>> NICK: COMING UP.

>> HAPPY FIFTH BIRTHDAY, STREETCAR.

>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KANSAS CITY STREETCAR.

>> NICK: MARKING FIVE YEARS OF THE STREETCAR, BUT WHEN DO WE GET THE RIDE THE RAILS DOWN TO THE PLAZA?

AND AFTER A PANDEMIC YEAR, WILL PEOPLE STILL WANT TO HOP ON BOARD?

PLUS WITH SO MUCH MONEY NOW SLOSHING AROUND WASHINGTON FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, IS THIS THE TIME TO EXPAND THE ROUTE TO KANSAS CITY'S EAST SIDE?

WE ASK THE MAN IN CHARGE.

THE HEAD OF THE STREET CAR JOINS US NEXT.

PLUS THE MAYOR RUBBING SHOULDERS IN WASHINGTON.

PARENTHOOD IN THIS NEWSMAKER EDITION OF THE PROGRAM.

>> WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF DAVE AND JAMIE CUMMINGS, BOB AND MARLEY SCORELY, THE COURTNEY S. TURNER CHARITABLE TRUST, JOHN H. MIZE AND BANK OF AMERICA NA, COTRUSTEES, AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> NICK: HELLO.

I'M NICK HAINES.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

WE'RE GIVING OUR REPORTERS THE WEEK OFF AND GIVING YOUR EYES ARE A REST, AS ALL OF OUR GUESTS WON'T BE ON A ZOOM SCREEN BUT IN THE FLESH RIGHT HERE IN PERSON.

I WANT TO START BY MENTIONING AN E-MAIL I RECEIVED FROM VIEW IRNORM WHO SAYS HE'S GETTING FED UP OF WATCHING THE SHOW BECAUSE WE SPEND TOO MUCH TIME TALKING ABOUT POLITICS.

IF I'M INTERESTED IN POLITICS, HE SAYS, I CAN SIMPLY TUNE INTO CNN OR FOX NEWS.

PLEASE SPEND MORE TIME ON NONPOLITICAL ISSUES.

HOW ABOUT SOME COVERAGE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?

WHO SAYS NICK HAINES DOESN'T LISTEN?

NORM, THIS WEEK, I WANT TO BRING YOU ONE OF THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY IN OUR METRO.

IT'S THE LESS TALKED ABOUT STREETCAR PROJECT, THAT IF YOU'VE BEEN DOWN MAIN STREET LATELY IS CAUSING STREETS TO BE TORN UP, LANES TO BE CLOSED AND PLENTY OF AGGRAVATION FOR MOTORISTS.

THOUGH I MISSED MENTIONING IT LAST WEEK, IT'S NOW CELEBRATING ITS FIFTH BIRTHDAY.

JOINING US NOW IS THE MAN IN CHARGE, TOM GEREND, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE KANSAS CITY STREETCAR AUTHORITY.

AND YOU STRUGGLED EVEN TO GET INTO BUILDING TODAY, BECAUSE ROADS ARE SHUT, LANES ARE CLOSED.

IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IN HERE.

WE'RE GIVING YOU A TASTE OF YOUR OWN MEDICINE ON WHAT DRIVERS ARE EXPERIENCING WITH THE STREETCAR CONSTRUCTION.

>> IT'S THE PRICE OF PROGRESS, NICK.

>> NICK: MOST OF US WANT TO KNOW, WHEN DO WE GET TO RIDE THIS THINGS?

WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO GO DOWN TO THE PLAZA, DOWN TO UM KC.

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET TO RIDE?

>> WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK STILL TO DO.

YOU SEE THE UTILITY WORK RIGHT NOW, SEWER, WATER, PRIVATE UTILITY WORK.

OURS WILL FOLLOW, STARTING IN EARNEST EARLY NEXT YEAR, AND THEN A FEW YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION, 2024 BEFORE WE'RE ALL SAID AND DONE.

>> NICK: IT'S BEEN FREE THUS FAR.

IS IT STILL GOING TO BE FREE ON THIS EXTENDED ROUTE?

>> IT WILL BE FREE, YES, IT WILL.

>> NICK: HAVE YOU LEARNED LESSONS FROM WHAT YOU DID IN THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, WHAT YOU DID IN THE FIRST ROUTE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO APPLY TO THIS ONE?

>> WITHOUT A DOUBT.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE OBVIOUS WITH THE RIDER THAT THE PUBLIC WILL SEE AND NOTICE, LIKE TRANSIT ONLY LANES THAT GIVE STREETCARS AN EXCLUSIVE LANE TO MOVE FASTER AND AVOID TRAFFIC.

THERE WILL BE SOME THINGS YOU WON'T SEE THAT WE'VE LEARNED.

