Alex Welch Blattner
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alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
Alex Welch Blattner
@alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
210 followers 39 following 910 posts
I'm a YIMBY sharing my thoughts on local Shawnee, KS politics and live skeeting city council meetings. she/hers #BlackLivesMatter Reskeet =/= endorsement.
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alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
shot, chaser
Say NO to the "Say Yes" Slate The "Say Yes" group is the remnant of the force that was pushing Shawnee a few years back to waste taxpayer dollars on a community center. This included burying deep down in various reports the true costs to the community. What happened? The citizens of Shawnee did not fall for the garbage that was being thrown at them and that item was defeated at a citywide election 72% to 28%. The "Say Yes" group with their liberal, tax and spend, social justice ideology is a threat to the city and beyond. City council positions become the training ground for far left candidates. It may start on the coasts, but it can and does work its way into the middle of our country. To maintain a city government that will truly work for the citizens of Shawnee and not a bunch of far left idealogues, please do not vote for the "Say Yes" slate. Shawnee Ray’s Ramblings Local Election Results 2025 First, congratulations are in order to those who were elected to the Shawnee City Council. Second, sympathies go out to the citizens of Shawnee. When you start seeing mill levy increases in, coupled with rising home values, please, if you voted for these tax and spend liberals, don't complain. When you see funds expended for incentives for questionable development projects, and if you voted for these tax and spend liberals, don't complain. Same for any far left social programs. For those who sat home and didn't vote because it was "only the city council, but I vote in the gubernatorial and presidential elections" , you too need not complain when the above happens. Good luck Shawnee, you'll need it.
November 7, 2025 at 5:23 AM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
If we’re lucky, this jerk is next!
State Sen. Mike Thompson speaks against the NDO in 2019
November 5, 2025 at 8:31 PM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
Don’t mind me, just over here thinking about how both of the no votes on the 2019 NDO (Jenkins and Kemmling,) plus its greatest opponent (Gillette,) have now all been unseated 🥰
A smiling emoji with its chin in its hands kicking its feet behind it
November 5, 2025 at 8:30 PM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
these candidates are fantastic people and would make excellent members of our city council. Additionally, their opponents are all MAGA extremists and I don't want them making decisions for how this city is run. We need reasonable, level-headed leadership in Shawnee! #SayYESShawnee
The following city council candidates reflect Say YES Shawnee Values: Ward 1: Steele Reynolds Ward 2: Eric Persson Ward 3: Morgan Rainey Ward 4: Erin Aldridge Advance in-person voting starts October 25 Election Day: Tuesday, November 4 www.sayyesshawnee.org
October 28, 2025 at 3:53 PM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
Here are the comments I made in favor of a flat mill levy for the budget:

#SayYESShawnee
I’m here because I have heard that some councilmembers are pushing for yet another mill levy decrease. This concerns me, especially in light of looming financial uncertainty due to tariffs, and recent infrastructure failures such as the pipe collapse on Monticello and the sinkholes near me in Ward 2. I appreciate Councilmembers Whitted, Murphy, and Burchfield for being present at the budget open house to engage with residents on the budget processs, and Councilmember Murphy for holding a Ward 2 town hall meeting to discuss further. Often, the concerns used to justify a mill levy decrease are the city’s high levels of reserves, and tax relief for residents in need. I sympathize with both of these concerns, but a mill levy decrease is not the most efficient method to address them. If the concern is about the city’s reserves being too high, staff has already implemented an excellent Reserve Reduction Plan to address this. I do have concerns about spending the reserves down too far because we’re losing out on revenue from interest. But if further reduction is needed, I’d like to see the city put more reserve dollars towards critical infrastructure projects like stormwater pipe repairs and adding curb and gutters to streets that don’t have them. If the concern is about tax relief for those in need - especially seniors who are struggling to stay in their homes - again, we have put in place a Property Tax Rebate Program for those individuals that would save them a lot more than the $6/month they’d save with a 1-mill decrease. We could even expand that plan to cover more income levels if the program’s utilization remains low. In conclusion, the city already has more effective plans in place to address the concerns of reserves and tax relief. A mill levy decrease is a one-size-fits-all solution that benefits large businesses and wealthy homeowners much more than it benefits those who need the help most, and it risks leaving the city unable to address our crumbling stormwater and street infrastructure. I, personally, am more than happy to pay $6/month in exchange for being able to walk and drive around on streets that work. I ask you to approve a flat mill levy for this and future budgets.
August 26, 2025 at 2:10 AM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
Leaving city council after defeating another irresponsible mill levy decrease like
Nicole Kidman celebrating after divorce
August 26, 2025 at 1:17 AM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
This is how the public felt about each option (I'm not sure who was surveyed for this.)
August 26, 2025 at 12:25 AM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
Community Development Director Kevin Manning giving a presentation on the street improvements at Black Swan and Quivira. Proposing different options for street designs:
August 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
Campaign finance reports are in for the first part of the election, so I pulled together some information for each candidate running in Shawnee! I totaled each candidate's donations, loans, and in-kind contributions from themselves (under Self-Funded) and others (under Donations.)
August 11, 2025 at 5:49 PM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
Hall of Shame 7.14.25

#SayYESShawnee
Councilmember Tony Gillette Shawnee, Ward 1 On his continued push to reduce the mill levy despite staff warnings and looming financial uncertainty: “We did not do a mill levy rate reduction on this budget last year, and we still took in over $1.3 million dollars to the city coffers. So, just as a tee-up for our budget sessions, I will be proposing a mill levy decrease.” 7/14/25 city council, approx. 00:54 time stamp Say YES Shawnee 2025 Councilmember Mike Kemmling Shawnee, Ward 2 On his opposition to contributing $55,000 to the Americana and Ales World Cup event to bring foot traffic and exposure to small businesses in his ward: “I’m for the event if they want to find a way to fund it themselves, but I’m against the city giving money for it.” 7/14/25 city council, approx. 1:00 time stamp Say YES Shawnee 2025
July 15, 2025 at 2:24 PM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
brought a special guest to Transport Brewery trivia tonight!
my dog Tex, a black and white schnauzer/poodle mix.
June 19, 2025 at 1:22 AM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
Having a great time watching the Billy Joel cover band at Old Shawnee Days! 🤠
me and my husband sitting in lawn chairs and smiling a band playing music on a stage
June 7, 2025 at 1:43 AM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
Exciting news! Tune in to KSHB 41 at 6pm today to see some #SayYESShawnee members talk about the work we’re doing here in Shawnee.
two women sit at a table, talking.
June 6, 2025 at 5:50 PM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
when ultraconservative efforts to delay and deny multifamily housing fail on purely procedural grounds…..
Kamala Harris saying “can someone turn that UP?”
May 13, 2025 at 12:27 AM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
I just noticed this on the city council agenda for tomorrow. If equitable housing and community development is important to you, there is still time to sign up to speak at the public hearing!

cityofshawnee.civicweb.net/Portal/Meeti...
Conduct a public hearing on the community development and housing needs for the 2026 Community Development Block Grant program.
May 12, 2025 at 2:00 AM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
Hall of Shame 4.28.25

#SayYESShawnee
Councilmember Mike Kemmling (Shawnee, award 2) on his continued push to reduce the mill levy despite staff warnings and financial uncertainty: “I know when we talk about mill levy and reductions, everyone gets scared because [the city’s reserve balance] goes to 0 when [city staff] plan it out, but this is just one more example of a time when we went in thinking it was gonna be 58 and we got 66, so, just pointing that out again.” 4/28/25 council committee, approx. 1:06 time stamp, Say YES Shawnee 2025
April 29, 2025 at 9:13 PM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
Hall of Shame 4.28.25

#SayYESShawnee
Councilmember Tony Gillette (Shawnee, Ward 1) on his opposition to incentivizing multifamily housing: “To date on this council as a councilmember, I have not voted for any traditional TIF or CID and I really don’t intend to do so as a councilmember. Had I been on the council at this time I would not have supported this TIC for 20 years long for an infill apartment complex at 80%.” 4/28/25 council meeting, approx. 1:03 time stamp, Say YES Shawnee 2025
April 29, 2025 at 9:10 PM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
your daily dose of Sarahtonin 😌
a light brown dog curled up on the couch with her toes touching her nose
April 12, 2025 at 2:12 PM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
Your daily dose of Sarahtonin 😌 Sarah is still available for adoption or foster to adopt (kind of like a 3 week trial run!)

#fosterdog #adoptabledog #rescuedog #germanshepherd #gsd
Sarah, a German Shepard mix dog, relaxes on an ottoman in the sun.
April 9, 2025 at 7:48 PM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
MEET ADOPTABLE SARAH!

Sarah was brought into Melissa’s Second Chances animal shelter as a puppy and spent over 200 days there before getting her chance in a foster home with us. I know I have a lot of followers local to KC - would you share this post so we can find her forever home?
Sarah is a blonde German Shepard type dog with a black muzzle. She is wearing a teal KC Current bandana and is smiling nicely in the photo.
April 2, 2025 at 1:57 PM
alexwelchblattner.bsky.social
We paid a visit to Brothers Records in Shawnee for Small Business Saturday! My picks are on the left and Andy’s are on the right.
Janelle Monae - Dirty Computer and Lily & Madeleine - Canterbury Girls U2 - Joshua Tree and Talking Heads - Speaking in Tongues
November 30, 2024 at 8:01 PM