Daily Archives: April 9, 2009

Obama adding immigration to already full plate

April 9, 200912:28 p.m.

illegalimmigration5As if he didn’t have enough on his plate, President Obama now wants to tackle immigration reform. Obama plans to speak on the issue next month and then convene working groups to discuss possible legislation. The United States certainly needs a more orderly system and needs to figure out what to do with the millions of illegal immigrants already here. But isn’t there a limit to the number of difficult challenges that Congress and the administration can tackle at the same time?

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Immigration, President Obama | Comments (145)

Embarrassing voter turnout

April 9, 20096:03 a.m.

votingnoIt wasn’t surprising that few people voted Tuesday, because there were few competitive races. Still, it’s discouraging and embarrassing that only 9 percent of registered voters in Sedgwick County cast ballots, given all the important issues and challenges facing this community.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Voting | Comments (25)

Open thread 4/9

April 9, 20096:02 a.m.

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By The Editors | Filed under Open thread | Comments (303)

No more C&D landfills gone wild

April 9, 20096:01 a.m.

cdlandfillThe Wichita City Council did right by south-siders and the environment Tuesday by denying the construction and demolition landfill at 31st Street South and K-15 the ability to grow further. The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission got it wrong in this case. Now neighbors can look forward to the day when Cornejo & Sons’ dusty operation is capped and closed. Still, council members and City Manager Robert Layton shouldn’t close the book on the C&D landfill without examining how the riverfront operation came to be approved — and kept growing and polluting for years in violation of its permit. Local and state officials also need to ensure that future landfills are sited more wisely and monitored more diligently. As council member Jim Skelton asked Tuesday: “How on Earth did this thing happen here?”

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Wichita government | Comments (19)

Commissioners need to communicate openly

April 9, 20096:00 a.m.

No one would expect unanimity and harmony on the Sedgwick County Commission, especially in light of the power-shifting 2008 election. Tuesday’s tense exchange over how and when commissioners and staffers would meet with a jail consultant may not spell trouble going forward, but it signaled there’s a problem with communication. And do commissioners need a refresher on the Kansas Open Meetings Act? As clarified by a bill signed Tuesday by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, state law bars serial “interactive communications” on a common topic out of public view between members of governing bodies, whether face to face or electronically.

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Sedgwick County | Comments (2)