CHANGES IN THE MIX OF CONCRETE, FOR INSTANCE.

>> NICK: A LOT OF US DURING THE PANDEMIC HAVE AVOIDED CROWDS AND MANY ARE STILL NERVOUS.

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE NOT WANTING TO HOP ON THESE STREETCARS RIGHT AFTER THIS AS WE COME OUT OF THIS POST-PANDEMIC?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG-TERM RECOVERY FOR THE CITY AND A LONG-TERM RECOVERY FOR TRANSIT.

WE'RE ALREADY SEEING GREAT NUMBERS IN TERMS OF INCREASED RIDERSHIP.

THERE IS A LOT WE'RE DOING WITH REGARD TO MITIGATION, MASKS STILL REQUIRED ON BOARD THE STREETCAR AND ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

>> IN THE MEDIA, WE TRY TO EXPOSE PROBLEMS, AND WE'RE MORE INTERESTED IN PROBLEMS OFTENTIMES THAN SOLUTIONS, I GET THAT.

BUT IT'S INTERESTING AT THE SAME TIME THE KANSAS CITY STREETCAR WAS STARTED FIVE YEARS AGO, CINCINNATI WAS DOING A SIMILAR TYPE OF ROUTE, EXACTLY THE SAME STREETCARS WE HAD FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER, AND YET THEY'VE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS.

FEW PEOPLE WANTED TO RIDE IT AND THEY SHUT DOWN DURING THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC BECAUSE OF BUDGET WOES.

HERE IS A QUICK SNIPPET FROM THEIR NEWS COVERAGE IN CINCINNATI.

>> ALL FIVE STREETCARS IN VARIOUS MOTIONS AT VARIOUS TIMES WERE I AM MOBILE TODAY.

>> THEY'RE NOT USING IT.

IT'S INEXPLICABLE TO ME.

>> RIDERSHIP ON THE STREETCAR REMAINS STAGNANT.

IT IS A DIFFERENT STORY, THOUGH, IN KANSAS CITY.

>> KANSAS CITY STREETCAR DURING THE WEEKDAY LUNCH RUSH.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S STANDING ROOM ONLY.

>> THAT HAS TO BE FLATTERING TO HAVE OTHER PEOPLE COME TO KANSAS CITY TO SEE HOW THIS IS WORKING.

>> WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE AND SUCCESS IN THE FOUNDATION AND SUPPORT WE'VE HAD FROM SO MANY PEOPLE TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE.

>> THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOME THINGS, THOUGH, THAT YOU DIDN'T ANTICIPATE IN THE FIVE YEARS THAT YOU'VE BEEN RUNNING THE STREETCAR.

WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST THING THAT YOU DIDN'T EXPECT?

>> WELL, WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THE DEMAND AND UTILIZATION WOULD BE DOUBLE WHAT WE FORECAST.

WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE WE WOULD HAVE TO BUY TWO ADDITIONAL VEHICLES TO SUPPORT THE DEMAND, AND WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE SUCH A PUSH SO QUICKLY TO GROW THE SYSTEM BEYOND JUST DOWNTOWN.

>> NICK: AND YOU HAVE THE MONEY FOR THE EXTENSION.

WE HAVE HEARD YOU'RE WAITING FOR SOME DOLLARS.

DO YOU HAVE ALL THE CASH YOU NEED?

>> WE DO.

ACTUALLY, WE'VE GOT TWO PROJECTS, THE MAIN STREET EXTENSION SOUTH, AND BERKLEY RIVERFRONT EXTENSION TO THE NORTH.

BOTH ARE FULLY FUNDED.

SO AS CHALLENGING A YEAR IT'S BEEN OVER THE LAST 24 MONTHS, WE'VE SECURED OVER $200 MILLION IN NATIONAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDING TO BUILD OUT OUR SYSTEM, AND THOSE WILL BE THE LARGEST STREETCAR PROJECTS REALLY IN THE COUNTRY AT THE TIME THAT THEY'RE ULTIMATELY COMPLETE.

>> NICK: WE'RE IN A TIME NOW, ALSO, OF COURSE, WHERE WE ARE MUCH MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND, SOCIAL JUSTICE FRONT AND CENTER ON THE NATION'S AGENDA.

IS THIS THE TIME THEN TO ALSO BE CONSIDERING A NEW ROUTE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE THE STREETCAR NOT JUST ON THAT NORTH SOUTH CORRIDOR, BUT TO THE EAST SIDE AS WELL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT MOVES TO A REGIONAL SPINE OF THE SYSTEM.

