NNC Statement on KCMO Jail - Released 1.26.26
The Northeast Neighborhood Coalition (NNC), representing seven neighborhoods in
Northeast and Downtown Kansas City, is concerned about the lack of public engagement and
departure from normal Council procedures in relation to the Council’s decision made on January
15, 2026, to make the modular, temporary jail located off Front Street (also known as the City’s
Tow Lot) Kansas City’s permanent jail location.
This decision was made with no advance public notice. We write not only to express our
serious concerns about this lack of notice, but to ask the Council to provide accurate information
to the residents of Kansas City, especially to those most impacted by the decision. Kansas City
taxpayers bear the financial burden for this last-minute reversal and deserve a timely and full
disclosure of the rationale behind this decision.
Transparency regarding cost
What is the exact amount of projected savings? When was this cost differential first made
known to the Council? Shouldn’t it also have been made known at the same time to the public?
Was it not known when you were seeking support for the Public Safety Tax?
Please provide the study and cost estimates to validate and clarify the cost savings. These
documents should be shared with the people who are paying for the project.
Environmental impact assessment
Concerns have been raised in our neighborhoods about the potential environmental impact,
including the location of flood plains near the City’s Tow Lot. Have all necessary environmental
studies been completed at the site? Please share the results of those tests.
Public engagement
Recently, the City publicized its renewed commitment to public engagement and resident
feedback (Ordinances 230126 and 230998). A survey tool, such as the Speakeasy, is not
meaningful engagement. It is not a dialogue with residents. This limited platform silences many
residents, especially those who already lack political power and voice, or access to technology.
Please provide us with clear policies and guidelines related to City public engagement that will
be used to get this vital information out to Kansas City residents.
The Tow Lot is near a school, businesses, and other facilities as well as residential
neighborhoods. Those impacted must be able to ask important questions directly to their City
officials about this significant change and to be able to craft a Community Benefits
Agreement. If the City is saving over $120 million (one of several figures that has been floated
out to the public) by making the location permanent, then some of those funds should be used
for positive investment in the area around the site and the community should be involved in the
decision-making process.
What other public safety projects will be completed as a result of the savings? Why is this
information not being made available in an open public forum?
Trust
The public safety sales tax vote was challenging to pass and was supported by many local
leaders. If the Council can make a same-day vote without the opportunity for questions and
testimony, we are left wondering if we can trust our City government when decisions about the
major expenditures being made under initiatives the public has voted on are made and/or
reversed.
The City will ask for a renewal of the public earnings tax this year. The City would boost that
effort by acting in a transparent manner to taxpayers. We can only be in this together if you treat
us with respect as equal partners.
Next steps
Many of us will be at the Northeast Community Forum on Thursday evening organized by our
neighbor Latinx Education Collaborative and Rev’ED. We hope our questions will be
answered then. If not, we will seek out other opportunities for Northeast residents to be informed
and respected.
