Missouri GOP lawmakers call for special session to address defunding police, public safety localnews8.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from localnews8.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
People spilled out of a packed town hall meeting Thursday night, angrily denouncing Mayor Quinton Lucas’s plan to reallocate part of the police budget towards more crime prevention programs.
Even worse . . .
Nothing was resolved and the rally across the bridge only served to remind us that Kansas City s leadership and the current political epoch has divided this cowtown along meaningless geographic lines.
Still, the tone was unanimous and neither the mayor s representatives nor his supporters were able to answer legitimate complaints about process, transparency and inclusion from the crowd. Instead, there was merely an unsuccessful attempt to sling culture war insults at the crowd in order to provoke something newsworthy or distracting. Thankfully, the ploy didn t work.
Accordingly, we share this roundup of links regarding a tragic moment in local history that will likely be settled in court given the inability of elected officials to reach a compromise.
by John Haughey, The Center Square contributor | May 24, 2021 05:00 PM Print this article
Missouri lawmakers passed a bill during their recently concluded legislative session that would penalize cities that cut police budgets and bolster protections for officers under investigation for misconduct.
Senate Bill 26, sponsored by Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Springs, was filed to thwart efforts to defund the police” by diverting funds normally earmarked for law enforcement into hiring social workers to handle domestic violence 911 calls.
The bill, which is on Gov. Mike Parson’s desk awaiting his signature, would go into effect on Aug. 28.
But that would be too late to nix Thursday’s adoption of two ordinances by the Kansas City Council that change, and perhaps “defund,” the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD).
KCUR 89.3
The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners has voted to explore legal action against a plan by Mayor Quinton Lucas to get more local control of the police department.
Mayor Quinton Lucas faces potential blocks from the police board, state Republicans and Northland city council members, but civil rights groups are praising the plan to get more local control of the police budget.
The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners has voted to seek legal redress against a plan by one of its own members who is trying to get more local control of the police department and move away from state hands.