This week’s opening of the Kellogg freeway at Rock Road — eastbound lanes Wednesday, westbound lanes today — represents a major milestone for Wichita’s transportation system that arguably deserved fireworks and a marching band. Then again, the ability to drive 14 miles along Kellogg without stopping may suffice, especially for those who remember when the thoroughfare was a 19-stoplight nightmare. It will take a while not only for the city to open all the through and turn lanes at Kellogg and Rock but also for drivers to adjust to the changes. And watch the speed out there: As more of Kellogg becomes a freeway, it must not also become a free-for-all.
It’s encouraging that Rainbows United appears to have resolved objections to its reorganization plan and could emerge from bankruptcy as early as March. The agency provides essential services to special-needs children and their families. Recognition also should go to Rainbows’ creditors for agreeing to a reorganization. Some creditors, such as the South Central Kansas Education Center, are small organizations, and Rainbows’ bankruptcy is a significant hardship for them, too.
An Eagle article about entrepreneur Jack DeBoer’s new leadership role on the WaterWalk development included an interesting suggestion from developer George Laham about a possible Plan B for the project, should WaterWalk fall short of the goal of becoming a successful retail-office-residential district. “I think what you could see work down there is more of a civic district,” Laham said, going on to suggest: “Put the YMCA down there. Give them the river for their programming. Bring the African-American museum in.”
A WaterWalk civic district would build nicely on the proximity to Century II, the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum and the museums farther up the river such as Exploration Place. But the Greater Wichita YMCA has announced plans to expand at its current downtown site. And what about the Kansas African American Museum? “It is nice be thought of as the kind of institution that could help revitalize an area,” executive director Mark McCormick told The Eagle editorial board. “No one would be mentioning us in such discussions if we hadn’t significantly changed our public image. I think Mr. Laham’s idea has merit, but we already have some riverfront property we’re trying really hard to build on. Any move to change sites would have to start with our board, the city, Westar (Energy) and our other stakeholders.”
“We are Velcroed to them.” — Suzie Ahlstrand, vice president of community advancement for the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce, in one of the recent national articles about Wichita’s slumping aircraft companies
“If I could do it over, I would wear a Bass Pro Shop cap or dress as a caveman.” — Rep. Bill Otto, R-LeRoy, on the flap created by his anti-Obama YouTube rap video, in which he wore a hat labeled “Opossum, the other dark meat”
“So people who dis you and do not agree/Are just not racist and that includes me.” — Otto again, in a new rap video with a more positive tone
“In stark contrast to the news about Wall Street, the situation looks grim in Wichita,” editorialized the Topeka Capital-Journal on Friday, citing articles in The Eagle. “For Topeka and other communities, the stories highlight the need to attract and retain a diverse group of employers and not rely too heavily on one segment of industry. . . . Five of the community’s 11 largest employers are aircraft-related businesses, as listed by the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce. Of the other six, five are public entities and one is a hospital.” The editorial concluded: “Diversify. It’s a word that economic development officials in every Kansas community should keep front of mind, even as the Dow creeps back up.”
Given that its unemployment rate of nearly 10 percent is higher than the national average, it was a bit surprising that Wichita was ranked among “America’s best places to find a job” by U.S. News & World Report. Wichita’s top 10 ranking appears to have been helped by its stable housing market, growing health care sector and proximity to a military base. The ranking did note that “the aviation industry has been affected by the downturn” (talk about an understatement) but said that “the industry’s recovery portends a strong opportunity for the city to grow in the future.”
Here is hoping that Hale Ritchie is able to lead Rainbows United to a stable and successful future. Ritchie, former chairman and CEO of Ritchie Corp., was named this week as the organization’s chief restructuring officer. Rainbows’ recently discovered financial problems and its resulting decision to declare bankruptcy and cut staff have been devastating news to many families who depend on Rainbows for child care or for its crucial work of helping children with special needs.
The sketchy story behind last week’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by Rainbows United looks like every nonprofit organization’s worst nightmare — a board and staff misled and, now, public revelations of “financial irregularities” including a shocking $2.3 million in unpaid federal withholding taxes. Friday’s announced reorganization plan of 70 layoffs, sales of two buildings and fewer services won’t be easy on the organization or the families of the 2,300 children with special needs served by Rainbows. Many questions remain, including how the board members could have missed the financial shenanigans for so long. But it’s a reflection of the community’s respect for and reliance on Rainbows that so far, the focus isn’t so much on blame as on ensuring the organization’s rescue and full recovery.
