Kansas City Council OKs furloughs, but protesters interrupt over police killings
The Kansas City Council on Thursday approved two money-saving resolutions, but not before a small protest tied up proceedings for a couple of minutes.
The votes are the latest piece of the city’s efforts to trim the budget because the coronavirus pandemic has cut into revenues.
One measure directs the city manager to develop a plan within the next week for furloughing employees based on their salaries — the more money they make the more time they must take off without pay. Some positions, including public safety and health departments, are exempt.
Councilman Brandon Ellington, 3rd District at-large, was the only no vote.
The second measure, which passed unanimously, asks the city auditor to examine the city’s real estate, with the idea that employees in leased buildings could move to empty space in City Hall.
Councilwoman Heather Hall, 1st District, said the goal is to look for long-term solutions to save money without cutting services to residents.
Near the beginning of the meeting, Sheryl Ferguson, who has spoken at protests previously, and two other protesters interrupted the meeting to criticize the Board of Police Commissioners and tell Mayor Quinton Lucas that people are tired of waiting for accountability and transparency.
“If you don’t want to address the concerns that your citizens have, we will meet you again here next week and we will continue until the needs of the city (are) met by the police force,” Ferguson said.
Another protester asked the council, “Who killed Donnie Sanders?” as they were escorted out.
Sanders, a 47-year-old father, was killed by a Kansas City police officer this spring, and was mentioned repeatedly at protests over police conduct.
