Archive for the “Jackson County” Category

Aug 04 2010

Time to De-Irritate and Focus on November.

Posted by C. Shaw in Blunt, GOP, Jackson County, Missouri Democratic Party, Robin Carnahan, Senate 2010

Last night at the primary watch party, Congressman Cleaver reminded everyone that while primaries can leave people within the party bruised, bloodied, and irritated that we needed to “de-irritate” and focus on the tough but important races we have November.

It was worth repeating.

In the next couple of weeks, we will outline the competitive general races in Jackson County and how you can get involved.

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Dec 07 2009

Yates Quits to work for Pay Day Loan Company, Wants Cierpiot’s Help

Posted by Jessica Podhola in GOP, Jackson County, Jefferson City

Now that Yates has quit being the state rep to become a pay day loan lobbyist, he immediately steps in to help his new favorite candidate – Mike Cierpiot.  Why, because he wants Mike to support pay day loan companies in Lee’s Summit.  We know how bad these loan shark companies are for the very people they purport to help.  Why would a gentleman who has spent 7 years in public service turn around and hurt the very people that needed his leadership?  It makes this Jackson Countian very nervous. Mike Cierpoit – will you sign a no more pay day loan pledge?

More here.

Here is the letter Yates sent to “friends”….. By the way Rep. Yates,  let the people of the 56th district choose their replacement, we don’t crown hand picked successors in Missouri!

Dear Friends,

In case you have not heard, I would like to inform you all that I have stepped down as representative of the 56th House District.  Many people over the past few days have been asking me to clarify the reasons for my departure from office, and I would like to explain these reasons at this time.

The number one reason of why I am stepping down from office is my family.  Since the birth of my son, I have realized just how hard it is to devote time to public office and to my family.  To reduce the time that I spend with my family to serve public office is not something that I want to pursue, and my wife and son are a higher priority to me than public office.

Many have asked why I chose this past Tuesday to resign.  I chose this date to ensure that Eastern Jackson County would have the advantage over other districts in the 2010 elections.  Resigning this week ensured that a special election will be held in either February or April of 2010.  The incoming representative, most likely Mike Cierpiot,  will then have half a session’s experience going into the 2011 session.  With term limits, we are anticipating 50-60 new legislators to be elected in 2010.  Stepping down now significantly enhances the incoming representative’s knowledge and seniority in the following session, which will greatly benefit the 56th district, as well as eastern Jackson County.

I am extremely proud to have served the 56th district for 7 years, and I am humbled that you have elected me your state representative.  I am proud of the legislation I have both sponsored and crafted while in office.  I thank everyone who has contacted me over the past week with words of support.  I look forward to the job that Mike Cierpiot will do as our next representative of the 56th District.

Sincerely,

Brian Yates

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Oct 22 2009

COMBAT works in Jackson County

Posted by Jessica Podhola in Jackson County

CALL FOR RENEWAL OF JACKSON COUNTY’S COMMUNITY BACKED ANTI DRUG TAX

NOV. 3, 2009 BALLOT QUESTION: Shall the County of Jackson continue its countywide antidrug sales tax (COMBAT) at the rate of onequarter of one percent for a period of seven years for the purpose of the arrest, prosecution, incarceration, treatment and prevention (including D.A.R.E.) of drug related offenses and violent crimes, and the judicial processing of adult and juvenile violators of such offenses? The proceeds of this tax shall be deposited in a special Jackson County AntiDrug Sales Tax Trust Fund; separate from the general fund or any other county funds.

  • When renewed by voters, the proposal will continue Jackson County’s one quarter cent sales tax for the Countywide AntiDrug Sales Tax (COMBAT) for a period of seven years.
  • Passage of Question #1 will not raise taxes. Rather, it will extend the small sales tax that has been in place since 1989.

COMBAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Here are some facts about the Community Backed Antidrug Tax, which is now overseen by a Drug Commission appointed by the Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders:

  • In 2008, alone, more than $14 million in drugs were removed from the streets of Jackson County. The total is almost $250 million since 2002.
  • Since 1991, COMBAT has closed 13,091 drug houses and it boosted prosecutions by 387 percent within just the first five years.
  • Since 2002, COMBAT has produced 11,000 arrests and removed 3,100 weapons from the county.
  • Drugs are a factor in many crimes. About 53 percent of inmates in state prisons and 45 percent in federal prisons were abusing or dependent upon drugs in the year before their incarceration, according to a U.S. Department of Justice study in 2004.
    • COMBAT provides critical funding to 80 agencies that conduct 60 area drug
    • prevention programs serving more than 32,000 people – 85% of them youths. Agencies also provide 32 treatment programs serving 4,000 people annually.
  • A quartercent sales tax in Jackson County is raising $19.5 million a year for the prevention and treatment of drug abuse and the enforcement of drug laws.
  • Every year, thousands of students in the 5th grade and middle school go through the D.A.R.E program, which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. In the past 20 years more than 200,000 students have had D.A.R.E., which teaches them about the risks and dangers of drug use. Teachers across Jackson County believe in the effectiveness of D.A.R.E.
  • COMBAT funds 24 positions in the Kansas City Police Department and a total of 18 in Blue Springs, Grandview, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Lone Jack, Oak Grove and Sugar Creek and in the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
  • COMBAT funds 44 positions in the Jackson County prosecutor’s office, including 15 assistant prosecutors and 29 investigators and support staff. The antidrug prosecution unit filed 3,826 serious cases in 2008.
  • Cases are handled in COMBAT drug court, where many offenders are provided comprehensive drug treatment and job training to deter them from returning to drugrelated crime.
  • More than 1,600 offenders have graduated from drug court and moved on to productive lives. Example: Of the 2001 graduates, almost 94 percent have stayed convictionfree of any felonies. Studies nationally have shown drug courts to be much more successful than conventional probation in keeping offenders from committing felonies and misdemeanors.
  • COMBAT is critical to incarceration. The tax funds 36 corrections officers, 17 sergeants and lieutenants and seven support staff in the Jackson County Detention Center. Without that money, the detention center would have to close two floors and release some 260 inmates due to lack of supervision, according to the corrections director. The inmates were convicted of violent crimes, sex offenses and other felonies.
  • Prevention of drug abuse and drug crimes saves money. Every dollar invested in drug court programs saves up to $12 in potential cost of prosecution and medical care, according to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.
  • In 2009, the county obtained over $6 million in matching and nonmatching grant money related to drugs. COMBAT used $1.13 million to leverage $3.6 million of matching funds for prosecution, treatment and prevention services.

from the COMBATWORKS website.

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Contacts: Committee jess.podhola@gmail.com | 308 W Maple Suite 101, Independence MO. 64050 (816) 833-5232 | Website webmaster@jacksoncountydemocraticcommittee.org
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