Overland Park, Kan. On Wednesday, April 15, the Mayor of Kansas City, Mo., Quinton Lucas, visited HBHA. He toured the school with Jewish community members at his side and made an exciting stop in the AP Government class.
During his class visit, students had the opportunity to ask questions about policy, law, and overall city management. His knowledge of these topics comes from his time in law school, where he earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Washington University and Cornell University, and from his time as a law professor at KU before running for KC city council office.
Lucas was asked about his take on affordable transportation, specifically the decision to reintroduce bus fares to RideKC buses beginning June 1, 2026. Lucas responded, “Probably the thing that changed fundamentally, and I don’t necessarily love the fact that it did change, is that you did see this perception at least, that having more homeless persons riding.”
He went on, saying, “It’s my view that if it were actually urban folks and even dense areas like here that were thinking about it, we likely would still have a more complete, fair, free approach, and, frankly, something that is getting people to more places that they need.”
Photo by Avital Mullokandova
Lucas has made gun control a focus of his mayoral term, and he highlights it in his policy. He currently serves as national chair for criminal justice efforts in the United States Conference of Mayors and as an advocate to reduce gun violence on America’s streets as co-chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
He said, regarding gun possession, “I don’t think you get to have any type of weapon almost anywhere, in any environment…I think every institution should be able to ban or control the carrying of firearms on their properties.”
Despite difficult issues like this one, Mayor Q’s job has many fun aspects. He is in part responsible for bringing and planning the World Cup to Kansas City, the smallest host city this year. Kansas City will host a group stage and a quarterfinal game.
The city is buzzing with excitement for this coming summer, and in large part because of Mayor Lucas.