>> WILL THAT ALLOW THAT STREETCAR TO MOVE FROM TROOST TO PROSPECT, CONNECTING TO THE 18th AND VINE JAZZ DISTRICT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BE PUTTING FORWARD A PLAN, AND WE AS A CITY, AS A REGION ON, ACTUALLY, HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO DO THE HARD WORK, TO BUILD THE CONSENSUS AROUND THE PLAN, BUILD THE LOCAL RESOURCES THAT WILL SUSTAIN IT OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE ON MAIN STREET.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE ON THE STARTER LINE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS WE GROW THE SMENTS, BUS AND RAIL, MOVING FORWARD.

>> HAVE YOU GONE AS FAR AS TO THINK ABOUT A SPECIFIC ROUTE?

18th STREET OR LYNWOOD BOULEVARD, FOR INSTANCE?

>> 31st AND LYNWOOD, AS WELL AS INDEPENDENCE AVENUE.

ABSOLUTELY THOSE CORRIDORS HAVE POTENTIAL.

THEY'VE BEEN STUDIED IN THE PAST AND THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE PLANS FORWARD WITH STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

>> NICK: TOM GEREND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWS US TO CELEBRATE YOUR FIFTH BIRTHDAY WITH A US, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US ON WEEK IN REVIEW.

>> THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> NICK: UP NEXT, MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS FRESH FROM HIS TRIP TO WASHINGTON IS HERE.

WE TALK CRIME, POLICE AND NEW PARENTHOOD, BUT FIRST HERE SOME OF THE TOP LOCAL STORIES GRABBING OUR HEADLINES THIS WEEK.

>> WITH GAS PRICES BEING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN 7 YEARS, MISSOURI IS GETTING READY TO RAISE IT EVEN MORE.

EXPECTED TO BRING IN $500 MILLION MORE A YEAR TO IMPROVE HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.

MISSOURI CURRENTLY HAS THE SECOND LOWEST GAS TAX IN THE NATION.

MISSOURI GOVERNOR MIKE PARSONS SAYS IT'S TIME TO GET BACK TO WORK.

HE'S ENDING ALL FEDERAL PANDEMIC RELATED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

HE'S ALSO TOLD ALL STATE WORKERS TO REPORT BACK TO THE OFFICE IN PERSON STARTING ON MONDAY.

PROTESTS CONTINUE OVER SCHOOL MASK MANDATES.

16 PARENTS IN JOHNSON COUNTY NOW TAKING THEIR CASE TO FEDERAL COURT.

SAYING THE N WORD COSTS THE OLATHE NORTH BASEBALL COACH HIS JOB, AND THE JACKSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR SAYS I'M SORRY TO A MISSOURI MAN WHO SPENT MORE THAN 40 YEARS BEHIND BARS FOR A MURDER SHE SAYS HE DIDN'T COMMIT.

KCK HIRES A NEW POLICE CHIEF.

KYLE OAK MAN IS CURRENTLY ONE OF THE HIGHEST RANKING OFFICERS IN THE KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI POLICE DEPARTMENT.

JACKSON COUNTY PROMISING DOOR TO DOOR CAMPAIGN AND SIDEWALK TEMPS AND TRAINING INFLUENCES TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT TO GET THE VACCINE.

THE ROYALS TESTING THE PATIENCE OF FANS AFTER AN EXCRUCIATING LOSING STREAK.

CHIEFS TICKETS NOW ON SALE AND THEY'RE PLANNING ON FILLING EVERY SEAT IN A FULL STADIUM.

NO WORD ON WHETHER THAT MEANS MASKS OR WHETHER YOU'LL HAVE TO BE VACCINATED TO ATTEND.

>> NICK: JUST SOME OF THE STORIES MAKING NEWS IN KANSAS CITY.

ANOTHER BIG STORY WAS MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS IN WASHINGTON RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH TOP POLITICAL LEADERS.

HE JOINED SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI TO ADVOCATE IN A NATIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE FOR THE NEW BIDEN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

>> HOW ABOUT WE ALL AGREE ON THESE SORTS OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN CHALLENGES IN CITIES LARGE AND SMALL FOR GENERATIONS, AND HOW ABOUT WE ALL AGREE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT PARTISAN, IT IS NOT POLITICAL, IT IS A BASIC AND CORE SERVICE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS.

>> NICK: THAT WAS JUST A FEW HOURS AGO.

HE GOT OFF THE PLANE, AND HE'S WITH US NOW.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

DID YOU ALSO GET TO COME OFF THE PLANE WITH A BIG BLANK CHECK FROM SPEAKER PELOSI SAYING, I'VE GOT YOUR BACK, MAYOR, SPEND WISELY AND IT'S ALL YOURS.

>> WE DID NOT GET THE BLANK CHECK, BUT I DID HAVE THE CHANCE TO TALK TO LEADERS, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, ALL OF WHOM SAY INFRASTRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY, IMPORTANT FOR KANSAS CITY.

