Kansas City mayor faces backlash over Ozarks photo without mask, social distancing
Update: After Ozarks trip, Kansas City mayor gets a COVID-19 test. Story here.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said he regrets that his “politeness undermined our important public health message” when he stood for a photo with seven women — none of them in masks — at the Lake of the Ozarks this weekend.
The photo, which shows the group standing on a dock shoulder-to-shoulder, spread on social media Sunday night, with many criticizing the mayor for not wearing a mask after issuing a citywide mask order last month to limit the spread of coronavirus. The order has been extended indefinitely.
Twitter and Facebook users were quick to share the photo and note what many characterized as hypocrisy. One Twitter user called it a “perfect example of different rules for the ruling class vs the working class.” Others demanded an explanation.
On Sunday, the metro saw its largest single-day increase in new COVID-19 infections with 485 new cases. The virus has infected more than 13,800 metro residents and killed 287.
In a statement Monday morning, Lucas said he was invited to spend time this weekend at the lake, largely away from other people. He said he did not enter any establishments. But he said when he returned to the “more public dock,” a group of women shouted, “That’s the mayor!” and asked him for a photo.
“Still with wet shorts and noting I didn’t have a mask on me since I was just out of the water, I told them I’d prefer not to,” Lucas said. “One woman asked again and, although not sensible, but out of politeness to what appeared to be a nice group of people with a rather routine request, I stood for a photo with them.”
Some of the social media posts claimed that Lucas took staffers to the lake with him, but the women are not employees of the mayor’s office. Lucas’ office said there were no City Hall staffers at the lake with him.
“I didn’t know any of the women who ventured my way to ask for a picture, but did recommend they wear masks as their night proceeded,” Lucas said. “I hope they took my advice.”
The mayor said part of his job involves unmasked folks coming up to speak, take photos or shake hands with him. He’s “almost always” able to prevent close contact, he said, for his own safety, the safety of others and to maintain a “consistent public health message” regarding wearing masks and social distancing.
“Even if my intention in allowing them to take the photo was to be polite to a group of constituents who approached me on a dock, my politeness undermined our important public health message and I regret it,” Lucas said.
Lucas said he would get a COVID-19 test Monday “out of an abundance of caution and to protect those around me and our community,” and he encouraged others to do the same.
”I also will refrain from returning to City Hall or other public activities until I receive a negative test result,” Lucas said. “A previous test result came back negative two weeks ago.”
The city’s mandate requires that masks be worn in indoor public spaces.
This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 10:45 AM.
