Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Holy crap! Forbes actually says something nice about Kansas City

Posted by Justin Kendall on Wed, Apr 1, 2009 at 10:03 AM

click to enlarge kcskyline.jpg

Forbes hasn't always been so kind to Kansas City. Just a couple of months ago, they called KC a ghost town. Buck up, KC. You are now a part of the "zone of sanity." I had no idea. But since housing prices only dropped 7 percent and the job market has only experienced a "ratcheting down" without the job losses of the coasts, KC is looking pretty sane. That's what columnist Joel Kotkin writes. He celebrates the organic growth of the Crossroads and the Plaza and talks up KC as an attractive relocation site for businesses thanks to KC's stability, family-friendly environment and easy everyday life.

But my favorite quote in the article -- and the truest -- comes from Mary Cyr, who explains city leaders desire for grand projects like the Power & Light District.

"There's a real kind of self-loathing here. We feel less than what we are. We do not know what we are as a city. We don't even realize what we have."
And there's hope for the future, KC. Kotkin says its "possible to project a very bright future for Kansas City -- and across the zone of sanity."
Unless there is a massive shift in conditions, the zone should see a return to prosperity earlier than places bogged down with excess foreclosures, shuttering industries, soaring taxes and ever-tightening regulation.
So much for self-loathing ... and no one wanting to live here ... and being fat ... and dateless.

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Guz, have you ever considered reading what you've written before hitting post?

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Posted by Even Stevens on April 1, 2009 at 1:26 PM

its one of the top cities for colunteering because theres so much shit that needs fixing

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Posted by guz on April 1, 2009 at 12:43 PM

its one of the top cities for volunteering because theres so much shit that needs fixing

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Posted by guz on April 1, 2009 at 12:43 PM

Dang. I've missed all of those.

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Posted by Justin Kendall on April 1, 2009 at 12:18 PM

Kansas City has actually received quite a bit of positive coverage from Forbes. Below are several noteworthy rankings that the magazine has bestowed to our city in the last few years:


  • America�s 10 Comeback Capitals
  • Best Cities for Young Professionals
  • America�s Most Family-Friendly Cities
  • America�s Best Cities for Outdoors
  • 10 Best Cities for Commuters
  • Best Cities for Couples
  • America�s Most Wired Cities
  • America�s Most Pet-Friendly Cities
  • America�s Top Cities for Volunteering

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Posted by kcjayhawk on April 1, 2009 at 12:09 PM

Such a valid point. I don't understand our city's inferiority complex. I've been to almost every city in the nation that is our size or bigger, and I can honestly say we've got it pretty good. There's a reason I still call KC home.

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Posted by jjskck on April 1, 2009 at 9:33 AM
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