Kansas City Hispanic News (2025)

23/07/2025

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23/07/2025

Customers welcome new El Mercado Fresco in KCK

By Joe Arce

Last week, hundreds of people stood outside for a couple of hours waiting for the newest El Mercado Frescofood store to open its doors at 75th and State Ave, in KCK. Raymond and his wife Josefina Bermudez told Hispanic News, “We are happy that we are the first in line to go into this new Latino store in our neighborhood. “We like having this store near our home, before we would have to go to the Argentina neighborhood which is about 15 minutes away. Now this store is just 5 minutes away from our home.” Josefina said even though they waited for an hour and a half to enter the store that was fine because she was shopping for fresh vegetables, fruits, and some of the fresh meats and tortillas. Josefina points out by having the store so close to her home she will be sending her husband Raymond to the store more often now because it so close to their home.

Eddie Musallet, owner of Mercado Fresco, was happy to welcome 1oo’s of customers at the grand opening of his 9th store in the metro. “Kansas City loves our El Mercado Frescostores. We try to give our customers the best quality, lowest, and best prices. I love the customers for shopping and supporting our stores.”

Musallet said he was happy to add another store to the Hispanic/Latino community.

KC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce president Carlos Gomez thanked Eddie Musallet for creating jobs and for creating a place for customers to get healthy foods.

KCK Mayor Tyrone Garner said, “We are elated to have El Mercado Frescohere because it brings life back into a dormant strip mall and I’m so happy that the owner Eddie Musallet and his family saw fix and value here. I know the store will do well because I saw the line of 100’s of customers waiting to get in and that tells me that people ready want to shop here and they are looking for those Latino/Hispanic food items and I want to make sure that the KCK largest Latino/Hispanic has another venue to shop at.”

Once in the new store, we caught up with Jesse Ibarra. He told Hispanic News, “I’m excited of the new food store. I live in the Piper neighborhood area of KCK. I would have to go to the Argentina neighborhood to get Latino groceries and now this store is so much closer. I’m going to be shopping here all the time and he pointed out his wife will be sending him to the food store more often now because it’s closer to their home.

El Mercado Fresco is located at 7533 State Ave in KCK and open 7 days a week from 7 a.m to 11 p.m.

23/07/2025

Clientes dan la bienvenida al nuevo El Mercado Fresco en KCK

Traduce Gemma Tornero

La semana pasada, cientos de personas esperaron un par de horas a que abriera sus puertas el nuevo El Mercado Fresco, ubicado en la calle 75 y la Avenida State, en KCK. Raymond y su esposa, Josefina Bermúdez, declararon a Hispanic News: “Estamos contentos de ser los primeros en la fila para entrar a este nuevo super mercado latino en nuestro vecindario. Nos gusta tener esta tienda cerca de casa antes teníamos que ir al barrio de Argentine, que está a unos 15 minutos. Ahora, éste super mercado se encuentra a solo 5 minutos de casa”, Josefina dijo que, aunque esperaron una hora y media para entrar a la tienda, no hubo problema, ya que estaba comprando verduras y frutas frescas, y algo de carne y tortillas frescas. Josefina señala que, al tener la tienda tan cerca de su casa, ahora enviará a su esposo Raymond con más frecuencia.

Eddie Musallet, dueño de El Mercado Fresco, se alegró de recibir a cientos de clientes en la gran inauguración de su novena tienda en el área metropolitana. “En Kansas City adoramos nuestras tiendas de Mercado Fresco. Nos esforzamos por ofrecer a nuestros clientes la mejor calidad, los precios más bajos y los mejores precios. Agradezco a los clientes por comprar y apoyar nuestros super mercados”. Musallet expresó su satisfacción por añadir otra tienda a la comunidad hispana.

El presidente de la Cámara de Comercio Hispana de Kansas City, Carlos Gómez, agradeció a Eddie Musallet por crear empleos y un lugar donde los clientes pueden adquirir alimentos saludables.

