Kansas City 'Racist' Homeless Camping Ban Proves Totally Useless

As usual, the fine print of recent legislation doesn't solve a municipal problem that has intensified under the current administration. 

Sadly . . . The newspaper would rather blame racism than hold elected officials accountable for a crisis that they helped to worsen by negotiating with activists instead of listening to neighbors and small biz.

Here's a peek at one of MANY local homeless camps in crisis throughout this cowtown . . .

"Last month, the Kansas City Council adopted a policy for handling homeless encampments. The ordinance, which became effective April 15, requires that encampment dwellers get at least two days’ notice before city workers dismantle the camp. The city then has to arrange for them to store belongings and offer them other services and alternative housing . . .

"A city worker did stop by to tell them to clean up the area or they would have to move.

"But meanwhile, violence and the stench are a problem for the neighborhood.

"City officials said they are working on the problem, and that takes time. But neighbors said they think the reason the encampment has been left undisturbed for months is that it’s in a neighborhood where poor Black people live."

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

Homelessness in Kansas City nears 'crisis levels.' A new tent camp is the latest test

OPINION AND COMMENTARY Editorials and other Opinion content offer perspectives on issues important to our community and are independent from the work of our newsroom reporters. The collection of tents on the edge of a residential neighborhood near Van Brunt Boulevard and East 31st Street is not visible from the main road, but city officials have known that it's there, on city property, for weeks now.

Developing . . .