Councilwoman Shields, your f-bomb isn’t nearly as rude as ignoring KC’s real needs

Kansas City Council member Katheryn Shields is being criticized for dropping an f-bomb during the public meeting where her committee was dividing economic development surplus money. As she herself said, that language wasn’t appropriate, and she was right to quickly apologize. But the far worse offense was what she was cursing about.

Near the end of the meeting, Shields said, “I think we’ve lost one of our f---ing votes thanks to you all delaying.”

The votes for what, you ask? The votes to divide surplus funds from a property tax abatement three ways, giving the money to the Rehabilitation Assistance for Midtown Properties, the Housing Trust Fund and the Chicago-based Mac Properties development along Armour Boulevard and Main Street.

She got the votes she needed anyway, and the full council is expected to vote on the measure on Thursday.

But Councilwoman Melissa Robinson and Councilwoman Ryana Parks-Shaw voted no because they wanted to see all of the surplus funds go to support affordable housing.

They were right about that, and right to oppose giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to an out-of-town developer with another midtown development project.

Just over $526,000 a year would go to Mac Properties for 20 years, adding up to more than $10.5 million.

“Move the money to the people,” Robinson tweeted after the meeting.

We have consistently opposed taking tax dollars away from schools and other city services to put money into the already deep pockets of developers who don’t need the incentive. The city has continued to do just that.

And when there are surplus dollars from such projects, use that money to address critical needs like affordable housing. Instead, our elected representatives are determined to give it right back to developers.

Shields should also apologize for that.