The Wichita Citizen’s Review Board canceled its meeting last week over growing vacancies on the panel and to allow more time to propose changes to its structure. The police review board was set to review two cases of alleged misconduct against Wichita Police Department officers as well as possible changes to how the board operates, […]
City of Wichita
Posted inLocal Government
Wichita’s latest plan for its single-family public housing units: Sell them all
The city of Wichita outlined a plan to rehabilitate most and sell all of its 352 single-family housing units on Tuesday. The plan would end the city’s public housing program. Most of the proceeds from the sales would go to the city’s new affordable housing fund, which aims to boost affordable housing development. The proceeds […]
Posted inDIY Democracy, Local Government
Want your street paved or a sewer line in Wichita? Here’s how to make that happen.
In 2015, residents along North Meridian Avenue and 29th Street called for the city to pave their street. The dirt road was hard on their cars and caused drainage issues, neighbors wrote in a City Council document. “As people who use it often, we feel our cars get banged up every time we drive on […]
Posted inLea en Español, Local Government
¿Le gustaría que pavimentaran su calle? A continuación, le indicamos cómo hacer que eso suceda.
En 2015, los residentes a lo largo de North Meridian Avenue y 29th Street pidieron a la ciudad que pavimentara su calle. El camino de tierra no era bueno para sus autos y causaba problemas de drenaje, escribieron los vecinos en un documento del Concejo Municipal. “Como personas que usamos la calle a menudo, sentimos […]
Posted inLocal Government
Why dozens of Wichita public housing units are sitting vacant
Aujanae Bennett wants to see her Northeast Millair neighborhood flourish — children playing in the streets, clean lawns and driveways, pride in the community. But the 41 city-owned homes dominating the northwest corner of her neighborhood are an obstacle to that, Bennett said. Over the past four years, she’s noticed the homes have been vacated […]
Posted inLocal Government
Five questions with Wichita’s two new incoming council members
This November, a shake-up to the Wichita City Council was clinched by the election of two political newcomers. Wichita’s City Council District 6 elected Maggie Ballard, defeating one-term incumbent Cindy Claycomb with 55% of the vote. Wichita’s City Council District 3 elected Mike Hoheisel, defeating nine-month incumbent Jared Cerullo with 50% of the vote. The […]
Posted inLocal Government
Accomplishments, regrets, advice from Wichita’s outgoing City Council members
Nearly four years ago, Wichita City Council member Cindy Claycomb was sworn into her seat after winning a landslide election for her District 6 seat. Nearly nine months ago, City Council member Jared Cerullo took office after the existing council appointed him, in a 4-to-2 vote, to fill a vacant District 3 seat. Now, Claycomb […]
Posted inLocal Government
Why $161 million in local COVID relief still hasn’t been spent
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Heartspring — a nonprofit that provides services and education to children with special needs and developmental disabilities — spent $109,000 on personal protective equipment and cleaning equipment. They paid $1.24 million in COVID-related personnel costs. They’ve also lost $170,000 to rescheduled, modified or canceled events and $2.12 million in revenue when the […]
Posted inLocal Government
Wichita has 23 vacant or expired board and commission appointments. That means one board can’t operate.
Nearly six months after the City Council passed its ethics policy, the Ethics Advisory Board meant to enforce it has yet to do any investigating. That’s not because there hasn’t been anything to consider. It’s because City Council members have yet to appoint a full board. In Wichita, there is no legal requirement to fill […]
Posted inLea en Español, Local Government
Asista y hable: Cómo participar en el proceso de gobierno de Wichita
Todos los días, el gobierno de la ciudad de Wichita toma decisiones sobre una lista de temas: seguridad pública, parques y espacios verdes, y reglas de zonificación, por nombrar algunos. Entonces, ¿cómo puede usted asegurarse de que su voz sea escuchada en estos asuntos? The Wichita Beacon creó esta guía para ver, asistir y participar […]