This post inaugurates a new category on “government corruption” for this blog. It’s a topic that I want to blog about, but I’m still undecided about launching a new local independent news site and blog aggregator. If I launch that project, I may move my blogging about Kansas City issues to the new project.

I’m giving props tonight to The Pitch for a story on how local developers are exploiting minority contractor programs. In this case, mega-contractor J.E. Dunn Construction, H&R Block and the TIF commission have come under fire by local minority contractors for gaming the system when it came to building the H&R Block headquarters in the downtown loop (right next to the White Power District). We’re no fans of the wannabe petit-bourgeoise capitalist minority contractors, but this new scandal just demonstrates how the city’s ruling class uses TIF projects to enrich the pockets of their cronies, all the while selling Kansas Citians on some new pathetic project designed to get Kansas City noticed by the rest of the world.

Kansas Citians want the basics addressed. They don’t want sports arenas for teams that don’t exist and they don’t need a taxpayer-subsidized alternative to Westport. People want sustainable communities. We don’t want rich people enriching themselves at our expense. We really don’t care what the world cares about Kansas City.

According to local blogs, the Power and Light District, which we here call the WHite Power District, is censoring a local blog that writes critical (and often hilarious) things about the White Power District. Anybody who tried to access the blog via the WiFi available in the District is blocked from the blog with the excuse of “Pornography.” We think that public WiFi around Kansas City should be unfiltered and uncensored.

I want to thank all of the friends and family who turned out for my birthday event two weeks ago. Your participation is greatly appreciated. Special thanks go out to S. for shipping chocolates to me cross country. That was a “sweet” gift in any definition of that word.

For those of you who check here when Infoshop is offline, Infoshop News is offline this afternoon because of a power outage in central Kansas City. If the power company fixes the problem in the next few hours, our service will be back online in a few hours or by this evening.

My dear friend Laura Q. publishes one of the best blogs that you may not know about. Derivative Work is a blog where Laura weighs in on personal things, science fiction, copyright, legal issues and issues from Libraryland. Laura is a radical lawyer whose main interest is copyright and intellectual property law. You know how much that warms my heart as a lifelong opponent of intellectual property laws.

Laura’s blog has a new post about some idiotic open source sexism in the science fiction fandom community, where evidently some male geek who doesn’t get sexism is trying to facilitate the groping of woman’s breasts at cons. Laura has long been an advocate of feminist science fiction, so she provides a good post about this sexist “project.”

More locally, the infoshop got flyers this past weekend for the upcoming Conquest 39, a science fiction con happening May 23-25 up at the Airport Hilton. I wouldn’t mind attending this year’s con. I attended one Conquest con back in 1980, when I was in high school and the con was held at the President Hotel in downtown Kansas City. That hotel was recently remodeled, but back then it had more of a run-down ancient hotel feel. The convention itself was pretty intimate and cozy, which probably reflected the more fan-oriented milieu of modern SF conventions. Back in 1980, I preferred the more commercial Foolcon which was held on the campus of Johnson County Community College. Foolcon was something that a teenager could appreciate, while Conquest seemed to be more for the adults. The 1980 version of Conquest was fun. I also managed to see The Empire Strikes Back twice that weekend at the nearby Empire Theater.

My friends at the Charles Mansion (yes, it’s an actual mansion) are having a little punk show this Saturday, April 26th, starting around 8 pm.

• The New Bloods - Portland, Oregon
• Brothers & Sisters aka Distorted Violence - ex-SYM, When Good Robots Go Bad, Dick Cheney’s Dick, Monsters in the Basement
• Dungeonmaster - post R&B, pre-sentient, dark matter is the new aether-rock
• Black Mark - members of Crude Drugs & We’re Fucked

Charles Mansion, 435 Gladstone, KCMO

From what I hazily understand, Dungeonmaster is either a twelve person band, or a set of twelve instruments are played when some band member rolls a 12-sided dice.

Hey, speaking of all you local punks (and other musicians) who are bemoaning the lack of good venues in this city–if you get involved with the infoshop or the Creative Minds Arts Center, we need help upgrading our venue. We’re also being contacted by lots of bands, so evidently there are people who want to play in KC, but aren’t finding venues.

If any of you are a Ladytron fan like I am, you will be excited to hear that they’ve posted their new album ‘Velocifero’ to their Myspace profile. I really like it so far. If you liked 1980s New Wave, especially bands like New Order, and you like electronic music, Ladytron is an excellent updating of those genres. I’m kind of hoping to go to St. Louis in June to catch their nearest concert on their U.S. tour.

Speaking of concerts–one of the local anarchos is trying to talk me into going to the Rush concert at Starlight this summer. I had heard that Rush was going to be in concert here this summer, but I’m skeptical that I can afford the $50 minimum for a ticket. I saw Rush at Kemper Arena circa 1982. Weren’t tickets to arena shows around $12-15 back then?

