PLATTE COUNTIANS APPROVE, 62-38%
Missouri voters have approved legalizing recreational marijuana.
A constitutional amendment legalizing recreational weed was approved statewide on Tuesday by a margin of 53 percent in favor to 47 percent opposed. Platte Countians overwhelmingly favored the question, with the issue receiving 62 percent approval in Platte County to 38 percent opposed.
Recreational weed will now be legal in Missouri as early as February, state officials say.
The marijuana question, known as Amendment 3, was one of four constitutional amendments on Tuesday’s ballot.
Did Platte County voters follow the statewide trends on the Missouri Constitutional Amendment questions at Tuesday’s election? Yes and no.
Amendment No. 4 asked voters, in effect, if the state constitution should be amended to allow the state legislature to set a minimum budget for the Kansas City Police Department. Platte County voters said yes, with 65 percent in favor to 35 percent opposed. Statewide, the question passed with 63 percent approval.
The amendment was placed on the ballot via legislation from State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Platte County. Luetkemeyer was thrilled with its passage.
“I hope it sends a loud and clear message to liberal politicians who want to use our police to curry favors with activists,” he said.
Constitutional Amendment No. 1 asked voters to allow the state legislature to override the current constitutional restrictions of state investments by the state treasurer. Platte County did not follow the statewide trend on this one. In Platte County the amendment was favored by 52 percent of voters. But statewide, the measure was defeated with 54 percent opposed.
AMENDMENT No. 1 asked the voters to allow the General Assembly to override current constitutional restrictions of state investments by the state treasurer. State voters said no by a count of 54-46%, and Platte County voters actually favored the question, with 52% voting yes to 48% voting no.
Finally, Amendment No. 5 asked voters if the Missouri National Guard should be its own department known as the Missouri Department of National Guard. Platte County voters said yes by a margin of 60-40, and statewide voters agreed, passing the amendment by the same 60-40 margin.
And what about the Kansas City ballot questions that affect many Platte County residents who live within Kansas City? Citywide, all three Kansas City questions passed with relative ease, and a majority of Platte County voters agreed on all.
Roughly half of Platte County’s population is made up of residents inside the city limits of Kansas City. According to the Platte County Board of Elections, there are more than 37,000 registered voters who reside in Kansas City within Platte County.
Here is the Platte County portion of the vote on those three KC questions.
Question No. 1 deals with $125 million in general obligation bonds being issued to pay for the acquisition, construction, renovation, improvement, equipping, and furnishing of city parks, recreation and entertainment facilities.
“If passed, the measure would approve nearly $80 million in bonds over a five-year period which would allow the city to provide necessary upgrades to Kansas City’s 10 community centers; to reopen now-shuttered public pools equitably; to fix historic fountains throughout the City of Fountains; among other necessary upgrades to several public parks — ensuring all Kansas City children and families have equitable access to our community’s public spaces,” according to a release from the City of Kansas City.
It passed citywide, and in Platte County voters approved by a 63-37 percent margin.
While the bulk of the funds will be allocated to community public spaces, this bond measure will also allow the city to reinvest $45 million into the Kansas City Convention Complex, which encompasses 800,000 sq. ft.
Question No. 2 deals with general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $50 million for the purpose of affordable housing through the rehabilitation, renovation and construction of houses and buildings, including blight removal, to provide affordable housing for very low-to-moderate income households.
This question passed citywide and was met with approval by Platte County voters, with 61 percent in favor.
Question No. 3 asked voters if the City of Kansas City should remove two tracts of land from the parks system consisting of the right of way for the proposed Tiffany Springs Parkway between NW Prairie View Road to Amity Avenue for the purpose of realignment of the proposed Tiffany Springs Parkway and authorize the city to convey said property for consideration including accepting the new right of way as the city may determine acceptable.
This question also passed citywide and Platte County voters approved of it with 55% in favor to 45% opposed.