El alcalde de Kansas City, Tyrone Garner, declaró: “Estamos encantados de tener El Mercado Fresco aquí, porque revitaliza un centro comercial inactivo y me alegra mucho que el propietario, Eddie Musallet, y su familia, hayan visto mejoras y valor aquí. Sé que la tienda tendrá éxito porque vi la fila de cientos de clientes esperando para entrar, lo que me indica que la gente está lista para comprar aquí y busca alimentos latinos. Quiero asegurarme de que la mayor tienda latina de Kansas City tenga otro lugar donde comprar”.

Una vez en la nueva tienda, conversamos con Jesse Ibarra. Ibarra declaró a Hispanic News: “Estoy entusiasmado con la nueva tienda de alimentos. Vivo en el barrio de Piper, de Kansas City”. Tenía que ir al barrio de Argentine para comprar comida latina, y ahora esta tienda está mucho más cerca. Voy a comprar aquí siempre, y él comentó que su esposa lo enviará más a menudo a la tienda de comestibles porque está más cerca de su casa.

El Mercado Fresco está ubicado en el número 7533 de State Ave., en KCK, y abre los 7 días de la semana de 7 a. m. a 11 p. m.

23/07/2025

Burroughs running for WyCo UG Mayor, CEO

By Joe Arce and Corey Crable

Tom Burroughs knows what it takes to run a city.

He’s had years of experience in both local and state politics. It’s that experience that has led him to decide to run for Mayor and CEO of Wyandotte County in Kansas City, KS.

“I’m no stranger to government, and I’m a product of this community,”

Burroughs said of his decision to run. “I have a servant’s heart.” Burroughs served in the Kansas Statehouse for more than a quarter century, with six of those years in leadership positions. “I was recruited by a large population in Wyandotte County to bring the knowledge and skills and the network system and the successes we had in Topeka in addressing issues within the community through the state level to come back home and do it here. And that’s what I’ve chosen to do,” explained Burroughs, now in his second term as a commissioner. “I could have come back and run for mayor eight years ago. I chose not to. I wanted to learn more about the local government process and the challenges that we face locally,” said Burroughs.

Those challenges are familiar to anyone who has worked in the Wyandotte County Unified Government, with the first being county and city finances. Burroughs said he possesses the experience to solve those fiduciary problems that persist throughout the UG.

“I served on the budget committees in the state house and also on the audit committee. And I have the same responsibilities as chair of finance and chair of economic development and audit in Wyandotte County,” he said. “But first and foremost, I would commission a full audit of spending and look to see where we could cut any waste and advocate for an equitable taxation plan that would be fair and equitable to all taxpayers that identify what we have to fund through ordinance charter and statute. Those are our priorities.”

Burroughs continued: “And most of that is public safety. … The other one would be personnel. And those things would be the first major priorities of funding for our community. Then we start looking at the other services that are out there and other programs that are out there.”

Burroughs also addressed the county’s announcement two years ago that it teetered on the verge of bankruptcy. He said that may not be so.

“I don’t believe we’re on the cusp of bankruptcy. I think we have shored up the budget through some fiscal analysis, but I also believe there’s room for improvement. We have financial challenges – work, communities 200-plus years old, and that comes with a lot of failing infrastructure, a lot of services that may not even be necessary today that were implemented decades ago,” Burroughs said. “The amount of challenges that we have sometimes is just deferred maintenance and if you defer too long, it becomes a major priority. And we can’t continue to bond ourselves out of this because when we’re spending 44 cents out of every dollar to pay off our debt, that is an insurmountable fiscal challenge that if you don’t get your house in order, it’s very difficult to build reserves.”

Another challenge that many drive by every single day is the shuttered Jack Reardon Convention Center. Developers were scheduled to come in a few years ago to refurbish the facility, but the project was never completed. “We do have a homeless population that at times are breaking into the place, getting in and doing structural damaging and pilfering through the building. That developer did not meet the timeline set out in the development agreement. And that’s what we took again to repossession of the facility and put out another RFP, but in the meantime, we needed to seal it up to keep the homeless population or the vagrant population from breaking into the building,” Burroughs said. “We have another RFP out. We do have a few people that are going to submit interest in the corner facility.”

