‘This isn’t a political issue—it’s a safety issue’

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‘This isn’t a political issue—it’s a safety issue’

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After decades of serving the Kansas City community, downtown business owners say they’re at a breaking point.

“This isn’t a race issue, this isn’t a political issue, this is a safety issue.”

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That’s David Lopez, general manager at Manny’s ******** Restaurant—a Crossroads institution for nearly 45 years. But on Tuesday, he says things feel more dangerous than ever.

“I feel as though this city is about as unsafe as it’s been since my family has been at 207 Southwest Boulevard and that’s 45 years this September,” he added.

******** street racing, ATVs and dirt bikes tearing through neighborhoods—even an officer intentionally run over by one an ATV just mere weeks ago. Chaos, Lopez says, is constant.

“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’s not alone. Business owners throughout downtown say they feel abandoned by city leadership and police and the effects are hitting more than just morale—they’re cutting into revenue.

“People are going to leave – that’s it. At 8:00 on a Saturday, we used to be getting our third turn, now at 8:00 I cut three servers, a bartender, and three kitchen staff,” Lopez said.

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 incredibly disappointing to witness the continued lack of police presence and response in our neighborhood. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to back these large-scale projects when the basic needs of safety and accessibility are being ignored,” Gilmore said in a statement to 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 fears the Crossroads could slide back into being 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.”

And for many, the stakes are growing too high.

“If I feel like I can’t protect the people that I love and care for—and the people that I value, especially the customers that walk through my doors—I’m out,” Lopez said.

KCPD tells FOX4 they’re increasing patrols in entertainment districts and cracking down on ******** street racing, sideshows, and ATV activity with arrests, tickets, and tows.

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They urge anyone who sees this behavior to call 911.

FOX4 also reached out to Mayor Quinton Lucas and other city officials for comment. We’re still waiting for a response.

Gilmore said he’s ready to meet with the mayor directly to work on a real, lasting solution.

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#isnt #political #issueits #safety #issue

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