It was heartening that so many people came forward this week with new bicycles and donations for Heartspring, after news that half a dozen bikes used by special-needs children had been stolen. Now the organization will be able to provide bikes to even more of the kids it serves. Once again, people in this community saw a wrong and acted to make it right.
The downtown area is started to look as good on the inside as it does on the outside. About 90 percent of the permanent seating is in, the hockey floor has been poured and workers are about to install terrazzo flooring in the main lobby. A video tour of the arena is on Kansas.com. The arena is scheduled to open in mid-January but may be completed three months early. Though the arena could still use more tenants besides the Wichita Thunder hockey team, it’s encouraging that sales of luxury suites and loge boxes seem to be going well, especially in this down economy.
Given how much Wichitans complain about road construction, it’s impressive that the city ranked second-best of 90 cities in fewest traffic delays in the 2009 Urban Mobility Report. Apparently, construction crews are doing a pretty good job keeping traffic moving. The ranking is also impressive given that Wichita isn’t doing as well on traffic safety. Wichita dropped 23 positions, to 55th place out of 200, in Allstate Insurance Co.’s annual ranking of the likelihood of having a traffic accident. More accidents usually mean more traffic delays.
It’s too bad that it didn’t work out for the YMCA’s Central Branch to relocate along the Arkansas River. The new facility would have been a nice addition to the river corridor. But it is great that the YMCA remains committed to downtown and plans to rebuild at its current location at 402 N. Market, where the YMCA anticipates serving nearly 17,000 people annually and enhancing its youth outreach programs.
While many other Wichita entertainment enterprises have come and gone, the Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre has endured and endeared itself to Wichitans for 32 years, with a tenacity very much like that of its late founder Ted Morris. Now, just days after it looked like the Crown’s long run was over because of the economy, an anonymous investor and new management team plan to keep the theater going. That’s a relief for those who work at the 81-year-old former vaudeville house. But it’s also a relief for Wichita, which sorely needs a place to go year-round to enjoy a meal, laugh, song and dance.
Good for ROK ICT for putting out a positive video about life in Wichita in response to the murder of Wichita abortion provider George Tiller. The arts group was concerned about a possible negative perception about Wichita based on the murder. So it produced a video, which is posted on its Web site and YouTube, in which various young musicians and artists speak about how great it is to live in Wichita and be part of the arts community here. They talk about how much there is to do in Wichita, the many friendships they’ve formed and how friendly the people are.
Some struggling Wichitans likely wish it was already open, but it’s good that Laid-Off Workers Center is now taking appointments. The center opens June 1 and will offer financial assistance for food, shelter and utilities and help in job searches. Kudos to the United Way of the Plains for operating the center and for its commitment to helping those in need. To make an appointment, call the United Way’s information number, 2-1-1, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Plans for the former Union Station sound promising and are an example of how the Intrust Bank Arena is spurring redevelopment, even in a down economy. Phil Frigon of Cantilever Wichita hopes to close on purchasing Union Station in the next 90 to 120 days and plans tenant announcements soon after. Steve Martens of Grubb & Ellis/Martens Commercial Group said that the arena’s proximity was a big factor in marketing the landmark building, which first opened in 1914. And as Jeff Fluhr, president of the Wichita Downtown Development Corp., noted, “adding retail and hospitality to the arena neighborhood is a huge win for downtown.”
Congratulations and many thanks to Heartspring for 75 years of helping children with disabilities and their families. The Wichita center began at the University of Wichita in 1934 and became the Institute of Logopedics in 1949. It was renamed Heartspring in 1993, and its primary focus now is on outpatient care and clients with autism. During its 75 years, the center has helped thousands of children from around the country. As an Eagle article noted, it has given a voice to children without one.
Congratulations to the Lord’s Diner on serving its 1 millionth customer Monday night. What an achievement, and what a blessing to this community. The diner, which opened Feb. 13, 2002, met this milestone about two years earlier than it initially expected. The reasons for that include a greater than expected need, a facility and staff that make customers feel valued, and the generous support of volunteers and donors.
