TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! KANSAS CITY P&L DISTRICT PROBLEMS PERSIST!!! CHECK OUT THE LATEST REPORTS OF DISCRIMINATORY DRESS CODE ENFORCEMENT!!!

Since the pressure has been off in recent months, I knew it was only a matter of time until reports of discriminatory dress code enforcement at The P&L District resurfaced again.

And here were are . . .

CHECK OUT TKC EXCLUSIVE AND FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS OF PROBLEMS AT THE P&L DISTRICT AND ACCUSATIONS OF SELECTIVE DRESS CODE ENFORCEMENT!!!

But first, just a bit of background from this blog about the subjects of this story. Longtime readers might remember a profile of The Lona Brothers and their new store in Town Center Plaza . . . From what I hear the store is still going strong and the hard work of the stalwart family in KC's Latino Community is really paying a dividend.

The accusations of discrimination also involve their friend Mario, a friend of a friend who is a college educated guy who has done graduate level work and comes from a pretty prominent family in Kansas City's Latino Community as well.

The point here is . . . These are elite folks . . . Not just broke-ass and scruffy Latinos like TKC. Speaking of, I won't go to the P&L District not only because I don't have two dimes to rub together but also because I feel out of place among the local manifestations of The Jersey Shore cast. Also, my idea of a good time involves a fresh order of fast food and yelling obscenities at female weather newscasters on TV while slouching in a corner of my mom's basement. But enough about me . . . THE PEOPLE WRITING THESE COMPLAINTS PERFECTLY REPRESENT THE UPSCALE  DEMOGRAPHIC THAT THE P&L DISTRICT DESPERATELY CLAIMS THEY WANT TO SERVE!!!

And the style of dress is nicer than anything this basement dwelling blogger owns:



To wit . . .

CHECK OUT THESE FIRST PERSON REPORTS OF P&L DISTRICT DISCRIMINATORY DRESS CODE ENFORCEMENT THAT INVOLVE PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION, SLURS AND UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR ON THE PART OF P&L DISTRICT STAFF!!!

People in the know realize that the kind of behavior by the P&L Crew described in these reports is uncalled for in any circumstance but especially unfortunate when perpetrated against some of the young, best and brightest members of Kansas City's Latino Community.


Report #1

On the night of January 22nd my friend Mario Singelmann was in town from Texas. The plan was to meet at Lucky Strike Bowling Alley at 11:00PM. I arrived to Lucky Strike 11:30PM, Mario and the rest of our party where already inside Lucky Strike. When I came to the door the doorman (Dustin) informed me I couldn’t enter because I was wearing Timberland Boots. He also commented in a very condescending manner, “Why would you where Timberlands to go out?” I then replied, “Because there is 8inches of snow on the ground why wouldn’t I wear boots.” I then tried to explain that my large party was already inside and they were in town for a short time only. He still did not seem to care and told me to leave in very rude manner.
After this exchange I left the venue and went to Mosaic, where I was promptly let in with no incident. I made a phone call to my brother Guillermo Lona to inform him what had happened because he too was on the way to the venue to join the party. Guillermo was at home at the time of my phone call so he decided to check Lucky Strikes website to make sure that what the doorman was telling me was accurate. It turns out the doorman was wrong about the dress code. According to the Lucky Strike website under the Kansas City Missouri Location Dress Code page: Work or Construction boots are prohibited except for SEASONAL EXCEPTIONS. A seasonal exception to me would apply since it is winter and there is more than 6 Inches of snow on the ground and it was snowing that night. After receiving this information and pulling the website up on my smartphone I then returned to Lucky Strike to try to explain that he was wrong about the dress code to show him proof that he was wrong according to their own website and polices.

When I arrived back at Luck Strike to inform the doormen that they may have made a mistake or they may be misinformed about their dress code the two doormen became very confrontational. When I tried to show him what the website said on my phone he refused to look at and then told me, “ I don’t give a fuck what that says you aren’t getting in.” I then asked to see the manager and the two doormen refused to get the manager told me “Just get the fuck out of here”. After this exchange my brother Guillermo arrived and was in line to get into Lucky Strike I then pulled him out of line to inform him what had just happened. Guillermo then went to also try to talk to the doormen or upper management. They again refused. He also repeated to them that their website states that there is a seasonal exception to for work boots. They then told him that him that they agreed but that I was not getting in because I was being a “jerk”. At that point my brother again asked for the manager and was refused and told, “ Get the fuck out of here.” He refused stating that they were being unfair to me and were not following their own rules. As my brother and I waited for our friend and the rest of his party to leave (we informed them of the incident via text message) the two doormen then began to harass Guillermo yelling and calling him a “Faggot and a Pussy”; trying to incite a physical confrontation After hearing that I went to see what was going on, at that point the shorter blonde muscular doorman shoved me. When that happened another gentleman that was standing close by broke up and deescalated the situation.

