City Business Owners Criticize 'Diluted Leadership' as Urban Area Ranks High in America's Crime Rates
Title: #KCBIZCRIME: A Candid Conversation with Kansas City Business Owners on Nearly Uncontrollable Crime
In the heart of Kansas City, business owners are pulling out their hair over unchecked crime. Here's a sneak peek at what they've got to say:
"Frankly, the city's response to all this goodness has felt weak," says Andrew Cameron, the man behind the sweet, twisty creations at Donutology. With two incidents of vandalism and theft over the past year, the kitchen master has had enough. Talk about taking matters into your own hands, right?
The city that once got the eighth-worst crime rap in the country (according to US News & World Report in 2024), fell to number 20 in 2025. But hold your secrets, the number of homicides and property crimes have still seen an eye-popping surge. As of 2025, there have been 61 homicides versus 52 at this point in 2024, and property crimes have spiked by a whopping 31%.
"KC missed the mark, leaving businesses vulnerable to thieves and the streets unfriendly to potential customers," sums up Suzanne Hale-Robinson, a personal injury attorney. She won't mince words: last year, her office was invaded, and she's lost count of the number of vehicles that have been broken into in the parking lot behind her building. Ouch!
But hold your horses! Not all hope is lost. Demolish that pessimistic outlook, Kansas City Democrats unleashed a $1 million proposal in January to boost off-duty law enforcement presence, focusing on areas of the city with higher crime rates. Could this be the game-changer everyone's been praying for?
Stay tuned for more updates on this sizzling topic as the city grapples with a revival of public safety. If you must know something, spill the beans to [email protected], and catch him on Twitter @asabes10.
"The rising crime rates in Kansas City, as evidenced by the surge in homicides and property crimes, are weighing heavily on businesses, with Sarah Johnson, a florist, voicing concerns about the city's handling of the issue, stating, 'The city's finance and general-news landscape need to prioritize addressing crime, especially considering the negative impact it's having on local businesses.'
Michael Brown, a banker, elaborates on the issue, saying, 'Politics aside, it's concerning that crime-and-justice continues to overshadow Kansas City's business and finance sector, with frequent incidents affecting not just businesses, but also our clients and the overall economy.'"
