Mayor Lucas Gets Serious About Social Distancing

Mayor Lucas is getting more serious about social distancing in Kansas City,

In an interview today with radio station KCUR, Lucas said that he has seen kids playing basketball games and heard of people having backyard house parties with more than the allowed 10 people to congregate in one area.

The Kansas City Police Department will be used to break up the events, though he stressed “we want to be nice,” about the process and is not interested in increasing arrests.

Later, in a press conference, Lucas said he would like to see more masks in the city for both emergency workers and employees at grocery stores and other essential business.

He also said that the city has sent 200 letters to businesses deemed non-essential and is sending them letters to shut their operations.

Meanwhile, Lucas is proposing a local stimulus for small businesses in Kansas City and announced a $500,000 relief fund to give loans to those firms with no interest rates in six to 12 months.

Businesses eligible have 20 employees or under or have revenues of $750,000 or less last year.