It's not secret that crime on The Plaza is a growing concern, especially as the warmer weather approaches and crowds get bigger. However, on RATHER GULLY TKC TIPSTER reports a SECRET SATURDAY RIOT recently and makes some bold assertions about the Plaza . . . I can't verify any of this report because I wasn't there but the story does have a lot of detail and speaks to concerns that we've heard about the area so many times before . . .
Check it:
"I'm a waiter on the plaza and have talked to a few people with a couple first hand vantage points. I think I have the basics of the story down and am asking around to find more. This is what I know.Developing . . .
Saturday evening a large contingent of young teens (middle school aged) were gathered on the plaza. From one count at one time there were groups of at least 50 kids gathered in front of the parking lot between CPK and Plaza III. These groups have been growing by the week. Their primary form of entertainment seems to be crossing the street very slowly to hold up traffic and also physically jumping out in front of cars. Saturday evening between 10:30 and 11:30 stuff seemed to hit the fan. At least 3 police cars with sirens blasting passed my place (47th and Mercier) heading east towards the Plaza. Being only a few blocks from State Line I would assume most of the response came from the other side. During this period for at least 30 minutes at least one police copter was circling the Plaza and spotlighting it. Additionally there was some sort of roadblock by Classic Cup and Blanc had a window broken.
Highwoods does everything they can to keep the crime stats for the Plaza artificially low. From in house security that resolves property crimes to keeping crimes against persons under the radar. They have even gone as far as to pressure restaurants to pressure their employees not to cooperate with reporters when incidents do arise. I thought this one might be up your alley or at least an interesting story."
It was a riot. I was there.
ReplyDeleteA "secret" riot? If an incident is small enough it can be covered up, it doesn't qualify as a riot.
ReplyDeleteBlocked off streets and broken glass sounds like a riot to me.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the Faloon is using an "unsuccessful" lease negotiation as political cover to get the hell out of there. This shows again why the P&L - controlled access - concept has been so successful. It may also show that Bill Nigro has made some progress in Westport re crowd control. This is bound to be an interesting summer with all of the class warfare BS that Obama is spewing and probably will push more partiers either into P&L or Ks. Also I'd be very nervous if I were the LLewellen boys with the possibility of the Faloon rolling into Waldo (as rumoured)and the gangsters coming out there after Highwoods lowers the boom.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder the P&L wants to stop minorities from entering their place. They don't what their establishment to be ruined.
ReplyDeleteAt the current rate, Obama will destroy the U.S. as we have known it and these kids will really have something to riot about... If they want to eat.
ReplyDeleteAnd the lesson is that the Ghetto ruin's good establishments.
ReplyDeleteThey ruined Westport, The Plaza and are starting to ruin the Independence Center area.
In a few years they will ruin Legends and Zona Rosa.
Maybe this is why P&L has that dress policy that people hate so much?
P&L got rid of the dress code this winter, should be the new Westport this summer. I know TKC reported this a few months ago.
ReplyDeleteI was down on the plaza on Saturday night and saw KCPD stop several ppl in the groups who had guns on them.
we are going to take back the school district and we will take back West of Troost!
ReplyDeleteNigro's a phony but let's let him recover for a while. Let the gangsters "do" the Plaza for a while and give Westport a break and give Highwoods security a handful of race baiting this summer. Beth gave Westport the trolleys what will she have for the Plaza when it's in the tank and trolleys fail (which they always have)?
ReplyDeleteand of course KCPD was slow to respond.
ReplyDeleteThe crime in Kansas City is just spreading. Once people ignore crime in one part of the city it tends to gain a foothold and grow. Like untreated cancer crime in Kansas City will continue to grow and spread.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a "FACEBOOK" staged event, which is the current rage around the country. Staging 'happenings' for the hell of it.
ReplyDeleteGives kids something to do. A connection. Not exactly a Saturday night Scout campout but kinda sorta in this digital age.
You probably should alert Alonzo Washington. It sounds very serious.
Oh hell, Plaza Security's been hushing up crimes in that area for decades... like all shopping center areas.
ReplyDeleteYa gotta have a dead body before shopping area security will call the cops and put crimes into the police blotter!
BTW, when are they going to hose down the parking garages stairs and get rid of that PISS smell from the 'hobos'? Not so nice as patrons park to go to the Cheezeycake Factory for dinner!
anonymous has 1 heck of a family tree in kc.a family affair? having all of kc area as clients and the cash heavy portions off quindaro blvd. in ks. i can tell you this . the inside off the other guys pockets and good accounting methods is well....West of troost, gracious im old . i remember east of prospect being the combat zone. how 'bout fairyland park. swope park banister mall were well a product of the times. well multiply the mordant norms of today = <
ReplyDeleteMy mother loved the plaza, painted it much like the depiction shown here.
ReplyDeleteAfter building up enough courage after she died, I finally scattered her ashes up the hill from the "horsey" fountain. On my way home from that daring slight-ceremony, she appeared to my mind, and I knew I'd done the right thing.
