Why Choose Justin Short?
Northland Focus
Justin’s father was elected to the Park Hill School Board and the Platte County Commission. His mother ran the Harvest Ball Society for almost 25 years, resulting in raising millions of dollars for Northland charities. Justin understands that having a forward-facing approach to public service is the way for Northland voters to engage with City Hall. Justin will be fully responsive to voters and accessible to assist with the municipal process and involve you, the voter, in those decisions. Justin is also committed to being transparent and forthcoming with information about the municipal process and why it matters to you. Justin will be focused on the concerns of the Northland and will be fully available to you, the voter. A vote for Justin Short is a vote for the Northland.
Justin Short provides a unique and compelling opportunity for the Northland. He will serve as a full-time leader on the City Council. This means Justin has chosen to make City Council his primary focus, ensuring he will not be distracted by other obligations and can remain fully committed to you, the Northlander. Justin has valued his time working in the corporate world, but coming from a background of service, he recognizes the importance of being fully available and dedicated to you, the voter, and to understanding the unique needs of the Northland as they relate to the rest of the city. Justin was born and raised in the Second District. Having attended English Landing Elementary, Lakeview Middle School, and Park Hill South High School, he has been immersed in the Northland community since birth.
Let’s Talk E-Tax
Whew, this is a hot topic sometimes, isn’t it? Well, let’s be real for a second. We annexed and built out a city we cannot afford. It’s just simple math. A city of our size needs about 750,000 tax-paying residents in order for the various departments in our city to be proactive rather than reactive when addressing issues.
There is a reason your sidewalks are not kept up. There is a reason the potholes are a running joke each year. There is a reason our city isn’t as responsive as others when it comes to bulky item pickup, code enforcement, etc. We don’t have enough people in our city to make what we have make sense from a fiscal standpoint. We have done so much work to get our population numbers back up over 500 thousand, and we have so much work to do. This is the job of all in elected government, along with our marketing partners (Visit KC, Think KC, KC EDC, and others), to attract jobs, talent, and investment.
There is a reason your sidewalks are not kept up. There is a reason potholes are a running joke each year. There is a reason our city isn’t as responsive as others when it comes to bulky item pickup, code enforcement, and similar services. We simply don’t have enough residents in our city to make what we have financially sustainable. We have done significant work to bring our population back above 500,000, and we still have more work to do. This is the responsibility of everyone in elected government, along with our marketing partners (Visit KC, Think KC, KC EDC, and others), to attract jobs, talent, and investment.
We can get there, and we certainly have momentum behind us, but losing professional sports teams and major office tenants is not conducive to this goal. It is our responsibility as elected leaders to improve our city while also understanding its fiscal needs. You might be asking, “Yeah, yeah, yeah—but what does that have to do with the Income Tax (E-Tax)?”
The Income Tax generates almost $400 million a year. This represents 47 percent of our city’s revenue. This is a significant number. I, like many of you, would love to see the Income Tax eliminated, but I could not reasonably say that I am being fiscally responsible if I advocate removing this income stream without something to backfill it.
I have seen many comments lately about balancing the budget and eliminating waste. Even if we remove what some would consider “fluff” (which I consider essential programs) and cut spending, it is nowhere near enough to replace that revenue without seriously harming city services.
I have also seen comments suggesting that it’s a slush fund for the City Council and Mayor, and simply put, that’s not accurate. Our finances are subject to public scrutiny, and all financial decisions can be accounted for. We are talking about significant cuts to basic city services we all depend on. It simply isn’t feasible to advocate for removing it while also calling myself a responsible public servant.
If, in the future, we can develop a plan to phase it out or even reduce it, then let’s have those conversations. However, removing it completely would run counter to what I have set out to do, which is to improve the lives of Northlanders.
Vote to renew the Income Tax on April 7th.
Downtown Theater Closure
Losing a popular downtown amenity is undoubtedly frustrating for myself and plenty of other downtown residents. The convenience of heading across the street to see a movie was always something that enticed our many downtown residents, particularly with the two streetcar expansions opening. It is disappointing to see that B&B has decided to move on. However, the state of the theater needs to be addressed. The broken escalators, bathrooms out of order, and a general state of uncleanliness cannot be denied.
The reality is that the landscape of the moviegoing experience has changed, and folks, particularly in an urban setting, are looking for a more destination-based experience. There are operators out there who understand these desires. I believe the Main Street site is still a valuable asset for those types of operators.
Losing a popular downtown amenity is undoubtedly frustrating for me and many other downtown residents. The convenience of heading across the street to see a movie was always something that appealed to many downtown residents, particularly with the two streetcar expansions opening. It is disappointing to see that B&B has decided to move on. However, the condition of the theater needs to be addressed. The broken escalators, bathrooms out of order, and general state of uncleanliness cannot be ignored.
The reality is that the landscape of the moviegoing experience has changed, and many people, particularly in an urban setting, are looking for a more destination-based experience. There are operators out there who understand these expectations. I believe the Main Street site is still a valuable asset for those types of operators.
I hope they are able to identify an operator who understands the needs and expectations of downtown residents like me, who are looking for a more curated experience than what has been offered by existing amenities in the downtown loop. This is especially frustrating given the timeline of the World Cup, so I hope a replacement can be found quickly and that the historic building receives the attention it deserves.
