Marching Against Homicide

In Kansas City, a publicity campaign seemed to curtail crime in a bad neighborhood, but will the good times roll?

1 minute read

February 4, 2005, 1:00 PM PST

By David Gest


"Rachel Riley and her neighbors were hailed by The Kansas City Star for their yearlong series of marches, which were credited with all but stopping a dismal series of crimes...since Riley had organized the marches and convinced the Kansas City Police Department to send a task force into the area, the number of homicides had dropped to just one," down from 19 the year before. However, "[a]lthough Riley's marchers have made an impact in her immediate area, for the larger region that surrounds her block -- known as the 23rd Street Political Action Committee -- overall crime reports not only didn't go down but actually increased a little over the previous year."

Thanks to David Gest

Thursday, January 20, 2005 in Kansas City Pitch Weekly

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Close-up on white bike helmet lying on pavement with blurred red bike on its side in background abd black car visible behind it.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes

Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

5 seconds ago - Wood TV 8

Muni bus on red painted bus-only lane in downtown San Francisco, California.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels

Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.

1 hour ago - Mass Transit

Interior of Tesla car with dashboard.

Federal Regulators Ask Tesla for Robotaxi Details Ahead of Planned Launch

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the company will launch self-driving taxis in Austin in June and other U.S. cities by the end of the year.

2 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive