Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas announced on March 28th, 2024 that the Kansas City, MO City Council approved a contract extension for Kansas City Manager Brian Platt through August 1, 2027 on an 11-1 vote. Platt was appointed Kansas City Manager in December 2020.
Platt has been a fierce and dedicated ally to working-people and union members since his hiring. He has delivered massive pay raises to the city employees that are members of Local 500 and has kept Kansas City marching on a forward path that means more jobs and hours for members of a wide-swath of unions.
The only Councilmember to vote no on Platt’s contract renewal was Councilwoman Melissa Robinson. Councilman Eric Bunch was unable to vote due to technical issues, (he was attending the meeting virtually) but confirmed to The Labor Beacon that he would have certainly voted yes.
“When I was elected as mayor in 2019, I promised Kansas Citians its government would focus first and foremost on enhancing the basic City services our taxpayers deserve—and I am proud we’re delivering each day on that promise,” said Mayor Lucas. “Since Brian joined the City as City Manager in 2020, he has been integral in improving the City’s service delivery through resurfacing a historic number of Kansas City’s streets, acquiring lidded trash and recycling carts for every Kansas City household, and implementing a Snow Plan to ensure our roads are quickly plowed following winter weather events. City Manager Platt, who has built the most diverse leadership team in the City’s history, has also provided pay raises for all 4,500 Kansas City government employees, ensuring we have a strong workforce to continue delivering these vital services well into the future. I thank Brian and his team for their hard work, and I look forward to continuing our progress.”
“I am honored and humbled to continue serving as City Manager for Kansas City,” said City Manager Platt. “We’ve made so much positive progress improving delivery of basic services, building an exceptional local government organization, and elevating Kansas City in so many new ways. Thank you to Mayor Lucas and the City Council for their leadership and collaborative spirit working every day to make life better for Kansas Citians.”
Tristin Amezcua-Hogan is the Editor of The Labor Beacon and a member of LIUNA Local 264. Tristin also serves as the Director of Communications for the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO and the Chair of the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance.
Tristin grew up as the son of a UA Local 669 member in Tecumseh, KS and the great-nephew of George C. Amis, longtime leader of the United Rubberworkers (now USW Local 307) in Kansas. Growing up in rural Kansas as the child of teen parents, Tristin quickly came to appreciate the life-changing benefit of a union job.
Tristin and his partner, Rebeca Amezcua-Hogan, are residents of the Westside, Kansas City, MO's historic Mexican neighborhood. They are proud members of Kansas City's New Reform Temple.
