Government Stories

City gave into fear, failed the test on innovation with Airbnb vote, councilman says

Kansas City’s move Thursday to prohibit short-term rentals in large portions of the city sent a clear message to entrepreneurs with disruptive ideas and technology, Quinton Lucas said: “Not In My Backyard.”   “I don’t know why a city that has so many innovators and that’s buzzing, that’s exciting — and frankly doesn’t always have…

Sharice Davids, Starty Pants Podcast

Starty Pants podcast host Sharice Davids making bid to unseat Rep. Kevin Yoder

Americans have an intergenerational responsibility to leave society and the country better than they found it, Sharice Davids said. The startup founders she interviews for her Starty Pants podcast understand that duty, she said. “When I think about entrepreneurship, I think of the risk taking and forward thinking of people who are trying to address…

Airbnb critics

HomeAway, Airbnb critics fearful of strangers in neighborhoods, apathetic landlords

Feb. 22 update: After a robust, 40-minute conversation Thursday, the full Kansas City Council voted 7-4 to pass a proposed ordinance that would prohibit short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods zoned as R-7.5 and R-10. Voting yes: council members Scott Wagner, Heather Hall, Dan Fowler, Lee Barnes, Jr., Alissia Canady, Scott Taylor and Kevin McManus. Voting…

sharing economy

Tech leaders: City needs more innovative approach to regulating the sharing economy

Feb. 22 update: After a robust, 40-minute conversation Thursday, the full Kansas City Council voted 7-4 to pass a proposed ordinance that would prohibit short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods zoned as R-7.5 and R-10. Voting yes: council members Scott Wagner, Heather Hall, Dan Fowler, Lee Barnes, Jr., Alissia Canady, Scott Taylor and Kevin McManus. Voting…

Barbara and Steve Mitchell, short-term rentals

Balancing disruption: Proposal might ban big parts of KC from short-term rentals

Feb. 22 update: After a robust, 40-minute conversation Thursday, the full Kansas City Council voted 7-4 to pass a proposed ordinance that would prohibit short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods zoned as R-7.5 and R-10. Voting yes: council members Scott Wagner, Heather Hall, Dan Fowler, Lee Barnes, Jr., Alissia Canady, Scott Taylor and Kevin McManus. Voting…