Cooperation? With the police? On the East side?

Yes sir. It surely seems that way.

And thank goodness. At long last.

This from the Star today:

Teen accused in April slaying outside east KC home

Here's the story and tragedy of it:

"Jackson County prosecutors accused a teenager today in the April 12 killing of another young man on an east Kansas City street.

Davon J. Boston, 19, of Kansas City faces charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the shooting death of Ryan K. Taylor, 20, of Kansas City in the 3000 block of Kensington Avenue."

Here's the important, new, good part:

"A witness told police that Taylor was outside a house with several other people when a car pulled up carrying a driver, adult passenger and a baby."

Wha?

A witness? On the East side?

Yes, you read correctly.

Wait, too. There's more.

"After a brief conversation, Taylor turned to go into the home’s yard. The car’s passenger got out and struck Taylor in the head with a handgun, according to the witness. He then fired several shots into Taylor as he lay on the ground, according to the witness account in court documents.

The gunman took a book bag of marijuana from Taylor, pointed the gun at the car’s driver and said 'let’s go,' according to the documents."

Here's the money part:

"Other witnesses corroborated the version of events."

Not just "a witness" but "other witnesses."

And we never thought we'd see the day.

This, this is what this city has been waiting for for far too many years. And deaths.

Shootings and killings--committed anywhere--aren't likely to stop, no matter how pointless and meaningless if the ones doing them know no one is going to speak up and turn them in.

This is what we've all been waiting for, as a city.

Now if it just catches on.

Here's hoping.

Link: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/06/01/3637647/teen-accused-in-april-slaying.html

The paranoid will love this

Check this out--I found it late last evening: Microsoft Patents GPS with Crime-Stats And sure, that's one thing but look what they say it can do for you: "Microsoft has been awarded a patent for a new GPS feature that helps the user avoid dangerous neighborhoods." The article goes on to say: "There is a chance that some residents may object to Microsoft labeling their neighborhoods as dangerous or unsafe." Gee, you think? Can you imagine how groups and organizations and whole neighborhoods are going to react to this? Let the cynical, sarcastic and racist jokes begin. Link: http://news.yahoo.com/microsoft-patents-gps-with-crime-stats.html

Water busting out all over

I was on the East side of the city at the end of last week and noticed water pouring out of the street at 31st Street and Van Brunt Boulevard. At the time, I thought maybe I should call the water department and be sure they were aware of it, there was that much coming out, but I didn't. So then, yesterday, Sunday, I was there again and same thing--it was still flowing and very freely. So much so that it was pooling in the street, further down. So call I did. The result? I asked if they department was aware of it and the man on the other end said, yes, they were, he seemed to say, very aware of it. Oh, well, eh? This, along with the two breaks that are still on Southwest Trafficway (at least they're not pouring out at this fast a rate) and nothing seeming to be done. So it goes, eh, Mr. Mayor? And water department? I know they must have their hands full but aren't we wasting an awful lot of water? And doesn't that cost us?

Apparently the Summer shooting season is starting early

Apparently it's beginning the Thursday BEFORE Memorial Weekend. 

First there was this:

Man shot during carjacking
I was hoping, when I read the headline, that I'd find that the person attempting the carjacking was the one shot but, unfortunately, it wasn't to be.

And that lead me to this, the next one:

One killed in shooting near 29th and Highland in KC

I hope Mayor James has some good plan up his sleeve like getting together with community, church and civic leaders all across the city so we can hopefully reduce the number of these ignorant, pointless shootings this year.  I kept hoping the last mayor would do that but no, it apparently made too much sense.

This family needs to prosecute this, if they can

From the Star this afternoon:

Drive-by shooting in KC wounds grandmother on porch

A 50-year-old grandmother was wounded in a drive-by shooting today in the 2600 block of Agnes Avenue in Kansas City.

 She suffered a non-life threatening wound to her shoulder, police said. Police listed her medical condition as being between fair and serious.

