Kansas City leaders, we don’t need symbolic solutions to fight violence | Opinion

Action now

The recent murders at QuikTrip on Westport Road are a tragedy, but what followed was predictable: The Kansas City Police Department promised an investigation. City leaders expressed concern. Local media reported details. Yet, nothing measurable happens to improve neighborhood safety.

This is especially evident when City Hall devotes time and energy to policies restricting the sale of miniature liquor bottles. Supporters admit scant evidence exists to show that banning small bottles will reduce shootings, homicides or violent crime. At best, it is a symbolic response to a serious problem.

Meanwhile, proven approaches exist. Focused deterrence programs target the small number of offenders responsible for much of a city’s violence. Problem-oriented policing addresses the conditions that repeatedly generate crime. There’s no doubt expertise exists within KCPD and elsewhere in the city to help develop effective solutions that promote community safety. Instead, city leaders limit consumer choice and squeeze small business owners.

Kansas City does not need symbolic gestures. It needs leaders willing to implement evidence-based solutions, measure results and be held accountable for reducing violence. Do something to fix the problem.

The victims of violence across this city deserved better.

- Chris Giangreco, Kansas City

Vote reality

Republicans’ fact-free charges that fraud has occurred in Los Angeles’ mayoral primary are a preview of what to expect in November if enough Democrats are elected to take back the U.S. House, Senate or both.

Added to these fact-free charges will be that undocumented residents have voted because Congress did not pass the SAVE Act. This ignores the evidence that there is virtually no election registration, let alone voting, by noncitizens as recently shown by Kansas’ Kris Kobach finding only five noncitizens voting across almost 20 years.

The vote-counting in California and failure to pass the SAVE Act might be the so-called “evidence” that Republicans will cite to prevent the seating of enough Democrats to gain control of Congress.

We must all be very concerned if fairly elected Democrats are not seated because of fact-free claims of voter fraud. We should demand of all people running for Congress that they will accept the results of elections in all the states.

- Bob Yates, Kansas City

History saved

Kudos to the Kansas City Art Institute, a good neighbor that has purchased the George B. Richards House at 4526 Warwick Blvd., saving it from demolition and “repurposing the property into a cultural hub that honors its past while stimulating the future of the arts in Kansas City.” (June 5, 1A, “Art institute saves historic Kansas City mansion”)

The Southmoreland neighborhood and Historic Kansas City have also had a hand in preserving this treasured property. Adding to the significance of preservation is the connection the Richards House holds for 1st Lt. John Richards, George’s son, whose Salmson 2A2 biplane was shot down over the Meuse-Argonne, France, on Sept. 26, 1918, and whose body was found near Varennes, a name sacred to the memory of Kansas City’s 35th Division in World War I.

1st Lt. Richards is remembered not far away at the National World War I Museum and Memorial. His name is also revered by those who remember Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base south of Kansas City.

Thanks to the Kansas City Art Institute’s rescue of the Richards House, Kansas City now has a home where the Richards story can be told in the original context from which it grew.

- James Heiman, Independence

Look here

The author of a June 11 Star guest commentary says we should “Thank Sen. Josh Hawley for fighting against child sexual exploitation.” (12A)

Why should we thank Hawley for fighting predators, when his boss is credibly alleged of being one as well?

- Jennifer Hassler, Leawood

Midtown business

Andrea Young’s letter to Costco’s CEO, as related in her June 4 Star guest commentary (11A, “A plea to Costco CEO: Don’t take what midtown KC loves out of our store”), reflected the sentiments of many Costco members regarding the company’s planned conversion of its Linwood location to a Business Center.

I, too, expressed my displeasure in an email to Costco CEO Ron Vachris, who responded in much the same manner he did to Ms. Young. He was respectful but clearly seemed to be missing the big picture of how the midtown Costco community was genuinely upset with the proposed changes: the elimination of numerous departments, such as optical and pharmacy.

For many midtown Costco members, the many services the store provides are a lifeline for this underserved community, and these loyal customers feel abandoned.

A Business Center by its very name will be designed to serve the business community, particularly restaurants, with large vacuum-sealed packs of meats and large packages of produce. So, I ask: How is this going to better serve the midtown community?

I am a longtime Costco member and have come to know many of the loyal employees. I was so disappointed to learn that most of them were blindsided by this planned change.

- Steve Weneck, Kansas City