08-05-2025
Downtown KC business owners demand action; mayor pushes back over text message dispute
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One day after FOX4 highlighted rising safety concerns from downtown business owners – concerns they say have gone unanswered – Mayor Quinton Lucas is pushing back.
Bradley Gilmore, chef and owner of Lula's Southern Cookhouse, was one of several business leaders who shared frustrations about crime, enforcement and what they described as a lack of meaningful response from the city.
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'The post from last night and this morning has brought a lot of eyes,' Gilmore told FOX4. 'I've received messages from customers, vendors, even strangers. If you read the comments, it's the same story from the City Market to Waldo.'
'People don't feel protected in their own city right now.'
While the issues aren't new, Gilmore and others allege the city's silence is.
One day after FOX4's initial story aired, Lucas took to the comment section of FOX4's Facebook page to dispute the reporting.
The mayor denied receiving a text message from Gilmore, despite Gilmore showing a read receipt on his end.
'It's been a frustrating couple of weeks,' Gilmore said. 'This past weekend, the ATVs were out again. I sent a message to the mayor—just like he asked me to.'
Not only did Gilmore send the message, he sent it to the correct number, the same one Lucas has shared publicly. Both FOX4 and the Mayor have also verified the number is correct.
Regardless, the mayor maintains that he never received the message.
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When Lucas texted Gilmore during a visit to FOX4 studios on Tuesday afternoon, Gilmore replied instantly.
Even with the back-and-forth over the text, business owners say the bigger concern is feeling ignored when it comes to crime and public safety.
'We've had employees and customers robbed in broad daylight,' Gilmore said. 'This goes back to a local chef being shot. Every day, there's broken glass from car break-ins. And the new parking regulations? Completely out of control.'
Lucas did not address public safety during his visit to the FOX4 studios. He declined a full sit-down interview, saying he had previous engagement to attend.
'If we want to talk more about public safety, I've got Ketanji Brown Jackson to go see at 4 o'clock. I'd like to be there and get through security. We told you, I didn't see a message, you looked at my phone. Bring his device here, I'm a lawyer, like you're a reporter, bring his device, bring my device, call AT&T and we can figure it all out.'
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The one positive to come out of this? Lucas and Bradley Gilmore are now directly connected via text.
FOX4 will continue to follow this developing story.
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