I'M LOOKING TO THEM TO GET IT DONE BECAUSE KANSAS CITY HAS THE NEED.

WHETHER IT'S DEFINED NARROWLY OR BROADLY, KANSAS CITY HAS NEEDS, ROADS, BRIDGES, HOUSING CYBERSECURITY.

>> NICK: ABOUT 20,000 MAYORS IN THE UNITED STATES, JUST THREE THERE WITH NANCY PELOSI AND THE TOP HEAD OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, THE MAYOR OF LA, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, AND YOU.

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> THE WAY I THINK IT HAPPENS IS THIS.

I HAVE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS DURING MY TIME AS MAYOR OF KANSAS CITY AND U.S. CONGRESS OF MAYORS.

HAVE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO GET TO KNOW SOME CABINET SECRETARIES.

A LOT GOING ON IN KANSAS CITY, THE KCI TERMINAL, STREETCAR, THE JOBS WE'RE BRINGING TO KANSAS CITY.

WE HAVE A MAYOR DOING THINGS, A CITY GETTING THINGS DONE.

>> NICK: WHAT IS THE TOP ITEM ON YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE LIST, MAYOR LUCAS?

>> I THINK MY TOP ITEM IS PROGRAMMATIC SPENDING.

EVERY FEDERAL PROGRAM WE GET, THEY USUALLY SAY, HERE'S $2 MILLION, AND WE LOOK FOR A A BRIDGE OR SOMETHING.

HOW ABOUT WE LOOK AT THE EAST WEST CONNECTION TO HELP CONNECT THE DIVIDE.

>> NICK: WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EAST LINK WITH THE STREETCAR S THAT SOMETHING YOU WOULD PUSH WITH THIS INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY, THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY BE CONNECTING 18th AND VINE, TROOST AND PROSPECT WITH THE STREETCAR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT UNFORTUNATE ABOUT THE CONVERSATION THAT HAS BEEN STREET FAR IS EVER SINCE IT WAS FIRST ATTEMPTED TO GO EAST, THERE HAVEN'T BEEN OTHER ATTEMPTS TO DO TO.

IT'S HARD FOR ME TO TELL THEM IT'S FOR YOU.

I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURES A WE LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF STREETCAR WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT I DON'T THINK REALLY STREETCAR IS THE FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY.

I'M A GUY WHO LIKES BUSES.

I GREW UP RIDING BUSES.

I INK THINK THAT SORT OF TRANSIT THAT CAN LINK SOMEBODY WHO HAS A JOB AT KCI BUT LIVES IN SOUTHEAST KANSAS CITY, OR SOMEBODY WORKING IN GARDNER AND LIVES IN RAYTOWN.

I DO THINK THAT IS CORE INFRASTRUCTURE, ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS CITY IN THIS REGION.

>> NICK: YOU ALSO LIKE PEDESTRIANS.

DID WE HAVE A CHAOS ON KANSAS CITY STREETS THIS WEEK?

AS YOU RETURNED FROM WASHINGTON D.C., NOW THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A JAYWALKING LAW ANYMORE IN KANSAS CITY?

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> WE HAD ANYTHING BUT CHAOS, BECAUSE HERE'S SOMETHING I'VE WORKED ON MY ENTIRE TIME AS MAYOR, WHICH IS LAWS THAT AREN'T BEING ENFORCED FAIRLY, AND ARE LARGELY OUT OF DATE.

WE HAD DATA THAT SUGGESTED THAT MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF OUR ARRESTS FOR JAYWALKING WERE FOR BLACK INDIVIDUALS.

HOWEVER, MOST OF THOSE TICKETS WERE ONES THAT DIDN'T REALLY NEED TO BE WRITTEN.

WE SEE EVERY DAY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, KIDS PLAYING BASKETBALL, DOING A NUMBER OF THINGS.

LET'S FIND OTHER WAYS TO CREATE SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND IN MY TIME AS MAYOR, YOU'VE SEEN US DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA, JAYWALKING, PARKING TICKETS, BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED PEOPLE TO GET WRAPPED INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR THESE PETTY OFFENSES.

WE ARE TOO BUSY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT'S FIGHTING VIOLENT CRIME.

WE ARE TOO BUSY WITH SO MANY OTHER ISSUES.

LET'S FIND OTHER WAYS TO CREATE PRO-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR, BUT NOT CRIMINAL SANCTIONS FOR EVERYTHING.

>> NICK: ARE THERE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES?

AT THE SAME TIME YOU'RE DECRIMINALIZING JAYWALKING, A REPORT SHOWING MORE PEDESTRIANS DIED ON MISSOURI ROADS IN 2020 MORE THAN ANY OTHER YEAR IN HISTORY.

