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Dear Mr. Jon Stephens, President of the Kansas City Power & Light District
 Posted
6/8/2009 1:30:00 PM
I have now found a love for blogging.
When we launched this site, we were asked to blog…my thoughts were, “WTH am I going to blog about!” Then, I made a decision to blog on personal experiences, current & lifestyle events, and my most guarded opinions.
Today, I’m blogging to vent! That’s why I have found a new fascination in blogging. In my own personal way, I can discuss and be brutally honest about my thoughts on various issues including the P&L District vs. DJ Jazzy Jeff.
Here is a letter that I would love to send to the suits of the P&L District…if there is something you would like for me to add, please leave in the comment section:
Dear Mr. Jon Stephens,
I heard your interview on 610 today and last night I saw you on camera with KMBC-TV concerning Saturday night’s fiasco on the KC Live Stage.
I must admit you are doing a far better job addressing this issue vs. the way your office addressed the “dress code” problems this time last year.
But even through your timely responses, I would like to make a recommendation to you…please, will all due respect…shut-up! This is why I’m making this request….
• To say to a 610 audience that people of color are welcomed in the P&LD, when their people of color audience is barely 3% African-American...9% Hispanic of their total audience (as listed & recorded in PD Advantage Summer ’08) is a waste of good air time...you would’ve been better off buying commercial time.
• To say on 610 that out of approx. 45 bars, clubs, retail outlets, and restaurants in the P&LD, that Peachtree Restaurant in the District caters to an “urban” or “hip-hop” audience…Jon you are way off or either don’t know the product that you have spent more than two years attempting to market. The Peachtree is a restaurant owned by African-Americans that offers Southern cuisine…on any giving day the diversity of Peachtree is in the non-people of color not the people of color… and Peachtree should be applauded for their business expertise in being able to satisfy and employ all…the District should take notes!
• To say that DJ Jazzy Jeff is an incredible talent and that you are currently talking to his team to come back to the KC Live Block is outlandish…why would you ask him back when he…..
1. wouldn’t comply with your repeated requests to the point that he walked of the stage and left you with approx seven thousand people in the Live Block wonder, “wtf just happened?’
2. has said on world-wide social networks and numerous media outlets around the country including local outlets like The Pitch & The Kansas City Star that he was asked to leave because his music selection was not perceived as Top 40 music
….why would you want a liar…a phony…a non-genuine person back in your entertainment district…I know you didn’t call Jeff those names, but one of you is just that…and my non-friend that is looking like you, Mr. Stephens.
I have other reasons why you should “respectfully shut-up” but my entrepreneur side won’t allow me to divulge those points for free…holla if you need assistance Jon.
But, I do want to wish you good-luck on trying to handle this implosion. Implosion in this sentence is being defined as, to become greatly reduced as if to collapsing. That’s exactly what is happening to the P&L District under your leadership. In the beginning, the District was suppose to be the most diverse entertainment complex of its kind…that is what was propose to the metro-area tax payer...the dream is imploding under leadership…one would wonder if it was a dream at all!
Have a wonderful day!
Sincerely!
ea
cc
Kansas City Star
Kansas City Call
Mark Funkhouser
Wayne Cauthen
Chris Koster, MO State Attorney General
Linda Martinez, Director of Economic Development – State of MO
Urban League of Greater Kansas City
The National Urban League
NAACP – Kansas City Chapter
NAACP
SCLC- Kansas City Chapter
SCLC – National
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Ed Atkins
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Great!!
Sending some love from Sweden.
I'm born and raised outside of Stockholm in a suburb called Skärholmen witch is said to bee a bit rough in my eyes it's my home although I moved. By being raised there I have gone from 3-4% forigners in first grade, to 80-90% in ninth grade and I am the curious type so of course I learned allot. And later in life I had things that happened to my classmates happen to me. I grew long dreadlocks and this was horrible to policemen and other athoryties. I have never been stoped so many times in different places and shut out of clubs couse of this! And yes i forgot to say I'm white. Now I will make anyone in this town feel if the stop me at the door. Last year we started Fuck The DressCode Inc. And although it's a clothing store, some of our close to heart issues is this discrimination that has a long going tradition in all countries, to stop selected people and groups from entering. We will present a guerrilla campaign against this.It is not a question that places have this thing called dress code to select their audience. But that people like you and me stand by and watch! So look out fore Fuck The DressCode. And when you see what we did maby we can spread it to the corners of the world and make a different.
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Posted By
Fuck The DressCode
On
8/24/2009 6:42:38 AM
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KCMO City Council -
Why in the HELL - After two years Why are you still defending this company that build this place with tax payer money, who have FAILED horribly at delivering what they promised for a revitalized KC, (Have you seen how many empty store fronts are down there? I have, I live 2 blocks from P&L) There are 3 retail shops. JUST 3. T-Mobile, GNC, and JoS A. Bank. THAT'S IT.
