The Hazardous Waste Facility is located at 801 S. Stillwell near downtown Wichita (660-7464). It’s about one long block south of West High School in Sedgwick County’s public Works complex.

    It’s a clean, well-run facility if you haven’t visited there yet … a good summer project.

  2. anonymous
    Posted June 18, 2007 at 8:30 am | Permalink

    Ben and others, have you come to any conclusion about the economic development benefits of casinos in Wichita?

  3. Ben
    Posted June 18, 2007 at 9:10 am | Permalink

    Hi anon. I’m still trying to digest everything.

    JWink – one of the ‘hidden benefits’ of the HHW facility is the ‘leave one take one’ aspect. You can get all sorts of free stuff there.

    One time when I was working at the old one by the sewage treatment plant I went home with two gallons of brand new still-sealed anti-freeze for my vehicles.

    I don’t know it they still do so but they also would mix lots of ‘dribs and drabs’ of pain into “Seattle beige” that was used to cover grafitti acroess town.

    I think they are expanding the HHW program to include mobile drop-off sites that can tour the region.

  4. leave my body alone
    Posted June 18, 2007 at 1:28 pm | Permalink

    One of the prosecutors in the Jo Co DA office is speaking out. I heard her last night. She left and is working for Morrison in Topeka now. She said Phill is ruining the DA’s office. She told many horror stories. A murderer was up for parole on Monday and no one from the DA’s office was there to represent the people of Johnson County. The attorney who should have been there was playing golf. She told of another case where the defendant was charged with 5 felonies and had no attorney (she called this a no brainer win) and Kline’s people let him plea down to a misdemeanor and time served. And Kline is calling that a win.

    The only case he has won was that murder trial last week where the defendant’s mother testified against him. DUIs are being thrown out because evidence is lost. Criminal defense attorneys are lining up to get easy wins since the prosecutors are so incompetent. 20 of 32 attorneys in the DA’s office have left since January, some fired and some quit.

    She said someone needs to file a FOIA and find out how much restitution has been collected and paid since January in Johnson County.

    Here’s the best part: Phill is working 6 to 8 hours a week – for $143K a year.

  5. Mrage
    Posted June 18, 2007 at 3:33 pm | Permalink

    Anon,

    The key benefit to me and City, by their actions, a casino downtown allows them to sell property.

    Not Century II, but land and buildings around it.

    The Library needs a larger facility they say. In another location.

    City should sell the Hyatt.

    The Canadians plan takes the building at corner of Douglas and Main.

    What other development would do that? The building is full of asbestos, will take some red tape fixing to tear down. Its going to be costly destruction more then value of the building.

    The City would have never done it on their own.

    Those things sold, helps the City financially. Plus they get long term gambling economics since its based in city limits.

    City will also absorb the social problems related to gambling.

    People have to take care of themselves and not depend on society when they have addiction problems.

    It’s a choice to walk in a casino and gamble. Some people go to casino just to see shows they put on. The acrobats. The plays and concerts.

    They have will to not gamble huge amounts.

    For Wichita, casino downtown is development issue, not just bringing gambling to the community.

    Ruffin/Trump plan downtown doesn’t purchase enough City property. It would be closer to Old Town.

    Ruffin shouldn’t be allowed to own or control all the slots in the county.

    Competition matters. We should have some gambling choices in the county. Downtown or at the dog track. Different owners of both casino venues.

  6. anonymous
    Posted June 18, 2007 at 4:05 pm | Permalink

    Mrage, I do not understand your ramblings.

    We have a government that has decided it will treat people with problems.

    And how does the city “absorb the social problems related to gambling” as you say, except by spending money?

    I ask you, have you read the two studies that estimate the economic benefit and costs of casino gambling in Wichita?

    I find it ironic that you don’t think it a proper action for government to take care of gambling addicts that may become hooked in a state-owned casino, yet you have all sorts of plans to spend government money on arenas, football stadiums, and other entertainment. Talk about the selfish pleading of special interests.

  7. Mrage
    Posted June 18, 2007 at 4:39 pm | Permalink

    Anon,

    Then you didn’t read what I wrote, properly

    I’m telling you the City is using this casino to sell property as the first consideration!

    (Social) costs gambling in Wichita is secondary consideration.

    Why does business have to worry about people and their addictions?

    I read what Janet Harrah said. No I haven’t read the two studies in detail.

    What’s the mystery? More police because its a 24/7 gambling business. Police are downtown, they won’t be far from the action.

    Jails are nearby.

    More social problems that will show up when we get a casino?

    Don’t people have those social problems right now?

    Casino’s are close enough by car if people want to gamble. If some have ruined their family finances to gamble, they have already been through that.

    I’m not going to argue your views why state or cities should own public facilities.

    Arena, stadiums, convention centers and eventually a casino.

    Casino is paying for it, no taxes raised.

    New Convention Center could be constructed in the future because the casino purchases city property.

    Stadium idea I want to build has more investor money than public money. I need the govs partnership to get construction financing and some property tax relief.

    Govs should partly own stadiums, they couldn’t afford to build on their own. Developers can’t completely construct a stadium without government partnership.

    That’s the way it is.

    Arena we voted for, is better than the Coliseum its replacing. I’m hoping a corporate partner gets involved.

    If it was designed larger with 18,000 seats at the beginning, some ideas from SMG what events were going to happen, then corps here would have gotten involved sooner.

    Whenever a national TV event happens in our downtown arena, corps here have marketing desires to the show the nation.

    Show themselves in regional markets outside Wichita.

    It’s proper for the County to be in the arena business. Every big city is doing it. Wichita is largest city in State of Kansas.

    We should have a free standing arena within our state borders to hold events.

    Kansas is improved with the NASCAR track. When that track is on national TV for NASCAR or Indy cars, its great.

    The increased tourism in that area has really been beneficial.

    Do projects in Wichita increase tourism? Some don’t believe.

    We can’t improve our mass transit possibilities with a train or at the airport without more tourist.

    Without more business flights. Personal flights, people flying here to visit.

    We have downtown bus issues right now. Increase the facilities people want to visit, maybe the bus system gets more money and expands routes.

    You have to believe in public ownership of event facilities.

    If you don’t, all this is rambling.

  8. Tony
    Posted June 18, 2007 at 8:58 pm | Permalink

    ok,

    Whose bright idea was it to narrow down both Main Street and Broadway, south bound, to one lane? Has this city never heard of 24/7 construction on important streets? or night construction, opening them for rush hour traffic?

    Also, why is it the WPD finds it necessary to block off traffic in a lane with no accident in it? why does it take the WPD 4 hours to clean up a traffic accident?

    These guys need to go to CALTRANS school of traffic…

  9. Tony
    Posted June 18, 2007 at 8:59 pm | Permalink

    ok,

    Whose bright idea was it to narrow down both Main Street and Broadway, south bound, to one lane? Has this city never heard of 24/7 construction on important streets? or night construction, opening them for rush hour traffic?

    Also, why is it the WPD finds it necessary to block off traffic in a lane with no accident in it? why does it take the WPD 4 hours to clean up a traffic accident?

    These guys need to go to CALTRANS school of traffic…