Hang in there, man.

What's happening to the real Topeka? I knew this town has gone to shit fast, the business and everything for real, man. It's like seeing a town you grow up in go straight to shit, really wow. Got poor management for a lot of places, disrupting employees, people that dont want to work. You feel like a slave (aka Reser's), man. This town has gone straight to shit since I was a kid, damn that's sad, man. It makes me want to just not do business here and go somewhere there is money and opportunities, like Texas hell anywhere but kansas man.  Matt 

Summary of your message:

You're expressing deep frustration and sadness over Topeka, Kansas's rapid decline since your childhood. Businesses and the local economy feel like they've "gone to shit" due to poor management, disruptive or unmotivated employees, and a general lack of opportunities. You describe feeling like a "slave" at places like Reser's, with many spots disrupting workers and struggling overall. This nostalgia for the old town has you wanting to stop doing business locally and relocate to stronger economies like Texas or anywhere outside Kansas for better money and prospects. It's a heartfelt lament about watching your hometown deteriorate.

Some context on Topeka/Kansas right now (as of 2026)

Your feelings align with real challenges:

• Economy & jobs: Kansas faces slow growth, agriculture/manufacturing headwinds, frozen hiring, and downward tax revenue trends. Topeka specifically has a ~$15M city budget deficit looming for 2027.
• Crime: High overall crime rates historically (violent + property), though 2025 reports show declines in homicides and other crimes from prior peaks.
• Demographics: Population slightly declining (~125k, down ~1% since 2020), higher poverty rate (~15.7%) than state/national averages, median household income around $57k.
• Reser's: Employee reviews frequently mention tough management, toxic environments, and overwork in the Topeka plant—matching your experience.

On the flip side, home prices in Topeka are still rising (median ~$199k, up 7.5% YoY), and sectors like government, healthcare, and education provide some stability.

Broader state trends: Kansas has seen net out-migration of people and income for years, with folks heading to lower-tax, higher-growth places like Texas (no state income tax, strong job market in energy/tech). Many share your view on opportunities elsewhere.

It's tough watching a place you grew up in change for the worse. Plenty of Midwestern towns are grappling with similar issues—stagnation, labor shortages/mismatches, and competition from booming states. If you're seriously considering a move, focusing on job markets, cost of living, and taxes in target spots could help. Hang in there, man.

Topeka Kansas killed a Maverick deal - (How stupid)

 The U.S. trucking industry is massive and serves as the backbone of the American economy. In 2024, it generated an estimated $906 billion in gross freight revenues (for primary shipments only) and moved 11.27 billion tons of freight—roughly 72.7% of the nation’s total domestic freight by weight. Trucking dominates freight movement far more than rail, air, or water combined for most domestic goods.

It directly and indirectly supports 8.4 million jobs across the economy (excluding self-employed workers), including 3.58 million professional truck drivers. The industry is overwhelmingly made up of small businesses: nearly 580,000 active motor carriers, with 91.5% operating 10 or fewer trucks.

Broader Economic Impact

Trucking isn’t just big on its own—it enables virtually every other sector (retail, manufacturing, agriculture, construction, healthcare, energy, etc.) by keeping supply chains moving efficiently. Without reliable trucking, shelves go empty, factories idle, and prices spike.

• GDP and transportation contribution: Transportation services as a whole contributed $1.9 trillion (6.3% of U.S. GDP) in 2024, with for-hire transportation (including trucking) at $976 billion (3.3%). Trucking accounts for the largest share of freight within this.
• Taxes and public revenue: Commercial trucks paid $30.26 billion in federal and state fuel taxes alone in 2023 (these help fund highways). The industry also generates broader tax revenue through employee income taxes, business property taxes, sales taxes on equipment/fuel/parts, and economic activity spurred by logistics operations.
• Multiplier effects: Every trucking job and dollar spent ripples outward. It supports jobs in warehousing, manufacturing, retail, and services; lowers inventory costs for businesses (enabling just-in-time delivery); and stabilizes prices for consumers. The industry’s small-business nature means economic benefits are widely distributed across communities.

Overall, trucking is a key driver of economic development because it moves ~73% of the goods that power daily life and commerce. Disruptions (like during the pandemic or driver shortages) show its outsized role—when trucking slows, the whole economy feels it.

Why Cities Actively Want and Support Trucking/Logistics

Cities and regions compete to become logistics hubs because trucking and related warehousing/distribution facilities deliver tangible local economic wins:

• Job creation — Trucking terminals, distribution centers, and warehouses create thousands of direct jobs (drivers, loaders, mechanics, managers) plus indirect ones in supporting services. The broader transportation/warehousing sector employs millions, and logistics hubs often become major local employers.
• Tax base growth — Large warehouse and terminal developments bring commercial property taxes, sales taxes from business purchases and employee spending, and other revenue. This funds local services without raising residential taxes as much.
• Infrastructure investment — Cities often receive state/federal grants or private investment for road, rail, and port upgrades tied to logistics growth. Better connectivity attracts more businesses.
• Attracting other industries — Good trucking access makes a city more appealing for manufacturers, e-commerce fulfillment, retailers, and food distributors. Examples include hubs in places like Indianapolis, Phoenix, Houston, or the Quad Cities, which leverage interstates, rail, and airports to draw investment and grow faster than non-hub peers.
• Economic diversification and resilience — Logistics provides stable, high-volume activity less tied to a single industry. It also supports local agriculture/manufacturing by getting products to national markets quickly and cheaply.

Many cities offer incentives (tax abatements, zoning for industrial parks, workforce training) precisely because the return on investment is high: more jobs, more tax revenue, and a stronger local economy. In short, trucking doesn’t just pass through—it anchors growth.

Data is based primarily on the latest available figures from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The industry fluctuates with the broader economy (e.g., revenues dipped slightly in 2024 from 2023 peaks), but its foundational role remains constant. If you want specifics on a particular state, city, or segment (e.g., truckload vs. LTL), let me know!

KORA

KORA 

I need to know when the water service was stopped at 502 SE 21st Street for non-payment. 

You can also verify that over the years the FOX family never had water service at that address. 

Tell me why after the years of NO service the City did not condemn the property on its own? 

MCRE, LLC

3625 SW 29^th Street

Topeka KS 66614

785.383.9994

Truth or more of it vs Ortiz -

 

Truth vs Ortiz