A Continuation, Perpetuation of Racism on Kansas City's East Side?

An article in The Pitch today really caught my eye.

Developer eyes Troost for 

immigrant child detention center

A detention center.

For immigrants. 

Minorities. 

In a part of town segregated, by law, by laws, decades ago, for minorities, for African-Americans.
Could they be more time deaf or blind?

And I assume this developer wants to put it there because--hello?--land and property and buildings over on that side of town are less expensive??

Because of that same racism and legalized segregation all those years ago?

Could you be more cruel? Or exploitative?

This very much reminds me of the prisons that were opened and created in the Southern United States that were put on former plantations. Own them first the, when you don't own them any more, trump up charges and throw them in jails and prisons.

And then, if you read the article, which I personally highly recommend, for what it's worth, you'll see how the company that runs these ICE shelters for the government, has been abusive and racist, to say the least and repeatedly, over time.

America, we're supposed to be better than this.

One thing seems sure and true.

Old J.C. Nichols would probably have approved.

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

No one can stop the KC killing without help from the people

Why nothing will ever change in Kansas City regarding the shootings and killings unless the people change: Man shot twice outside an apartment, but refuses to tell police about the shooter KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A man is recovering from gunshot wounds suffered late Wednesday night outside a Kansas City apartment building. Police said the bullets hit the man in a shoulder and arm, but are not life-threatening. The victim refused to cooperate with police and does not want to prosecute his attacker. No one can say anything about what the mayor, City Hall, police or anyone else is doing if the people who are being shot or shot at don't assist the police, after the fact. After this, I refuse to write anything further on this subject, the shootings and murders in Kansas City. Like so many people here in town, if the people involved can't or won't help themselves with these problems, there is no way anyone outside the situations can. Sure, everyone knows it, as I had up to now but I had held out until now. Now, like so many others, I'm done with it. Link: http://www.kshb.com/dpp/news/crime/man-shot-twice-outside-an-apartment-but-refuses-to-tell-police-about-the-shooter

Pizza delivery East of Troost? Fuggedaboudit

According to a Facebook post, the Pizza Hut at 3907 Main won't make deliveries East of Troost. They'll deliver ON Troost but not even one block over. Additionally, they say the Papa John's won't deliver East of Oak Street. Given the murders and shootings in that zip code, are they to be blamed or no? Anyway, this person and group is calling for someone to open up a pizza place and a coffee shop (two separate businesses) so they can get this done. That is, supply these products and services to the area. Link: https://www.facebook.com/messages/66805392#!/groups/emeraldcityprojectkc/?notif_t=group_r2j_approved

Warm weather, KC, guns, shootings and killing (update)

Well, here we go? Let's hope not. Four people shot and killed last weekend within 48 hours. Now, today, two more shot and killed in town just this afternoon. We're up to 20 people dead so far this year and forget about Summer not even being here yet--Spring hasn't even begun. It doesn't look good. Here's hoping Mayor James and Police Chief Corwin can get a handle on this, with help from the applicable communities, citizens, churches and community groups. They can't do it alone. Links: http://fox4kc.com/2012/03/13/two-shot-one-dead-at-kansas-city-home/; http://videos.kansascity.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=135650151; http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2012/03/13/kansas-city-missouris-homicide-total-hits-18-for-2012-for-now; http://kcpdchief.blogspot.com/

The Citadel project: someone please tell me we learned lessons here

There is a good and important article in the Star today, telling the details of just what the ill-fated Citadel Project on the East side ended up costing the city and where the money went (see link below). While it's good to know that not all the money--or even most of it--went to some crooked developer, the fact is, the city still took an expensive beating on it. In the end, it seems there are two things to consider from this ill-conceived mess. The first is the cost to us, the citiznes who have to pay for this: "The city will issue 20-year bonds for the $15 million, with debt service estimated at more than $1.2 million per year — tax dollars that could otherwise have been spent on basic services. The city hopes new revenue from future development can cover at least part of the debt service, but that can’t happen until something is built there." The 2nd important thing is that we learn from this. Hopefully the "takeaway" from this whole mess is that you do research, first, on any self-proclaimed developer so you know they're worth what they say they're worth and that they can then do what they say they can. Is that so much to ask, that we learn a good lesson here and avoid this kind of mistake in the future? Link: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/06/3356910/citadel-plaza-drags-to-an-end.html