I’m organizing a birthday potluck for myself which will be happening from 2-5pm, this Sunday, April 27. This will be happening at the Crossroads Infoshop at 3109 Troost Ave. in Kansas City, Missouri. All of my Kansas City friends and fans are invited. Please bring a dish, snack, soda, or just yourself if you can’t bring anything. I prefer vegan or ovo-lacto vegetarian food, but you can bring a meat dish if it is labeled.

Sources tell me that the local suburban newspaper chain which publishes the Sun newspapers, The Greater Kansas City Community Newspaper Group, has canned its entire new media department. This means that even established local print media is having trouble dealing with the changes in the new media landscape.

It’s bad enough already that the Kansas City Star publishes their joke of a newspaper and goes around pretending to be such an asset to the community [insert full color Star factoid box here]. Today the Star published a special “Earth Day” supplement for the print edition of the newspaper. Get it? The Star’s idea of Earth Day is to use more paper!

It gets worse. When the Star isn’t celebrating and promoting the White Power District in their regular newspaper, they’ve started publishing a new weekly newspaper called Ink which is designed to deliver readers aged 20-35 to the Star’s traditional advertisers. I plan to blog more about the Star’s new ham-fisted publishing efforts, but I’ll point out today the hypocrisy of the Star in publishing the first issue of Ink that included a bunch of pages giving recognition to local “green” projects and people. So, let’s get this straight. The Kansas City Star launches a new weekly newspaper when the city already has the superior Pitch and the Star’s own decent Thursday “Preview” section. What part of wasting paper and wrecking the environment does the Kansas City Star not understand?

Friends who know me know that I’m really sour on the idea of household recycling. I’m every bit the radical environmentalist, but recycling is a red herring designed to deflect people’s attention from the corporations that are really despoiling the planet. Most waste is generated by the capitalist companies. What we do on the household level in terms of recycling is irrelevant when most waste and consumption of resources is being done by the capitalists. The Kansas City Star is part of the problem.

I’m still recuperating from a busy, fun weekend and I’m gardening today, but here are a few interesting links.

Brad Spangler once again spanks those conservatives who don’t get Kevin Carson’s concept of vulgar libertarianism. Brad always does a good job explaining these things.

Here’s a link for those of you into the pornography of home libraries. This article about home library collections is a bit Brit oriented, but it has some nice picture of home libraries and some useful information about people being more interesting in building home libraries instead of electronic entertainment centers. This kind of news lowers the blood pressure of this librarian and bookstore coordinator. Incidentally, our bookstore here has been flooded with recent donations of books. We still have a closet full of books to process and we’ve run out of shelving. It makes me really happy to be at bookstore meetings where we talk about shelving scarcity.

By the way, I’m really lusting after that second collection pictured in the article, where the library spans two floors and fills an atrium. Sweet!

I’d like to invite all Kansas City area readers of this blog to drop by Troost Fest this Saturday, April 19, 2008. The poster for the event was posted here several days ago. The event features a day of music, speeches, food and stuff for kids.

The following text was not written by me, but was sent to me today by an organizer of the event.

Two Hundred Years on Troost

Finding the ‘Precious in the Worthless’

1808

The land along present-day Troost Avenue was the site of one of the main trails commonly used by the Osage Indians during the late 18th century and early 19th century.

Osage Chief

From these trails, they would hunt in the forests or carry their canoes to the Missouri River. Their ancestral village was known as the “Place of Many Swans”, currently near the southwest Missouri town of Rich Hill (DeAngelo, 1995, pp. 14-15). In 1808, the Osage Nation surrendered over 52.5 million acres of land to the United States of America. Thus began the modern era of Troost Avenue.

1848

In 1848 the area between 31st St. (then called Springfield Avenue) and 23rd Streets, and from Locust to Vine was the Porter Slave Plantation.

Earlier, in 1832, Rev. James Porter left Franklin, Tennessee (near Nashville) with his wife, son, mother and 40 slaves en route to what would become Kansas City. In 1833, they purchased 80 acres at 27th and Troost Avenue, which soon grew to 365 acres. Between 1833 and 1835, the Porter slaves cleared walnut and oak trees with axes and saws, removed Missouri limestone and rocks from the soil, and constructed living quarters. One of the known slaves was “Simon”, purchased in 1829. Aunt Ann and “Fiddlin’ Dick” Porter are both buried in the Union Cemetery along with the Porter family.

Missouri Slaves: 1858

The “big house” was at 2709 Tracy, with slave cabins built across the street on Tracy, going west in a semi-circle.

