The Source wants to congratulate The Kansas City Star on their article about the “white elephant” status of the Kemper Arena. Of course, they are about fifty-six days late, since The Source first posted on this subject on February 29th.
But we do give credit where credit is due, and Deann Smith does a fine job of framing the issue. AEG is making excuse after excuse for not booking Kemper, and the city council is collectively getting tired of the excuses. The council seems to be re-thinking the decision, driven by former Mayor Kay Barnes, to give the Kemper contract to AEG in what should have obviously been a conflict of interest.
Barnes, who has accepted over $17,000 in contributions from AEG executives, was obviously not looking out for the city’s best interests. Kemper is already $15 million in the hole, and the article points out that current operating deficits are adding to that, another half-million this year alone.
The Source hopes this council, without Barnes there to protect her benefactors, will hold AEG’s feet to the fire. They have failed to bring an anchor tenant to the Sprint Center. They have gutted the event calendar at Kemper Arena. They have failed to deliver on promise after promise with no accountability to the taxpayers who pay for their contracts. It is about time that AEG is made to report specifics about their operations at both venues, in detail, so taxpayers can see if they are doing their job.
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