Members of the public are invited to express views and make suggestions to reduce violence in Kansas City at listening sessions beginning next month, according to Fourth District Councilwoman Jolie Justus, chair of the Citizens Task Force on Violence.
The first in a series of listening sessions will be held on Saturday, Feb. 6, from 10 a.m.-noon at the Leon M. Jordan Police Campus, 2640 Prospect Ave. “It was clear at our first task force meeting on Jan. 9 that we needed additional opportunities for citizens to address the issue of violence in Kansas City,” Justus said. “These listening sessions are scheduled to allow our community to provide testimony, make suggestions or otherwise share information.” Persons wishing to speak at the listening sessions are invited to register beforehand in any of several ways: Complete the Public Comment Form at kcmo.gov/violence.
Send an email to ViolenceTaskForce@kcmo.org.
Mail correspondence to Councilwoman Jolie Justus, City Hall, 22nd Floor, 414 E. 12th St., Kansas City, MO 64106. Attend the meeting and register to speak upon arrival.
Persons are asked to limit comments to five minutes. Speakers also are encouraged
to prepare written summaries of their remarks and to submit documents that they would like to be made available to task force members. Listening sessions are distinct from the monthly task force meetings at which guest speakers will provide information on specific topics, Justus said. “While all meetings are open to the public, the Task Force meetings on the second Tuesday of each month will be designated as information sessions where the Task Force and the public will hear from community agencies, organizations and subject matter experts about current issues and best practices relating to violence in our community,” Justus said. “Additional listening sessions will be scheduled throughout the city over the next few months so we can also provide multiple opportunities to listen to the public and maximize citizen input on this critical community
issue.” Task Force meetings are scheduled for the second Tuesday of each month through September. The next task force meeting will be held Feb. 9, 6-8 p.m., at Gregg-Klice Community Center, 1600 John “Buck” O’Neil Way (East 17th Terrace and The Paseo, near the 18th & Vine Jazz District).
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Note to editors and reporters:
For further information about the Citizens Task Force on Violence announced by Mayor Sly James, contact Alec Kelley. A video of the Task Force announcement news conference is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc_G4gajQkE.