WAKE UP KCMO CITY COUNCIL -
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Posted By
Antdilla
On
6/10/2009 9:48:40 AM
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But what are we going to do, as for my self NOT ONE DAMN PENNY of my money will be spent past 18 th street and until 3rd or 4th and Grand(City Market)Not for lunch not for a concert. We as a people(POOR PEOPLE) MUST UNDERSTAND THAT OUR DAY TO DAY CHANGE ADDS UP.In saying that help me shut them down. Sorry to Lufti and Peachtree we can catch you on "our side"where we may feel welcomed to spend more of our hard earned money.Although White Kansas City seems not to understand our language as we urge them to Please include us. Please don't say we can't wear that here. I bet they understand us crystal clear as we hold on to our money. We might find that they realize they do have someone in their camp that is able to speak with and to us . We might show Kansas City that we have a voice, wants and desires that are just as important as any .THERE IS POWER IN CASH.
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Posted By
Regina Glover
On
6/10/2009 7:55:54 AM
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I completely agree with what Mr. Adkins is saying. How can you judge how loud Jazzy Jeff was when all the bars/ clubs down there are just as loud if not louder. I hate going down there and havent been in quite some time. You cant even talk to people while you are there because every bar has their music to the max just competing with the bar next to it. The place is ridiculous and is being run into the ground and I dont know to many people other than the 21 year olds that hang out there anymore, most people go to talk and meet new people, impossible down there.
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Posted By
power and loud isint worth me going anymore
On
6/9/2009 12:14:54 PM
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I don't know what Ronny is on but he does have one very good point. AFRICAN AMERCIAN KANSAS CITIANS WERE PIMPED INTO FRONTING THE THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY SO THAT THEIR WHITE COUNTER PARTS CAN HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO HAVE FUN WITH OUT THEM. And all this time, ya'll were afraid to come across the water and visit. And you can't even play in your own backyard. See ya @ The Legends! Dotte out!
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Posted By
diddi
On
6/8/2009 9:43:50 PM
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it is hard to believe that management of a facility such as KC Live would bestow the fate of thousands of dollars of equipment to someones production staff with paid events scheduled for the entire evening and the following day, don't care who it is; and as far as production staff???? for a DJ????? didn't know DJ's were paid enough to bring along their own production team, I'm not splittin up my dough a gazillion ways, when all i have is a couple turn tables a mixer a mic, and a laptop at most, lol; you mean to tell me that the constant driving boom of techno music pales in comparision to hip hop music, the excuses are making it way too worse, they need to just be quiet at the Cordish or whatever it is, i'm almost even happier i'm from wyandotte county now, i'm never leaving KS as long as i live in KC, wow never thought i'd see the day that Johnson County would be more welcoming than downtown KCMO, talk about change huh
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Posted By
Ronny
On
6/8/2009 9:04:29 PM
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It all boils down to poor planning and no ability to intermingle Professional black folk and the crowd that they purposely want to cater to.
Reasons:
They first wanted to keep out a culture of people by applying a blatant racial dress code.
Said we need to keep out a certain element.
People dressed in the thug element would scare away paying customers.
No bar caters to the African American built this country crowd.
Answers:
Ok so black and Latino mails are dressing in a style that is copied all over the world and is a Billion dollar industry; just because Johnson County folk don't wear it doesn't mean it isn't respected and descent. With that said Dress codes can be good, like the way you changed it. No man should wear their shorts off their Azz. Yes I white T-that comes down past your knees does look stupid but there's a place and time for those guys to wear that. My thought to them, please grow up and stop looking like a bunch of LA Gang bangers trying to confuse the cops. The dress code was simply unfair; no white t's then no t's, no long shorts that's even up on your waist then no short's at all. No hats then no cowboy hats or kango hats either. Get my pointy.
Well look at the first answer and you will get the point. But to add to it there are thousands of post and pre college kids that wear the style of the hip-hop generation that are clean and respectful. This crowd should not be targeted when they have money to spend just like the tight jeans not going to have any more kids because my jeans are cutting off my happy fella circulation crowd. I believe you are doing better in this area. Thanks you.
You know what yes they would but from the time you opened the P&l District you haven't had "thugs" try to get in there. Thugs don't want to hang down there with a bunch of stuck up white folks scared to say hi but wont hesitate to dance of the few hip-hop songs you do play. Not all white folks are like that but yep most of them are. My issue is P&L was having financial problems long before the dress code was changed and still having them and guess what ;you cant blame on the thugs or the black folk folk that couldn't get in there in the first place. I guess your targeted crowed let you down.
Ok I may have went too far but No bar does cater to the AA crowed, Some bars do play hip-hop but not much of it and then you hear no R&B, isn't it this music that has all the white parents going crazy because their kids buy it up and make these artist rich? Well any way I rambling on but if I don't speak for most Blacks I do speak for a few, we really don't care about a black club because we listen to other music as well, we shop at nice stores, we are educated, we are polite, we are in prominent fraternities, we are CEO'S, MBA,S, PHD,S and BYOB, ok that last one didnt make any since but you get the point.
