Dear editor;

It is 3:11 a.m., and I am wide awake, clinging to the only weapon I have chosen to accept in an urban battle, which unfortunately, far too many people know too well. I write now because my words are the only sword I choose to bring to a battle of resources, ammunition, and apathy. In these early hours, I was awoken by the sounds of seven rapid-fire shots from what, it frightens me to even admit, was a semi-automatic pistol, being fired in the alley behind my house. Last summer, the sound of gunshots was a weekly, if not daily, occurrence behind my house, in my alley.
When I moved to the Northeast, my family immediately inquired if I planned to purchase a gun, implying that it was understood that I would take up arms to defend myself in a neighborhood where I would undoubtedly be robbed, shot, or find myself defenseless in some other situation. My response to them was that the police were charged with the safety of residents, and I would rely on their diligence alone. I would soon realize that my family’s fears were not the faint hearted assumptions made by suburbanites, whose families long ago fled the city, seeking safer neighborhoods, and an overall presumed better way of life. The reality was that these concerns are a genuine presence in the daily lives of Northeast residents. These fears have become our norm.

So what can we do to eliminate these fears? Those of us who cannot or choose not to flee to the manicured suburbs with little boxes and cul-de-sacs, can rebel against our current norms and serve as proponents of change to create a shift in paradigm. We, as a united community, can put an end to the 2 a.m. gunshots in our backyards.

Earlier this month, the Chief of Police himself told us his recommended solutions to our neighborhood’s many troubles: namely, self-empowerment, through community directed action. Our prosecutor’s office reiterated these sentiments, ensuring us that we were on a great path towards solutions. Community and Neighborhood services division of the City of KCMO also said the broken window theory can be curbed merely through 311 calls by residents reporting violations.

Although a week is too short to gauge the effectiveness of a surge in community involvement efforts, I cannot help but imagine the shocking scenario if we (the neighborhood association) gave up our efforts. What elected official or government agency would swoop in and take up our cause? What non-profit would assume the work and, ultimately who would serve as the watchdog to hold all these agencies accountable? Who is best empowered to represent and serve the needs of the people? The answer is the people themselves. Individuals, friends and neighbors, mothers and fathers, families. We as a community: students, residents, consumers, are invested in the future of our community, our families and our neighbors.

A community must encompass more than only the consumers; it requires deposits of hope and faith to renew the sense of right and wrong and an investment of time, through service, to ultimately keep the balance of good and bad. Even active participants in the illness afflicting our community cannot deny reasons to incite change: to ensure the safety of those they want to protect. To those expecting a sense of security and protection from the poison they create for themselves, take your accountability into consideration and create an environment in which you want your loved ones to thrive.
We all have a responsibility to hold those in our lives accountable. To parents, guardians, teachers, principals, friends, siblings or others, I ask, how realistic are you being about the people you care for? Do your expectations and standards force community betterment or do you turn a blind eye and enable those contributing to the problem. We are all accountable.

It is easy to buy into sensationalism when we are flooded with statistics from the news and media, but beyond the initial response, have you asked yourself what more can be done beyond airing your grievances on social media? Have you done all that you can do to be a part of the solution? Do you call 911 every single time you hear shots fired? Are you actively a member of your neighborhood association? Even more importantly, if your sons, daughters, fathers or mothers are the ones responsible for the crimes, do you hold them accountable despite the potential ramifications and penalties?
Let’s talk numbers. In a study conducted in 2013 (and based upon the 2010 census), there were 10,747 people living in just the Indian Mound Neighborhood alone. From those roughly 11,000 residents, roughly 66 percent were above the age of 20 years old. Therefore, that means approximately 7,093 residents are of eligible voting age and for all intents and purposes, eligible to make meaningful impact in Indian mound.
Of those 7,000 residents, there are currently only 333 apparent followers on the neighborhood association Facebook page, 286 members of the crime prevention oriented Facebook page, roughly 20 people (of which 3 were new faces) who attended this week’s neighborhood association meeting (differing from the 50 at last month’s due to the multiple homicides and media presence) and, 20 people who have informally committed to attending an upcoming newly formed neighborhood watch meeting.

We rely on our elected officials to protect and make our neighborhoods a priority; however, in the last major state representative race (2010), less than 4,000 (of the nearly 15,000 people registered) actually cast a ballot. In the last major mayoral election (2011), roughly 51,000 (of the nearly 230,000 registered) elected a Mayor and in 2015 3,500 (of the nearly 43,000 registered) people selected our in district member to the city council.
I again write this so that you hold us accountable as well as us, you. We are fooling ourselves if we think that by showing up one time, to offer only complaints-ONE time at, at a community meeting will make a difference. We need solutions and people willing to take on challenging problems with their solutions. This is the investment that I am talking about needed, with the deposit made for hope and faith that things will change. I ask you, if you want to make a change-do it. Let’s break out of fear together and take back our streets. Let’s keep each other accountable and rebuild our already budding community.

Join Indian Mound and Holy Cross Church as we take back our community from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, for the block watch training that will be held in both Spanish and English.

Manny Abarca,
Northeast resident