Tracy,
I wanted to write briefly to our South KC supporters to inform you of a couple important opportunities to support urban agriculture.
The harassment from our neighbors here on Bannister Rd. continues, as we had another visit from codes officers earlier this month.  Unfortunately, we simply could not stay on our current site.  We cannot farm here in the manner we wish, and will have more freedom in a more supportive neighborhood.  We are happily and excitedly moving to a new 13-acre site we have purchased on the East Side of KCMO.  Here in South KC, the vocal opposition of a few people succeeded in drowning out our area supporters.
And our opposition may win an even larger victory if good people like you don’t speak out in coming weeks.
Over the past six months, a group of Kansas City farmers and residents have worked to revise the ordinances surrounding urban agriculture.  Our hope is to protect other farmers from the type of harassment that we received, and to legitimize the wonderful farms and community gardens that have existed throughout KCMO for many years.  You may read the proposed changes on the City’s website, and you may also access further information urban agriculture: http://cityclerk.kcmo.org/liveweb/Documents/Document.aspx?q=gwQ25M6kfLBpQAH2KArtCVQTuNiMyZkVhPHNtnlPCMYJ%2b2FvKs5bOtLbpVG3Tq5a

The Center Planning and Development Council (which claims to represent residents of South Kansas City) has a powerful lobby in City Hall, and is opposing the ordinance change.  We feel that it is important for South KC residents show that this group is NOT representative of the whole community.

Center Planning and Development is meeting Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.  It would be great to have some community members show up who have a more tempered perspective.  The time and place of this meeting follows this email, along with this group’s reaction to these revisions.

Also, this revision will be heard by City Council’s Planning and Zoning Committee on May 5th at 1:30 p.m. on the 26th floor of City Hall.  We need as many supporters present at this hearing as possible, especially those from South KC.  This hearing, as well as letters of support to Council, will largely dictate the outcome of the vote.  If you cannot attend this hearing, please consider writing to City Council.  Even a brief email to city-council@kcmo.org would help greatly.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call or email us.  Thanks for your support!

Best regards,

Dan Heryer & Brooke Salvaggio

BADSEED

(913)-522-3458

*****

CENTER PLANNING  and DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

Summit View Church of the Nazarene

80l W. 97^th Street, KCMO, 64114

Tuesday, April 27th, 20l0, 7:30 p.m.

Will Your Neighbor Be Selling Vegetables From Their Front Yard?

Our speaker will be Patty Noll, Project Manager, and Zoning Ordinance & Subdivision Regulations Revision of the City Planning & Development Department.  She will be explaining the new Urban Agriculture Ordinance No. l00299.    There are many good aspects to urban farming; however we need to reflect on some issues with the proposed Ordinance..

The proposed zoning ordinance allows agriculture (farming) in all residentially zoned districts with very few restrictions or standards to protect residential neighborhoods.  Selling of farm projects would be allowed in all residential districts either through special or temporary use permits with no limits.  Accessory buildings such as hoop buildings could be 20 feet (may be reduced to l4 feet) in a residential district where the current height limit is l0 feet.. .

Would you want an agriculture business next to your property?  How will that impact the value of your property?

This Ordinance is scheduled to be heard before the City Plan Commission at l0: a.m. on April 20 and before the Planning and Zoning Committee of the Council at 1:30 p.m. May 5. We need you to call your councilperson now to oppose this ordinance, and come to the hearing at City Hall.  For more information call Stacey Johnson-Cosby at 8l6 59l 592l.

One Liberty Restoration Project member’s take on the tea party from last year and this year:

The Kansas City Tax Day Tea Party celebrated at the Community America Ballpark this past April 15 was completely transformed from last years tea party…and not in a good way. This years tea party seemed more like an organized, statist political rally unlike the organic, quite spontaneous, tea party rally from last year that I attended at Liberty Memorial.

There were a few reasons I had my reservations about attending this years tea party. First, this tea party was commercially advertised for months in advance. Second, if you wanted to have a table to help promote your organization, your cause, or yourself as a politician, you were charged $50. They also had suites available for those who were better off and could afford the upward cost of $350.00. Third, the tea party was held at a ballpark in the outskirts of western Kansas City, KS. How does having it in a confined area, such as a ballpark, help get the message the speakers were discussing out to the masses? You were literally in a bowl. And last, most of the people in attendance were fans of Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin. I’m sorry, but Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin’s views are opposite of those from which the original tea parties were started from. The Anti-FED, Anti-War, Anti-Left/Right Paradigm, Pro Sound Money, Pro Freedom, and Pro Individual stance originated from Ron Paul’s grassroots movement is where the original tea party started.

