Some Kansas City leaders back emergency jail plan amid crime surge
After another weekend of chaos — from ATVs and dirt bikes flooding city streets to a juvenile reportedly pointing a gun at officers — pressure is mounting for a quick solution to what some had called lawlessness.
Multiple arrests after KCPD crackdown on street racing, sideshows and ATVs
'We're fighting not only for your livelihood, for your family, but for the investments you've made — and it is so fixable. We can fix this,' said Sean O'Byrne, vice president of the Downtown Council.
Despite a more visible police presence this weekend, concerns remain. That increased enforcement came just days after FOX4's weeklong coverage on the state of public safety — or what many argue is a lack thereof — in Kansas City, Missouri.
Now, some city leaders believe they've found a stopgap solution. A temporary jail that could be built in under six months.
Kansas City hasn't had its own jail since 2009. A long-term facility is in the works — but construction isn't set to begin until next year, and completion could still be several years away.For Councilman Wes Rogers and Sean O'Byrne, that's too long to wait.
Their proposal? A modular jail — a facility that could be built in as little as four to five months.
'We didn't fall into this situation — we got into this situation,' O'Byrne said. 'We're going to change the dynamic and we're going to make things different.'
This modular facility Rodgers is proposing already has the support of six colleagues, which makes up seven of the thirteen council members, would offer Kansas City an immediate holding option while the permanent structure is built.
'We don't have a jail. People know we don't have a jail. It's causing problems that could be solved,' Rogers said. 'So we've got to do something in the meantime before the final jail gets built.'
Rogers, a first-term councilman and former state prosecutor, points out that the city is spending over $5 million a year transporting inmates to Nevada and Johnson County.
He says that model no longer makes financial or logistical sense — especially with crime trending upward and the World Cup set to arrive in Kansas City in just a few years.
'Constitutional rights are important, and Kansas City is not going to do anything that intentionally violates somebody's rights — it will be humane,' Rogers added, addressing concerns over inmate conditions.
Downtown businesses aren't staying silent. O'Byrne says local companies are committed to Kansas City — but they need help.
'We're at an inflection point and that inflection point needs attention,' O'Byrne said.
The first step in making the modular jail a reality happens on Tuesday, when the plan is introduced in the City Council's Finance Committee.
Jackson County legislators to discuss penalties for off-road vehicles
With seven council members already supporting it, this temporary solution may arrive faster than many thought possible.
Stay with FOX4 as we continue to follow this developing story.
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38 minutes ago
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Emotional journey for Atlanta's homeless as city races to house 400 people before the World Cup
Emotional journey for Atlanta's homeless as city races to house 400 people before the World Cup ATLANTA (AP) — Allen Hall called it a 'very emotional experience' as he boarded a bus with more than 20 other former residents of an Atlanta homeless encampment where a close friend had been fatally injured earlier this year by a bulldozer that struck his tent. Although the city and its partners secured housing by mid-July for everyone they thought lived in the downtown encampment along Old Wheat Street, Hall and seven others moved temporarily into a hotel funded by advocates. 'It was like something was changing for us, for real,' Hall said, recalling the day this summer when friends and acquaintances moved into apartments after spending years sleeping on sidewalks. Atlanta and the agencies that provide services for the city's surging homeless population have been mobilizing resources for an ambitious plan to 'eliminate' homelessness before visitors arrive for eight World Cup games next summer. By the end of the year, they're aiming to house some 400 people living on downtown streets. There are challenges, though, including long waitlists for city-funded supportive living spaces that often require documentation unhoused people like Hall lack. Many have built communities downtown where social services are accessible, and it can be easy to miscount the number of people living in encampments. A tragic death galvanizes advocates Tensions skyrocketed after Cornelius Taylor's death in January as the city attempted to clear the Old Wheat Street encampment ahead of the celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday at nearby Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King had preached. Amid the uproar, the city temporarily suspended clearing the Old Wheat Street encampment and others, before resuming the actions this month. Some, including Hall — who has spent more than three decades living on streets — were offered shelter spaces while case workers look for housing, but he turned that down. Many say they'd rather live on the streets than in shelters with strict rules known for poor or unsafe conditions. The city originally offered housing to 14 people case workers counted at the encampment but agreed to help others after residents and advocates said there were at least twice as many living there. Hall said he had been living at the encampment residents called 'Backstreet' for five years but didn't make the list. 'Whether or not these were residents at one time, we rallied the requisite amount of housing that we could for the individuals that were known to us,' said Cathryn Vassell, CEO of Partners for HOME, the organization that leads Atlanta's homelessness services. 'The additional names were brought at the last minute and we're trying to rally like we do for everybody in our system an appropriate resource for them.' Counting complications Case workers came up with the list of 14 by going to the encampment early in the morning and at night for several months to count and build relationships with those living there, according to city partners. Seven additional people have been housed, said Vassell, and most of those housed are at a supportive housing complex called Welcome House. A city spokesperson said the eight individuals advocates with the Justice for Cornelius Taylor Coalition were paying to house turned down offers to live in shelters. 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Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Charlotte Kramon, The Associated Press
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2 hours ago
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Emotional journey for Atlanta's homeless as city races to house 400 people before the World Cup