1911 KC Star Drawing of original “Big House” of Rev. James Porter

A fruit orchard was planted between 27th and 28th, and between Forest and Troost Avenues.The family cemetery was at 24th and Troost, later to become the Troost Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church. A cornfield was planted between 30th and 31st along Troost. Cattle and horses grazed in pasture north of 27th Street. The water source was a natural spring that later would become “Troost Lake” at 28th Street, between Paseo Boulevard and Vine Street.

Dr. Benoist Troost, by George Caleb Bingham

In 1846, Dr. Benoist Troost, one of the original fathers of Kansas City, purchased five lots from the Town Company of Kansas. This land would be joined with other lots to later become the “Town of Kansas”, now known as Kansas City, Missouri. Troost Avenue and Troost Lake both bear his name, and that of his wife, Mary Ann Troost.

1888

Due to a real estate boom in the 1880s, the previously cleared land on the Porter Plantation made ideal real estate investment.

Home of Mrs. W. E. Hall, of Porter Family at 2709 Tracy

As a result, much of it was developed from 26th to Linwood resulting in “Millionaires’ Row”.The granddaughter of Rev. James Porter, Mrs. W. Ewing Hall, owned a mansion at the previous site of the big house on 27th and Tracy.

On the southeast corner of 26th and Troost lived former Missouri Governor Thomas T. Crittenden (1881-85, of Jesse James fame). Others that lived in this area were William T. Kemper, Sr. (the banker and real estate developer), Dr. Flavel Tiffany, Webster Withers, and, L.V Harkness, who in 1890 was reputed to be the richest man in Kansas City.

1928

Due to the worldwide depression of the 1890s, much of the real estate market along Troost collapsed.

31st and Troost: December 6, 1929

By 1912, it gave way to the beginning of a significant business district.

• In the early 1920s Walt Disney began his animation career at Laugh-o-grams Studios at 31st and Forest, and displayed his films at the Isis Theater at 31st and Troost.
• Kansas City broadcaster Walt Bodine would enjoy a malt at his father’s Bodine Drugs at Linwood and Troost.
• Duke Ellington and others would have all-night “Battle of the Bands” around the corner at El Torreon on 31st and Gillham Rd.
• This area became a “city within a city”.
• In 1922, there existed 186 businesses within 2 blocks of 31st and Troost!

1968

People still talk about the shopping they did at J.C. Penney’s, Jones, Woolworth’s and Katz Drugs in the 1960s.

Students Arrested during riots in April, 1968

Yet, following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, 1968, riots broke out. Martial law included tanks begin driven down 31st and Troost.

Although racial tensions exploded, dialogue groups on both sides of Troost provided a hopeful model for a new vision on Troost. Its fulfillment would wait until a generation later.

2008

On April 19, 2008 the 4th Annual “Troost Avenue Festival” is held. Dedicated to “Porter Slave Plantation Remembrance Day”, the Troost community seeks to honor the slaves that worked the Porter Plantation. Indeed, due to their labors the Porter land rose in value to become “Millionaires’ Row”.

Friendship Dance: 2nd Annual Troost Festival 2006

A grass roots group called “Troost Folks” has called for ongoing dialogue and practical steps to restore a sense of village that brings together both sides of Troost Avenue into, what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called, a “beloved community.” Now it is up to you and me.

References

DeAngelo, D. & Flynn, J. F. (1992) Kansas City style: a social and cultural history of Kansas City as seen through its lost architecture. Kansas City: Fifield Publishing Co.

DeAngelo, D. (1995) What about Kansas City! a historical handbook. Kansas City: Two Lane Press, Inc.

Kelsey, L. H. (1923, October 23) Various business enterprises within two blocks of 31st & troost ave. Rossington Apartments: Troost Ave. & Thirty First St. Kansas City, Missouri: Missouri Valley (Special Collections) of the Kansas City, Missouri Public Library, South Central Business Association Collection.

A “shut in” farm: business buildings now entirely surround a country home of 29 years ago. (1912a, April 14) The Kansas City Star, Editorial Section.

A “shut in” farm: business buildings now entirely surround a country home of 29 years ago. (1912b, April 14) Diagram of the land revealing the layout on 31st and Forest. The Kansas City Star, Editorial Section.

Unrau, W. (1996) Indian presence in the Kansas City region. Kansas City: William T. Kemper Foundation.

Illustrations

31st and Troost; Home of Mrs. W. Ewing Hall; and Porter Home Drawing from Kansas City Star in 1911: Retrieved from Missouri Valley (Special Collections) of the Kansas City, Missouri Public Library.

Claremore-Osage Indian (2006, May 23) Courtesy of Osage Nation in Pawhuska, OK.

Troost, Dr. Benoist and Mrs. Mary: Nelson-Atkins Art Gallery retrieved on April 8, 2008 from http://www.nelson-atkins.org/art/CollectionDatabase.cfm?id=28964&theme=American .