I went with the hopes of reaching a few new people to understand that taking on the Federal Government is the incorrect way to reach the change that they are seeking. Yes, I understand that the Federal Government has grown well beyond it’s limits, however, as Lysander Spooner puts it – “the Constitution has either authorized such a government as we have had or has been powerless to prevent it. In either case it is unfit to exist. “ Our mission then is to work on the local/state level and get the individuals in those offices to say NO to the federal government and work within the city’s/state’s own limits and power to take care of itself. Rallies once a year are great, but what are the tea party people doing the other 364 days a year to fight for liberties and freedoms in their own backyard?

The statist mentality at the tea party was almost overwhelming. I don’t believe that the people in attendance were ignorant by any means, I just think that they’re uneducated in certain areas. You can not be a libertarian and be pro-war. That is an oxymoron. You cannot fix a completely broken system, simply by saying no more taxes. There is not left or right paradigm, just as there’s no real difference between Coke or Pepsi. Voting in candidates as individuals who stand for freedom and liberty is one way to address getting the change you are seeking. However, the easiest way to take on big issues, is by starting on your city, county, state, level YOURSELF. Be pro-active in an issue. Keep your eye out for legislation up for a vote in your city council or by an entire city vote and make sure you take it on if it’s against what liberty stands for. ANY issue. I know many people that are rallying behind the freedom to vote for your local judges, legalize cannabis, ending eminent domain, putting at stop to the surveillance state, making sure no more taxes are raised on a local/state level, etc. People need to get out their and find an issue or two that they are passionate about and go fight for it!! Gather people together to protests, have weekly/monthly meetings about strategies for getting your issue voted on the way that you’d like to see it voted on. Go talk to your local city representatives, talk to your state representatives, state senators, and police department. Let them know that you’re a part of a group of peaceful people who just want to bring about a change towards liberty in your area. Localize, Harmonize, Educate, Active. Make your voice heard LOCALLY, because in the end, it will be heard NATIONALLY.

Group Protests Scanners at KCI

Posted by: Sam Hartle Email: hartle@nbcactionnews.com Last Update: 6:40 pm

Group Protests Body Scanners at KCI

Airports across the country are adding body scanners for extra security, despite the controversial nature of the new technology.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Airports across the country are adding body scanners for extra security, despite the controversial nature of the new technology.

Many worry about privacy and how much of a person’s body shows up on the scanners.

Kansas City International Airport recently added one of the scanners to Terminal B.

On Saturday, the “Liberty Restoration Project” protested the new security measures.

“I would rather see the airport, rather the airlines, chose their own security,” said protester Gabe Gryder. “We prefer the government get out of the way of the airlines.

The Transportation Security Administration says that an officer located in a room away from the scanners views the images, which aren’t able to be saved.

http://www.tonyskansascity.com/2010/04/kci-body-scanner-protest-today.html

http://www.tonyskansascity.com/2010/04/eric-bowers-todays-kansas-city.html

Approximately one year ago Red Light Cameras went up in the city of Kansas City, MO. We were there the weekend they were turned on, stood out at the sight of the first camera, and protested. We were booed and flipped off by most drivers. Later last spring, a bill to ban the red light cameras was killed in committee.

Fast forward to three weeks ago. We held another protest on January 23^rd at the same location as the prior year. This time we came armed with information to give driver’s about the reasons why they should care about the red light cameras, how the city could actually prevent red light running without a cost to the taxpayers, and information on a new bill in the Missouri Senate to, once again, try to ban red light cameras in the state of Missouri. The January protest went over great! We handed out over 200 of our information packets and the reaction from the driver’s was very positive this time. They are TIRED of the cameras.

We decided that since the feedback was so positive with the January protest, we would do another one in February. One spontaneous idea of Liberty Restoration Project turned into a Nationwide Valentine’s Day Red Light Camera protest. We set up a facebook event calling for other cities to get involved nationwide and it worked! We ended up having 10 cities involved with the Valentine’s Day Red Light Camera protest from all over the nation. Austin, TX, Philadelphia, PA, St. Louis, MO, Santa Maria, CA, Pheonix, AZ, Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL, Springfield, MO, Savannah, GA, all joined in with Kansas City, MO to protest. This just shows what one seed planted in the minds of a few, can grow into something spectacular in only a matter of weeks.

