Kansas City journalist Eric Wesson recently published some GROUNDBREAKING reporting in The KC Call regarding a controversial City Hall anti-violence program.
AN EXPOSÉ IN THE KC CALL CHALLENGES THE STATS COMPILED BY AIM4PEACE AND THE USE OF THOSE NUMBERS TO JUSTIFY MORE FUNDING!!!
Pick up a copy or subscribe to The KC Call in order to read the details. I found a copy last night and here are just a few highlights:
The premise that AIM4PEACE has prevented even a single murder is unsubstantiated and without one shred of statistical evidence. Seriously, if they're going to ask for taxpayer cash, they at least need to collect testimony or come up with some metric to justify the claim that the group prevents dozens of homicides.
Check the AIM4PEACE budget: Wesson reports $500k in the program's first year, increased to $600k in 2008-2009; $750k in 2009-2010 and another $750k for 2010-2011.
DO THE MATH: CAN THIS TOWN AFFORD THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION BUCKS FOR A PEER INTERVENTION PROGRAM WHEN THE KANSAS CITY HOMICIDE RATE REMAINS CONSTANT!?!?!
What's worse is that in the jumble of phony stats touted by AIM4PEACE Wesson notes that their propaganda overlooks the contribution of other people also working to prevent local violence WITHOUT BANKROLLING FROM KC PROPER!!!
The article notes that while AIM4PEACE operates only in the East Patrol section of Kansas City, they seemingly take credit for a decline in homicides throughout the area.
Finally . . .
Unfortunately, the article reports that Mayor Sly James still stands behind this program despite the ongoing criticism that has been mounting over weeks, months and years.
According to TKC SOURCES . . . This article has raised additional inquiry into AIM4PEACE funding and Kansas City journalist Eric Wesson seems to have sparked community criticism of the program that relies on questionable data.
DEVELOPING . . .
Cut it.
ReplyDeleteNow the time to cut ineffective programs. Every city in the USA is doing it. Time to Cut the WASTE.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the program did not buy enough ads in The Call.
ReplyDeleteWesson's just mad that he's not on the payroll. Everyone knows the only way to get a good story out of him is to pay him directly (Cleaver) or to sponsor his lame radio show.
ReplyDeleteOf course, if they actually were to cut Aim4Peace (which I'm not convinced really works, though not using the Wesson/TKC logic that it doesn't work because there are still murders - its at least possible there would be even more murders without the program), Wesson would be one of the first ones ranting and railing about neglect and inattention in Black neighborhoods. And he'd pretend like he hadn't just written a piece trashing the program.
Reading the sad little angry-at-everybody rag the Call has become nowadays, I always have one thought: God, how I miss Ms. Bluford.
Quarter million, don't you mean three quarter million this year?
ReplyDeletePoverty pimps. Only the tip of the iceberg if you think of all non profits getting city, county, state and federal grants. They spend their funds legally, but are mostly ineffective. Their primary role is to provide jobs for a politicians family or mistress.
ReplyDelete11:38 thanks for the insight. Always good to read anonymous posts.
ReplyDeleteTime for citizens to demand results for their money.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the article. I live in the east side and Aim for Peace is a joke. They have been fudging numbers for years. However,if the Star were to break the story then whites would have considered it gospel but if the black paper breaks it then it has to be because people did not buy enough ads or Wesson is not on the payroll. Yet, you continue to buy the angry at everyone rag and wish Ms. Bluford would return. I can say as a long time reader that I only read the Call for the obits. I now can't wait to read the entire newspaper. And no Aim For Peace does not work.
ReplyDeleteThe Call is an extremely mediocre newspaper.
ReplyDeleteThis group should be defunded. Its just a jobs program for that kind of money.
ReplyDeletePaying people to go to meetings and write reports.
Drop em. This money is better spent elsewhere. Like in the schools, in an anti violence program for HS kids.
I notice there is no mention of Nelson Hopkins, Sr., on this entire website. No wonder, Hopkins' just another nigger who got caught. Only thing here is he WAS a crime fighter...Who's that remind you of??
ReplyDeleteGet rid of it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the comments to cancel this program. It is useless.
ReplyDeleteCancel it.
ReplyDeleteJudging by the numbers this town is putting up for murder this year, Aim4Peace needs a little more target practice.
ReplyDeleteOf course, the East side has always been about making sure they get paid, so maybe they've already hit the bullseye.
NOT a "must read". it was boring and I skipped most of it.
ReplyDeleteDoesnt say that Mayor James supports it. says he was at a meeting where a presentation was made.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the article reports that Mayor Sly James still stands behind this program despite the ongoing criticism that has been mounting over weeks, months and years.
ReplyDeleteand I quote but aside from that Aim 4 Peace is a joke. A waste of money. I lived next door to a double murder site (still unsolved 3 years later) and Aim 4 Peace came. Their total ordeal lasted 20 minutes. Just long enough to stir it all up again. They spent that time marching up one side of the block and down the other chanting "stop the violence, aim 4 peace" and left. Stiring up the problems that had died down by that time. They're just a joke and a waste of taxpayer money. Money better spent on police officers who can respond to calls.
get rid of it.
ReplyDeleteIt was supposed to be defunded in one of the last budgets, but Riley, Brooks, Curls, et al. put up a big fuss.
ReplyDelete