City Manager Blames 'No Local Control' For Kansas City Crime Spike

Once again a political mantra takes hold in Kansas City . . . 

BOTH BUREAUCRATS & ELECTED OFFICIAL PASS THE BUCK ON CRIME TO CONTROLLED JEFF CITY!!! 

Consider . . .

Whilst we understand this is a satisfying rhetorical tactic that has been utilized by both Mayor Sly & Q for more than a decade . . . There are two big problems with this sketchy premise: 

- Blaming Jeff City DOESN'T ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING for residents worried about fighting crime here and now in KCMO. 

- The blame game doesn't answer the question: Why crime has escalated to historic levels during this and not throughout all the other years when Missouri governance was ALSO a fact of life. 

In fairness . . . Here's what Mr. Platt has to say on the topic that was buried in a local podcast:

The Kansas City Police Department has said it doesn’t have enough officers to look into property crimes, even as residents and local businesses complain about an increase in car thefts and break-ins.
 
Platt said the city should work more aggressively to respond to the issue, but that it’s harder to do because Kansas City has no local control of the police department. A state board of police commissioners, not elected city officials, oversees the KCPD.

“We're not always in the room for those conversations, and the chain of accountability doesn't run through city hall, so it's a conversation with the board of police commissioners and the chief and other people outside of City Hall," Platt said.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

"Platt also spoke on KCUR's Up To Date about other issues facing Kansas City, including concerns about crime . . ."