The reasons for protesting these red light cameras is to bring attention and awareness of them to citizens that they are being installed and used under the guise of safety, when they are truly only there for revenue generation. The protests also help inform driver’s of legislation in their state that could potentially ban the red light cameras in their state. These cameras are just essentially another “tax” on the citizens, they are also unconstitutional as you are denied due process and the right to a fair trial. You cannot face your accuser when you receive a red light traffic camera.

Chicago Valentine’s Day Protests 2010: Homophobia, Red Light Cameras And Horse-Drawn Carriages

Nationwide Red Light Camera Protests to be Held on Valentine’s Day

Video of Red Light Camera Protest in Chicago

Happy Valentines Day American Traffic Solutions

Honk If You Hate Red Light Cameras

Metro Red Light Cameras Under Protest

Chicago motorists sound off against red-light cameras

Red Light Protest2

Red-light cameras stir Valentine’s Day protest

Chicago Red Light Camera Protest a Success!

Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, Red Light Cameras Have Got To Go

Protestors to rally against red-light cameras

Dedicated Red Light Camera Opposition

Protesters rally against red-light cameras

Video of Sunday’s Red-light ’scamera’ protest

Video: Missourians Protest Red-Light “SCAMeras”

About 30 concerned citizens attended the meeting and were from all walks of life.

To start off, we each introduced ourselves, our ward, our neighborhood and any previous involvement in city politics.

Click here to find your ward.
Click here to find your neighborhood.

I gave a short presentation on the workings of the website. Basically the settings allow for everyone to take part in their own way; since emails can be turned off, some on or all on -depending on your own level of involvement.

Mark Ogier then gave a presentation on being the public in public meetings.
Be sure to check out the witness contingency and the public meetings calendar.

It was decided to also have an activist events calendar.

Something I forgot to mention- networking is encouraged! Please feel free to promote any groups you belong to at our meetings, there is plenty of table space for handouts and I will gladly post any events on our activist calendar.

There were concerns mentioned at the meeting but we didn’t have anyone taking minutes and I don’t want to try to list them for fear of leaving someone’s concern out; next meeting we will take note of the concerns mentioned.

Please let me know if:
Any meetings or events in the city are not listed on the calendars.
You are a member and would like your blog promoted on Neighbor’s blogs.
You would like to learn more about the website and setting options.
You have a speaker in mind for our meetings
All suggestions are encouraged!

Our next meeting is scheduled for March 6, 2010 at the Kingshighway St Louis City Library. Doors open at 9:30, meeting begins at 10 and adjourns at noon.

Special thanks to Brother Bob and Darin, the two videographers that covered the first meeting.

Some updates from around the city:

1/16/10 – Arlington Heights Redevelopment Meeting – Alderman Boyd speaks on Eminent Domain

1/21/10 – City Earnings Tax could be put to a vote
1/25/10 – Neighbors assume greater Responsibility for Trash in Soulard
2/04/10 – Consent Judgment orders city to remove leafleting law from the books
2/06/10 – Photos of Gateway to Liberty meeting
2/09/10 – Delor Street Plant Holders in Ward 14 – you paid for it
2/10/10 – City Budget Meeting was standing room only!
2/15/10 – Tax for Metro Link expansion
2/16/10 – Push for Local Accountability of Police
2/16/10 – Court hearing on Blighting of Northside -McKee’s Redevelopment Plan

I also wanted to share this important eminent domain petition update from Ron Calzone, if you attended the meeting, you already received the update below.

If you would like to be removed from this email list please reply to with subject line “remove from list”.

Eminent Domain Petition Update

We are 4 ½ years into the battle against eminent domain abuse in Missouri. Our foes are powerful and well funded – largely by our own tax dollars. They fear the loss of millions, even billions of dollars in redevelopment subsidies.

As you know, last month the Western Court of Appeals ruled in our favor in the challenge to our ballot titles. They handed down their ruling in an unusually prompt fashion once we got the full case before the three judge panel. I believe that was their reaction to the evidence of the Missouri Municipal League’s misuse of the court system.

In spite of a resounding “win” in court (the three judges unanimously ruled exactly as we suggested in our brief), it came only after a year long delay. That delay was on top of several weeks of delay by the Secretary of State and AG.

That delay may prove fatal to our effort in this (2010) election cycle.

Winning the Skirmish, But Losing the Battle – Then Winning the War.

