By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
With a terse statement -- "That's it, folks, I'm out of here" -- KC Mayor Mark Funkhouser got up from his desk on City Hall's 29th floor and walked out of his own press conference Tuesday morning.
It was an immature and unproductive way for the mayor to end the session.
It undermined the message he wanted to get out: That he's on the job, with the right priorities, ready to work with the City Council to reduce crime, improve transit and education.
Instead, when the questioning got a little tough Tuesday, the mayor fled.
The question that set him off: How will you work with the City Council now that it's barred his wife from being at his side?
Funkhouser said, "We're going to agree to disagree about that (volunteer ordinance), and that's fine."
He said he would have support for his New Tools economic development strategy, pointing out that the council had passed his plan "the same day they voted to throw the first lady" out of his office.
Then the mayor abruptly left.
Delicious
Digg
Gotta disagree RWS, Yael was just reporting not whining
The Mayor is probably on his last nerve, what with losing the veto vote, the Cauthen contract appeal, and Ed Wolfe, and a trip to Ireland is probably medically indicated, but he did call the press conference and name the subject matter, i.e. forging a better future working relationship with the City Council, up front.
If he had wanted to skip the whole press conference thing to get an earler start for the airport, I'm sure the reporters, airport police, and his wife, to mention just a few, would have appreciated it.
Funkhouser Press Conference
Why is Yael whining that the Mayor was being immature and unproductive by abruptly terminating the news conference ? In the face of admittedly "tough questioning" ... after months and months of being brutalized by the Star ... the Mayor responded in kind and ended the session.
Journalistic freedoms may include the right to be rude ... but not the right to be treated differently than the way they treat others.
Man up, Yael !!
funk is no liberal
The Funk is no liberal. Mayor Smart with Nothinghouser is just an ass. Plain and simple. Whatever he was before being elected Mayor, this is what he is now. Stupid is as stupid does. And to that we can get ready to add on Desperate is as desperate does...
I Don't Understand Funk
Why does he put up with all this liberal BS.. Kay TIF Barnes left the city a financial mess, sewers dumping into Brush Creek; he tried to bring a semblance of order to the playground with no luck..
Don't waste your energy on it Funk... tell the children goodbye...
Like most liberals they talk a good game, but come game day they are noshows...
the funk's cabin
I just saw a snippet of a photo of the Funk's log cabin getaway. Ever been there, Yael? Plotting and scheming to make him Mayor?
I think you should take him back there (he says he's going anyway) and give him a real, unfettered piece of your mind. It won't help (he is way beyond help) but at least you could say you tried.
cauthen
The KC Biz Journal Reports: Appeals court ruling favors City Manager Cauthen...
------------------------------
Another Funkhouser win? What say ye Yael T Abouhlakah???
funk_thumper --- gloria and the funk
Oh my! You have figured it out. The real problem has always been Mark himself. Not only has Funk enabled Gloria but it turns out he may have even more issues than she does. And know he is consumed by rage with basically no realistic recourse... he has marginalized himself and their actions gave Cauthen and the Council reason and grounds to emasculate him.
Enjoy the week away... gather up your strength. Because upon your return, the nightmare will continue. And then we have the Bates trial to look forward to... you did this all by yourself, you clueless arrogant nasty infantile buffoon.
I used to think it was Gloria
who had mental health issues and that's why Funk-ee had to keep her next to him 24/7. Now I have to wonder which of them is doing the most rowing against the tide of mental health.
My God ... will the nightmare on 12th Street never end? I'm beginning to think the only solution is to wait until they are both on the 29th floor and then brick up all the possible exits. That way the city could get a fresh start and move forward on getting things accomplished. It's a cinch nothing will get done as long as Funk-ee's in charge.