Troost Avenue Festival (2006) Courtesy of St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church retrieved on April 10, 2008 from http://www.gallery.stmaryofegypt.net/main.php?g2_itemId=24 .

Kansas City’s independent, community radio station, KKFI, is in the middle of a fundraising drive. I urge all of my readers to donate something to KKFI as they are a media project that is worth supporting. KKFI is making plans to move to a new facility and upgrade their equipment. Im hoping that they move somewhere like the Troost corridor, but I think that their plans will improve the station no matter where they move to.

While people are at it, please ask KKFI to expand their anarchist and anti-authoritarian programming. KKFI carries several syndicated programs, but most of them reflect middle class liberal politics.

One of the best things about KKFI is that it is one, if not the only, radio station in Kansas City that features free form programming. If you are unfamiliar with free form programming, it means that the DJs aren’t required to play the same crap over and over and over again. You know, like how 96.5 The Buzz always plays Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys, and Smashing Pumpkins every weekday during their “90s at Noon” program. Free form radio has long been found on college radio stations, which in my opinion makes them superior to any commercial radio station.

KKFI is the only station in the area that plays jazz and blues during the afternoon. I like jazz, but hate the blues (Mr. Posicore Anarchist that I am). KKFI’s “Midday Medley” from 10am to Noon can be hit or miss depending on the DJs. On days when they play lots of hippy peace music, I switch channels to Walt Bodine on KCUR, but on Thursdays, Eric does an excellent show featuring techno, trip hop, ambient and the more danceable version of indie rock.

KKFI is also home to the excellent Democracy Now, which I usually miss because I’m asleep or ignoring Amy Goodman’s obsession with torture. I also like KKFI’s late night talk shows, which are broadcast Sunday, Monday and Tuesday mornings. I should also plug the “Retro Redeye Express” music show on Saturday nights.

One thing that should be understood about my arrest last November in downtown Kansas City is that I was protesting the existence of the new bike cops which the Kansas City government created to make downtown streets “safe” for white Yuppie douchebags from Johnson County. Kansas City has a notorious race problem and the movers and shakers who hope to make a profit off of downtown redevelopment need to institute programs to dispel the fears that racist JoCo whites have about being carjacked by rampaging gangs of black youth. The new bike squad is one of the new programs that aim to help privatize and police downtown streets.

The Power & Light District is a newly redeveloped area of the downtown core which is adjacent to the Sprint Center (more government corruption) and features a variety of multinational chain restaurants and stores. I’ve blogged previously about why this district will eventually fail, but right now it is the “in” place for middle class young people to go party and socialize.

I’ve been boycotting the new district because it is an obnoxious example of government corruption, but I’m asking readers to join me in boycotting the Power & Light District because of its racist exclusionary practices. The people running this little patch of apartheid in Kansas City have instituted a dress code that is advertised on all of the entrances to businesses in the district. The dress code is obviously aimed at young people and this program reflects the city’s despicable efforts to demonize black teens who were hanging out in Westport several years ago.

Here is the racist dress code:

• No bandanas
• No baggy jeans
• No white tee shirts
• No sports apparel
• No sweat pants
• No ripped jeans
• No “biker gear”
• No hoodies
• No sweatshirts
• No construction boots

If you are a Kansas City area resident reading this blog, I want to invite you to the annual Troost Festival block party happening on Saturday, April 19th, in Kansas City, Missouri.

The 2008 Troost Avenue Festival is set for Saturday, April 19 in the 3100 block of Troost
Avenue, 12 noon to 10 pm.

The 4th annual Troost Festival will feature music, the stories of Troost, vendors and exhibitors, children’s activities and a “Coffeehouse on the Street” to encourage dialogue for a new vision of Troost as a ‘gathering place’ rather than a ‘dividing line’.

BACKGROUND

What was to become Troost Avenue was a Native American hunting path, then, when the first white explorers and settlers arrived, a trail past a huge slave plantation, an exclusive street lined by millionaire’s estates, the hub of an eclectic urban life that fostered Jazz, Walt Disney, the Isis Theater, and a vibrant commercial center. Yet, for the past 40 years, following riots and ‘white flight’, Troost has been viewed as the racial dividing line of the city which local broadcaster Walt Bodine referred to it as the “Berlin Wall of Kansas City”.

TROOST FOLKS

The Troost Folks, organizers of the Festival, are a loose collaboration of activists dedicated to integral community.

If you know anything about the Crossroads Infoshop, the Troost Fest will be happening on the street in front of our space. The infoshop will be tabling on the sidewalk and we are organizing some food and activities. We had a blast last year being part of the festival and this year’s one should be even better!