Downtown KC Business Owners Sound Alarm: "Safety Trumps Politics"
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Following years of service to the Kansas City neighborhood, proprietors in the downtown area claim they have reached their limit.
This isn't about race, this isn't about politics, this is about safety.
That's David Lopez, the general manager at Manny's Mexican Restaurant—an establishment in Crossroads that has been around for almost 45 years. However, he states that things feel even more perilous today.
"I believe that this city feels just as unsafe now as it has been since our family moved to 207 Southwest Boulevard, which was 45 years ago this September," he mentioned.
Illicit street races featuring ATVs and dirt bikes zipping through residential areas have become commonplace. Just weeks back, an officer was deliberately struck by an ATV. The chaos, as Lopez points out, never seems to cease.
“When things out of your control start to chip away at the very foundation of what you’ve done for four generations, it hurts,” he said.
He isn’t alone. Shopkeepers across downtown express feelings of being neglected by both municipal leaders and law enforcement. The impact extends beyond their spirits; it’s also reducing their income.
"People will depart—period. On Saturdays around 8:00 PM, we typically had our third shift going strong, but nowadays at that time, I have to send home three servers, a bartender, and three kitchen employees," Lopez stated.
Bradley Gilmore, owner of Lula’s Southern Cookhouse, said he’s seen crime rise and police presence vanish and while he supports downtown revitalization projects like the 670 Park and downtown baseball, his support is fading fast.
"It’s extremely disheartening to see the ongoing absence of police presence and response in our community. When fundamental requirements like safety and accessibility are being overlooked, it becomes progressively challenging to support these extensive initiatives," Gilmore stated in an official comment for FOX4.
Gilmore shared screenshots of text messages sent directly to Mayor Quinton Lucas—after the mayor publicly encouraged residents to contact him. His messages went unanswered.
Now, he worries that the Crossroads might revert to what it once was: a ghost town.
“You Are Under Surveillance,” play repeatedly on a downtown speaker across from Tom’s Town Distilling Co. and they say it isn’t comforting and it’s not a substitute for actual safety.
“It does the opposite of making people feel safe when they are venturing around the Crossroads,” said Tony Pulford, marketing coordinator at Tom’s Town Distilling Co. “Safety is an ongoing concern—we want that… but I think there are better ways to do that.”
For many, the risks have become too significant.
"If I feel unable to safeguard the individuals I cherish and hold dear—including the valued customers who enter my establishment—I will step aside," Lopez stated.
The KCPD informs FOX4 that they will be stepping up patrols in areas known for nightlife and entertainment, aiming to enforce laws against unauthorized street races, car exhibitions, and all-terrain vehicle usage through measures such as making arrests, issuing citations, and towing vehicles.
They ask everyone who witnesses this behavior to contact 911 immediately.
On early Wednesday morning, Mayor Lucas made a comment on a Facebook post stating his desire to speak with Gilmore.
Gilmore stated that he is prepared to have direct discussions with the mayor to develop a genuine, enduring solution.
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