KCTV5 News writing

From their site (link below): KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) - "On chilly mornings, some people take to leaving their car running while they go back inside their warm house. Others, though, avoid leaving their car unattended for fear of having it stolen." Excuse me? "Take to leaving"? Seriously? Did you go to journalism school? How about "some people leave their car running..." Is this what we have to expect from local media? How far do we fall from here? We need expectations of our local print and visual media. I mean, come on, this is the easy stuff. and if the writer doesn't catch it, do they have editors at television station news offices? Sure, we have bigger problems in the world but this is your job. Yikes. Link: http://www.kctv5.com/story/16148040/victim-gets-shot-while-trying-to-fight-off-carjacker

Okay, the Troost bridge over Brush Creek is open

And that's good news. We can have that traffic going through again, great. Now, I wonder if the city is going to dredge Brush Creek, further to the East, since not-so-small islands have cropped up because of the slower flow of the creek due to that construction. It will be interesting to see if it's cleared.

On the outrageous factors of the Bledsoe robbery/murder

There are so many things wrong with the robbery/murder (slaughter?) of a few days ago when David Bledsoe was gunned down in his own family's business.

The first, biggest and worst is that it happened at all, of course.

But there are so many more.

This just shouldn't have happened, no way.

Your family owns a business in town for decades and runs it decently, you should be left alone, no matter who you are.

But to be literally minding your own business--no pun intended, certainly--and closing the store and have someone come in with a gun because he thinks he needs your money that he hasn't earned is obscene.

There will be much written about that.  There already has been.

What strikes me--and more than a few of us-- as odd is that a grandson could and would be able to phone his grandparents to take him to "get some money" and then commit a robbery to do it.

Adding to the bizarre nature of this obscenity is that they--the grandparents--did just that--they drove the thug over to the store to do this.

Now here's the really additionall insane part.

The grandparents drive grandson over to get the money--read:  commit grand larceny with a handgun--and they end up killing a law-abiding, innocent, hard working man.

Then, the grandson and grandfather are charged.

But, insanely and bizarrely enough, the grandmother, who was in the car, isn't charged.

Would someone explain that to me, please?

And then tell me how anyone is going to develop business and businesses for other people to work at on the East side of this city, as Midtown Miscreant asked.

How is it anyone thinks that's going to happen in this atmosphere?

Links:  Fatal holdup at Bledsoe’s Rental investigated
BLEDSOE, DAVID W.
Grandfather, grandson accused in fatal robbery
Grandfather, grandson among three charged in fatal robbery at KC rental store
KC rental business employee killed by robbers 
Bledsoe rental homicide. 2nd degree Murder and Armed Robbery, while on Probation for Robbery.

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

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?

Doesn't this point out a big problem on the East side?

A small article in the Star today: Charges filed in fatal stabbing Prosecutors on Tuesday charged Cornelius C. Payne, 32, with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the fatal stabbing Monday of Andrew M. Suttington, 23, in the 2800 block of Highland Avenue. Granted, unfortunately, nothing extraordinarily unusual there, for any part of the city. But here's the crux of the story and problem for the city as it occurs to me: Arriving officers reported a "large, angry uncooperative crowd of relatives and friends" at the scene. What? Are you kidding me? A guy is stabbed, ultimately fatally, and the relatives and friends are "angry" and "uncooperative"? Can you explain that to me? I mean, can you explain that to me calmly, truthfully and logically, without getting or being racist? A relative or friend of yours is stabbed, the cops show up to sort it all out and you give them hell? Does that make any sense at all? Link to original story: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/09/07/2205859/stabbing-victim-had-argued-with.html

One success, one fail for the Mayor

Last week, I didn't get a chance to pat the mayor on the back, for once, so to speak, for helping slow down Wells Fargo on the sale of some foreclosed-on houses in town.

One "attaboy" from me--along with others--for doing something well and right in town, instead of complaining--more--about him.

From the Mayor's letter to the city::

On May 12, the Mayor held a press conference asking Kansas Citians to get involved in a planned huge auction of houses owned by Wells Fargo as the result of foreclosures.

The Mayor was concerned that the houses would be purchased by out-of-town investors who would do little with them until the housing market rebounds. The problem with this scenario is that the houses typically end up being an eyesore in the neighborhoods - with weed filled yards that the city is then burdened to clean-up until they can track down the investors to pony up and pay for the maintenance.

After his press conference, Wells Fargo canceled the auction.

Excellent. Instead of absentee landlords, from out of town, buying up and owning these properties, maybe more local investors can snap them up at bargain prices, fix them up a bit and take care of them, instead of letting them become, as said above, eyesores.

