Crystal: Q&A with Mayor Reardon
UNIFIED GOVERNMENT MAYOR JOE REARDON TACKLES THE HOMELESS ISSUE, by Crystal Booker
KANSAS CITY, Kan – On Tuesday, July 27, Unified Government Mayor Joe Reardon announced his initiative to end homelessness in Kansas City, Kansas. He has entrusted this task to the Wyandotte Homeless Services Coalition. One of the fund raisers for this cause is the Mayor’s pajama Party which will be held November 19th from 5pm-8pm. All of Wyandotte County is encouraged to wear pajamas on this day to show their support for those less fortunate in the community; who are homeless and unable to wear pajamas at night. Afterwards, Mayor Reardon took time to discuss his initiative.
Crystal: Exactly what is the Mayor’s Initiative?
Reardon: The Mayor’s Initiative is really two fold. Number one, it’s more than one government and more than one entity that can start to address the needs of our homeless population. It’s all of us collectively. It’s raising the awareness of everyone in the community. To say as we look at the health of this community, we need to look at those that don’t have a place to call home. And then secondly, it’s to raise funds. It’s to say there are ongoing costs to operate emergency shelters and beds. And we need to all participate in helping to offset those funds; then to leverage every federal dollar we can to try to address long term solutions.
Crystal: Under your leadership, Kansas City, Kan. has come a very long way. Where is the future of the city going?
Reardon: Well I think it’s to address the need for emergency beds, which we are lacking here in our community specifically. But secondly, it’s to work with the federal government to focus on the continuum of care to identify those that need emergency shelter, but to take them into a permanent solution to homelessness. That’s very important and it speaks to the broader challenges of health in the community as well.
Crystal: I want to thank you for taking time to speak with me.
Crystal Booker, a distinguished member of the Kansas City Film Critic’s Circle, is the movie critic of Kansas City’s Magic 107.3 FM. She is also a contributing writer to I Love Black Movies.com. To view her movie reviews, click here. For the latest reports, check out “Crystal on the Scene.” She welcomes both your questions and comments at crystalb@crystalsbonusandreviews.com
July 29th, 2010 at 10:11 am
Dealing with the issue of homelessness is a good start. But the mayor should focus on lowering the taxes and BPU rates. My light bill was $500 last month and I still dont know how I am going to pay it. I think the UG is making us pay for the businesses at Village West and thats not fair. How can we pay our taxes when our bills are so high??? If these bills and taxes dont go down we will all be homeless.
July 29th, 2010 at 11:05 am
wyco doing some great things. i know we get a bad rap but things are gettin better. i do agree with mrs j about the light bill and taxes being to high. but i like the new busineesses and stuff at the legnds. wyco is back on da map
July 29th, 2010 at 11:21 am
crystal this a good interview. they need to get rid of all those homeless people in the DOT. I used to live in Wyandotte but it seem like I could never find a good job there and the taxes was real high. when I got my car tagged there it cost $400. I moved to Johnson county and my tags only cost $160. I think alot of people would come back to Wyandotte if the lowered thetaxes and the utilities. times are too hard to be charging people extra.
July 29th, 2010 at 11:36 am
Like what they doin in the Dotte — Cant live there though
July 29th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
hey yall stop hatin on the dotte. LOL
July 29th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
great job crystal!!!
July 29th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
I just want to know when will the unified govt start rehabbing the northeast part of the county. Everything is going out in Piper and bonner springs. what about the east side. i live on 6th Stewart and I have to drive way out on 110th street just to go to Walmart. Are there any plans to build a walmart downtown?
July 30th, 2010 at 11:37 am
we need jobs in wyco