The Kansas City Council’s Finance Governance and Public Safety Committee recently held a meeting outside of city hall to address rising concerns about crime in the city. The main focus was on strengthening punishments for sideshows and finding ways to combat crime.
The committee recommended doubling the fines for illegal sideshows and criminalizing spectating, among other measures. These recommendations come after Kansas City police arrested two individuals and towed six vehicles from an illegal sideshow.
During the meeting, community members shared their concerns about the increasing crime problem in the city. They discussed statistics showing car thefts up nearly 50% and property crime detectives down by 25% in the last fiscal year. The Kansas City Police Department has received increased funding this year, with a focus on proactive policing to combat crime.
There was a discussion among attendees on the best ways to address crime, with some suggesting building new jails and hiring more police officers, while others emphasized the need to address underlying issues in the community. The meeting marked a new approach for the committee in engaging with the community on public safety issues.
Chairman Andrea Bough stated that this meeting was just the beginning, indicating that more community meetings like this would be held in the future. This shift towards community engagement on public safety issues demonstrates the city’s commitment to addressing crime and safety concerns in Kansas City.
Source
Photo credit fox4kc.com
