Sic Transit Gloria? Not Necessarily

OK, let's face it. The Kansas City area public transportation system, if that's what we want to call it, is, literally and figuratively, not too swift. The KC metro area apparently lacks not only an integrated regional transit system, but also a metro-wide tax mechanism to fund such an infrastructure. And KC is apparently one of only two major cities in the nation that lacks them both.

What are we going to do about it? I understand the Mid-America Regional Council is proposing a $155 million a year, 7-county rubber-route transportation plan, but the fact that today we remain without a bi-state tax in place to fund the initiative remains the most significant impediment of all. I'd suggest that if we wish to regain our former glory as a city, or at least retain what glory we have, we sic our lawyers on the job.

This month we at Ingram's met in our Industry Outlook forum with the area's top corporate attorneys. Although we shy away from making comparisons among our forums, we can safely say that few other industry groups are as sharp and concise in their thinking and as knowledgeable about civic affairs as are the attorneys. (And not to be catty, but they compare as a group quite favorably with government officials).

Unfortunately, they are a resource that is not being well utilized. As we report in the feature on page 69 of this issue, corporate attorneys were once more entrenched at the epicenter of Kansas City's civic and political life. With the explosion of new legislation and law over the last fifty years, the job of a corporate attorney and of a political leader both got busier; too busy, in fact, for corporate attorneys to stay fully engaged in the political process.

This has been somewhat frustrating to area attorneys and business leaders alike, and it's had a detrimental effect on the Kansas City area. As suggested at the 2003 Legal Industry Outlook, many area attorneys would like to be more involved. They are smart and resourceful, they know the law and they're not averse to conflict. Besides, most of their firms have a natural bi-state interest.

As an act of good will, the large firms might select not a junior associate but one of their best, most influential attorneys to participate in the process. These attorneys might even consider starting their own attorney advisory panel (AAP), and the first issue they could address is perhaps the most natural bi-state issue of them all, transportation.

To date, transportation planners have attempted to impose models on the Kansas City area that tend to work in other cities. Due predominantly to the lack of a metro funding mechanism, our city and citizens have resisted these plans for as long as I can recall. The AAP, however, would not be locked into old models. These attorneys have not staked their reputation upon some plan learned and debated in graduate school. Instead, they are free to create, enhance or endorse an indigenous plan, one that addresses the city's unique (and mind boggling) political climate and geography. Plus, they have a deeply invested interest in seeing the area prosper.

When an assembly of top area attorneys do evaluate and/or present a plan, political leaders will listen. These attorneys may not have the flexibility to run for office, but they are still a critical resource in supporting the people who do. I, for one, like the idea of seeing area attorneys align to become more of a unified steward for the metropolitan area. It's time we put that clout to good use.

Any thoughts? Let us know.

Editor-In-Chief & Publisher
jsweeney@ingramsonline.com