>> I THINK THERE IS FAR MORE TO BE SAID ABOUT PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES WITH HOW WE DESIGN OUR ROADS, THE SPEEDS, AND NOT BUILDING SUPER HIGHWAYS THROUGH THE CORE COMMUNITIES IN KANSAS CITY.

THE MORE WE MAKE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS IMPORTANT IN OUR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CODES, IN THE ROADS THAT WE'RE BUILDING AND RENOVATIONS THAT WE ARE DOING, THAT'S THE WAY THAT WE MAKE PEOPLE SAFER, AND I DO NOT THINK HAVING OFFICERS THAT ARE STANDING OUT AND WRITING SEVERAL HUNDRED TICKETS IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I ASK ANYBODY WATCHING THIS SHOW, HAVE YOU EVER JAY WALKED?

EVERYONE WILL SAY YES.

QUESTION, HAVE YOU GOTTEN A TICKET?

MOST WILL SAY NO.

THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT WOULD CREATE THAT PRO-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR.

EXAMPLE, WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, A BARRIER IN ONE AREA WHERE WE WERE CROSSING THE STREET.

IT'S THOSE SORTS OF THINGS YOU DO, NOT TRYING TO CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE.

THIS LAST YEAR HAS SHOWN US THAT ONE WAY WE ADDRESS POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS IS MAKING SURE THE POLICE ARE WORKING WITH YOU ON ALL THESE SERIOUS VERY VIOLENT THINGS OR BUILDING COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN A POSITIVE WAY.

WRITING A BUNCH OF TICKETS ISN'T THE WAY TO GET IT DONE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT POLICE OFFICERS.

AS WE RECORD THIS PROGRAM, THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE IS MOVING TOWARDS PUTTING ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK A BILL THAT WOULD END THE RESTRICTION ON POLICE OFFICERS HAVING TO LIVE IN KANSAS CITY.

YOU'RE UPSET ABOUT THAT.

WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD THAT ACTUALLY MAKE IN YOUR VIEW?

>> I'M NOT A FAN AT ALL.

BUT LET'S ASSESS WHAT THEY DID.

THIS IS NOT A PROPOSAL THAT SAVES A SINGLE LIFE IN KANSAS CITY AND DOESN'T SOLVE A SINGLE CRIME IN KANSAS CITY.

IT DOESN'T ADDRESS ANY OF THE CORE SAFETY ISSUES LIKE INVESTMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR.

ALL IT DOES IS CONTINUE THIS CAT AND MOUSE GAME THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS PLAYED WITH KANSAS CITY THAT SOME SOME WAYS IS JUST TRYING TO DESTABILIZE POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS.

YOU TALK TO MOST KANSAS CITIANS, THEY LIKE LIVING IN KANSAS CITY.

THEY RESPECT IT AND LIKE THEIR OFFICERS LIVE THERE AS WELL.

WE CAN RECRUIT OFFICERS.

IT WAS THE ST. LOUIS POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVING A NUMBER OF ISSUES.

KANSAS CITY HAS 14 SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

IT'S A BIG CITY.

YOU CAN LIVE ON A FARM.

YOU CAN LIVE IN A DOWNTOWN HIGHRISE, AND SO WE ARE PROUD OF THE DIVERSITY OF OPTIONS WE HAVE.

WE'RE PROUD OF OUR RANK AND FILE.

I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO WOULD PASS A BILL LIKE THAT CLAIMING THAT IT IS HELPING TO DO ANYTHING WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO ENHANCE POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS.

>> WE HAVE THE HEAD SAYING THEY MAY BE ON TARGET HERE TO LOSE 110 POLICE OFFICERS THIS YEAR FROM RETIREMENT AND GOING OFF TO OTHER THINGS, FROM PRIVATE SECURITY TO CONSTRUCTION.

IF IT'S NOT A PROBLEM RIGHT NOW WITH RECRUITING, AREN'T YOU GOING TO BE SHORT OFFICERS IN THE FUTURE?

>> FIRST OF ALL, YOU SHOULD HAVE OTHER SOURCES THAN JUST THE HEAD OF THE POLICE UNION WHO WANTS MORE MONEY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I'VE HAD THAT CRITIQUE FROM THAT STORY FROM DAY ONE.

BUT ASSUMING HE'S CORRECT, SOMEONE WHO VOTED FOR AND PROPOSED A QUARTER BILLION DOLLARS TO GO TO THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT.

MOST CITY DEPARTMENTS WERE CUT BY 11% THIS YEAR.

OUR CUT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ONLY 4%.

THIS CITY HAS INVESTED MIGHTILY IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I FULLY SUPPORT HAVING NEW RECRUITING CLASSES.

WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO WORK WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET THOSE.