Her grandson had quarreled with some other people earlier in the day. Police were investigating whether that dispute was connected to the 3:15 p.m. shooting.

The victim was on her front porch with four other people when a white car containing four men drove by. One of the occupants stuck a gun out the window and fired at the porch. The car fled southbound.

If the family knows who did this and don't prosecute, they can't say a thing.

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke (1729-1797)

Just saying.

Link:  http://www.kansascity.com/2011/05/09/2862644/drive-by-shooting-in-kc-wounds.html

Why is this still standing?

I was driving through the city on business last week when all of a sudden I saw this monstrosity at 39th and Troost.  (It may be 43rd but I think it's 39th).  My first reaction was as shown above, why is this still standing?  Why hasn't the owner or city torn this thing down?  Besides being a really awful eyesore, it's dangerous to the community.  I don't care where it's located, someone needs to get this gone.  I'm sure it's long overdue.

Cause of death?

From the news just now:

Police identify man found murdered in his bedroom

Kansas City police today identified a 34-year-old man found murdered in his bedroom Sunday morning as Keith D. Williams

Williams’ mother left their home in the 4000 block of Benton Boulevard about 10 p.m. Saturday. When she returned the next morning about 9:35 a.m., she found Williams had been shot to death.

Police didn’t have any motive or suspect information.

Williams was wounded in a shooting last year in Kansas City, police said.

Cause of death was listed as zip code.


(Believe me, I'm not being flip or glib here.  I'm noting the tragedy of it, period).

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/03/22/2744424/police-identify-man-found-murdered.html

Observation

Kansas City, Missouri, if we re-elect Mayor Mark Funkhouser.

Just sayin'.


Keep warm, safe and dry today, folks!

Old building on East side

I'd love to know the history of this old building on the East side.  I assume it was a restaurant.  With the old "wild west wagon" on the roof, at the front door, I'm thinking steak restaurant or barbecue or something, right?

Anyone know? 

Ideas, folks?

It could be worse--you could always be a KC Royals player this weekend

Ever think you have it bad? Of course you have. We all do it at times, right? Well, no matter how badly you have it right now (unless you're terminally ill or perpetually unemployed or something), you probably couldn't have it too much worse than if you were a Kansas City Royals baseball player right now. They lost last night and rolled up their 7th loss (of 9 games played) and this weekend, with their 47-67 record this year that "leaves them in a tie for last place in the American League Central division with Cleveland (according to The Kansas City Star) and, finally, they go up against the New York Yankees this weekend for a 3 game stretch. Anyone care to guess how that's going to go? Then again, you could be this guy: A Sugar Creek man suspected of several burglaries was arrested Wednesday after he tried to make a getaway on a riding lawnmower, authorities said today. Either way, it ain't good. Keep cool y'all. Links to original posts: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/08/11/2144412/offense-scuffles-again-as-royals.html http://www.kansascity.com/2010/08/12/2145225/burglary-suspect-arrested-after.html

An example of why KC has a high murder rate

The shooting yesterday, now well-covered by the press in town, of two men who shot each other seems to be a good example of why the Kansas City area has a high murder rate.

Fortunately, only one died.

Fortunately, apparently, the one who did die was trying to rob the other.

And get this, "It appears the victim and suspect knew each other...".

I guess that shouldn't be a huge surprise but if you're trying to rob someone (trying to rob someone?), wouldn't you think you'd try to rob someone you didn't know, so you didn't have to either a) be concerned they'd turn you in or b) then be certain you HAVE to kill them?

This is some crazy logic, if you can call it that.

This has to stop. The shootings and killings have to stop.

We have to work together, as a community, to stop the shootings and killings. I don't know how but we have to do this.

Reasons the "Concerned Clergy Coaltion" should be marching--but aren't

Did you see the Killa City's "Top 10 things to know about homicide in Kansas City"
By Casey Lyons in Killa City, NewsWed., Dec. 2 2009 @ 12:00PM?

