Kansas City Mayor Q Promises Fix For Crossroads Parking Crisis

Thanks to KICK-ASS FRIENDS OF THE TKC BLOG for noticing elite locals still frustrated about recent Crossroads parking drama . . .

We talked about this hot mess last week and, clearly, the situation has grown even worse. 

Accordingly . . . A local socialite and restaurant owner tagged Mayor Q in a social media post over the weekend and he actually offered this lengthy response that deserves consideration . . .

Mayor Q: I'm Sorry To Hear This . . .

Just to clear things up for the varied responses, most parking enforcement is now handled through a private contractor for the Public Works Department. 

This was started a few years back to relieve the responsibility from KCPD, who as you all rightly note, have many other things to do on criminal enforcement downtown and beyond. What appears to be happening, however, is that there are pluses and minuses to shifting government work to private business. 

I need to reexamine the contract, but the contractor likely earns more per parking citation. In theory, this all should work. In practice, you’ve seen a heavy hammer on a few spots—the River Market previously—and apparently now the Crossroads where folks congregate, and it makes me wonder the incentives for the individual parking enforcement officers. 

The irony becomes that the most successful restaurant and entertainment spots are getting the most enforcement and this is deterring your customers. I need to get better info from Public Works on ticket activity and how heavy handed we’re being and what for. Here, I welcome your thoughts Bradley . . . We probably want people to have valid plates (and thus ticket), but don’t want the same high price ticket for someone two minutes over time versus those who leave a car illegally parked for a day or more. I’m going to ask the staff folks who oversee the program to explain what’s happening here, and try to share more . . . You’re welcome to contact anytime (text preferred). 

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Developing . . .