ONE REMINDER, WITHOUT HAVING LOCAL CONTROL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT $250 MILLION, PERHAPS SOME OF THAT COULD BE SPENT ON A NEW RECRUITING CLASS.

WE'VE HAD A UB IN OF RETIREMENTS, SURE, BUT THAT MEANS YOU ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF SALARIED DOLLARS FREED UP.

WHERE ARE THOSE GOING?

HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE WE GET CLASSES THAT WAY RATHER THAN JUST ARGUING THE SKY IS FALLING.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN WORKING ON.

I DON'T THINK IT SUGGESTS WE NEED PEOPLE COMING IN FROM ANY NUMBER OF JURISDICTIONS AROUND MISSOURI.

I RESPECT THEM ALL.

BUT I JUST WOULD RATHER THEY LIVE HERE IN KANSAS CITY IF THEY WANT TO POLICE OUR STREETS.

>> WE ARE TRACKING JUST AS MANY HOMICIDES AS LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS A HISTORIC RECORD BREAKING YEAR FOR HOMICIDES IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY.

NOTHING IS HAPPENING.

NO FIX.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

>> I THINK THAT'S A FAIR CRITIQUE, NOT JUST THIS MAYOR, BUT MAYORS AS LONG AS I'VE LIVED, AND IT'S BEEN 36 YEARS, WE HAVE NOT MADE THE DRAMATIC CHANGES WE NEED.

WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT BUDGETS, HIRED OFFICERS, HIGHER FEWER.

IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT HIGHERING FITS THE BILL.

IF WE GET THE LEGISLATURE TO INVEST IN THINGS LIKE BETTER WAGES FOR KANSAS CITIANS SO THEY WILL BE AT WORK, THOSE ARE THE THINGS LONG-TERM THAT CAN HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IT GIVES PEOPLE HOPE, GIVES PEOPLE OPPORTUNITY.

BUT INSTEAD, IF YOU JUST SAY TO EVERYBODY, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE SAME SOCIAL CONDITIONS FOREVER, THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THESE CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO SEE ONE LEVEL OF DIFFERENCE.

I WAS IN WASHINGTON VISITING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

WE LOOKED FOR MORE GRANTS TO INVEST IN, MENTAL HEALTH, CONFLICT RESOLUTIONS IN SCHOOLS.

THERE IS MUCH WE CAN DO.

WE NEED TO DO MORE.

AND THE ANSWER IS NOT JUST AS SIMPLE AS THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS ON A LEDGER.

WE HAVE GOT TO INVEST IN COMMUNITIES, NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE NEED THAT HELP FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

THUS FAR, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT.

>> NICK: THAT HELP FROM THE LEGISLATURE IS THAT THEY WOULD ALLOW CITIES LIKE KANSAS CITY TO SET THEIR OWN RULES.

THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEK.

BUT THIS IS A LEGISLATURE THAT HAS NOT ALLOWED YOU OR, IN FACT, DOESN'T TRUST YOU TO SPEND YOUR COVID MONEY FAIRLY AND ACCURATELY.

WHY DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO CHANGE LAWS HERE IN KANSAS CITY WHEN IT COMES TO GUNS?

>> HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL.

I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH EVERYONE I NEED TO TO MAKE SURE WE GET THINGS DONE FOR KANSAS CITY, AND SOMETIMES THAT IS ASKING YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

KANSAS CITY IS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE AND A DRIVER FOR THE STATE OF MISSOURI AND STATE OF KANSAS.

IN THE REGION IS SO IMPORTANT AND KEY AND A BLEMISH THAT WE HAVE IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

I WOULD ASK, WHY ALL OF OUR STATE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES ARE BACK HOME OVER THE RECESS PERIOD THAT THEY THINK ABOUT HOW CAN WE MAKE KANSAS CITY SAFER AND STRONGER LONG-TERM.

I'VE VISITED JEFFERSON CITY, REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON, AND I WILL KEEP DOING THAT EVEN IF IT FALLS ON DEAF EARS FOR NOW.

>> IF THEY GIVE THAT YOU RIGHT, WHAT POLICY CHANGE WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE HAPPEN?

>> I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE GUNS IN THE HANDS THOSE WHO ARE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDERS.

IT'S VERY CLEAR WE SHOULD NOT HAVE GUNS IN THE HANDS OF MINORS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE IN FEDERAL LAW RIGHT NOW BUT LARGELY NOT ENFORCED BY OUR U.S.

ATTORNEYS OFFICE.

WE CAN'T GET STATE CHARGES ON THEM.

WE'RE TRYING TO PASS ORDINANCES JUST TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE WHO IS IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR?

WHY ARE WE NOT MAKING SURE THAT AT LEAST WE'RE ADDRESSING DOMESTIC SAFETY IN HOUSEHOLDS?

