\n\t\t\t\t\t\tKansas City workers are trying to pause the Royals stadium plan, saying community members “deserve a voice in this decision.” The Royals, in partnership with Hallmark Cards, announced on April 22 plans to build a brand-new ballpark in the Crown Center area of downtown Kansas City. The plan comes with a hefty price tag. It’ll be funded primarily by the Royals and private investors, with more than $2 billion expected in private investment, according to the team. Supplemental funds will come from the Missouri’s Show-Me Sports Investment Act and the city of Kansas City. But some community members aren’t OK with the city shelling out millions without a vote. Workers with Missouri Workers Power plan to deliver more than 4,500 signatures to the city clerk’s office to begin the process of putting a citizens’ initiative on the ballot. This initiative would give community members a say in the plan before the city commits $600 million to the stadium project. “I’ve spent years working low-wage jobs in Kansas City,” said Terrence Wise, a Missouri Workers Power leader. “No matter how hard I work, I can still see all the way to the back of my freezer. At the same time I\u2019m seeing our elected leaders make decisions about our city without ever asking us what we need. John Sherman is a billionaire. The city is ready to hand him over $600 million of our money while we\u2019re told there\u2019s nothing left for the schools our kids go to, the buses we ride to work and the housing we can\u2019t afford. “Public money should strengthen our communities, not their private fortunes. We collected these signatures because Kansas City workers deserve a voice in this decision like we had in 2024 when voters rejected a new stadium deal.” The proposed ordinance would force a public vote on the new stadium development before the city funds it. If the city clerk verifies the needed number of signatures, the ordinance can move forward. The city’s contributionKansas City committed to applying for a tax-increment financing package to pay off a $600 million bond package. While it’s a large amount of money, city leaders said after the stadium deal was announced that their contribution was “limited.””What we bring to the table is capped,” KCMO City Manager Mario Vasquez said after the deal. “Any overruns are the responsibility of the private sector partners.” Councilman Crispin Rea said the deal will be good for taxpayers. “So we’re not tapping any existing or current revenue source,” Rea said after the project was announced. “We’re not just sitting around on $600 million waiting to be spent.” Is 4,500 signatures enough?It may seem like a low number, but required petition signatures aren’t based on city population. The city charter says that within 40 days of the passage of an ordinance, a petition needs signatures equal to at least 10% of the total vote cast for candidates for the mayor’s office of the last regular municipal election. Statement from Mayor Quinton Lucas”As we have shared previously, we expect construction to start on the transformational new stadium and Crown Center redevelopment later this year or in the first quarter of next year. The combined projects will retain Hallmark’s corporate headquarters in the heart of our city and will welcome millions more visitors to the Greater Downtown and Midtown areas. While the Royals and Crown Center redevelopment, including necessary binding agreements, are already well underway, we will continue to look forward to engagement with all members of our community to ensure good paying jobs are a key part of the project. As seen with recent vastly more expensive stadium discussions, absent public referenda, with the Chiefs in Kansas and the Chicago Bears in Indiana, Kansas City will continue to operate respectfully, but swiftly to ensure it remains competitive in bringing new jobs and opportunities to our City.”\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tKANSAS CITY, Mo. \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Kansas City workers are trying to pause the Royals stadium plan, saying community members “deserve a voice in this decision.” <\/p>\n