Notes on "America's Most Dangerous Cities"

The online blog site, 24/7 came out with their annual list of "America's Most Dangerous Cities" at the end of last month, and it's pretty interesting. Their data is compiled from the FBIs own list. There some interesting points in and on it, worth noting.

Let's start with a bit of their overall data:

24/7 Wall St. reviewed violent crime rates in major U.S. cities from the FBI’s 2015 Uniform Crime Report. Violent crime includes all offenses involving force or threat of force and are broken into four categories: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. For every 100,000 U.S. residents, 372 of these crimes were committed in 2015.
Then, some notes.

First, unfortunately---and no surprise, really---Kansas City is on it. Second thing to note about it, we were in the top ten, too.

10. Kansas City, Missouri
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,417.3
> 2015 murders: 109
> Poverty rate: 19.4%
> Unemployment rate: 5.5%

While the nationwide violent crime rate rose by 3.9% in 2015, the increase in Kansas City was far more dramatic. With homicide and aggravated assault rates surging, the city reported a 14.4% spike in violent crime last year. Crime in the city is up even more from five years ago. The city’s violent crime rate increased by 21.2% from 2011 through 2015, even as the nationwide rate declined by 0.7% over that period.

Not good.

In fact, we, Kansas City, were worse on this list than Washington, DC (15), Indianapolis, Indiana (13) and Stockton, California (12).  That hurts.

Next thing to note about the list is that Missouri gets hit pretty hard. We are on the list three different times.

Then on to this note from the list, our own Springfield, Missouri, "Queen City of the Ozarks", followed as close as could be at number 11 on the list.

11. Springfield, Missouri
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,355.6
> 2015 murders: 10
> Poverty rate: 26.4%
> Unemployment rate: 4.3%

Crime rates tend to be higher in economically depressed areas where opportunities are scarce. In Springfield, Missouri, more than one-quarter of area residents live in poverty, one of the highest poverty rates in the country. After spiking by 73.2% over the five years through 2015 — the second highest increase of any major U.S. city — Springfield’s violent crime rate is the 11th highest in the country. In 2015, there were 179 rapes for every 100,000 residents, the highest incidence of rape in the country.

In fact, along with Missouri's Springfield, there were two more on the list. Springfields Illinois, at number 23 and Massachussetts at 21. I guess that all comes from it being such a common name in this country, maybe.

Next note, right next door in Arkansas, little old Little Rock comes in at number 9, higher and so, worse than Kansas City. Who'd have guessed?

Which brings us to our last point (points?) and the highest, worst ranking of all the most dangerous cities in America this year, at this time.  It ain't good, Missouri.

1. St. Louis, Missouri
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,817.1
> 2015 murders: 188
> Poverty rate: 27.8%
> Unemployment rate: 6.1%

Including 188 homicides, there were 5,762 violent crimes in St. Louis in 2015. Adjusting for population, the city’s murder and violent crime rates, at 59 murders and 1,817 per 100,000 city residents, are each the highest in the country. The number of violent crimes reported in St. Louis increased by 7.7% last year, faster than the national uptick of 3.9%. Over the last five years, however, the incidence of violent crime is down by 3.2%.

Yes sir, good ol' St. Lou.  

Not Detroit. Heck, not even Chicago.  In fact, check out the list, folks. Chicago isn't even on the list (it's too large a city for this study).

It's not looking good for us, danger-wise, Missourians. Heck, remember this study, that came out in 2012?

Missouri: 

Ranked one of the "Most Depressing States"

We have to work on our safety and image, folks. These are some pretty awful lists.

Quote of the day

The class which has the power to rob upon a large scale also has the power to contol the government and legalize their robbery." --Eugene V. Debs.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_v_debs

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.

How not to do a robbery

Did you read or hear about the two twenty-year-olds who robbed a Brink's truck of a whole passel of money--and then went on a buying binge? Check it out: Law enforcement said they received an anonymous tip that identified Colston and Jones as two of the robbers. According to the affidavit, the caller said Colston and Jones had spent $2,500 at Worlds of Fun, Independence Center and that Jones had just bought a Dodge Charger. Yikes. How stupid. You'd have thought they never saw a movie before. Apparently someone had to tell these two rocket scientists you DON'T all of a sudden take a bunch of friends to Worlds of Fun and drop 2,500 bucks on them and you DON'T go on a big shopping trip at the local mall and, finally, you DON'T run out and buy a new car--in cash, to boot. Someone needed to describe to these two clowns what "laying low" and "felony" mean. Oh, and want to hear a hoot? "According to the allegations..." one of the accused "...told officers that he “cut yards” to obtain the money. Right. I'm sure. Apparently, they were turned in by a phone tip. I'm thinking a "friend" turned them in--whaddya' think? One of the things that got me about this story, though, is that all the media outlets--the Star, KCUR 89.3 FM and KMBC TV news, to name three--all spell out how much was taken from the Brink's truck. That was a really irresponsible and stupid advertisement to other idiots out there in the world--and there are far too many of them, we know--that these trucks carry boodles of money. Yes, we kind of took that for granted but who knew you could get that much? And telling the world about it seems kind of crazy. You watch, there's probably at least two guys out there in town who think "We can do that---and get away with it." If I'm Brink's, I'm thinking, "Thanks a lot, guys." Link to original story; http://www.kmbc.com/news/24994343/detail.html http://www.kansascity.com/2010/09/13/2221696/two-men-face-federal-charges-in.html

