KCS 010529 Ellis

High cost of KC's violent crime

By JANICE S. ELLIS - Special to The Star
Date: 05/29/01

The Kansas City metropolitan area in recent weeks has experienced multiple murders almost on a weekly basis, exceeding last year's trend in the number of killings during the same period of time.

Those killed have been middle-aged, young adults, children and babies. Some were killed by relatives or acquaintances, others by strangers.

On Monday of last week, there had been a total of 46 homicides compared with 36 for the same period of time last year. But, within days, four more were added to the list: two adults and two toddlers. We are up to 50 deaths as of this writing, and the summer months are on the way.

Kansas City has been bucking a national trend for a while when it comes to violent crime involving adults and youth. While violent crime nationally has been declining in recent years. Kansas City's crime seems not to be decreasing at the same rate as the national average.

The two 2-year-olds, killed this past week, were allegedly killed in one case by a parent in the other by a foster parent. Earlier in the same week, three children were present when their mother and boyfriend were brutally shot to death.

The 8-year-old boy instantly became a protector of his 7-year-old and 2-year-old sisters. He hid them from the assailant. We likely have not seen the last of the negative ripple effect on those children.

And, of course, there is the well-publicized Precious Doe case, in which an unidentified little girl was found decapitated. It's likely she is the victim of another deranged adult.

Violent crimes between crooks, though not unexpected, is still disquieting, disturbing and unacceptable. However, murder of children is always chilling and numbing. Each incident begs us as a society to search deeper to see why and how our systems continue to fail those who need protection and responsiveness the most -- our vulnerable, dependent and innocent children.

Violent crime, in all of its manifestations against children and adults alike, bespeaks of deeper social and economic ills that at some point must be tackled by a community if any meaningful change is to take place.

The tide we see developing in Kansas City during the past few weeks is not a good one. It is not good for the simple fact of the continuing spiral of loss of life. It doesn't enhance Kansas City's image and profile as a safe place to live and raise a family.

These are just short-term costs. The long-term costs will be even higher. Perpetual crime that is not proactively addressed breeds unsafe neighborhoods left to be subsumed by blight and overall deterioration.

Unsafe neighborhoods are likely to have schools where safety is constantly comprised. Unsafe neighborhoods are likely to lose a disproportionate number of children and youth to a life of crime -- both as perpetrators and victims.

While the world of crime may experience ebbs and flows and fluctuation in rates, over time, meaningful change will always be elusive until the problems are proactively addressed. This revolving door of crime on Kansas City's landscape will be no different.

Kansas City, like other cities such as Philadelphia and Milwaukee, will need to take concerted steps to stem the tide of violent crime. A few years ago, both cities targeted some of their worse neighborhoods, and they have been able to reduce violent crime. They have turned many of their worse communities around with their "Safe and Sound" programs.

These programs have brought together multiple resources and agencies -- law enforcement, schools, community groups, social services, and so on -- to tackle the problem of violent crime. There are good lessons to be learned from Philadelphia and Milwaukee.

Is there any reason we could not emulate this in Kansas City?

Janice S. Ellis' column appears on alternate Tuesdays. To reach her, send e-mail to jellis@kc.rr.com.

...and Jack Dimond says on the moccw list:

She's complaining that while the rest of the countries trend is downward, Kansas City's is growing?

You don't suppose that the criminal element realizes that us poor folks in Missouri are too stupid to be able to carry a concealed weapon and defend ourselves do you?

Do you suppose that they could actually be coming to Missouri because folks in other states may put their lights out permanently? No, surely not. What we need here in Missouri is more social programs. That will put a stop to violent crime!!!!!!

IDIOT LIBERAL SOCIALIST!!!

Jacq' sez:

Lenin referred to her type as "useful idiots."

And <sigh> at the risk of being accused of being a racist, is it not true the vast majority of these violent crimes Ms. Ellis is bemoaning are so called "black on black?"

Most of the blacks with whom I am acquainted have expressed their wish to have a firearm for personal self-protection and not just in their homes.