Kansas City leaders discuss solutions to violence in city
FROM AN ARGUMENT.THIS TYPE OF VIOLENCEISN'T NEW TO KANSAS CITY- SO TONIGHT - WE'REGOING IN-DEPTH AS OURCOMMUNITY SEARCHESFOR LUTIONS TO CURBVIOLENCE.REPORTER SARAH PLAKEHAS MORE ON THE NEWPUSH FROM BUSINESSOWNERS IN THE 18TH ANDVINE DISTRICT...WHO AREDEMANDG CHANGEFROM CITY LEADERS NOW!AND WE BEGIN WITHREPORTER EMMA JAMES -WHO EXPLAINS WHAT CANBE DONE RIGHT NOW - TOMAKE CHANGE.MAYOR LUCAS SAYS WHENIT COMES TO WHAT STEPSARE BEING TAKEN RIGHTNOW TO PREVENT VIOLENTCRIME LIKE WHAT WE SAWOVER THE WEEKEND - IT'SCLEARLY NOT ENOUGH.MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS,KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI"We've talked about youthinitiaves, we've talked aboutworking on youth employment,we continue to invest inconflict resolution."MAYOR LUCAS SAYS HE'LLHAVE A PROPOSAL BEFORECITY COUNCIL TO EAMERICAN RELIEF PLANFUNDS ON VIOLENCEREDUCTION STRATEGIES.AS FOR WHAT CAN BEDONE IMMEDIATELY -LUCAS SAYSENTERTAINMENT VENUESAND BUSINESS MUST TAKEA HARD LOOK AT VIONCEOCCURRING NEAR THEMAND CONSIDER WHATRULES OR REGULATIONSAREN'T BEING FOLLOWED.DAMON DANIEL -PRESIDENT OF THE ADHOC GROUP AGAINSTCRIME - SAYS THERE ARECOMMON SENSE STEPSEVERYONE CAN TAKE.DAMON DANIEL, PRESIDENT, ADHOC GROUP AGAINST CRIME"Walking away, trying to find itin your heart to forgive, I meanthese sound like simple thingsbut when we think about it, Imean the consequences aremuch larger and the impact ofviolence is much greater."LUCAS SAYS ANOTHERSOLUTION FALLS ONCOMMUNITY MEMBERSWHO KNOW OR SAWSOMETHING HAPPEN.MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS,KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI"We need to make sure thatwe have folks that arecomfortable in talking to lawenforcement after theincidents, there continues tobe this community trust issue."DANIEL AGREES THERE'S ALACK OF SECURITY INGOING TO POLICE WITHINFORMATION.HE SAYS TOO OFN - HISORGANIZATION HEARSFROM PEOPLE WHO DID SOBUT NEVER SAW THERESULTS THEY FEEL THEYDESERVE.DAMON DANIEL, PRESIDENT, ADHOC GROUP AGAINST CRIME"We know that this is a veryviolent city and there's a lotgoing on, but when people areparticipating and they'recooperating and giving theirinformation they need to feelas though something is goingto happen."DANIEL SAYS ANOTHESHORT TERM EASYSOLUTION THAT EVERYONECAN DO IS TO REDUCEOPPORTUNITY CRIME.IT'S NOT PRE-MEDIATEDBUT AN EXAMPLE ISSOMEONE STEALING A CARTHEY SEE LEFT RUNNING.MORE THAN ANYTHING - HEHOPES PEOPLE CAN USECOMMON SENSE ANDSIMPY WALK AWAY ANDKNOW THAT ANYARGUMENT IS NOT WORTHLOSING A LIFE.REPORTING LIVE INDOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY,EMMA JAMES, 41 ACTIONNE