I was born in Topeka on July 13, 1959. This is my home—fourth-generation Topekan. In the 1960 Census, our city had a population of 119,484. As of 2026, we’re sitting at roughly 125,000–126,000. Sixty-seven years later, after decades of economic development programs, taxpayer-funded incentives, chambers of commerce efforts, TIF districts, CIDs, and endless studies, the needle has barely moved. The broader metro area hovers around 233,000. Meanwhile, America as a whole has grown dramatically. To many of us who have lived it, it feels like nothing has fundamentally changed—and without real accountability, nothing ever will.
I’ve spent my life trying to change that trajectory. Licensed Kansas real estate broker since 1979 with over 45 years of experience. Founder of MCRE, LLC in 2000 after national work with Macerich and others across Florida, Colorado, California, and beyond. As the original developer in Commerce Park going back to 2003, and through projects like Heritage Tractor, Chick-fil-A, Whataburger, Mainline Printing expansions, and the College Hill Apartment Complex, I’ve helped put real assets on the ground—jobs, retail, housing, and tax base. These weren’t theoretical grants. They were execution: site work, zoning, leasing, sales, and delivery.
Yet even with that track record, it often feels like all I do is fight the system—the Matrix that keeps Topeka stuck.
A Personal Awakening That Opened My Eyes
On May 2, 2015, at 4:44, everything changed for me. By the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and Savior, I was cured and delivered from years of drug addiction and alcoholism. In that moment I transcended the old version of myself. With new open eyes and the confidence of a 67-year-old child—unburdened, clear, and fearless—I began to see things for what they truly are in a way I never had in my whole life before. That spiritual awakening sharpened my vision for this community. It gave me the courage to call out what isn’t working and the conviction to keep pushing for better, no matter how entrenched the system feels.
Go Topeka, Taxpayer Dollars, and the Lack of Accountability
At what point does Go Topeka and the Greater Topeka Partnership ever accept responsibility for the overall health of the community?
If the city isn’t growing or prospering, if we continue to struggle with homelessness and a chronic shortage of quality low-income and workforce housing, why are we treating taxpayer dollars like a private slush fund? These organizations use public and quasi-public money as chum to build loyalty among members of the Chamber and Partnership—while measurable city-wide progress remains elusive.
In 2024 I asked directly for transparency. I requested details on their “grants/contributions/sponsorships/scholarships” line item for 2022 and 2023. The response listed dozens of smaller items—Breadbasket Farmer’s Market, various church and arts events, Juneteenth celebrations, YWCA sponsorships, pitch contest winners, and more—along with larger program costs like Choose Topeka ($127k–$174k range), Forge ($50k), PTAC, Washburn scholarships, and regional recruitment efforts. Some may have value. Collectively, it looks like relationship maintenance more than transformative economic development.
Meanwhile, recent point-in-time counts show around 500 people (and hundreds of households) experiencing homelessness in Topeka and Shawnee County, with a significant unsheltered portion. Affordable housing remains in short supply, with long waiting lists for public units and broader shortages documented in needs analyses. Population growth is flat to slightly declining in recent years. These are not abstract problems—they are symptoms of a community that talks growth but delivers stagnation.
I’ve been pushing for better for years: transparency in TIFs and CIDs, uniform treatment for all developers (not just insiders), shovel-ready infrastructure, and real accountability. As a candidate for Shawnee County Commissioner and later Mayor of Topeka, I tried to convey this. Enough voters heard the message that we made progress in those races. But the deeper systemic issue—the Matrix—remains hard to break through.
Why It’s So Hard to Unplug People from the System
Most residents live in the day-to-day reality of jobs, families, and local headlines that celebrate announcements without tracking five- or ten-year outcomes. Economic development feels distant. Ribbon cuttings look good on camera. Questioning the flow of taxpayer funds to the same organizations year after year can sound negative unless you lay out the numbers clearly and repeatedly.
The red pill is simple once you see it: I’ve delivered tangible projects over decades. Commerce Park development since 2003. National brands and local expansions that actually added value. Yet the population chart from my birth year to now is essentially flat. Homelessness and housing shortages persist. Grants continue to flow. The system protects itself—insider access, self-reported successes, and perpetual funding—more effectively than it delivers broad prosperity for working families, small businesses, and future generations.
My 2015 awakening made this crystal clear. When you’ve been set free from chains that once bound you, you recognize other forms of bondage—bureaucratic, political, and economic—more easily. Like Morpheus offering the red pill, the challenge is helping people unplug and see what’s really going on. The comfortable illusion is easier than confronting why a city with so much potential stays stuck.
Time for Real Change
We know what works. Private-sector execution like the projects I’ve been part of—focused on buildable sites, reduced bureaucracy, consistent rules, and measurable results. Not endless cycles of sponsorships and pitch contests that feel more like club dues than community transformation.
Real accountability would mean:
- Independent tracking of net jobs, tax base growth, housing units delivered, and population/income trends tied to continued public support.
- Preference for competitive, performance-based incentives with clawbacks when targets aren’t met.
- Less emphasis on insider grants and more on clearing barriers for anyone willing to build and invest here.
- Putting Shawnee County first—creating a place where our kids and grandkids actually want to live, work, and raise families.
I’ve fought this fight for years because I believe Topeka can do better. I’ve seen what’s possible from my national experience and my local wins. The spiritual clarity I received in 2015 only deepened my resolve. The frustration comes from watching good money and good intentions produce the same flat results decade after decade.
To my fellow Topekans: Look at the numbers. Look at the outcomes versus the promises. Ask the tough questions. Demand better. The Matrix only wins if we stay plugged in.
Let’s build the Topeka our families deserve—with clear eyes, renewed faith, and real results.
Henry McClure MCRE, LLC Topeka, Kansas
July 2026