Lets face it, the Plaza is a very special KC place. It will endure long after TKC and blogging disappears.
Even Nichols doesn't own this landmark... it will be part of us forever.
ReplyDeletelook for massive enforcement by highwoods security. it may take the heat off the P&L.
ReplyDeleteYep them Carolina boys might take the gloves off.
ReplyDeleteThis has been happening in KC for years Tony. Where you been?
ReplyDeleteTony loves this shit...one more race baiting opportunity (area). 8:02 is right Highwoods will kick ass.
ReplyDeleteBasic math
ReplyDeleteTKC-Waldo Rapist=Bore ring
Be firm, be quick, don't let these thugs in training think they can foul another neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteThe smell in the stairwell has more to do with drunken patrons of P. Ott's and Blonde than 'hobos." Most of the "homeless" on the Plaza have nicer homes than the employees.
ReplyDeleteI was on the plaza during this time and it was on the plaza at work when this all went down and I will tell you I am appalled by the racist attitudes of most the posters here. First of all it was not a riot, Blanc's window was not broken, and no real damage was done except to a racist security officer in an unrelated event.
ReplyDeleteYes the teens are congregating in the plaza area, but they behaved no worse than any group of teens would when in a area gathering with no adult supervision (no matter their race). They were being a general nuisance to passing cars, jeering and cat calling pedestrians, acting almost like construction workers in NYC.
If you think about it, this is the entire cities problem, its getting warm out, kids want to get out and be independent, but where are they going to go? their is no where in the inner city for them to hang out, we have effectively shut down all forms of entertainment for them and they can't go to any malls because there is no public transportation to take them to any.
Kansas Cities segregationist attitude and policies over the last 50 years have driven these youths into areas of the city that are accessible and have things for them to do.
And comments like many of you have made are examples of what makes them act out crazy, if people expect you to behave poorly what are you going to do? Even if you behave they are still going to assume you are a thug or a gang banger.
Lets also not forget to mention that with the plummeting support for schools and neighborhood activities, even school related sports and art programs that would keep these teens occupied how can you act surprised?
If you want to blame anyone for KC's supposed gang/riot/race issues I suggest you start blaming yourselves, the policies and policy makers you have either voted into office or allowed to remain in office by not getting out and voting or acting for change in a positive manner instead of sitting on your asses bitching on a blogsphere.
9;47 -I am SO sick of hearing that kids have NOTHING to do. My high school kids weren't allowed to hang, unsupervised, anywhere outside of my home. They had kids over or went to someone elses house. This line of reasoning (got nothin to do) is absolutely ridiculous. The poorest of homes have so many electronic games they should never be bored. BTW - don't care if they truly have 'nothin to do - get the heck off the Plaza and out of the streets!
ReplyDeleteniggers acting all nigger like at the Plaza???? that just won't do!
ReplyDelete9:47 said, "their is no where in the inner city for them to hang out, we have effectively shut down all forms of entertainment for them"
ReplyDeleteNo, they shut it down. Once the Ghetto comes it ruin's everything beyond repair.
Westport, The Plaza, Ward Parkway all ruined. Independence Center area is starting to be ruined by the Ghetto.
And Lord knows the the Legends can't keep the KCK Ghetto away from it for far too long. If Zona Rosa wasn't so far north, I'm sure the Ghetto would try to ruin that place as well.
And kids today have too much to do. Kids today have the Internet, video games that look like movies. Ipod's, Ipads, most kids have a TV in their rooms. Their are plenty of things they can do.
Underage kids hanging outside bars shouldn't be one of them.
9:47, typical liberal idiot. The only alternative to state sponsored fun that has dried up is to be a pain to paying customers.
ReplyDelete9:47 They don't have transport to the mall but they can get to the Plaza???????
ReplyDelete"..... behaved no worse than any group of teens would when in a area gathering with no adult supervision (no matter their race). They were being a general nuisance to passing cars, jeering and cat calling pedestrians, acting almost like construction workers in NYC. "
UNACCEPTABLE. I've seen MANY groups of teens that DO NOT BEHAVE THAT WAY. So do NOT say all groups of teens would behave that way, in order to excuse the bad conduct of what was probably YOUR child. If that was my child on the Plaza (and there's NO WAY it would be) he wouldn't be leaving the house for a LONG time, at the very least.
I heard it was a pillow fight of kick ass Tkc tipsters hitting each other anonymously over the head with heavy-handed slander
ReplyDeleteThis is where a CCW comes in handy!!! They are worthless to society and will likely become a drain in the future, probably just like their families.....................
ReplyDeleteI also happened by the plaza that night around midnight as I saw a grouping of police cars with their "cherries" on. Out of curiosity, I drove around most of district that night. There were in fact many groups of Afro-American teen-agers ranging from a few to groups of 40 to 50 pretty much just milling around. The heart of the area they seemed to be most around the movie theatres and the new noodle joint where MacDonalds used to be.