Herewith:

​The KCPD released it's third quarter homicide results yesterday, which includes some 98 homicides up to September 30. The total to date is 105. We dug through all 24 pages so you don't have to to find the most important things to know about staying alive in Kansas City.

1. July is the new deadliest month. The summer spike came earlier this year, with the most deaths per month (14) coming in July, rather than August.

2. Kansas City killers have got a case of the Mondays. Nearly 1 in 5 deaths takes place on the first day after the weekend. Saturday and Sunday each held 15 percent.

3. Watch out for the witching hour. Thirteen percent of deaths happen between midnight and 2 a.m. Noon to 2 p.m. accounts for 12 percent of homicides and is the second most dangerous time.

4. Violence is random. Motive is unknown more than half the time.

5. East Patrol District is the most dangerous. So far, 634 people have been beaten and 27 killed there.

6. Men fare worst. Three in four homicide victims are men. Among known suspects, there are 10 times more men than women (51 versus 5).

7. There is a lot of black-on-black crime. Over 70 percent of victims are African American. Among suspects, 79 percent are African Americans. By contrast, no victims have been Asian.

8. Senior citizens are the safest. No victims have been over 65. There have been 36 in the 17-25 age range.

9. Victims aren't so innocent. Three in four victims have prior arrests.

10. Drive-by. September is drive-by king with 32 incidents reported.

So, with No. 7, above, wouldn't you think this "Concerned Clergy" group would have been marching last July on a Monday, protesting these senseless killings on the East Side?

No, no. They had to wait until November, when Wayne Cauthen is let go of his job as City Manager, instead.

Sure, that makes sense.

Link: http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2009/12/killa_city_top_10_things_to_know_about_homicide_in_kansas_city.php

The Star is "SHOCKED"--but for the wrong reason, it seems

Once in a while, these things almost write themselves. This is one of those.

The front page of The Kansas City Star has a big headline today: "SHOCKING INCREASE IN DEATHS".

So I'm thinking, great, they're finally covering the senseless murders city-wide.

Wrong.

It's an article about a big upswing, they say, in deaths by drunk drivers.

WTF?

Are you kidding me?

It seems there are a whopping 36 deaths this year, so far, in people being killed by drunk drivers. And sure, that's terrible and a tragedy. Heck, I've been nearly killed twice by drunken drivers so it's not as though I don't sympathize.

But they're "SHOCKED" about 36 deaths by drunken drivers.

I don't believe they've yet expressed any of that same shock over the 98 senseless, ugly, vicious murders by weapons here in the city.

And sure, it's not as big an increase in deaths by weapons but it is an increase.

It would seem that people shooting people would be a worse, and more senseless, tragic issue about which to be shocked.

Then, I went further into the article, back on page A10 and suddenly you realize a disparity.

Check out all the pictures of the people killed by these drunk driving tragedies.

See a pattern?

Yeah. I thought so.

They're all white.

So The Star is "SHOCKED" a big upswing in deaths by drunk drivers amounting to 36 but they're not upset about an upswing (admittedly smaller but an upswing) of 98 murders by weapons.

I would love to know what the statistics are of the percentage of people who have been murdered this year in Kansas City and what percentage of them were White, African-American and Hispanic. I think it could be illuminating.

I'm certainly not saying The Star shouldn't have reported on this increase in deaths by drunk drivers, not at all. I'm just saying that the much bigger story is the nearly 100 deaths by weapons.

If The Star would get together with the police and the East side of town--the whole community of churches and associations and groups of people who want to fight the deaths by guns and gun violence--they could write a series of articles about the problems and a) possibly solve the problems and b) increase readership.

It's a thought.

For clarification, I have to say, I don't take the newspaper any longer and I may have missed a big, recent article covering these shootings and killings but I don't think I have. There was one--last Spring?--on the murders in one area code (64012?) in Kansas City but that's been it since, I believe.

This just seemed like an odd, possibly unfair and obvious discrepancy in reporting for the paper.

I know people will let me know if I'm wrong--or if they think I am.

Link: http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/1570597.html