Topeka police chief commits to working with CIVIC to reduce violence
Annie Buckland, of First Congregational Church, said in the past three years, violent crimes have increased 60%.
Vallejo agreed to work with Community Inspired Violence Intervention Coalition (CIVIC) to provide needed crime data and assigned Lt. Andrew Beightel to be its police liaison.
“I believe is takes a community and so far I have not been disappointed,” Vallejo said, “and I’m so excited to be your chief because this is what I was hoping for.”
CIVIC member Danielle Twemlow said this is another chance for CIVIC to build its network.
“So, this is an exciting step, but what’s even more or what’s even equally exciting is the transparent and open data,” Twemlow told The Capital-Journal. “So, the data collection and having data available to our community has been something the community has asked for for really long time, and it’s absolutely exciting to hear a chief use social determinants of health when talking about violence reduction strategies.”
Topeka council members commit to funding affordable housing
Shannon Sadowski, of Central Park Christian Church, reflected on her journey with homelessness and how thousands of people are in the system trying to find housing.
“I live in a beautiful, warm four-bedroom, two-bathroom house, doing God’s work for him,” Sadowski said. “But there are still 2,499 other people going through the meetings and crossing their T’s.”
Topeka JUMP, in partnership with All Hands on Deck, have made a goal to end chronic homelessness by 2030. Miller said he most likely won’t be a city council member in five years but will continue to support this effort.
“2030 is a bold goal,” he said, “and I support that goal with my wallet, my actions and my throat.”
The Rev. Earl Williams, of Washburn University United Methodist Campus Ministry, told the audience he often hears horror stories from college students struggling to afford rent or having no place to live. One story he reflected on was about a female student who worked multiple jobs and donated plasma just to make ends meet.
“She was coming back from giving her plasma, and she was throwing up, but she had to go to class,” Williams said. “This should not being happening, not on our watch.”
City manager Perez said he would work with the newly appointed housing trust fund committee to find sustainable funding for affordable housing. He also noted the city is working in other ways to bring affordable housing to Topeka, including giving incentives to a new development that will create 260 units.
Miller and Duncan affirmed their commitment to working with the new housing trust committee to find sustainable funding.
“These are easy commitments to make or say these are easy,” said Duncan, who is running for mayor. “We’ve got to go do the work now, and I’ve very much been committed to doing the work.”