About five years ago, radio host Rush Limbaugh ignorantly mocked the Lord’s Diner for allegedly serving customers who weren’t needy. Wendy Glick, the diner’s executive director, graciously responded: “The Lord’s Diner is here to serve, not to judge.” That’s another reason the diner is such a blessing.
All Wichitans should be shocked and angered by the recent cross burning in a southwest Wichita front yard, where the perpetrators also burned a path to the front porch. Few crimes are as clear in their intent to intimidate, turning the symbol of Christianity into a blazing threat. Each cross burning harks back to the practice’s history as a cowardly weapon of the Ku Klux Klan during the nation’s civil rights struggle. In this case, the skin color of the targeted couple is white. But the message was clear, underscored by an anonymous phone call the victim said he received demanding that he stop using his house as a haven for young adults in need of second chances. “I didn’t think that still happened,” the targeted man said of cross burnings. They shouldn’t still happen – not in Wichita, not anywhere.
Our Sunday editorial noted how the Soul of the Community study by Gallup and the Knight Foundation found that Wichita stands out for the high percentage of area residents – 43 percent, compared with an average 34 percent in 25 other surveyed cities across the nation – who are neutral about the community. The Wichita area also lagged its peer cities in overall citizen engagement, community loyalty and community passion.
We suggested that “no city should be satisfied with a civic self-esteem that amounts to a shrug” and pondered how to get Wichitans fired up and better engaged. As the Gallup-Knight study puts it, “Engaged citizens within a community are inspired by the community around them.” Hey, WE Bloggers, have you been inspired by Wichita lately? Or are “Wichita” and “community passion” concepts that don’t and simply won’t go together?
An Opinion Line call last week said: “If you’re sitting at a red light without another car in sight, welcome to Wichita.” How would WE Bloggers similarly characterize our town? The floor is open for suggestions on how to fill in the blanks: “If you’re . . . . . . . . ., welcome to Wichita.”
Congratulations to Wichita Habitat for Humanity for beginning work on its 100th home. What an achievement, and what a blessing to families in our community. It has been a big group effort. In the past 22 years, 500,000 people have helped build these homes. The Rev. Linda Stewart, executive director, summed up the organization’s mission as “building lives, building families, building homes and building a community.” Well done, good and faithful servants.
It’s good to hear that the Wichita Downtown Development Corp. finally has found a new president — Jeffrey Fluhr, currently executive director of the Baton Rouge, La., Downtown Development District.
Fluhr comes with high praise from his Baton Rouge colleagues, who say he was a key player in revitalizing their downtown business district and waterfront — and that he sees similar challenges in Wichita’s riverfront and arena district.
We hope he hits the ground running as an effective champion for downtown.
The Wichita school district made the right decision in dropping its effort to expand its northeast boundary. It was understandable that Bel Aire wanted to be served by one school district, rather than be split between Wichita and Circle districts. But Circle opposed the boundary change, and a state mediator declared an impasse in the negotiations. As interim Wichita superintendent Martin Libhart said, it was time to stop and move on. “It’s not a good idea to pit school districts against each other,” he said. No, it isn’t.
Pat Salerno’s recent about-face — accepting Wichita’s offer for the city manager position, signing a contract and then pulling out at the last minute — clearly violates the ethical guidelines of the professional organization to which he belongs, the International City/County Management Association.
According to one of the ICMA tenet guidelines, “Members who accept an appointment to a position should not fail to report for that position,” and “once a bona fide offer of a position has been accepted, that commitment should be honored.”
The ICMA also stresses to applicants, “Don’t say ‘yes’ unless you mean it.”
Simply giving one’s word is seen as a professional commitment, according to Martha Perego, ethics director for the ICMA. (Salerno negotiated and signed a contract.)
The ICMA makes some allowances for extraordinary circumstances in such cases, Perego told The Eagle editorial board, but “it has to be fairly compelling.” She wouldn’t comment specifically on the Salerno case. But she made clear that the ICMA takes its ethics rules seriously; in fact, the organization has a formal hearing process for publicly censuring and even removing members who violate its professional tenets.
This might be one way for Wichita to hold Salerno accountable for his unprofessional conduct. Randy
