Stop the... Oh, Nevermind
[ Patrick Tuohey ]According to their own website, the "Stop the Nonsense" campaign in Kansas City hasn't had any media coverage since February 14.
It is dead.
Ill-fated from the very launch by poor research and analysis, the effort was reported in The Kansas City Star to cost at least $100,000. According to the Missouri Ethics Committee, the Stop the Nonsense committee has received $50,000 each from the Heavy Constructors and the Operating Engineers Local 101. (Incidentally, the two contributions were received on February 8 and February 18. The report of those contributions--required within 48 hours--is dated February 24.)
As a result of Helling's report, the campaign got a day or two of media coverage and then went away. (How much money could the Heavies have saved if they just called Helling themselves?)
Kendrick Blackwood, spokesman for Mayor Funkhouser, said that after the most recent mailing three days ago, their office has received about 15 calls a day. Before that the call volume was negligible. According to the Mayor's office, the number of calls is on par with other campaigns such as the Savoy hotel TIF and the circus. "Some people," said Blackwood, "really don't care for the circus."
The City Council has has had the same experience. Almost all calls are going to the outer office and then assigned to the appropriate Council member. Some offices have received no messages. I am told that those calling don't have the best grasp of the issue; rather than articulate complaints about roads and jobs, they just vent.
Lastly, I've only seen one "Stop the Nonsense" yardsign. Given the volume of media attention and the number and quality of calls, the campaign appears to be a total flop.
An effort such as this is at its height at the launch, when the story is new and the public is interested. If that is a failure, you can't do much to revive it. Time will tell if KC businesses and unions are willing to keep pouring money into the effort.
3/4/2010 4:26:14 AM
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