ReplyDeleteThere was also at least four police cars earlier mentioned along with heavy duty police vehicles that I would in fact assiociate with conditions. All were blocking the street off from where Brios is to the movie theatres. There was also a heliocopter hovering. I'd say there were probably 15-20 cops -all in this same area. clearly they were ready, but at the time of my witness were just monitoring.
I saw no aggressive actions, but it is true, that they paid no attention to street crossings and walked in masse in any direction they wished - particularly the larger groups. All in all I'd say that there were several hundred stretching from one end of the Plaza to the other. Also, there were very few motorists and virtually no other pedestrians of any other age or ethnic group to be seen. It was of course Easter eve, and late at night at that, so maybe this was the reason for the carcity of anyone else.
But from either a socially or commercial standpoint, this did not look good. The Plaza is the crown jewel of this city - a city with very few other consumer & tourist driven assets. At the same time, kid are going to be kids and they are going to want to go out.
So, before the zealots and agendalistas at the extremes start jawboning and causing real damage to well-meaning people on what appears to be a very troublesome outlier, this thing absolutely must be dealt with before summer.
And yes, those of you who continue to comment "Anonymous" are really no help at all.
I was there....these kids as some of you call them made racist remarks to myself and my girlfriend, btw I'm of European decent as is my girl. We both felt threatened and intimidated for we were seriously outnumbered and felt thr mob scene energy. Not a good feeling! It appears that in todays society its ok to make anti white comments, but God forbid use of the N word! Neither is right but it appears racism is alive in the african american community. How can this hippocrasy (sp?) help solve these problems? Yeah KC has a serious racial problem....the black community needs to remove the chip and start acting responsible for their behavior and begin to stop the racist blabbering!! My Mother taught me how to act right....where are these kids mothers?
ReplyDeleteI've been living on the plaza for the last 5 years. I've been getting increasingly sick of this place and this is the last straw. I get a distinct anti-white vibe from these thugs. I hope the cops crack some skulls if this keeps up.
ReplyDeleteIt saddens me to say that much of what is said, felt and expressed (in my opinion) is justified. It breaks my heart to see that many of our youth have lost the hope offered by the freedom that America offers. The failing systems by which we presently attempt to address these issues must be reconsidered and aggressive actions must be taken and we must fight for both our youth and our freedom. There are good people and not so good people in all races so perhaps by dividing we (law abiding citizens) lose ground against the real problem people (divide and conquer). Perhaps we (law abiding citizens) need to pull together and take a stronger stand and strike a genuine fight for change. Our freedom is non-negotiable!
ReplyDeleteNot sure why people focus on color and not on how the individual acts. Trashy people are trashy people, whether they are white, black, mexican or chinese (etc)... It's a bunch of kids getting together in very large groups and hanging out at the plaza. That spells problems no matter the color.
ReplyDeleteP.S. You can put restrictions on on what your child does, but unless you watch them 24/7 they'll find a way to do something you don't approve of. Does that mean you're a bad parent? No. That means your child is a teenager.
Ok. Fuck you all for claiming "race problems" are a huge problem in KC. Go to the south (someone white) and try to talk to a group of black kids and see what the fuck happens. First of all they'll think you're insane, because they've been called a nigger by every other white dude that looks like you and treated like shit. So of course they lash out. I'm not black, I dress well, and I'm still annoyed by the power and white bullshit. Accept that these poor people are here, treat them with some fucking respect, and they won't hate you for having a plaza and probably won't even have a desire to go to the plaza in the 1st place. Racism? Well it's everywhere.
ReplyDeleteKansas City obviously doesn't know how good they have it. People are generally friendly, even some of the "thug" type people (no not the johnson county ones, actual crack dealers and killers.) are respectful. More so than a lot of the stick up their asses faggots on the plaza (of various races, primarily caucasian of course), walking around scared of everyone so of course they get fucked with.
I've been in Milwaukee when a real fucking riot of pissed off black people went down, and they were actually fucking shit up, starting fires, etc... all because they were "celebrating" the end of summerfest. Just out of nowhere, nowhere was safe to be and there weren't enough cops.
Basically what I'm saying is, you're all a bunch of fucking pussy whiny faggots for being afraid of a teenage car club or whatever.
die in a fire, hopefully a fire set by these kids, burning the goddamn plaza down.
To the 110 that got arrested..have FUN in jail! The rate your going could be your home permantly! Smiles!
ReplyDeletePresent government will have no answers.
ReplyDeletesame old same old crap.
Destroying the plaza.
Curfews are not the solution. Lack of proper parenting is the real problem! If parents were charged for contributing to the delinquency of a minor as well as a conspirator of the crime, this would stop immediately! The parents need to be prosecuted.
ReplyDeleteThe real issue is that many parents don't have time to parent or don't give a damn. This type of people should not breed and then they wouldn't have this problem.