Crossroads businesses, neighbors call for action as ATVs harass First Friday attendees
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - It’s a problem that continues to plague Crossroads businesses and neighbors -- sideshows and roadside antics taking over city streets.
During First Fridays, business owners near 19th and Main Street caught ATV drivers going onto sidewalks and allegedly harassing people out for their evening walks with their dogs.
Tire track marks on the sidewalk near the streetcar stop paint a picture of what happened.
The ongoing problem frustrates many business owners like David Epstein, who owns Tom’s Town Distilling.
“We need to nip this in the bud now,” Epstein said. “It also creates a circus-like atmosphere that people don’t feel safe, and that’s a real concern. Plus, there’s a sound of backfire, and because we live in Missouri, it’s terrifying, it’s just terrifying.”
Epstein has seen the area transform over the last decade, saying it’s not what it used to be.
“When you drive down Main Street -- and I have photos -- they did this a year ago, where the streets were packed and really vibrant, everybody was walking around even during the day. That has ended,” Epstein said.
He believes a lot of that has to do with growing pains, like updates to street parking and safety concerns.
“We are on the up and up,” Epstein said. “Don’t let what happened to the Plaza happen to the crossroads. Safety, security, and service, that’s all we need to be about – emphasize that Kansas City, and we will be just fine.”
Epstein said that the increased penalties and fines for this activity that the city in partnership with KCPD recently announced doesn’t seem to be stopping anyone in their tracks.
“You stop crime at the beginning; you don’t do fines and tickets afterward,” Epstein said.
Epstein, along with other business owners, have come together to fight for the area as they believe things can turn around. But for now, they said it’s causing sales to go down.
“Make the Crossroads alive again with people walking around, cars parked, things like that. Then people will be aware that this is a real-life community, ‘I’m going to go elsewhere with my drag racing,’” Epstein said.
KCTV5 brought these concerns to KCPD and city officials.
“We had several officers in and around the Crossroads district Friday night, as well as, other entertainment districts. Our entertainment district plan is in full effect and we will have devoted assets to our entertainment areas. Anyone who is out in our city has a right to enjoy it, safely. Individuals parading around on ATVs and dirt bikes are subject to citation, arrest, and vehicle impoundment. We will continue to makes arrests and pursue all leads in regard to this activity,” a spokesperson for KCPD said.
“Our efforts have focused on engaging and meeting with CIDs, business associations, and business owners to identify when and where these activities are occurring. We then relay that information to KCPD for investigation and enforcement. Working to identify the pattern of these activities assist with being able to get out ahead and have a law enforcement presence in the area before the gatherings and dangerous activities start,” a spokesperson for the city said.
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