Elevated Facility Services’ Post

how are you doing all

Lessons learned from Mr. D: 1. Tell your family how much you love them multiple times a day. 2. Keep the door of your home open to friends and family for a great meal and cold drink. 3. Keep the pool ice cold, not sure why but it's super memorable. 4. Coach and volunteer in your town. 5. Always be willing to drive kids home after practice, regardless of how far from your home they live. 6. Love and respect your country and neighbors no exceptions Happy Memorial Day!

Join us as we navigate a perilous encounter on the road and glean valuable lessons for life's unexpected challenges. In this article, we will witness the miraculous hand of providence at work, sparing lives and igniting hearts with gratitude and faith. https://lnkd.in/egmMWmA8

Raymond Malone, Chairman Fairness in Construction Board 414 E 12th Street, 4th Floor East Kansas City, Missouri 64106 [email protected] April 16, 2024 Quinton Lucas, Mayor City Council, All Districts Cc: Brian Platt, City Manager Cc:Jaime Guillen, CREO Director City of Kansas City, Missouri City Hall, 29th Floor (Mayor) City Hall, 22nd Floor (City Council) Kansas City, Missouri 64106 Honorable Mayor and City Councilpersons, Our past letters and messages to you to date have gone unanswered, therefore I’m forced to write this letter to informed you of our very real concerns. As the appointed Chair of the Fairness in Construction Board, who has always strived for excellence and professionalism, I find it necessary to address these issues in the hope of fostering a more inclusive and equitable contracting environment. As a reminder, the Fairness in Construction Board was created to address and remediate unfair public procurement procedures in both city funded and assisted projects, including tax incentivized projects. Particularly, the Fairness in Construction Board addresses disparities and exclusion of available and qualified socioeconomically disadvantaged businesses on publicly funded and assisted contracts. Through the implementation of the Fairness in Construction Board (“Board”), we have created a more competitive and fair environment for all. This is achieved through the collaborative process of the members of the Board. Being comprised of collective bargaining organizations, majority owned businesses, minority and woman owned businesses, construction business organizations, professional construction services organizations, and community input has created a partnership that promotes equal access, opportunity and protection of the laws of the city, state and federal government in public procurement. The strength of the Board has been transparency in data collection and reporting from the City’s Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity Department. After repeated requests, the Board has been denied access to reports, administrative support and monitoring of city-funded and assisted contracts, including tax-incentivized projects (such as the Meta data-center project and more recently the Google data-center project). This has caused an increase in complaints of discriminatory activity in public procurement processes, on construction projects and reports of economic abuse of small and disadvantaged businesses on taxpayer funded projects. Over the past several decades, I have encountered numerous instances of discrimination based on race, color, sex and national origin in construction and its contracting procedures. These instances have ranged from subtle biases to outright discriminatory actions. A few examples of why Prime contractors need to be monitored. Especially JE Dunn, Turner Construction and McCownGordon in Kansas City Missouri our Disparity report displays discrimination. Mayor ignores Kcmo Fairness Board.

Raymond Malone, Fairness and Construction Board, 414 E 12th Street, 4th Floor East Kcmo. ( LETTER BEING IGNORED) (PART II) April 16, 2024 Quinton Lucas, Mayor City Council, All Districts Cc: Brian Platt, City Manager Cc:Jaime Guillen, CREO Director City of Kansas City, Missouri City Hall, 29th (Mayor) Kansas City, Missouri 64106 Honorable Mayor and City Councilpersons, These illegal and unethical practices have also dissuaded business retention, growth and success for not only disadvantaged businesses but also majority owned businesses. As from the day the Fairness in Construction Board was established, passive participation in race, color, national origin and sex-based discrimination by our local government have re-emerged and has had a ripple effect within the construction community resulting in abusive procurement, oppressive fiscal policies and procedures.   These divisive tactics are a direct result of the de factosilencing of the Fairness in Construction Board.  The Board has been deprived of decades-long basic monitoring and reporting as required by City Code, Section 3-463(11).  Specifically, the lack of transparency by the Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity Department Director and the Mayor’s office has adversely affected the Fairness in Construction Board’s ability to perform our duties effectively and enjoy a positive, inclusive atmosphere. Specific Concerns: 1. The Department lacks the basic operational ability to answer telephones and respond to messages, return calls or follow up when information is requested. Although the board has requested organizational information, including a Department organizational chart with contact numbers, roles and responsibilities information, none has been provided.   2. The Disparity Study remains a concern. To date we have received misleading or false information concerning the status of the study. We now have been informed that the solicitation was opened back up recently without any explanation. As you are aware, the MBE/WBE Program depends on a current and accurate study.   3. There have been multiple resolutions that are being considered by council that would        directly affect the MBE/WBE ordinance (PNW, Size Stds, etc.) We were not made aware of these resolutions by the Department and when asked the Department staff seems to have little or no information.   4. The unequal treatment in city-funded and assisted construction projects and procurement procedures and the opportunities for certified, small disadvantaged firms particularly in the city departments and EDCKC-led projects. Specifically lack of uniform reporting and enforcement on city andincentivized projects.   5. Reports of hostile work environments on construction projects and failure of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity Department to respond and investigate pursuant to the duties under City Code, Chapter 3, Article IV and Chapter 38. Including the lack of investigation into abusive treatment and payment violations.

