Mayor Quinton Lucas delivered his seventh State of the City Address under the theme “Kansas City: A City that Delivers,” outlining progress on workforce investment, public safety, housing, infrastructure, transportation, and his commitment to keeping the Kansas City Royals.
Mayor Lucas emphasized that public safety remains the core of the general fund at 75%, including continued support for pay increases at the Kansas City Fire Department and a budget increase for KCPD. He pointed to clear results, with homicides down 5%, non-fatal shootings down 31%, and robberies down 27% over the past year.
The Mayor highlighted more than $5 million in the next budget for year-round emergency shelter and homelessness prevention, along with $2.6 million for the Right to Counsel program, which has helped prevent more than 3,000 evictions since its creation. The city also launched a Housing Gateway Program to provide rapid rehousing for more than 600 unhoused residents.
Mayor Lucas also underscored continued infrastructure investments, including $30.9 million to resurface approximately 300 lane miles of streets. By the end of the fiscal year, the city expects to have resurfaced over 40% of roads since the start of his term. The budget invests over $4 million in Vision Zero improvements and maintains strong support for streetcar operations, extensions, and the bus system.
Watch the Mayor’s full remarks here.
At a time when our rights, freedoms, and futures are under threat, Democratic Mayors are showing the nation what real leadership looks like.
