If you needed another reason to oppose the idea of a large expansion of the Platte County Jail in downtown Platte City in the future, check this week’s headlines.
Let’s see if some of the county officials who are salivating at the thought of building a big-ass new prison in downtown Platte City will cool their heels a bit based on embarrassing headlines and chatter that has infiltrated the KC metro news media about the screw-up. You don’t let an accused cop shooter just walk out your doors without suffering some professional embarrassment. It’s being talked about, not only in the media but you can bet also quietly among their peers in other law enforcement agencies.
We’ll find out if some of the folks begging for taxpayers to fund a new and larger county jail can be humbled. Don’t assume it, because it will take some self-awareness on their part, and with political figures sometimes that’s lacking. Some folks at the top of the food chain in Platte County elected positions have been licking their chops at the prospect of incarceration in large numbers on the county’s current footprint in Platte City, despite the fact voters in 2019 soundly curb-stomped that idea.
Last week’s potentially humbling mistake was an error resulting from someone’s lack of diligence, not anything related to the size of the current jail or how many inmates are inside. But are you going to be surprised if some county officials try to spin it in another direction? Will they try to convince the public mistakes like that wouldn’t happen if the county had a brand new, twice-as-big prison? Be on alert for the spin zone. We’ll be here to call out the BS if it happens.
“The only people who want a bigger jail in Platte City are the sheriff and prosecutor,” was the remark to me from a respected Platte County resident and local political observer the other day. I would also add some bloviating county commissioners to that list.
Personally, I’m thinking if commissioners really want a new and oversized county jail they should propose putting it in the Riss Lake area. Let’s get Dagmar’s reaction to that one.
Before county commissioners again chirp about the need to arrest 9,000 people with outstanding traffic warrants they should chirp about the need to improve processes on the real bad guys who shoot at cops in other counties.
The Kansas City Business Journal chimed in with a news story about the development east of I-29/north of Hwy. 92 in Platte City. The Landmark has been on top of this story for more than a year and it was good to see the Platte City development get some pub in the Journal.
Platte City’s paperwork on the three speculative industrial buildings going in at that location by VanTrust Real Estate LLC has referred to the project as the Platte City Commerce Center. The Business Journal story refers to the name of VanTrust’s project as the Platte International Commerce Center.
You’ve no doubt seen many, many trees being removed in the project area recently. Things are happening. The center’s first building, with more than 748,000 square feet, is expected to have its shell completed in May of 2024. All three of the warehouses will provide space for tenant leases ranging in size from 50,000 to 1.3 million square feet.
VanTrust officials are happy to talk about how their commerce center will offer convenient access to I-29 and I-435, with access to at least a dozen major freight distribution markets within 12 hours and most of the United States within two days or less. The site is less than two miles from the new KCI Airport. As we reported last summer, the City of Platte City approved $45.6 million in incentives for VanTrust’s commerce center. The incentives include 16 years of stair-stepping property tax abatements, and sales tax exemption on construction materials for each of the three buildings. City officials have said the project is expected to yield $9.9 million in payments in lieu of taxes for jurisdictions over the life of the abatements, compared to $16,200 in taxes if the land had remained undeveloped over that time.
Thanks to the pairs and pairs of you who reached out to say you heard my appearance as an invited guest on the Dana and Parks show on KMBZ-FM the other day to talk about Platte County’s inadvertent release of the alleged cop shooter.
Baseball is a numbers game. We all know this. Numbers nerds can really get into this sport. I know this because as a kid I was into baseball statistics and similar nerdy stuff. Here are some stats specific to your Kansas City Royals, compiled by a baseball nerd I know in Las Vegas. Most of these are just interesting tidbits, not necessarily angles you’d want to use for strategic betting purposes. These statistics are based on the past three seasons.
Royals:
Better at home or on the road? 48% winning percentage at home, 43% on the road.
Better at day or at night? When I was a kid the Royals were consistent losers in day baseball games and kicked ass at night. Not really the case these days. Royals winning percentages are 43% at night, 43% daytime.
Better after a win or a loss? Incredibly similar. 42.9% after a loss; 43.3% after a win.
Best/worst game of a series? Opening game: 47.25%; series finale: 43.8%; middle game: 38.6%.
Top opponent matchup type? The Royals have won 47% of their interleague games; 45% of division games; only 39% of games vs. American League teams who are not in their division.
Best/worst day of the week? The Royals’ best day is Thursday, when they’ve won 48% of their games. Worst day? Tuesday, winning only 36%.
Best betting scenario? Bet on the Royals when you see them as a road favorite. The bad news is this doesn’t happen very often. Over the past three years the Royals are 9-5 as a road favorite.
Best opponent to face? The Royals have had the most success (6-8) against the Houston Astros over the past few seasons.
Worst opponent to face? Texas has owned the Royals in recent years (3-9).