Yes Lynne Franks OBE and in the currents of modern life, where the digital age has cast a wide net over the essence of human interaction, a notable shift in the collective psyche has emerged. This transformation, often characterized by an increasing tilt towards #narcissism, demands a closer examination, not through the lens of genetics, which has long been the focus of debates around human behavior, but through the nuanced and dynamic field of #epigenetics. Epigenetics, the study of how behaviours and environment can cause changes that affect the way genes work, offers a compelling framework to understand how our culture might be drifting further from the "felt presence of #experience." Our genetic makeup is like a vast, intricate library, filled with books that have been passed down through generations. These books, while fixed in their content, are not always read in the same way; the environment around us—the cultural air we breathe—acts as librarian, influencing which books are pulled from the shelves and how often they are opened. It's not the text itself that changes, but how it's read and interpreted based on external stimuli. And as we dive deeper into a world mediated by screens, where interactions are often filtered through layers of digital abstraction, the epigenetic effects on our behaviour become more pronounced. The constant bombardment of curated images and narratives on social media platforms feeds into a cycle of comparison and self-centeredness, fostering a culture where the value of an experience is often measured by its shareability and potential for validation rather than its intrinsic worth. This shift can be seen as an epigenetic response to our environment; our genes haven't changed, but the way they express themselves has nudged our behaviors towards more narcissistic tendencies. The digital echo chamber amplifies and rewards narcissistic traits, encouraging a detachment from the direct, unmediated experiences that foster genuine empathy and connection. The irony is stark: in an age of unprecedented connectivity, we find ourselves more isolated, caught in the reflection of our own curated personas, drifting away shared human experience. ‘We have a narcissism we can’t put down’. However, just as our environment and culture has led us towards narcissism, it can also steer us back towards empathy, connection, and experience. This requires a conscious effort to cultivate environments, both online & offline, that reward authenticity, vulnerability, and genuine engagement over superficiality and self-promotion. By recognizing the power of our environment to shape our behaviours and priorities, we have the opportunity to steer our collective ship back towards a culture that values the felt presence of experience over the superficial allure of narcissism. In doing so, we can rediscover the beauty of genuine human connection, grounded in the rich soil of shared experience and mutual empathy. #unity Yondur

As we approach Memorial Day, it's a time for solemn reflection, not just a long weekend of gatherings and discounts. Here's a gentle reminder: 📌 Shelve the "Happy Memorial Day" messages. Today isn't about happiness but honor and remembrance. 📌 Resist the urge to thank active service members today — though always appreciated, today we remember those we have lost. 📌 Truly grasp the profound significance of the day — it's a solemn remembrance of the ultimate sacrifices made. 📌 It's essential not to let the day slip by unnoticed in daily life. 📌 Political differences should take a backseat as we pay homage to fallen heroes. 📌 When you communicate today, strip away the buzzwords and speak with genuine respect and simplicity. Honor the real heroes who gave everything for us. Take a moment to reflect and honor their courage and sacrifice. #MemorialDay #HonorAndRemember #SolemnTribute #BraveryAndSacrifice #ReflectAndRespect

Here, from my publisher, are links to four of my op-eds/essays adapted from my book, along with a sampling of review highlights (with links to the full reviews, if of interest)

Happy Mother's Day! 💐 Your love, sacrifices, and unwavering support make the world a better place. From everyone at Matti Lamb & Associates, we hope you enjoy your special day. #MothersDay #ThankYouMum #AdelaideLawyers #FamilyLaw #EstatePlanning

“I'm proud to be your child, Lord. And I'm so grateful that you died for me—rising again on your own new morning—so that every day could be filled with the wonder of your love, the freedom of your Spirit, and the joy of knowing you.”🙏 Check out my blog post https://wix.to/4kNyJiE #newblogpost