Burroughs added: “The hotel, recently was sold and the new proprietor is interested in keeping the Reardon Center as a convention center, but they’re not the ones bidding on the project. There’s an outside organization that are looking at possibly adding additional floors to the top of the Reardon Center, as well as refurbishing it and creating affordable market rate apartments on that corner.”

The 7th Street Corridor does pose its own challenges as far as generating income, Burroughs noted, with low-income apartments dotting the landscape.

“We have to take whatever action we can to be fair and equitable to those that are coming to our downtown, but at the same time be mindful that any investment that’s going to go in downtown has to be a legacy investment that will continue to grow. Right now, we are losing businesses because of the concerns with the continued degradation of our community through trash, through crime, through petty issues that are occurring.”

Burroughs noted that he is thankful Wyandotte County hasn’t endured the property tax issue that continues to plague Jackson County.

“I truly believe, for the longest time we didn’t have any other revenue stream except property tax because our community was in need of development, economic development. And today that’s not the case,” he said. “And we are not the highest property tax on the city and county side, but we still have other taxing entities that continue to raise their mills. And that puts the perception on us as a city and county that we have the highest property taxes. But we really don’t. We are not the highest, but we we’re not even the middle of the pack.” Ultimately, Burroughs said he wants the city and county to be a welcoming place for all people – especially in the current political climate -- and that he is the one to make that happen.

“It’s not new to Wyandotte County right now, the overtone of discrimination and concern. The lights are on the Hispanic community. No one should feel unsafe in our country. That is what is discouraging and disappointing,” Burroughs said. “We all should have understanding that if you’re living in fear, that’s not a quality of life of Americans, and those who visit our country and choose to live in our country should fear. And we, as a community -- I know we try our best to make everyone welcome and whatever we can do.”

For more information on Burroughs campaign go to his website: burroughsformayor.com

23/07/2025

Burroughs se postula para alcalde y director ejecutivo del Condado de Wyandotte en KC

Traduce Gemma Tornero

Tom Burroughs sabe lo que se necesita para gobernar una ciudad.

Él cuenta con años de experiencia en la política local y estatal. Es esa experiencia la que lo llevó a postularse para alcalde y director ejecutivo del Condado de Wyandotte en Kansas City, Kansas.

“No soy ajeno al gobierno y soy producto de esta comunidad”, dijo Burroughs sobre su decisión de postularse. “Tengo un corazón de servidor”.

Burroughs sirvió en la Cámara de Representantes de Kansas durante más de un cuarto de siglo, seis de esos años en puestos de liderazgo. “Una gran parte de la población del Condado de Wyandotte me reclutó para traer los conocimientos, las habilidades, el sistema de redes y los éxitos que tuvimos en Topeka al abordar los problemas de la comunidad a nivel estatal, para que volviera a casa y lo hiciera aquí. Y eso es lo que he decidido hacer”, explicó Burroughs, quien ahora cumple su segundo mandato como comisionado. “Podría haber regresado y postularme a la alcaldía hace ocho años. Decidí no hacerlo. Quería aprender más sobre el proceso de gobierno local y los desafíos que enfrentamos a nivel local”, dijo Burroughs.

Estos desafíos son familiares para cualquiera que haya trabajado en el Gobierno Unificado del Condado de Wyandotte, siendo el primero las finanzas del condado y la ciudad. Burroughs afirmó poseer la experiencia necesaria para resolver los problemas fiduciarios que persisten en todo el Gobierno Unificado.

“Formé parte de los comités de presupuesto de la Cámara de Representantes estatal y también del comité de auditoría. Y tengo las mismas responsabilidades como presidente de finanzas y presidente de desarrollo económico y auditoría en el Condado de Wyandotte”, afirmó. “Pero, ante todo, encargaría una auditoría completa del gasto para ver dónde podríamos reducir el despilfarro y abogar por un plan fiscal equitativo que sea justo para todos los contribuyentes, que identifique lo que debemos financiar mediante ordenanzas, y estatutos. Esas son nuestras prioridades”.

Burroughs continuó: “Y la mayor parte es seguridad pública. … La otra sería personal. Y esas serían las principales prioridades de financiación para nuestra comunidad. Luego, comenzaríamos a analizar los demás servicios y programas disponibles”.

