Mayor Francis Slay says that St. Louis is not popular around the Show-Me state - particularly with the folks across I-70.

Slay, speaking on the “Topic A” radio show on KDHX-FM Monday evening, said there is general resentment of the Arch City around Missouri, and that includes the state’s other major metropolitan area, Kansas City.

“There is somewhat of an anti-St. Louis sentiment outstate, and I think that includes Kansas City as well,” Slay said.

The conversation began with Slay responding to questions about K.C. Mayor Mark Funkhouser, who was on the same radio show last week.

Slay said he was particularly irked by a 2004 push that sought to raise money for a downtown arena in Kansas City by taxing rental cars. The tax was opposed by St. Louis-based Enterprise Rent-A-Car, which, according to Slay, resulted in the vote becoming a proxy fight between the two towns.

The campaign became “vote against St. Louis, vote ‘Yes’ on proposition whatever it was,” Slay said. “That campaign played very well in Kansas City — so there is something about the competition between the two cities.”

Slay also talked about the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day celebration, his involvement in the Democratic presidential primary and his frustration with the lack of progress at Ballpark Village.

You can download the whole show at Topic A’s podcast page.

St. Louis and K.C.: Why can’t we be friends?