The court battle was but one of many skirmishes (albeit a big one) in this fight for property rights. We have MML’s law firm on tape admitting, that their “main objective” in bringing suit was to delay the gathering of signatures. Even in their court loss, they have won their objective. They had to break the law to do it, but they achieved it, nonetheless.

That delay greatly hindered our fundraising. Right after the ruling things looked good. In just a few days we garnered over $200,000 in pledges – but then we hit a brick wall.

Donors we hoped we could count on were understandably gun-shy. Even though we were going to have more time than our “near miss” 2008 effort, it wouldn’t have been a comfortably larger amount of time. On the other hand, the volunteer base has grown tremendously. Success, though, will depend on a combination of volunteer and paid petition circulators.

Without the cash to pay full time professional circulators, it is best to conserve our volunteer efforts for another day.

Motion For Sanctions

The intentional use of the court system for purposes of delay or adding expense to your opponent is against the law. When such abuse occurs, the law provides for court ordered sanctions – including monetary payments to the damaged party.

MML’s illegal use of the courts has cost our effort hundreds of thousands of dollars and we have filed a motion with the court asking for reimbursement. It’s probably a long shot, but if the court will award enough, and do it soon enough, we may have a chance to hire the professional circulators and make it to the ballot this November. We have not totally given up on this election cycle.

A Punt May Be Necessary

Realistically, the odds of the court reacting fast enough and strong enough to our motion for sanctions are pretty slim. More than likely we will have to begin the entire process over this fall, after the November election.

The good news is that we should not have the same problems with court delays. We will submit the same petitions and should get the same ballot titles, which have already been litigated. There will be no excuse for the courts to permit such long delays.

Although we have not scuttled the effort for the 2010 ballot, the MO-CPR board – all unpaid volunteers, just like the many volunteer petition circulators — are sensitive to & understand your sacrifices for this effort. We want to ensure that your efforts produce the most fruit, so we suggest that volunteers hold off on gathering signatures and concentrate on other helpful endeavors for this and future campaigns.

Do things like:
• Recruit more volunteers
• Scope out and document places to collect signatures later
• Organize training meetings
• Help pass legislation that will prevent the sort of court delays that hurt us so badly.

Those things will help whether we go for the 2010 or the 2012 election cycle.

The 2012 Election Cycle is Near

2012 sounds like a long way off, but it starts this November 3rd. If we punt, and the odds are we will have to, we will have a much longer, more comfortable time to collect the many signatures we need.

While it is true that we will have to put up with two more years of the injustice of eminent domain abuse, our likelihood of success will be much, much greater. We must not forget, our fight is very much like that of the Founding Fathers against King George – and they had to fight 8 long years to win freedom!

We Will Win The War!

For me, personally, it is disappointing to think that we may have to drag this out two more years – I would like to go on to other projects. I stand undaunted, though, and will continue the fight until the war is won! I have talked to many of you in the last few days who have expressed the same resolve.

Together we will win – we have to because at the root of it, this war is for Economic Freedom and Economic Freedom is the foundation of ALL of our liberties.

Justice for all!

Ron Calzone and the rest MO-CPR Board
–

*************************************
Ron Calzone, chairman
Missouri Citizens for Property Rights
33867 Highway E
Dixon, MO 65459
Phone: (573) 759-3585
Cell.: (573) 368-1344

http://www.mo-cpr.org

*************************************

Valentine’s Day Red Light Camera Protest

Red, red, red.

That’s the only color you see on Valentine’s Day.

Red hearts, red roses, red candy, red balloons and now, red light cameras?

With all the love and romance in the air on Sunday for Valentines Day, there won’t be any love being shown at the intersection of Western & Addison between 12-3 PM.

This red light camera intersection will be ground zero for the Chicago outpost of a national protest against red light cameras.

Chicago’s participation is being spearheaded by Scott Tucker, Republican nominee for Illinois State Representative in the 11th District, formerly John Fritchey’s seat.

The 37-year old Tucker has made the RLC issue an important part of his platform.

“I think it’s a quality of life issue… it’s a tax presented as public safety,” said Tucker about red light cameras. “It takes money out of the citizens’ pockets and puts it into the hands of wasteful government.”

This national protest, is being spearheaded by The Liberty Restoration Project, based in Kansas City, MO.

The group decided, after the success of a red light camera protest a few weeks ago, they’d do another one. But this time, they’d try to do it on a national scale via their Facebook page.