Burroughs también abordó el anuncio del condado, hace dos años, de que estaba al borde de la bancarrota. Dijo que podría no ser así. “No creo que estemos al borde de la bancarrota. Creo que hemos reforzado el presupuesto mediante un análisis fiscal, pero también creo que hay margen de mejora. Tenemos desafíos financieros: trabajo, comunidades con más de 200 años de antigüedad, y eso conlleva una infraestructura deficiente, muchos servicios que quizás ni siquiera sean necesarios hoy en día y que se implementaron hace décadas”, dijo Burroughs. “Los desafíos que a veces tenemos se deben simplemente al mantenimiento aplazado, y si se aplaza demasiado, se convierte en una prioridad fundamental. Y no podemos seguir apoyándonos en esto, porque cuando gastamos 44 centavos de cada dólar en pagar nuestra deuda, se trata de un desafío fiscal insuperable si no se pone orden, es muy difícil acumular reservas”.

Otro desafío que muchos pasan a diario, es el clausurado Centro de Convenciones Jack Reardon. Hace unos años se programó la visita de promotores para renovar las instalaciones, pero el proyecto nunca se completó. “Tenemos una población sin hogar que a veces irrumpe en el lugar, causando daños estructurales y saqueando el edificio. Ese promotor no cumplió con el plazo establecido en el contrato de desarrollo. Por eso, volvimos a tomar posesión de las instalaciones y publicamos otra convocatoria de propuestas, pero mientras tanto, necesitábamos cerrarlo para evitar que la población sin hogar o vagabunda entre al edificio”, dijo Burroughs. “Tenemos otra solicitud de propuestas. Algunas personas se interesarán en las instalaciones de la esquina”.

Burroughs agregó: “El hotel se vendió recientemente y el nuevo propietario está interesado en mantener el Centro Reardon como centro de convenciones, pero no es quien está licitando el proyecto. Hay una organización externa que está considerando la posibilidad de agregar pisos adicionales a la azotea del Centro Reardon, así como remodelarlo y construir apartamentos asequibles a precio de mercado en esa esquina”.

El Corredor de la Calle 7 presenta sus propios desafíos en cuanto a la generación de ingresos, señaló Burroughs, con apartamentos de bajos ingresos dispersos por el paisaje.

“Tenemos que tomar todas las medidas posibles para ser justos y equitativos con quienes llegan a nuestro centro de la ciudad, pero al mismo tiempo, ser conscientes de que cualquier inversión que se realice en el centro debe ser una inversión que deje un legado y siga creciendo. En este momento, estamos perdiendo negocios debido a la preocupación por la continua degradación de nuestra comunidad a causa de la basura, la delincuencia y los pequeños problemas que están ocurriendo”.

Burroughs señaló que agradece que el Condado de Wyandotte no haya sufrido el problema del impuesto predial que sigue afectando al Condado de Jackson.

“Creo sinceramente que, durante mucho tiempo, no tuvimos otra fuente de ingresos aparte del impuesto predial, porque nuestra comunidad necesitaba desarrollo económico. Y hoy ese no es el caso”, dijo. “No tenemos el impuesto predial más alto de la ciudad y el condado, pero aún tenemos otras entidades impositivas que siguen aumentando sus impuestos. Y eso nos da la impresión, como ciudad y condado, de que tenemos los impuestos prediales más altos. Pero en realidad no es así. No somos los más altos, pero ni siquiera estamos en la mitad de la lista”.

En definitiva, Burroughs dijo que quiere que la ciudad y el condado sean un lugar acogedor para todos, especialmente en el clima político actual, y que él es quien debe lograrlo.

“No es nuevo, que en el Condado de Wyandotte haya en este momento un tono de discriminación y preocupación. La comunidad hispana tiene toda la atención. Nadie debería sentirse inseguro en nuestro país. Eso es lo que resulta desalentador y decepcionante —dijo Burroughs—. Todos deberíamos comprender que vivir con miedo no es la calidad de vida de los estadounidenses, y quienes visitan nuestro país y eligen vivir en él no deberían sentir miedo. Y nosotros, como comunidad, sé que hacemos todo lo posible para que todos se sientan bienvenidos y hacemos todo lo posible para hacerlo”.

