Rabbi Nemitoff, Jewish Vocational Service and the Jewish Federation, declared their support for Black Lives Matter.
Cutler was correct in pointing out that there are dramatically more blacks killing blacks, than blacks being killed by police. The statistics for Kansas City are 679 murders in 5 years, plus 83 so far this year. The disproportionate rate of killings should not prevent us from expressing our concern over police brutality.
I believe that all parties protesting police misbehavior are to be commended. I ask that consideration be given both to the brutality of rogue policemen and the ongoing crises of violence in the Kansas City core neighborhoods. Police should receive more training and be held responsible for inappropriate behavior. It is important to introduce a comprehensive plan that deals with the basic reasons for violence against each other. Whatever has been done to improve the neighborhoods, they have had no effect on the violence that persists.
Yes, Bob Cutler, it will take a lot of money to bring about change.
The priorities:
• Providing better health care that meets the needs of residents – poor health has made these people more vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus.
• Stressing the rebuilding of family structure.
• Improved educational resources must be provided so that more students graduate high school and receive higher education to prepare them for living in the 21st century.
• Housing, job placement and recreation resources are needed.
The implementation of this plan requires staff and oversight by a commission made up of inner city residents. Funding could be provided by all levels of government and foundations. As this Kansas City Plan is applied it could serve as a model for the many cities faced with the same problems.
Sol Koenigsberg
Overland Park, Kansas
