Kansas City schedules public comment meetings for Citizens Task Force on Violence

Kansas City residents who want to talk about violence in the community are invited to a series of public listening sessions.

City officials scheduled the listening sessions in addition to the monthly meetings of the recently appointed Citizens Task Force on Violence, which held its first meeting in January.

At that first meeting, several members of the public complained that not enough time had been allotted for them to speak. Much of that first meeting was dedicated to introductory remarks by some of the 19 members of the board.

The first of the listening sessions is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Leon M. Jordan Police Campus, 2640 Prospect Ave.

City Councilwoman Jolie Justus, who heads the panel, said it was clear from public comments at the first task force meeting that more time was needed for residents to talk about violence in Kansas City.

“These listening sessions are scheduled to allow our community to provide testimony, make suggestions or otherwise share information,” Justus said in a statement announcing the listening sessions.

Those who wish to speak at the listening sessions were invited to register beforehand, either by filling out a public comment form at kcmo.gov/violence or sending email to violencetaskforce@kcmo.org. They will be asked to limit their comments to five minutes. They can also submit documents.

Residents can register to speak in person at the meeting or send mail to Justus at 414 E. 12th St. on the 22nd floor of City Hall.

More listening sessions will be scheduled in the next few months, Justus said.

The task force meetings are also open to the public, and the next one is scheduled for Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Gregg-Klice Community Center at 17th Terrace and the Paseo.