After that confrontation we continued to wait outside of the entrance to wait for Mario to go to another club or venue. But before Mario could get out the Police arrived to escort us off the property. I then tried to explain to the Officers what was going on but they were not trying to listen or did not try to investigate the problem.

The reasons why I have come to the conclusion that this is a case of clear discrimination are because there were two other minority males that were denied entrance before and during our confrontation for the same infraction. Also, the doorman later admitted to Mario that there where girls inside with no shoes on at all but he still was not going to me in. Lucky Strikes own dress code was not being upheld by their own employees. Lastly, a Caucasian male exited Lucky Strike with the same type of work/construction boots I had on.
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REPORT #2

Recap of events on 1/22 at Lucky Strike at Power and Light:

I arrived first, with my party, walking in while it had already been and was currently snowing.  Later I received a text from David Lona that he was unable to come into Lucky Strike due to his boots.  I walked to the door to see David Lona dressed appropriately for Power and Light, especially since he was already admitted.  At Lucky Strike, however, he was denied entrance to his Timberland boots.  They were not big, ridiculous boots.  They were actually professional, and weather appropriate (as David showed me Power and Light's dress policy from his phone with internet access).  David Lona and I spoke with bouncer (all the while I was there none of us spoke inappropriately to Lucky Strike staff) attempting to show him Power and Light's policy, specifically, the part saying about his shoes being weather appropriate.  Considering it was snowing, I obviously agreed.  The boots were also in new-like condition, and his dress was appropriate.

The one bouncer did not want to listen, refused to look at David's phone with the dress policy specific to the circumstance.  Instead, he would only refer us to the signage right outside Lucky Strike.  While I was a patron already of Lucky Strike, I respectfully and with appropriate language of course, even pulled David Lona's jacket open and said, "He's got Polo on from head to toe."  Same response, "Look at the sign."  I then told the bouncer, "There's a girl in there who doesn't even have shoes on."  He responded, "I know who you're talking about" but never discussed the matter further.  There were other Lucky Strike staff within five feet.  I believe there was for sure, two females standing where to pay the cover.  If memory serves me there was another male staff member, but he didn't really say anything or have any role.  Seeing this injustice, I told David Lona I was going in to finish my drink (very quickly), pay my tab, and would get the rest of my party to do the same.  We were planning to head to Mosaic.  In addition, the crowd at Lucky Strike was very sparse.  Very sparse.

Between the time we paid our bills and left, I found out David Lona, his cousin, and brother had all been kicked out of Power and Light because Lucky Strike basically requested them too.  From what I am told by David and his brother Guillermo Lona, when Guillermo challenged the bouncer's ruling of the dress code with adult conversation, they began getting berated being called "bitches" and getting "fuck yous" from the bouncer, who I am told initiated the cursing.  I was also told by the David and Guillermo Lona that the police were not able to assist with this issue, simply saying that they had been requested to remove the three by Lucky Strike.  Worth mentioning is that I didn't even hear the cousin speak one word to Lucky Strike staff while I was a witness over the course of a few minutes.

As people of color we are very much aware of the stigmas and stereotypes and if you are to look at the backgrounds of the people involved, you would see a family that has a rich history in the service and leadership of the Latino community, and as for myself, an individual who served as an administrator in the KCMSD for three years, six years of service total.  None of us involved have any associations with any problematic behavior, and our records back that up, should you decide to investigate.  However, we are educated Latinos who know injustice when we see it, and that's I took my party's business to another location.  And to be honest, what educated Latinos would go to Power and Light and seek any problems?  We're simply smarter than that.

We had all planned to go to Mosaic, and the bouncer was aware of this.  I was standing right next to him the entire time I was involved.  He just kept repeating "The rules are the same for everyone."  Obviously not.  The asian female walking around with no shoes was not removed, and later, party pics from KC Nightlife, I believe pics numbered 23 and 70 out of 77 display men wearing what appears to be rubber snow boots.  While the bouncer knew we were leaving momentarily, he still decided he needed to curse at my friends (I'm told) and the situation that was void of violence, cursing, or trespassing required the police in the view of Lucky Strike staff.  The bouncer knew all of us would be gone soon, the only reason they didn't get to Mosaic earlier was because brother, Guillermo Lona, then arrived at Lucky Strike and was respectfully disagreeing with the policy.

In my opinion, there were no "rules for everyone to follow."  The asian female wasn't asked to leave, there ended up being people with snow boots on in the club anyway (more than one), and the situation did not necessitate police removing three individuals who were not drunk, cursing, fighting, or dressed so poorly that they should not even have gotten into Power and Light.  If you require any further information please contact me.

Mario Singelmann
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