KC mayor says he wants to avoid stricter COVID-19 steps taken in Texas, Florida
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said Monday he does not want to have to take “more extensive” COVID-19 steps that have been implemented in other regions, such as Texas, where bars have been required to close.
In a Twitter post, Lucas shared a June 29 CNN story about Texas and Florida bar owners reeling from virus-related restrictions, writing: “Masks seem highly controversial these days despite KC’s rule applying only indoors, but I remind folks of why we pursue these simpler measures.”
In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott had allowed bars to reopen with restrictions, only to order them closed again June 26 after the state experienced a resurgent outbreak in COVID-19.
“It is clear that the rise in cases is largely driven by certain types of activities, including Texans congregating in bars,” Abbott said in a news release at the time.
The same day, Florida banned alcohol consumption at its bars.
In a follow-up tweet, Lucas shared a July 23 story about Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey ordering bars and gyms, among other establishments, to remain closed.
“These are decisions and restrictions imposed by Republican governors (all) to keep people safe,” Lucas wrote Monday. “Let’s not get to that point if we can.”
In an interview Sunday with The Star, Lucas told of how he spent two hours Saturday night dropping by or looking into about eight businesses throughout Kansas City to see if bars and their customers were following public health guidance.
The mayor’s outing came days after a video circulated online that showed more than 100 people — most of whom wore no masks — at a Hot Country Nights event in the Power & Light District, prompting some to call for stronger policies.
Lucas saw problems with semi-covered rooftop bar spaces and people not following health advice outdoors. Most businesses were trying to follow the city’s guidance, but he found one that “appeared to be following absolutely no protections in the slightest.”
At Kelly’s Westport Inn, however, the scene looked much different than it did a year ago: management removed a number of tables and customers were required to wear masks unless they were sitting, Lucas said.
“Those are the sorts of things that show they are really committing to stopping the spread of COVID-19,” he said. “You go to other places, you see a very different world.”
There was not much social distancing or significant mask wearing, for the most part, in outdoor areas, Lucas said. He called it the most concerning and informative part of the evening as a policy maker.
In a tweet Sunday, Lucas said he was concerned about the growing number of house and block parties where people were not adhering to virus-related rules or recommendations.
“An externality of regulation is unregulated bars/clubs, which we have seen in areas,” he wrote.
Lucas noted that Dr. Deborah Birx, the Trump administration’s coronavirus response coordinator, recently suggested mask wearing be expanded to outdoors, which is something city officials have considered.
“So we are really asking all communities, whether you are urban or rural communities, to really wear a mask inside, outside, every day,” Birx said Saturday while in Kansas City, Kansas, for a meeting with Gov. Laura Kelly. “Wear a mask. Protect one another.”
Responding to someone who commented on his tweets about Texas, Florida and Arizona, Lucas said Birx also recommended closing bars to avoid “having a spike like those states saw in the summer.”
As of Sunday, the coronavirus has infected at least 25,473 Kansas City metro residents, including 374 who have died. That includes 7,649 cases, including 66 deaths, in Kansas City.
Under Kansas City’s emergency order, masks are required in all indoor public spaces where people can’t be six feet apart, such as in grocery and retail stores. The order also extends restrictions on restaurants and bars.
Bars in Kansas City are limited to serving 50% of their normal capacity. Restaurant tables must be placed six feet apart, and masks are required until patrons are seated and eating.
Most establishments have followed the indoor rule of 50% capacity, Lucas told The Star. Others have not: an establishment on Broadway Boulevard recently had a party during which people were “dancing like it was 2019.”
“Several other places had what appeared to be full-fledged dance parties inside,” Lucas tweeted. “Mask requirements for indoor places of public accommodation at least for staff were generally followed, at least when I walked in.”
Lucas said he does not want to see businesses close. He said he hopes the precautions the city is taking will allow for the continuance of economic productivity with businesses.
“No one ... has an interest in shutting things down unnecessarily,” he said. “We’ll try to work with everyone to make sure that people can survive financially but also that we’re worried about our core concern of public health.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 12:26 PM.