I will leave with this, Thank you for opening up the eyes of Kansas City and helping us to see that although we have come far we still have work to do, Race will always be a major sore subject as long as their is ignorance. I was asked why cant black people get over it? WHAT (i said) why because we have a biracial president? We are proud to have President Obama, we are proud people but every step someone takes forward, we get cartoons of cops shooting a monkey saying now whose going pass the next stimulus package (non quote) or the guy with the Obama monkey and many more. That is what drives us to keep fighting on and not to stoop to the level of ignorance but to rise above and show by example that we are America! Peace out!!!!
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Posted By
J-Man
On
6/8/2009 5:32:52 PM
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The stuff that happen at power and white will continue to be a problem what we need to do as black folks is to boycott do not spend a dime in the power and white until they get it right not white.Barnes
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Posted By
Barney Barnes
On
6/8/2009 4:49:15 PM
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One summer evening in 2008, I sat back at the Power & White and watched as black men were being turned away. I never was close enough to hear the reason why, so I followed a young black couple out as they were turned away and asked "what was going on, why didn't they let you in?" The girl said her boyfriends shirt was too long. Oh, I said, and walked back in by the entrance and continued my observation. I observed as whites walked in with holes in thier jeans which is suposed to be against the dress code. So, I confronted a security gaurd and pointed out the white patron he had just let in with holes in his jeans, the officer acted confused about who and what I was referring to. I gave up, I had my proof. Proof that the Power & White district profiles black men. It is their attempt to keep the rif raft away from the law abidding white people. Its so obvious. Fuck the dress code and DJ Jazzy Jeff. Lets deal with the racism issue at the Power & White, once and for fucking all! I can't wait to see how Codish Company is going to responsd to black patrons at their beautiful new Jones pool. OMG, there are blacks in the pool.
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Posted By
Tonya
On
6/8/2009 4:10:48 PM
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You could not have said it better in your letter!! I've tried to go to the Power & White District with a male friend of mine, I made a big fuss about his attire so that we could get in, I said nice shirt, no baggy clothes, boots no jewelery and the whole shabang. He complied! We arrived to the P&W District only to be turned away by security saying his pants cuffed over his shoes too many times.. WTF is that? I thought as long as they werent too baggy it didnt matter I never knew them being too long was an issue. This is ridiculous the way they are doing us, I now refuse to plan an evening of going downtown only because on any given night they will make up reason after reason to not let you in and it ruins most peoples nights after fighting with them and then you see a white person looking virtually the same or WORSE walk right on in... Well I've vented as well hopefully your letter reaches someone of high authority and something is done about this modern day RACISM.
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Posted By
Shonda
On
6/8/2009 3:53:04 PM
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This is stupid. WTF do we pay taxes for? We can't even socialize in one of the places our taxes pay for. It's sad this world is still full of ignorant idiots. Can we fight our taxes being spent on things we aren't allowed to enjoy? I have never been to the P&L district because all my people have either had an racist experience or someone they know. Personally the P&L district can kiss my ass!!! But I don't want my money being spent on some damn fools! They won't ever be blessed with my presence. I hope someone burns the shit down!
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Posted By
Meika from KCK
On
6/8/2009 3:43:25 PM
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That is exactly why I don't go to the power and light district. They let the people of color build it but we can't go. They constantly ban us from their clubs, they have resturants that are too expensive with retarted dress codes so that we can't go and when you finally think we have made some progress they claim it was due to the volume not due to what he was playing. That is a joke. Then they want to pin point peachtree like that is their minority count. Believe it or not, more caucasion people eat at peach tree than african americans because most of us can cook stuff like that at home. We usually go when we want soul food but don't want to slave over the stove to get it. And soul food is food for everyone not just blacks that's why it's called soul food everyone has a soul (or at least they are supposed to). That man is going to give Kansas City a bad rep and no one is going to want to come here including white performers. No one wants to be included in racism. Where is the NAACP? What is their respoinse? Even though it is Hip-hop vs. Power and Light District I still think they should have an opinion.
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Posted By
Shalise
On
6/8/2009 2:38:19 PM
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Well said!
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Posted By
Mocha Jones
On
6/8/2009 2:33:02 PM
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Fact is that there is just as many black people paying taxes as there are white people and other nationalities. It took ALL of our tax dollars to build the power & WHITE district. It seems like we can pay to build it but we can't go. This is ridiculus that we are in 2009 and still face racism. In an interview I heard a rep from the Cordish copmany state that his music was attracting the wrong element. I can understand that statement is the "wrong element" was a rowdy crowd. However, Dj Jazzy Jeff is an old school Hip Hop DJ not a new millenium rap DJ. The crowd had to be a mature over 30 crowd. Which are upstanding citizens, with children, people that go to work everyday. Not thugs and rugs that seek out trouble. I totally have a problem with that. White people act a fool too its just never publicized.
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Posted By
Makenna
On
6/8/2009 1:43:55 PM
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