EC From DC - May 11, 2012

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The new Troost Bridge is officially open and what a celebration it is for the whole city. For so long, Troost Avenue has been known as a dividing line, of sorts, along economic and racial lines. But now, my hope is we will all focus our efforts to improve the quality of life for everyone along Troost and throughout Missouri's 5th District. The bridge will help in bridging understanding, transformation and cooperation as we improve our neighborhoods.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony the crowd was treated to music, food and activities for kids. It was an important milestone in Kansas City to connect all of our communities and make sure we are creating and maintaining stronger, safer and more united places to live. I am honored to have secured funding to help turn the hope of this bridge into a reality.

I wanted to quickly update you on the ShotSpotter technology coming to Kansas City. Last week I wrote about the technology my office spent many, many months working to bring to our city. ShotSpotter technology can detect the sound of gunfire within seconds and alert police to an almost exact location of where the shot came from. It is my hope, along with all of the many people who helped make it possible, that this will help officers get to victims faster, find criminals more quickly and let anyone getting ready to illegally fire a gun know that they are going to prison. Kansas City's Police Department is working, as I write, to get the technology installed. The location of the sensors won't be publicized – but as Police Chief Darryl Forte said – the criminals will find out quickly when we show up to arrest them.

My Mobile Office will be at the Mid-Continent Public Library's Blue Ridge Branch on Wednesday, May 23rd, to assist anyone needing some help with federal agencies. We will be there from 1:00-3:00 PM. The Mobile Office is a useful way for me to serve any and all constituents, especially those who aren't able to make it to an office building due to illness, lack of transportation, work hours or other reasons. Staff members will be on hand to help answer questions and open a case, if needed, on an issue or problem you're having. The Library is located at 9253 Blue Ridge Blvd (map it!). The Mobile Office is handicap accessible, equipped with wi-fi and a computer for faster service and is environmentally friendly. Please feel free to come by if we can help.

This Saturday, May 12th, we have a chance to help feed our neighbors and friends. Campbell Soup and other companies are joining with the National Association of Letter Carriers for the 20th anniversary of "Stamp Out Hunger" Day. Across the country, each year letter carriers pick up more than 70 million pounds of non-perishable food items. You just need to leave the items near your mail box on Saturday or deliver to local food banks. For more information: https://www.campbells.com/campbell-soup/

I think all of us have a favorite teacher we will always remember. This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. It might be a good time to reach out to that favorite – and tell him or her how much they have meant in your life. To hear more about my favorite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92ll0tCzEmU

It was about 5:00pm on an autumn Sunday afternoon, years ago, when I parked my car by the lake in the woods in Swope Park, not far from my home in Southeast Kansas City. I sat in the car listening to the smooth soul sounds of a Philadelphia-based group called The Stylistics while soaking in the extraordinary beauty of the contrasting colors of fall. The leaves were brown, green, yellow, red, and gold.

And with the sun slowly falling in the western sky, my soul suddenly became serene and spiritual. As I looked skyward at the white fleecy clouds, I noticed a lone buzzard circling above the tree tops, paying no attention to the enchantingly lovely goings-on in nature. His eyes were locked in on rotting carrion. How sad.

Many of us, the Members of the House of Representatives, take little notice of the very impressive qualities of those on the "other side." We traditionally ignore any commendable characteristic of people who wear different political labels. Have you ever wondered, as I have, about the number of people whose income is connected to Congressional acrimony? There are men and women whose job it is to observe the people's House in search of the carrion. Without our acrimony, they would not have enough take home pay to get them back home. Now based on my experiences, these reporters are good and decent people whose job it is to report on what we do. Tragically, they find too much carrion.