ATLANTA (AP) — Allen Hall called it a 'very emotional experience' as he boarded a bus with more than 20 other former residents of an Atlanta homeless encampment where a close friend had been fatally injured earlier this year by a bulldozer that struck his tent. Although the city and its partners secured housing by mid-July for everyone they thought lived in the downtown encampment along Old Wheat Street, Hall and seven others moved temporarily into a hotel funded by advocates. 'It was like something was changing for us, for real,' Hall said, recalling the day this summer when friends and acquaintances moved into apartments after spending years sleeping on sidewalks. Atlanta and the agencies that provide services for the city's surging homeless population have been mobilizing resources for an ambitious plan to 'eliminate' homelessness before visitors arrive for eight World Cup games next summer. By the end of the year, they're aiming to house some 400 people living on downtown streets. There are challenges, though, including long waitlists for city-funded supportive living spaces that often require documentation unhoused people like Hall lack. Many have built communities downtown where social services are accessible, and it can be easy to miscount the number of people living in encampments. A tragic death galvanizes advocates Tensions skyrocketed after Cornelius Taylor's death in January as the city attempted to clear the Old Wheat Street encampment ahead of the celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday at nearby Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King had preached. Amid the uproar, the city temporarily suspended clearing the Old Wheat Street encampment and others, before resuming the actions this month. Some, including Hall — who has spent more than three decades living on streets — were offered shelter spaces while case workers look for housing, but he turned that down. Many say they'd rather live on the streets than in shelters with strict rules known for poor or unsafe conditions. The city originally offered housing to 14 people case workers counted at the encampment but agreed to help others after residents and advocates said there were at least twice as many living there. Hall said he had been living at the encampment residents called 'Backstreet' for five years but didn't make the list. 'Whether or not these were residents at one time, we rallied the requisite amount of housing that we could for the individuals that were known to us,' said Cathryn Vassell, CEO of Partners for HOME, the organization that leads Atlanta's homelessness services. 'The additional names were brought at the last minute and we're trying to rally like we do for everybody in our system an appropriate resource for them.' 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He still wears a bracelet gifted to him by Taylor before his death. While at the hotel, he hardly left and relished feeling 'cozy' in his own space with books thrown around and news blasting from the TV. 'It's the normal things that people get to do,' Hall said. 'Take a cup of coffee, just simple things that people take for granted every day.' ___ Kramon reported from Atlanta. She is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
Emotional journey for Atlanta's homeless as city races to house 400 people before the World Cup
ATLANTA (AP) — Allen Hall called it a 'very emotional experience' as he boarded a bus with more than 20 other former residents of an Atlanta homeless encampment where a close friend had been fatally injured earlier this year by a bulldozer that struck his tent. Although the city and its partners secured housing by mid-July for everyone they thought lived in the downtown encampment along Old Wheat Street, Hall and seven others moved temporarily into a hotel funded by advocates. 'It was like something was changing for us, for real,' Hall said, recalling the day this summer when friends and acquaintances moved into apartments after spending years sleeping on sidewalks. Atlanta and the agencies that provide services for the city's surging homeless population have been mobilizing resources for an ambitious plan to 'eliminate' homelessness before visitors arrive for eight World Cup games next summer. By the end of the year, they're aiming to house some 400 people living on downtown streets. There are challenges, though, including long waitlists for city-funded supportive living spaces that often require documentation unhoused people like Hall lack. Many have built communities downtown where social services are accessible, and it can be easy to miscount the number of people living in encampments. A tragic death galvanizes advocates Tensions skyrocketed after Cornelius Taylor's death in January as the city attempted to clear the Old Wheat Street encampment ahead of the celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday at nearby Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King had preached. Amid the uproar, the city temporarily suspended clearing the Old Wheat Street encampment and others, before resuming the actions this month. Some, including Hall — who has spent more than three decades living on streets — were offered shelter spaces while case workers look for housing, but he turned that down. Many say they'd rather live on the streets than in shelters with strict rules known for poor or unsafe conditions. The city originally offered housing to 14 people case workers counted at the encampment but agreed to help others after residents and advocates said there were at least twice as many living there. Hall said he had been living at the encampment residents called 'Backstreet' for five years but didn't make the list. 'Whether or not these were residents at one time, we rallied the requisite amount of housing that we could for the individuals that were known to us,' said Cathryn Vassell, CEO of Partners for HOME, the organization that leads Atlanta's homelessness services. 'The additional names were brought at the last minute and we're trying to rally like we do for everybody in our system an appropriate resource for them.' Counting complications Case workers came up with the list of 14 by going to the encampment early in the morning and at night for several months to count and build relationships with those living there, according to city partners. Seven additional people have been housed, said Vassell, and most of those housed are at a supportive housing complex called Welcome House. A city spokesperson said the eight individuals advocates with the Justice for Cornelius Taylor Coalition were paying to house turned down offers to live in shelters. Most didn't have adequate identifying documents for Welcome House, Vassell said, but agencies are trying to find them options. Advocates want officials to act faster and say those who got housing aren't receiving enough resources. 'They say they're gonna do good things, but we can't take care of these eight people?' said Tim Franzen, a member of the Justice for Cornelius Taylor Coalition who has long criticized the city's policies on homelessness. 'There's been months to prepare for this. There's not a real plan.' Next steps Shun Palmour moved into the encampment with his family a few months ago after losing his smoke shop job. The city placed him, his girlfriend, two kids and his girlfriend's mother at a Motel 6. 'No one comes out and checks on us,' Palmour said. 'Nobody comes out to make sure we're eating.' Management tried to kick them out of the motel three times, and other times they got locked out of their room, Palmour said last week. He said they've been assigned a case manager from a local nonprofit but the uncertainty makes him nervous. 'We're very appreciative of what's taking place but when they stop and put us out, are we gonna end back up homeless or back on the street after this or what?' Palmour said. 'Nobody's letting us know what's the next step.' A spokesperson for the city said they are providing dinner and working to get them into housing. Hall has since moved into another temporary unit. He still wears a bracelet gifted to him by Taylor before his death. While at the hotel, he hardly left and relished feeling 'cozy' in his own space with books thrown around and news blasting from the TV. 'It's the normal things that people get to do,' Hall said. 'Take a cup of coffee, just simple things that people take for granted every day.' ___ Kramon reported from Atlanta. She is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
