KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas went on Twitter this weekend to voice what he is seeing happening in the city's bars and restaurants.
He visited a few establishments Saturday night across the city to see if places were adhering to city guidelines.
“No one wants to be big brother," Lucas said. "No one wants to walk around and shut everything down."
This comes after a video was tweeted this past week of people out at Hot Country Nights in the Power and Light District.
Was taking a neighborhood walk with my girlfriend and we were both surprised to hear live music from the area of power and light.
— Zachary (@ZachIsHere) August 14, 2020
We went in and this is what we saw.
We may have been the only two people not employed by a business there that were wearing a mask. pic.twitter.com/U5BoBVFTWK
The city told 41 Action News that Power and Light complied with city ordinance. But the video has caused concern for many.
The Mayor highlighted Westport in a series of tweets Sunday morning.
I’m clearly not there all the time and may have missed something tonight, but I want to commend the staff and business owners in @Westport_KC for generally good protocols, limited crowds, and screening procedures. Other areas in city behind. https://t.co/faFluiISml
— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) August 16, 2020
“There are a lot of restaurants and establishments that are doing great work," Lucas said. "Kelly’s in Westport was particularly strong and others that are having good social distancing."
However, there are some bars failing to follow the rules, according to what Mayor Lucas is seeing.
“There are others who are not," he said. "I think many of them know that. I went to a few of those places and see them quickly shout put your masks back on. Those are things of when I walked in that made it for a somewhat humorous night."
Lucas said in a tweet that the Country Club Plaza area is not as strong as Westport in places of informal gatherings, in parking lots and outside closed bars/establishments.
Only hit KCPD center zone tonight, so think 4th District plus 3rd District to Prospect. Plaza area not as strong as Westport and lots of spots of informal gatherings in lots and outside closed bars/establishments where crowds got together without restrictions. https://t.co/2pPJJ8focf
— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) August 16, 2020
“Those are the sorts of things that will present challenges for us long term," Lucas told 41 Action News. "It will make it harder for us to return to somewhat of normal life here in Kansas City."
He said he doesn't want to shut down businesses. But if people don't follow the mandates, he said there could be further discussion on what happens next.
“We are trying to contain a virus," Lucas said. "This is not easy work. This is not the sort of thing that we see and we respond. We will do what's right and always make sure Kansas Citians are safe as possible."
For the full string of tweets from Mayor Quinton Lucas:
I will be out and about this evening into the late night hours to see how we're doing in other social areas of our beautiful city. Drop me a message if there's somewhere you think I should check out.
— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) August 15, 2020
I’m clearly not there all the time and may have missed something tonight, but I want to commend the staff and business owners in @Westport_KC for generally good protocols, limited crowds, and screening procedures. Other areas in city behind. https://t.co/faFluiISml
— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) August 16, 2020
Only hit KCPD center zone tonight, so think 4th District plus 3rd District to Prospect. Plaza area not as strong as Westport and lots of spots of informal gatherings in lots and outside closed bars/establishments where crowds got together without restrictions. https://t.co/2pPJJ8focf
— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) August 16, 2020
A few thoughts from last night. Clearly, writing you now suggests I was not out that late and I was not, wrapping at about 11:30p. Many bar owners are trying and have created better physical distancing indoors and others require all to be seated. Many others, however, are not.
— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) August 16, 2020
