Kansas City Tackles Gun Violence with a Unique Plan
Kansas City is taking a stand against the troubling rise in gun violence with a bold initiative aimed at reducing violent crime by an impressive 50% over the next five years. Recently, the Mayor Pro Tem, Ryana Parks-Shaw, shared insights about the city’s strategy at the final event in the Cultivate speaker series held at Holmeswood Baptist Church.
A Wake-Up Call to Action
The issue of gun violence has hit close to home for Parks-Shaw since she joined the city council back in 2019. It was then she got a jarring glimpse into the harsh reality of violence through a murder notice list that detailed chilling circumstances surrounding each death. “It was a shocking realization,” she recalled. “These names represent lives lost, families broken, and communities torn apart.” Fast forward to 2023, and the stats are grim: the Kansas City Missouri Police Department reported a staggering 182 homicides this year, the highest in recent memory.
Parks-Shaw felt a sense of urgency. “I thought, ‘I gotta do something,’ but we can’t just rely solely on arrests to fix this,” she expressed.
Learning from Omaha’s Success Story
In their quest for solutions, Kansas City officials set their sights on Omaha—a city with a similar population that effectively tackled its violent crime issues. By developing a comprehensive strategy that focuses on community collaboration and substantial funding, Omaha made impressive strides toward reducing their crime rates. Inspired by this model, the nonprofit KC for Common Good took the lead in rallying local community groups, businesses, law enforcement, and government bodies to align their efforts.
A Unified Approach
The city hosted a lively symposium in March 2024, where around 500 stakeholders came together to brainstorm and created an extensive 42-page plan called KC United for Public Safety. This initiative emphasizes community-based policing, engaging neighborhoods, and providing support for individuals reentering society after incarceration. The ambitious goal? Slash violent crime by half within five years.
Funding the Fight
Funding plays a crucial role in this fight against violence. The council has agreed to allocate $30 million from its budget over the next five years and has plans to use 1/3 of the city’s marijuana sales tax—estimated to bring in between $3 million to $10 million each year—for violence prevention. Parks-Shaw is also looking for philanthropic partners to bolster these efforts, even though she remains skeptical about obtaining substantial state support. “But I’ll ask,” she noted. “We know we need significantly more money.”
Empowering the Police
The city is also dedicated to enhancing the analytical capabilities of the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) to better understand crime patterns, such as gang behaviors. Thanks to recent improvements, the city has seen a 45% reduction in unsolved homicides. “It’s essential that our police have the right tools,” Parks-Shaw insisted.
Community Engagement is Key
Parks-Shaw encourages locals to engage with these efforts by attending the KC Common Good’s weekly meetings, taking place every Thursday at 9 am at Rockhurst University. Over the past two and a half years, this significant group has been brainstorming effective violence prevention strategies, and all residents are welcome to participate.
Her vision extends to providing mentors for city youth. Kansas City Public Schools currently have hundreds of students who requested reading tutors but are still waiting to be matched. “It’s a golden opportunity to forge stronger connections with our youth,” Parks-Shaw stated. “By proactively addressing these issues, we might just stave off future violent crimes.”
Hope for the Future
As she wrapped up her remarks, Parks-Shaw encouraged citizens to advocate for vital resources devoted to violence prevention. “With a city budget of $2.3 billion, it would be beneficial for more folks to push for increased funding for violence prevention initiatives,” she urged. Though right now, Kansas City has recorded 135 homicides for the year—a notable drop to a five-year low—each statistic represents a life lost, highlighting the ongoing work required for improvement. However, she emphasized, “There is hope! It will take all of us collaborating to transform KC into a fairer, just space for everyone.”
Following the speaker series, a group of attendees plans to gather on December 11 at The Borough for further discussions on combating gun violence in Kansas City. A community united—now that’s a powerful force!
