Segment 1, beginning at 1:00: More than 50 Kansas City tenants who live east of Troost have formed a union to get their landlords to address property situations.
Black mold, roach infestations, non-working appliances and structural issues are just some of the complaints of those who rent from Matthew McGee and Alex Schifman. Inhabitants of these apartments and houses say repeated calls for repairs go unanswered. What the newly formed McGee/Schifman Tenant Union plans to do to make these landlords bring their properties up to safe and healthy standards.
- Nikki White, former tenant of one of Matthew McGee’s properties
- Gabe Coppage, tenant of Matthew McGee property
- Mason Andrew Kilpatrick, KC Tenants organizer
Tenants in Kansas City, Missouri can file a complaint through the city's Healthy Homes Inspection program by calling 311 or (816) 513-6347, online or through the myKCMO app.
Segment 2, beginning at 29:24: Birding is cool again.
National birding organizations saw interest soar throughout 2020. The Audubon Society reported a 23% spike in website traffic at the start of the pandemic and the number of people using The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird app jumped nearly 40% in 2020. Birdwatching can be done in city, suburb or country and doesn't require special equipment making it ideal for just about everyone.
- Paige Witek, state coordinator, Missouri Young Birders Club
- Mark McKellar, owner, Backyard Bird Center, wildlife biologist