Para más información sobre la campaña de Burroughs, visite su sitio electrónico: burroughsformayor.com

23/07/2025

Rosas-Hall running for Wyandotte County Commission

By Joe Arce and Corey Crable

Dr. Alma Rosas-Hall has always prided herself on being a voice for others.

Now, Rosas-Hall wants to continue to be a voice for the people in an official capacity, announcing her candidacy to run for Wyandotte County Commissioner. She would represent the Fifth District, which includes the western area of Wyandotte County. “I’ve been doing this since I was 12 years old, advocating for people,” she said.

Like all other political candidates these days, the economy appears at the top of her list of topics that need to be managed responsibly and with constituents in mind. The county’s announcement in 2023 that it was facing bankruptcy has only highlighted the importance of tackling the issue aggressively and with a clear strategy.

“If you have an open wallet, no one’s going to pay attention. But the people, the taxpayers, those of us who pay for our homes started noticing things. And so the question is, where is the taxpayer money going?”

Rosas-Hall said. “Why are my taxes so high? And where is the evidence? Where is the evidence that the money is being spent within our community, for our community? So I was in those situations where I kept asking.” Rosas-Hall said she will always advocate for responsible management of the county’s budget, especially in this economic climate.

The soaring cost of fees from the Board of Public Utilities is part of that economic issue that looms large, both on paper and in the minds of county residents. One way to soften that blow is to attract better-paying jobs, she said.

“Most of the jobs that we have here are jobs that pay minimum wage, and the highest paying people that we have at work in here do not live in Wyandotte County. The live somewhere else. But here, all you see is hourly wages, something that will not provide a career, but our taxes are too high. So one of the things that for me is to make sure that we level that paying field,” Rosas-Hall said.

She said that while she pledges to help others in any way she can, she encouraged county residents to do their own research and learn to speak up for their own best interests, too.

“We have to ask for transparency, and we have to study what they’re giving us before we make any decisions because I will be one of 10 commissioners. Not everybody will vote your way,” Rosas-Hall said. “But for me, you know, since I come from extremely humble beginnings, I will always start with the people, especially those who come self-made. My mom, up to this day, can’t read English, speak English, So I will always, be for the people. Will I stand on my own? Definitely. I’ve been doing this for a while.”

Rosas-Hall said that, as someone who has struggled herself and someone who has deep connections to the Latino community, she knows the hard work of adjusting to and improving one’s community can be difficult. But no one has to do it alone. “I know the struggles.

I know the struggles of all of our communities, not just the Latino community. I know how hard it already is, as an immigrant coming in here and learning our culture. So of course, even if I don’t win, I’m still going to show up,” she said. “I’m still going do that because I believe that we all deserve to be treated with respect. I don’t want anything given to me. I know how to work. I know how to fight back because I have been there. I know how to fight back because I have been fighting for people way before I knew how. I will always be there.”

She said that the county’s Latino residents can count on her to stand up for them, regardless of whether they live in Wyandotte County or not. After all, the fight for a better county, she said, begins with teamwork.

“There’s no other better way to invest in our community than invest with each other,” Rosas-Hall said, “put as much as effort to create a community that is not just for one, but for all of us.”

For more information, visit www.AlmaHallDistrict5.com.

23/07/2025

Rosas-Hall se postula para la Comisión del Condado de Wyandotte

Traduce Gemma Tornero

La Dra. Alma Rosas-Hall siempre se ha enorgullecido de ser la voz de los demás.

Ahora, Rosas-Hall quiere seguir siendo la voz de la gente oficialmente, anunciando su candidatura como comisionada en el Condado de Wyandotte. Ella representaría al Quinto Distrito, que incluye la zona oeste del Condado de Wyandotte.

“He estado haciendo esto desde que tenía 12 años, abogando por la gente”, dijo.

Como todos los demás candidatos políticos hoy en día, la economía aparece como su principal prioridad en la lista de temas que deben gestionarse con responsabilidad y teniendo en cuenta a los electores. El anuncio del condado, en 2023, de que se enfrentaba a la bancarrota no ha hecho más que destacar la importancia de abordar el problema con determinación y una estrategia clara.