In case you hadn't seen the local "Backin' Up Song" video

Whoever did it looks as though he or she may have a career in front of them. Have a great Thursday, everybody.

The 2nd time 4 men do a robbery in a week

Think about this.

Four men, for the 2nd time in about a week, did a hold-up.

Here's the details on the latest one, yesterday:

"The 46-year-old woman told police that she had just finished shopping at the Walmart at 1725 E. Santa Fe around 1:30 a.m. and was walking toward her vehicle when the four males approached in a light-colored small sport utility vehicle, said Capt. James Moore with the Gardner Public Safety."

November 30, four guys "robbed a Thriftway grocery at 7320 Prospect Ave."

Now, really, four guys?

Can you say "cowards"?

What did they, think this would be fun and that they'd have safety in numbers?

And when you consider it further, in the first place, the four aren't likely to get much money and secondly, what little they'd get would have to be split 4 ways.

We aren't talking a million dollars here.

Idiots, truly idiots.

This proves what a friend of mine said a long time ago. His little brother worked for the FBI. He pointed out that most of their work isn't taken up by the masterminds of crime. Most of their time is taken up by idiots who decide on the spur of the moment to do something terribly, terribly shallow and stupid.

Both of these, then, would be just such cases.

Links: http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/1606030.html

http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/1197371/4_armed_men_rob_grocery_store?cpt=8&wpid=1277

Stupid move but fortunately, it turned out well

More proof of why we need a good local newspaper (Tony):

From The Kansas City Star:

Armed KC robber loses fight with Starbucks manager

A Starbucks manager in Kansas City thwarted a robbery Sunday night by disarming the gunman and slashing him with a box cutter.

The 30-year-old suspect showed up at a hospital for treatment of a cut to his chest. After being released from the hospital, he was booked into jail.

The failed holdup occurred about 10:45 p.m. at the coffee house at 4140 Main St. The suspect walked into the back office where the manager was counting money and told the manager to get into a freezer. The manager refused and fought the suspect, who hit the manager in the head with the butt of his gun. The manager pulled a box cutter out of his pocket and cut the suspect. The manager took the gun away and shoved the suspect out the door.

The manager suffered a cut above his eye, which was closed with glue at a hospital.
____________________________

As I said, stupid move, as the police would tell him--the manager--but fortunately it turned out well.

Good on ya', mate.

Everyone's tired of taking this kind of stupid crap, wherever it happens.

http://www.kansascity.com/679/story/1602134.html

Another senseless death

Three seemingly desperate cowards went into a beauty salon, of all places, yesterday, and killed one of the men there.

For twenty dollars.

At 6:45 pm.

That was in daylight, for pity's sake.

Quoting the article:

"Tom Lona, a friend of the victim, said it's inexcusable that no one has come forward with information."

"'I know there's people out in this community that know who did this,' Lona told KMBC's Martin Augustine. 'They took a husband; they took a brother; they took a son. It's not right. And for what? The community needs to stand up. This needs to end. It needs to end now.'"

And Mr. Lona is right, of course, in all aspects.

Where is the outrage from downtown? From City Hall? From the Mayor? From the City Council?

Where is the meeting before the press by the police, saying what they're already doing and what they're going to do?

With more than 4 months to go in the year, where will the shootings end? How high does this have to go before there's some official notice and something done?

Remember my entry a few days ago when I pointed out a woman was shot in her own home?

"'There's got to be justice. There has to be. This could have been your father. This could have been your brother. This could have been your son. You'd want to know, wouldn't you?' Lona said."

He couldn't be more right.

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If you know anything about the cowards who did this, please contact the Kansas City Crimestoppers TIPS Hotline at (816)474-TIPS. If you would rather not contact this source, contact Alonzo Washington at omega7toys@aol.com) or call him at (913)321-6764.

Link to story:
http://www.kmbc.com/news/20352099/detail.html