There's the budget and trying to impart that he'll be a person who can work with others (something we haven't been used to) and possibly looking for East side development somehow and maybe, maybe trying to finance a 1,000 room downtown hotel to increase conventions in town but...
Mayor James' first priority should be, I think, to try to reduce the number of shootings and killings in town.
Without doubt, to me, and maybe lots of other people.
He needs to do what hasn't been done--that is, call together his own office, the City Council members and then all the community and church leaders in the area who can and should be involved with this so we can shut down the senseless shootings that happen, year after year in this city.
They're already starting, as we know, and as we get closer to warm weather. Here's just the latest, this from the Star:
Teen killed in 'rolling gun battle' identified (see link below)
I would contend that the shootings and murders that take place annually in the Kansas City metropolitan area are the biggest concern to and for this city, its government and the people of this city, without doubt and beyond anything in front of us at this time, this year, in fact.
Hopefully it will be the top priority on Mr. James' agenda.
The last guy in that office just ignored it--until election time--and then gave it lip service.
We need far more now, from this new mayor.
Here's hoping we get it.
And sooner, rather than later.
And sooner, rather than later.
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What do you expect community and church leaders do to reduce violence? For that matter, what can the city council do directly, other than hire the right police and prosecutors? None of these people are involved in killings, (I hope...) Besides harassing gun shops and legal gun owners who don't shoot at people, that is.
Improving economic opportunity is likely to be of more benefit than anything that community leaders and churches can do. The problem here is that the best ways to improve a city's economy are passive, and don't poll well.
Sevesteen,
Here's what I expect them to do:
First, get people to put pressure on these idiots to stop with the shooting. There has to be some community buy-in for stopping this. SOMEONE--some people--in the communities know whose doing or likely doing at least some of that shooting and hopefully they could stem that.
Second, at minimum, get people to--whatever they want to call it--snitch, rat 'em out, turn 'em in, whatever. If they know someone shot someone else, have them turn them in. It can't any longer be seen as turning them in to "the man", you know? We need to create a climate all over town that won't permit shootings and random shootings like we experience now nearly year-round, but particularly with warmer weather.
This has nothing to do with gun rights or hassling gun owners, far, far from it. "Harassing gun shops and legal gun owners", indeed. That has nothing to do with this, rest assured.
And yes, "improving economic opportunity is likely to be of more benefit." How do you do that, exactly? Sure, a mayor can try to bring more companies, jobs and employment to town but beyond that, what can they do? What does a city council do--besides making regulations easier to cope with, say?
There's someone who could put pressure on the shooters, but won't do it until the mayor has a meeting?
Getting rid of 'don't snitch' culture is going to be extremely difficult if not impossible, especially from the outside.
I'm glad you recognize that this isn't about legitimate legal guns--too often we are an easy target when a politician is pressured to do something--precisely because doing something about the actual problem is so difficult.
...and I don't know the best way for a city to attract business. I suspect that the hotel isn't going to work, I also suspect that putting the tax burden on business rather than individuals isn't going to work.
Sevesteen,
Dude, every year we have these pointless, repetitive shootings and drive-by's and nothing is happening in the city. The last mayor did nothing. Civic and church and community leaders are doing and have done nothing. It's just time someone pick this up, organize people and try to get something done about it. If that isn't perfect for the mayor, I don't know what is. That's why I say that.
While getting rid of the "don't snitch culture" is going to be difficult, possibly to the point of extremely difficult, we have to try. It was extremely difficult to get to the moon but we did it.
I never once said go after the gun people--the owners of guns or the gun shop owners and wasn't pulling any punches because of your readership. I don't think that's where the problem lies.
I didn't say tax companies as a way to bring in business, either, by any means.
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