Community members joined The Beacon’s Community Journalism Lab at the Kansas City Public Library’s North-East branch for a conversation about public safety July 16. The goal was to talk not just about property crime but about their feelings and experiences around personal safety, vulnerability and belonging in Kansas City.

Public safety extending beyond property crime

The conversation started with community members describing what makes them feel unsafe. 

Some cited community neglect such as broken infrastructure, unlit parks and neighborhoods, and the absence of community care. A participant said that when a space doesn’t feel like it’s cared for, it can feel like no one is watching out for you. This was contrasted with the sense of community ownership created by murals seen under bridges or when neighbors are participating in neighborhood clean-ups.

Another participant noted that the repeated theft of copper wiring on the street lights off of Cliff Drive in the Historic Northeast creates a sense of feeling unsafe.

Others spoke of dangerous intersections along Independence Avenue and a five-lane width that makes it difficult to cross. They also mentioned public spaces where large gatherings or unfamiliar groups gather that trigger fear.

One woman mentioned illegal dumping in vacant lots in the City Council’s 3rd District area and along Blue River area walking trails. Many participants expressed significant concern regarding areas along Bruce R. Watkins Drive.

A common theme was that feeling unsafe isn’t just about property damage but rather visibility, belonging and feeling physically safe.

Vulnerability

Participants also reflected on what feeling unsafe means on a personal level.

One idea was the helplessness that comes with not having access to a phone or being in a space where you feel like you don’t fit in terms of race or language barriers. Another member shared the fear of encountering someone in a severe mental health crisis and wishing they had the tools or training to intervene safely.

A host shared how a fun night attending an event at The T-Mobile Center quickly turned while dealing with a rowdy crowd at a bus stop.

These stories showed that public safety isn’t just about avoiding danger but rather navigating the city while constantly calculating how safe you feel based on your identity, location and access to resources or training.

Crime and ripple effects

Several attendees shared stories about victims or survivors of a crime. One participant recalled a woman being groped while jogging on Cliff Drive by someone wearing a ski mask. The participant noted that even if people are wearing ski masks for a health reason or looks it still makes them cautious. Another spoke about knowing victims of gun violence, including someone being shot on the front lawn of their own home.

The psychological toll is real. “It makes you feel like you have to start profiling people,” one person said, acknowledging how trauma can cloud your instincts and create further division within the city.

Despite these experiences, many stressed they don’t want fear to restrict their movement. “We deserve to exist in every corner of this city,” one attendee said.

What is contributing to public safety concerns?

Several participants pointed to a noticeable rise in violence and instability in the last two years as documented in Kansas City Police Department crime data reports.

One participant noted that the entire city is in a public health crisis. “Substance use, mental health, juvenile crime, it’s all connected,” one attendee said. “But there aren’t enough resources, and the city is holding onto money that could help.”

Another participant added that violence spikes during major events like the Super Bowl, and expressed concern about the upcoming FIFA World Cup. “Sexual assault and domestic violence rise with large crowds. All violence is interconnected. Poverty, housing, mental health are all root issues.”

Overall, participants expressed frustration over how public safety is discussed in local conversations. “Some crimes get lumped together,” one member said. “But property damage and violent crime aren’t the same. The unhoused starting fires to stay warm isn’t the same as intentional arson.”

What would real change look like?

If given the power to make one change, participants offered many ideas.

Some said that solving the housing crisis with wraparound support services like job assistance, mental health, substance abuse help and document access would be huge.

Others mentioned better paying jobs and more youth programs, especially beyond the YMCA.

Community policing that builds trust, not just enforcement, was mentioned. Attendees also cited iIncreased walkability and improved public transit, to reduce the need for cars and connect people to opportunity. And safe, free community spaces, especially for kids and teens during evenings and winter months, are important.

As one participant pointed out: “We have great parks but no place for youth to just be after dark. So they hang out where it’s not safe.”

What’s Next?

Listening sessions like this one show that many Kansas Citians are focused on identifying the root causes of violence, reimagining safety and insisting on being heard at conversations such as those occurring at KC360 meetings. What they want now is local leadership and other members of the community to be a part of the solution.

Have a story about public safety in your Kansas City neighborhood? Reach out to our community engagement manager at estrella@thebeacon.media or submit a story idea on our website.