THOSE ARE SIMPLE THINGS WE CAN DO.

BY THE WAY, THOSE ARE DOZENS OF HOMICIDES, DOZENS OF SHOOTINGS IN KANSAS CITY EACH AND EVERY YEAR.

EVERYTHING CAN HELP US SAVE A LIFE.

THOSE ARE THE CHANGES I WANT TO SEE US MAKE, AND I WANT TO SEE US ACTUALLY BE REALISTIC ABOUT ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENT CRIME.

WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR OUR MENTAL HEALTH TRIAGE CENTER SO PEOPLE COMMITTING MINOR OFFENSES DON'T BECOME MAJOR OFFENDERS.

>> NICK: TWO WEEKS AGO, JOHNSON COUNTY REMOVED ITS MASK MANDATE, AND FROM ALL THE REPORTS WE SEE, THERE HASN'T BEEN THESE MASS DISTURBANCES ACROSS THE STREET AND ALTERCATIONS BETWEEN STORE OWNERS AND EMPLOYEES, POLICE HAVEN'T BEEN CALLED IN.

DOES THAT GIVE YOU CALL NOW TO SAY, PERHAPS WE WANT TO DROP THE MASK MANDATE IN KANSAS CITY TOO?

>> I'VE SAID A FEW TIMES, KANSAS CITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIBLE ON ITS MASK MANDATE.

ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

ALSO LICENSE TO SCIENCE AND PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS.

WHEN WE ISSUED OUR LAST ORDER, NOW MASKS JUST REQUIRED INDOORS, IF YOU ARE UNVACCINATED.

WE ARE, SO WE GET TO NOT WEAR MASKS RIGHT NOW.

I FULLY EXPECT KANSAS CITY'S ORDER TO EXPIRE MAY 28th, AND AFTER THAT, WE'LL CONTINUE TO PUSH PUBLIC HEALTH ADVICE AND WARNINGS, TRYING TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED, FOCUSING ON THAT NEXT PHASE OF HOW WE FIGHT COVID-19.

BUT I'M PROUD THAT OUR INTERVENTIONS IN KANSAS CITY LED THIS REGION, SAVED THOUSANDS OF LIVES.

THAT'S SOMETHING I'LL ALWAYS BE PROUD OF.

WE DID NOT ABANDON OUR ELDERLY POPULATIONS.

WE DID NOT ABANDON OUR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, AND I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE ALIVE IN KANSAS CITY TODAY THANKS TO THOSE PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS.

I RECEIVED FROM DR. ARCHER THAT WE MAKE SURE WE PUT INTO EFFECT IN KANSAS CITY.

>> NICK: THE CHIEFS JUST ANNOUNCED COMING BACK THIS SEASON WITH A FULL CAPACITY, SELLING EVERY SEAT AT ARROWHEAD STAYED OWE.

WILL THEY BE WEARING MASKS, AND YOUR POLICY, IF YOU'RE DROPPING THE MASK MANDATE IN MAY, NO.

WOULD THEY HAVE TO BE VACCINATED?

>> I HOPE THE NFL CONTINUES TO WORK WITH PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS IN ALL OF ITS JURISDICTIONS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE AND SAFE.

>> I WAS PROUD THAT KANSAS CITY WAS THE FIRST TO REOPEN, BUT WE REOPENED RESPONSIBLY.

OUR MODEL WAS USED BY THE BILLS AND ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE SAFE.

WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS ON REOPENING.

I EVEN HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SPORTING KANSAS CITY ABOUT REOPENING, AND I KNOW THEY DON'T PLAY IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

I THINK IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN LEADERS IN WHAT RESPONSIBLE REOPENING LOOKS LIKE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

>> NICK: AND GOVERNOR KUOMO ANNOUNCED IN NEW YORK THAT WHEN THEY COME BACK, THERE WILL BE A VACCINATED SECTION AND UNVACCINATED SECTION.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU THINK WE WILL DO IN KANSAS CITY?

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MYSELF AND ANDREW CUOMO.

THAT WILL JUST BE ONE OF THEM.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD ADMINISTRATIVELY WORK OUT WITH SUCH A THING.

I HOPE WORKING WITH TEAMS, THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, WE FIND A WAY TO OPEN IN A REASONABLE, RESPONSIBLE WAY.

THERE IS STILL ONLY SO MUCH CONTROL WE CAN HAVE OVER INDIVIDUALS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BALANCED WITH THIS AND MORE THAN ANYTHING, MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE VACCINATED.

THAT'S WHY I'M GOING DOOR TO DOOR.

I WAS DOOR TO DOOR WEST SIDE ON CINCO DE MAYO, TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNEW VACCINES ARE CLOSE, SAFE, AND IMPERATIVE TO MAKING THE COMMUNITY SAFER.

