Kansas City Public Safety Tax Promises More 'Low Barrier' Shelters

It would seem that a "public safety" sales tax in the midst of a crime wave would be an easy sell. However, Kansas City insiders remind us that the current plan for taxpayer cash has very little to do with crime fighting. 

More to the point . . .

KICK-ASS KANSAS CITY INSIDERS WARN: AN UPCOMING PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX PLEDGES MORE RESOURCES FOR "LOW BARRIER" SHELTERS DESPITE NEIGHBORHOOD OPPOSITION!!!

Quickly . . . The main distinction and debate regarding "low barrier" shelters is that they provide service to people who might be under the influence of alcohol & drugs whereas traditional shelters demand clients sober up for, at least, the duration of their overnight stay. 

This controversy is playing out across the nation as even ultra-progressive Portland has decided the de-criminalization of hard drugs is a bad idea and reversed course. 

According to critics, many Kansas City leaders want to learn this same lesson the hard way as they head down a similar path.

Accordingly . . .

Here's more reporting on KCMO public safety tax efforts that might have escaped casual readers:

"Along with this plan, they continue working to pass a one-quarter cent public safety sales tax that would produce $700 million over 32 years to fund a detention center, substance abuse facility, low-barrier shelter, and transitional housing."

 Thankfully . . . We trust insiders to share their informed perspective with us: 

"It's simple: This tax is about more shelters and programs that don't work. It really has very little to do with public safety. Ask residents and they want more police and a city jail -- Not the same old nonprofit schemes that only work to pay off political friends. If this is all that they're offering then they should not call it 'public safety' because that's false advertising . . . It's a homeless shelter and social service tax."

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

KCTV5 -- A safer Kansas City: Leaders detail plans to curb violence in ‘hot spots’


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