“Si tienes la cartera abierta, nadie te va a prestar atención. Pero la gente, los contribuyentes, quienes pagamos nuestras viviendas, empezamos a notar las cosas. Y entonces la pregunta es, ¿adónde va el dinero de los contribuyentes?”, dijo Rosas-Hall. “¿Por qué son tan altos mis impuestos? ¿Y dónde está la evidencia? ¿Dónde está la evidencia de que el dinero se está gastando en nuestra comunidad, para nuestra comunidad? Así que, en esas situaciones, me lo preguntaba constantemente”.

Rosas-Hall dijo, que siempre abogará por una gestión responsable del presupuesto del condado, especialmente en este clima económico.

El aumento vertiginoso del costo de las tarifas de la Junta de Servicios Públicos es parte de ese problema económico que se cierne sobre la mesa, y que está en la mente de los residentes del condado. Una forma de suavizar ese golpe, es atraer empleos mejor remunerados, dijo. “La mayoría de los trabajos que tenemos aquí pagan el salario mínimo, y las personas que mejores salarios tienen, no viven en el Condado de Wyandotte. Viven en otro lugar. Pero aquí, solo se ven salarios por hora, algo que no garantiza una carrera, y además nuestros impuestos son demasiado altos. Así que una de mis prioridades es asegurarme de que haya igualdad de oportunidades”, dijo Rosas-Hall.

Añadió que, si bien se compromete a ayudar a los demás en todo lo que pueda, animó a los residentes del condado a investigar por su cuenta y aprender a defender sus propios intereses.

“Tenemos que pedir transparencia, y estudiar lo que nos ofrecen antes de tomar cualquier decisión, porque seré una de los 10 comisionados. No todos votarán igual”, dijo Rosas-Hall. “Pero para mi, como vengo de orígenes muy humildes, siempre empezaré por la gente, especialmente por aquellos que luchan solos. Mi madre, hasta el día de hoy, no sabe leer ni hablar inglés, así que siempre estaré al lado de la gente. ¿Podré salir adelante sola? Sin duda. Llevo tiempo en esto”.

Rosas-Hall, dijo que, como alguien que ha luchado por su propia vida y que tiene profundas conexiones con la comunidad latina, sabe del arduo trabajo de adaptarse, y mejorar en la propia comunidad puede ser difícil. Pero nadie tiene que hacerlo solo.

“Conozco las dificultades. Conozco las dificultades de todas nuestras comunidades, no solo de la latina. Sé lo difícil que ya es, como inmigrante que llega aquí y aprende nuestra cultura. Así que, por supuesto, aunque no gane, seguiré luchando”, dijo. “Seguiré haciéndolo porque creo que todos merecemos ser tratados con respeto. No quiero que me regalen nada. Sé trabajar. Sé cómo defenderme porque he estado ahí. Sé cómo defenderme porque he luchado por la gente mucho antes de saber cómo hacerlo. Siempre estaré ahí”.

Dijo que los residentes latinos del condado pueden contar con ella para defenderlos, sin importar si viven en el Condado de Wyandotte o no. Después de todo, la lucha por un condado mejor, dijo, comienza con el trabajo en equipo.

“No hay mejor manera de invertir en nuestra comunidad que invirtiendo unos con otros”, dijo Rosas-Hall, “esforzándonos al máximo para crear una comunidad que no sea solo para uno, sino para todos”.

Para más información, visite www.AlmaHallDistrict5.com.

16/07/2025

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16/07/2025

Legislators host town hall meeting on commercial property tax

By Joe Arce and Corey Crable

A July 9 town hall meeting brought together Jackson County business owners to share with them information on how to appeal the rising commercial property taxes that continue to plague residents.

Jackson County Legislators Sean Smith (6th District), Manny Abarca (1st District), and Vanessa Huskey (2nd District) were on hand to meet residents, listen to their concerns, and answer their questions.

The following day, news broke that County Executive Frank White vetoed an ordinance that would have changed the filing deadline for the county’s seniors to enroll in a property tax credit program. The ordinance would move the deadline to Aug. 30 of the year prior, while White’s veto would set June 30 of the year following their initial credit year to submit applications.

