By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Mayor Mark Funkhouser still hasn't explained his sudden decision on Nov. 7 to remove Cindy Circo as chairwoman of the City Council's Housing Committee. The move has upset local home builders and federal officials. Now, here's a fuller explanation of what's going on.

To some people, myself included, Funkhouser's move looked like juvenile punishment for Circo's attendance at a press conference that day to criticize the mayor for suing the city. And that might have been part of the timing.

But the feud between Circo and the mayor goes back two months.

On Sept. 17 Funkhouser released his monthly update of how he sees the world. Here's a part of what he said about housing in KC.

"When I meet with community leaders, particularly those from the 3rd and 5th Districts, the one issue I’ve been hearing the most about lately is housing. Folks are frustrated with the lack of progress that is being made in this important area....
I am currently meeting with elected officials, community leaders and government staff, and weighing our options. This is far too important a service for us to lag behind on, and I will be giving it a lot more of my attention in the coming weeks and months."

Funkhouser didn't mention Circo, or anyone else, by name.

But Circo got the message: She was being dissed, just days after she had stood with the rest of the council in telling Funkhouser he could no longer allow wife Gloria Squitiro to work in his office.

So Circo responded to Funkhouser's criticisms.

Here's the full text of her letter from Sept. 18:

TO: Mayor Mark Funkhouser

FROM: Cindy Circo, Councilwoman, 5th District at-Large

SUBJECT: Housing in Kansas City: Moving Forward

Thank you for your September 17, 2008 e-newsletter. I know that the Kansas City community appreciates the periodic updates on our progress.

After reading the section on Housing, however, I feel the need, as chair of the committee, to remind you just how far Kansas City has come since the creation of the Council’s Housing Committee in August of 2007. In just over a year, great strides have been made in regard to Housing in Kansas City including, but not limited to, the following:

-- In October of 2007, Shirley Winn was named the City’s Housing Administrator. This past year involved diligence by Shirley and her staff in sorting out the details of the past and present so we could finally see our future. Staff has established a positive working relationship with the regional HUD officials. They have also addressed HUD compliance issues.

-- City officials and staff have met regularly with the HEDFC receiver, David Bahner, and regional HUD officials. A central communication point was established to keep all parities on task and moving in the same direction. We have reached a point where we are working together with HUD and the receiver in doing what is best for the people of Kansas City. These meetings continue to be held monthly to keep all parties involved, on task, and moving forward.

-- Through these regular discussions, it was decided that City staff time was better utilized addressing the daily functions of managing the projects at hand and that a technical consultant is temporarily needed for “special projects” involved in moving housing forward in Kansas City. The position is designed to function much like that of the special project consultant hired by the Finance and Audit committee to oversee the City’s budget and to assist in implementing best practices. An RFP/Q was posted for this position with a deadline of September 5. A task force is in place to select the consultant. I am personally meeting with numerous Kansas City leaders who are supporting us wholeheartedly in this next exciting phase.

-- Federal House Bill 3221- American Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008—was signed by the president which will provide our area with millions of dollars to use to combat the mortgage crisis. The Housing Committee and staff of Kansas City have taken a leadership role in providing our representation in Congress with guidance on how these funds should be used.

It should be noted that Kansas City has brand new and total rehab affordable housing units that sit vacant in the center city due to the current credit and mortgage crisis in which all American cities are facing today. Kansas City is in a unique position in that we have the creativity and flexibility to adjust in this unstable economy. The Housing Committee is committed to exploring best practices and programs to educate prospective homebuyers in order to fill these vacant homes with buyers.

Your newsletter mentioned that “our city has not added a single unit of affordable housing.” The Housing Division’s 2007 CAPER details that, in fact, affordable housing is being maintained through the City’s Minor Home Repair Program. This was the recommendation of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Housing and has been made a top priority of the Housing Committee. The 2007 CAPER report can be referenced at www.kcmo.org/planning/housing/2007_CAPER.pdf . Shirley Winn will also be presenting the report in detail at the next Housing Committee meeting on Wednesday, September 24, at noon on the 10th Floor of City Hall.

Our journey has just begun, yet we are well on our way to establishing a top-notched housing program in Kansas City. We are working hard for our community and they deserve to know that. I would ask that an updated version of your monthly e-newsletter be sent to correct possible misinterpretations of the state of housing in our city.

I am pleased with your promise to devote your attention to housing issues in the next weeks and months. I welcome your participation in our joint meetings with HUD and the HEDFC receiver. Our next meeting is on Friday, October 10, at 9:30 a.m. at the HEDFC offices at 4001 Blue Parkway, Suite 250.

I am confident that this City Council can put aside past differences and embark on a fresh approach to solve our decades-long housing issues in Kansas City. The citizens are counting on us.