>> NICK: THE LAST TIME YOU SAT AROUND THIS TABLE, YOU WERE SO-CALLED FOOTLOOSE AND FANCY FREE, SO TO SPEAK.

NOW YOU ARE A MARRIED MAN AND YOU ARE A FATHER.

HOW HAS THAT CHANGED THE NATURE OF HOW YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE?

>> I THINK AS MANY OF THE PARENTS WATCHING RECOGNIZE, IT HELPS CHANGE YOUR BALANCE OF THINGS.

SOME DAYS YOU ARE VERY STRESSED, AND LORD KNOWS, THIS IS STILL A STRESSFUL JOB.

BUT WHEN YOU SEE A BABY STARING AT YOU AND YOU SEE THEIR LITTLE EYES AND YOU REALIZE THERE IS A LOT MORE THERE THAN YOU RECOGNIZE, THERE IS SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING ABOUT AT CITY COUNCIL THAT WEEK.

I AM INCREDIBLY BLESSED, FORTUNATE.

I THINK KANSAS CITIANS FOR ALL OF THEIR WELL WISHES, BUT I ALSO HAVE TO SAY I'M INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED BY EVERY MOTHER AND FATHER, BECAUSE GOING THROUGH THE FIRST FEW WEEKS, I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE CAN HANDLE IT WITHOUT AS MUCH SLEEP, BUT WE GET BY.

>> NICK: YOU DIDN'T SUCH MUCH ABOUT IT BEFORE, YOU GOT MARRIED AND THEN REVEALED.

THAT WE ONLY FOUND OUT LATER YOU WERE GOING TO BE A FATHER.

WHAT WERE YOU WATERED ABOUT IN TERMS OF REVEALING THAT INFORMATION?

>> YOU KNOW, I ENJOY INTERACTING WITH FOLKS.

I ENJOY BEING THE MAYOR OF KANSAS CITY.

I DON'T LIKE MY FAMILY GETTING PULLED INTO A LOT OF THINGS.

THIS LAST YEAR HAS INTRODUCED ME, UNFORTUNATELY, TO A VERY NEGATIVE UNDERBELLY OF FOLKS THAT ATTACK FAMILIES, THAT ATTACK AT FOLKS' HOMES, THAT REALLY PULL OUT A LOT OF NEGATIVITY THAT I CAN HANDLE.

I THINK I HAVE THE THICK SKIN TO HANDLE IT, ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES IT GETS TO ME, BUT DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

I HAVE BEEN FAIRLY JUDICIOUS ABOUT NOT SHARING PICTURES OF MY BABY'S FACE, NOT BRINGING MY WIFE INTO SOME OF THE DEBATES WE HAVE.

IT TURNS OUT WE HAVE A LOT OF ANGRY PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET BACK TO WHERE WE CAN SHARE SOME OF LIFE'S OPPORTUNITIES, BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER TO TAKE THE ARROWS THAT COME MY WAY ABOUT MASKS AND ANYTHING UNDER THE SUN AND NOT FORCING MY FAMILY TO DO THE SAME THING.

>> NICK: WHEN YOU ANNOUNCED YOU WERE MARRIED, I THOUGHT NO LONGER WILL YOU BE INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR ROY BLUNT'S SEAT.

ARE YOU STILL INTERESTED IN THAT?

>> I WILL SAY THIS.

PRIORITY 1 IS MY FAMILY.

PRIORITY 2 IS KANSAS CITY, MAKING SURE THINGS WORK HERE.

PRIORITY 3 OF MINE IS MAKING SURE THAT VOICES LIKE OURS, REASONABLE VOICES THAT CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MISSOURIANS GETTING GOOD HEALTH CARE MISSOURIANS BEING SAFE, GETTING FAIR WAGES, IS SOMETHING THAT IS VITAL FOR ALL OF US.

THAT'S WHY I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS SOMEBODY WHO RUNS FOR THE NEXT ELECTION WHO WILL SPEAK TO THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES.

IF WE DO NOT HAVE SOMEONE, THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD EXPLORE.

I WOULD ASK THE INDULGENCE OF MY WIFE AND FAMILY TO SEE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

I'M NOT MAKING ANY DECLARATIONS ON THAT RIGHT NOW.

I HAVE A BIG JOB TO DO AS MAYOR OF KANSAS CITY, A JOB I LOVE.

>> NICK: I'M GOING TO LET YOU DO THAT NOW.

THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY RIGHT AFTER ARRIVING AT THE AIRPORT.

WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING ON OUR WEEK IN REVIEW.

OUR REPORTERS ARE BACK NEXT WEEK.

UNTIL THEN, FOR ALL OF US HERE AT KANSAS CITY PBS, BE WELL, KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.

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