Smith said the town hall was all about keeping business owners armed with the latest information so they can stay in the loop as any related developments occur.

“We want to equip them to be able to appeal those assessments or, if they don’t want to handle that on their own, to point them in the direction of some resources who can help them,” Smith explained. “So we want people to be able to help them equip themselves to so they can help themselves and let them know about upcoming events where their opportunity will be there to advocate to either local lawmakers or state lawmakers to try to get this whole process under control.”

Jackson County residents know the issue isn’t a new one. Soaring property taxes in recent years have put a spotlight on the assessment process, with home valuations being calculated without a county representative even setting foot inside the doors of local houses.

“We’ve seen this administration do this to people in the residential assessments last year, two years ago, and now they’re doing it to commercial building because they were told they can’t do it to our residents anymore. It seems to be a pattern. It seems to be a pattern that’s callous and just doesn’t care about the impact on people’s lives,” Smith said. “And they try to shield themselves with the law that says they’re supposed to set market values. Well, the reality is that that property didn’t go up a thousand percent overnight or in the last two years. In all likelihood, it was either a defective process which meant that the assessment officials were causing a higher tax burden for other taxpayers by underassessing that property, or they’ve now overassessed the property. And what it seems is that our assessor has a callous attitude that says simply, ‘I will raise people’s prices really high, and they have the right to appeal.’ And that’s their problem.”

Abarca blamed the county’s leadership for the tax spikes but said he and his fellow legislators want to give residents the knowledge and resources they need to protect themselves.

“Unfortunately, we have an assessor and an executive who were hell bent on making sure that people are taxed out of the county. They’re trying to reap every dollar that they can through the assessment process by the percentages that we get as well as the taxing jurisdictions themselves. So, unfortunately, if you live in the Kansas City Public School District boundaries and within Jackson County, your property taxes have gone through the roof,” Abarca said. “It’s important that we make sure and open those bills as soon as possible. We look and understand the dates that are on those for appeals because some folks may have not even opened their bill yet because it’s stacked in the mail somewhere. Well, that property assessment could have gone up 100,000 percent in some of these commercial areas. Now’s the time to open that up, understand what you can and cannot do and what your abilities are to make an appeal, because that’s the only path forward in bringing those prices down.”

Huskey, for her part, said she doesn’t place blame squarely on the shoulders of county leaders.

“I am not upset with Frank. Frank is stuck on second base,” Huskey said. “I think what he has done is fail to lead the residents of Jackson County to a comfortable level to pay their taxes, enjoy our assets and anything else that Jackson County has.”

Kathy Marchant, a small business owner in the Westside neighborhood, said she has seen her own taxes skyrocket by 1,000 percent. She called the entire situation “offensive.”

“A thousand percent is outrageous. I called the county and told them that the building is multi-use, and whoever I spoke to said they decided not to honor the residential half of it. They said, ‘Well, we don’t have to honor that.’ I said, ‘Well, I thought there was a new law that said you had to honor them,’ but they said no,” Marchant explained. “Then they said, ‘You could just sell the building. It’s a lot more valuable than it used to be,’ and I said, ‘I’ve had it for over 30 years. I don’t want to sell my building because the property taxes change. They said, ‘Well that’s just your business decision.’”

Lonzo Boles, who has owned a tire shop on Prospect for nearly 40 years, said his annual tax almost equals his business’ profits. Still, he said he doesn’t directly blame County Executive Frank White, either.

“I look at it like this: Frank White has a boss, so we can’t to put it on just one person. It’s really not just Frank White. It’s more to it than that because he has somebody to answer to,” Boles said. “I don’t think he’d be in there this long if he was doing it on his own. It’s more to it than that.”

Abarca hosted his own bilingual town hall on July 14 to address the same issues.

“This is a matter of fairness, transparency, and helping our local businesses with this new Frank White tax scheme,” Abarca wrote in a press release. “We’re working hard to ensure that those ready to file aren’t blocked by language barriers or tech issues.”

Kansas City Hispanic News

23/07/2025

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