According to Tracy Ward, the group’s Area Director for Kansas City, it took just two weeks for the protest go from just a handful of cities to 10 locations nationwide including Chicago.

“It’s been pretty good,” said Ward of the response to their national event. “It’s a totally spontaneous national protest. It kind of blew up on us. We have over 500 people nationwide saying they may or will attend just via Facebook.”

But do protests opposing red light camera actually have any effect?

“They are a necessary part of the process to overturn the use of ticket cameras,” states Gary Bills of the National Motorists Association, an organization which represents and protects the interests of motorists. “The public protests help inform local residents about the money raised by the cameras at the expense of motorists, without any corresponding safety benefit.”

Tucker, running an uphill battle against Democrat Ann Williams, supports Senate Bill 2466, introduced by State Senator Dan Duffy, that looks to eliminate all automated enforcement cameras (red light or speed) in Illinois.

However, according to Sen. Duffy and Tucker, SB2466 is being held up in committee by Senate President John Cullerton. Tucker hopes this protest in Cullerton’s backyard, will bring some pressure to bear on the Democrat.

“It depends on how Sen. Cullerton reacts,” says Tucker when asked if he feels Sunday’s protest will have an effect. “If he sides with Mike Madigan than constituents, then constituents will suffer. If he chooses to represent constituent concerns, he will call the bill to the floor. But without some decent public pressure, this bill will not see the light of day.”

Repeated requests for comments were made to Ann Williams’ campaign office but without any response.

http://theexpiredmeter.com/?p=5156

LRP getting coverage on Tony’s KC blog.  Check it out!  Thank him for spreading the word!

______________________________

Friday, January 22, 2010

KANSAS CITY RED LIGHT CAMERA PROTEST THIS SATURDAY!!!

Interesting . . . The Liberty Restoration Project takes on Kansas City’s Red Light Cameras this weekend.

This group has a pretty solid list of complaints with local Red-Light Camera efforts.

Protest Details:

Date: Saturday, January 23, 2010

Time: 11:30am – 3:00pm

Location: 39th and Southwest Trafficway, Kansas City, MO

Protesters are encouraged to meet first at Westport Coffee House to distribute supplies among the group, the group will then move to 39th and Southwest Trafficway.

Double Bonus Points, the group will have fliers available to educate drivers on how to fight their tickets.

via Tony’s Kansas City: KANSAS CITY RED LIGHT CAMERA PROTEST THIS SATURDAY!!!.

What: EDUCATE – ACTIVATE – LIBERATE – A Day of Activist Empowerment!

When: January 3^rd from 1-6pm

Where: Brave New Books ( 1904 Guadelupe St . Austin , TX 78705 )

This January 3^rd from 1 – 6pm, Texans for Accountable Government and Brave New Books Are Proud to Present…..

EDUCATE – ACTIVATE – LIBERATE – A Day of Activist Empowerment!

Join TAG and BNB for a day of enlightenment and brotherhood.  This event will be the first of many “mini-seminars” on liberty and action that will take place regularly at Brave New Books.    We believe that by creating a venue for activists to share strategies and best practices we will be able to further our ability to bring about positive change here in Central Texas .

Agenda

1:00 – 1:15pm:  Intro – Like Peas and Carrots: The Bookstore and Austin Liberty Activism

1:15 – 2:00 pm: Robert Butler – (Director of Texas Libertarian Party) – Crafting a Marketable Liberty Message

2:15 – 3:00 pm: Deborah Stevens and Randy Kelton – (Hosts of Rule of Law Radio/Judicial Activists) – The Joys of Judicial Activism

3:15 – 4:00pm: John Bush – (Director of Texans for Accountable Government) – Localism and City Government: The Prospects for Liberty

4:15 – 5:00pm: Catherine Bliesh – (Director of Liberty Restoration Project MO ) – Understanding the Mechanics of the Police State and the Art of Guerilla Activism

5:00 – 6:00pm: Action Items/Networking/Shop!

We are suggesting a $5 donation.  Proceeds will be split between Brave New Books http://www.bravenewbookstore.com/ and Operation Defuse http://operationdefuse.com/. (ODF is a joint TAG and LRP nationwide effort exposing Fusion Centers and the police state and providing activists with the tools and resources necessary to combat them.)

So C’mon down to Brave New Books from 1-6pm on January 3^rd and Educate, Activate, and Liberate with some of Austin’s finest Activists and liberty defenders!

We’ll be expecting ya.

John Bush

Executive Director

Texans for Accountable Government