Coffee sucks.
It just does. I salute all of you out there who pretend otherwise for your commitment to the bit. But you’re not fooling the rest of us.
My opinion on coffee will prevent me from being a hipster or ever being one of the cool kids but that’s a burden I’m willing to carry.
I’m a big fan of awkward silences.
Nobody asked for this but I’ll give it to you anyway. Here’s a Foley life hack that I’ve used for years: Train yourself to become comfortable with awkward situations and awkward conversations.
Think about it. If you’re comfortable while everybody else in the room is uncomfortable you have quite an advantage.
I can’t believe I just gave away that life tip for free. That thing is worth thousands.
The Kansas City Health Department announced something interesting the other day. They call it the 2025 Food Safety Excellence Awards. It’s an honor that highlights food establishments in Kansas City that have “gone above and beyond in ensuring the safety, cleanliness and education of their operations.”
The important thing is this list highlights some operations noted for their cleanliness. The list is quite lengthy, as about 15% of food service operations within the city limits of Kansas City are included. “To earn this recognition, establishments successfully passed rigorous health inspections throughout 2024, meeting or surpassing the standards set by the Kansas City Food Code and other public health regulation,” the KC Health Department says.
A couple on the list stuck out to me. In the Northland, the First Watch at 9021 N. Ambassador Drive is highlighted for cleanliness and other categories that go into making the list. Been there many times, and have never been disappointed. Notable fact is the line might be long when you get there but that operation is very efficient about getting folks in and out. And the food has always hit the spot. Suggestion: Download their app and pay on the app from your table. Convenient and time saving.
Another one that caught my eye on the awarded list for cleanliness and such is a place called The Ship. It’s at 1217 Union Ave., in the West Bottoms. Found this spot on a recent late Friday afternoon and enjoyed it. Need to return there when we have more time to spend. Cool vibe, kind of a speakeasy atmosphere. Eclectic crowd. Unique decor. Here’s a more detailed description of The Ship from the internet: “The uniqueness of The Ship in Kansas City’s West Bottoms comes from its authentic, restored 1930s interior salvaged from the original Prohibition-era bar and its distinct nautical theme, offering a hidden, speakeasy-like ambiance with two distinct venues: a historic lounge and a larger “All Else The Sea” space for food, drinks, and diverse live music. It blends a dive bar atmosphere with vintage elegance, providing a memorable experience.”
Consider checking it out next time you’re in the West Bottoms.
Doing some reading of a newspaper trade magazine over the weekend and came across this great reminder, as pointed out by our attorney for the Missouri Press Association: There has long been a belief in many circles that elected officials cannot legally discuss matters that have been disclosed in closed session. This belief is false.
“To be clear, no state law prevents an elected official from discussing matters disclosed in a closed session. There is no general duty under the law to keep matters quiet. The Missouri Sunshine Law neither requires not prevents a public official from speaking,” says Dan Curry, MPA attorney.
Simply put, elected officials are free to disclose matters in closed session–and they should, if they believe the meeting is being used improperly to discuss matters that should be open. “They owe it to their constituents to blow the whistle on backroom deals,” Curry points out.
Missouri Press Association has taken notice that since there is no state law preventing elected officials from publicly talking about matters disclosed in a closed session, some lawyers for governing bodies are suggesting cities create ordinances that impose strict duties of confidentiality on elected officials and then create a punishment process for violation of the duty, whether the meeting was lawfully closed or not.
While you might say such ordinances would help deter the kind of leaked information that might damage a city financially, such as disclosing litigation strategy or personnel matters, the stance of the press association is that such indiscretions are self-policing, in that bad leaders tend to get voted out of office. And how often does leaked information actually cause financial harm to a city? I can’t think of a single occasion where it has happened around here.
But here is what we do know and this needs to be stressed: in closed sessions, boards, commissions and councils across the state routinely discuss matters they shouldn’t be discussing behind closed doors. And cities and towns often close records that should be open, or fail to turn over requested public records that should be open. Think back just a few short years ago to the Parkville situation, where that whole mess cost the city years of bad publicity and roughly half a million dollars or more once the settlement ($195,000 to Jason Maki) and legal fees were paid.
Interestingly, the Missouri Press Association points out these codes of conduct some entities are developing are also likely unlawful. If they punish an elected official with removal from office or even blocking access to closed records, they would face a battle against the First Amendment. Curry, the MPA attorney, points out enforcement of these ordinances will result in costly litigation for cities and boards. They will wind up spending far more money defending these bad ordinances that they would save by policing a vow of secrecy. Bottom line, from the press association’s point of view, is we need to inform city leaders that these “codes of conduct” must allow elected officials to blow the whistle on unlawfully closed meetings without fear of repercussion.
(Find Foley enjoying an awkward conversation)