So good on ya', Mayor. If you'd do more good and positive things like this, maybe you won't be thought of so poorly when you're thrown out of office this Fall.

Here's the fail:

One man was dead and another had serious injuries after a shooting at 63rd Street and Swope Parkway in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday night.

Another shooting in town.

Another senseless killing.

At what point--I ask again--is this mayor going to stand up in front of local TV cameras with other civic, community, church and other leaders and say we are not/cannot any longer take these pointless, tragic shootings and killings and we are going to come together to fight them?

I know I've been asking this for the last year here.

It's nearly one more Summer upon us and the temperatures are rising, along with the humidity and we all know the likelihood these will increase is extremely strong.

I would contend--and I think a lot of other people would, too--that this issue of drive-by and other senseless homicides in town is the number one concern in the city at present and has been during this mayor's entire term in office, yet he hasn't addressed it, full-on, once.

It's way overdue.

I'm calling on this mayor once again, to address the issue of homicides, not because I'm a blogger, certainly, but because I'm a resident of the city and because this situation is ugly, stupid and desperately in need of attention and solutions.

Mayor? Your response?

The number one hope for a happy new year in Kansas City

It was our number one story in Kansas City this past year and it hopefully won't be next year.

That is, right now we stand at 110 homicides in Kansas City.

That is far too many killings, folks. It's got to stop. Hopefully that will be it for the year but we do have 24 hours to go so let's hope for the best.

We need to stop it.

I don't know how. No one seems to.

What we do know is that, to do it, people will have to work together.

Churches, politicians, the police department, community leaders, average people on the streets--everyone.

Here's to 2010.

And may we have far fewer murders, shootings and homicides in Kansas City in that new year.

Let's make it our number one goal and not our number one story.

Additional link: http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/1656092.html

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

Would we rather protect guns, gun owners and bullets than our own children and lives?

I think the answer is, to date, yes.

Happy New Year.

Right?


(Thanks to Michael for the link).

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.

May I ask a question, please?

The Kansas City Star reports today that a young man was killed in an unfortunate shooting on the East side of town--of course--unnecessarily and pointlessly.

Here's the story:

It seems this young man, one Ian Jones, was following his girlfriend home from the 18th and Vine district when he accidentally but dangerously pulled out in front of another car.

That car was driven by who knows whom but they pulled out a gun, took a shot at young Ian's car, hit him and drove on.

Ian took the hit, drove on another block or two, wrecked and later died.

So pointless.

But get this, straight from The Kansas City Star: "Jones had just left a nightclub in the 18th and Vine District. He and his girlfriend met there but couldn't get inside because the club had a minimum age requirement of 25."

What?

Are you kidding me?

This young guy is 22 years old--old enough to be called off to fight for our country in a war--but he isn't old enough to go into a bar at the 18th and Vine District, here in Kansas City?

Does that makes sense?

How about fair? Does it seem fair?

Let me propose something here. Let me take this possibility of fairness to a logical extension.

I would propose that, if young Mr. Ian Jones had been allowed into this bar, at his adult age of 22 years, he would still be alive today.

Don't get me wrong--I'm not saying the bar or its rules are responsible for Mr. Jones' death, absolutely not. The knucklehead who pulled out his gun and shot him is solely responsible for that.

But a regular, "prove you're 21 years old and you're in" rule would have changed this outcome.

Sure, it's conjecture. One can always play "what if?".

But the fact is, Ian Jones was a young adult, wasn't allowed into this bar and so, coincidentally but tragically got shot and killed because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

If Ian were in your family, you'd find it horribly, again, tragically, wrong. And unfair.

One last question, too: Are there other bars in town that only allow people in who are 25 years and older?

I'm not aware of any.

Link to story: http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/1450861.html

What is it going to take for you people?

A week or two ago, a 3 year old was shot while in his Father's arms at a front-yard party on the East side.

Now, today, I find a 10 year old has been shot.

What is it going to take for the people in these neighborhoods to get upset and do somethingabout this?

What are the churches in these neighborhoods doing?

Is there no uproar?

Are you people going to tolerate this crap?

Because if you are, we sure aren't going to get upset for you.

Seriously, what is it going to take?

How many people--children, adults, everyone--have to be shot until a large group stand up and make it clear they aren't going to put up with it any longer?

Link to story:
http://www.kmbc.com/news/20465658/detail.html