OFFICIAL - Loews Convention Hotel (formerly Hyatt)

[DColeKC]

Health isn't a political pawn. Thank goodness he isn't relying on the restaurant biz for health guidance.

It isn't?! Seems to me health has been used as one of the top political pawns for decades. Just like the economy. Yeah, thank good he hasn't listened to business owners who are willing to compromise and do everything required to be safe, but need a little help just to not go out of business. Everyone has their own priorities.

[KCPowercat]

Maybe I should have said "shouldn't be". I don't care what anybody's political stance is, this situation should be lead by science, not how "free" vs "controlled" people seem to believe a political side is handling this pandemic that you inferred in your earlier post.

There are just some businesses that are riskier for the public health in this situation no matter what a business owner is willing to compromise. Nobody WANTS that to be the case, jeez. I think the priorities are quite clear here and the priority of a business is to make money first. I get that. It sucks that bars and restaurants spread this crap more. Those are the things I like doing the most and everyone that has to close sucks. PPP is sadly one of the only tools out there to help right now.

[DColeKC]

Maybe I should have said "shouldn't be". I don't care what anybody's political stance is, this situation should be lead by science, not how "free" vs "controlled" people seem to believe a political side is handling this pandemic that you inferred in your earlier post.

There are just some businesses that are riskier for the public health in this situation no matter what a business owner is willing to compromise. Nobody WANTS that to be the case, jeez. I think the priorities are quite clear here and the priority of a business is to make money first. I get that. It sucks that bars and restaurants spread this crap more. Those are the things I like doing the most and everyone that has to close sucks. PPP is sadly one of the only tools out there to help right now.

I completely agree that precautions needed to be taken. Capacity reductions, mask mandates etc but "must be seated" and early closing times were the real hard hitters for many. Usually the goal of a business is to make money but I think most at this point just don't want to go out of business.

[KCPowercat]

totally understand that's the businesses goal. it's also why the mayor doesn't need to be taking their advice on what is "safe" in this situation. We don't let food handlers decide what's safe enough when making food safety codes. It's a conflict.

Milling about (not seated) leads to spread, anybody that's ever stepped foot in a bar and has done research on this disease could deduce that. Same with bars at 2am. It sucks. I love both of those things. Hell I haven't been inside a restaurant since March even though "power drunk" mayor allows it because I don't think it's safe. Evenso, I trust the mayor and the health department have given it enough thought and consideration that indoor dining with spacing allows for some safety for those who decide it's safe enough for them.

I can't wait to go chill at a restaurant and not eat out of to go containers.

[DColeKC]

totally understand that's the businesses goal. it's also why the mayor doesn't need to be taking their advice on what is "safe" in this situation. We don't let food handlers decide what's safe enough when making food safety codes. It's a conflict.

Milling about (not seated) leads to spread, anybody that's ever stepped foot in a bar and has done research on this disease could deduce that. Same with bars at 2am. It sucks. I love both of those things. Hell I haven't been inside a restaurant since March even though "power drunk" mayor allows it because I don't think it's safe. Evenso, I trust the mayor and the health department have given it enough thought and consideration that indoor dining with spacing allows for some safety for those who decide it's safe enough for them.

I can't wait to go chill at a restaurant and not eat out of to go containers.

We all know he's got a chub behind the podium when he's handing out more restrictions. Show me a politician who isn't a bit drunk on power and I'd be shocked.

Anyway, I wouldn't expect for the Mayor to flat out allow local business owners to completely dictate his decisions, but a compromise would be nice. For example, must be seated stays but 2am comes back.

As for how safe a properly spaced environment is. One of the head Health Department leaders and his family were at a bar/restaurant for the AFC championship game. If he feel safe, I think it's safe.

[normalthings]

totally understand that's the businesses goal. it's also why the mayor doesn't need to be taking their advice on what is "safe" in this situation. We don't let food handlers decide what's safe enough when making food safety codes. It's a conflict.

Milling about (not seated) leads to spread, anybody that's ever stepped foot in a bar and has done research on this disease could deduce that. Same with bars at 2am. It sucks. I love both of those things. Hell I haven't been inside a restaurant since March even though "power drunk" mayor allows it because I don't think it's safe. Evenso, I trust the mayor and the health department have given it enough thought and consideration that indoor dining with spacing allows for some safety for those who decide it's safe enough for them.

I can't wait to go chill at a restaurant and not eat out of to go containers.

We all know he's got a chub behind the podium when he's handing out more restrictions. Show me a politician who isn't a bit drunk on power and I'd be shocked.

Anyway, I wouldn't expect for the Mayor to flat out allow local business owners to completely dictate his decisions, but a compromise would be nice. For example, must be seated stays but 2am comes back.

As for how safe a properly spaced environment is. One of the head Health Department leaders and his family were at a bar/restaurant for the AFC championship game. If he feel safe, I think it's safe.

Is the time limit still 10pm? I think pushing that back to 12am would be reasonable post-Superbowl.

[DColeKC]

totally understand that's the businesses goal. it's also why the mayor doesn't need to be taking their advice on what is "safe" in this situation. We don't let food handlers decide what's safe enough when making food safety codes. It's a conflict.

Milling about (not seated) leads to spread, anybody that's ever stepped foot in a bar and has done research on this disease could deduce that. Same with bars at 2am. It sucks. I love both of those things. Hell I haven't been inside a restaurant since March even though "power drunk" mayor allows it because I don't think it's safe. Evenso, I trust the mayor and the health department have given it enough thought and consideration that indoor dining with spacing allows for some safety for those who decide it's safe enough for them.

I can't wait to go chill at a restaurant and not eat out of to go containers.

We all know he's got a chub behind the podium when he's handing out more restrictions. Show me a politician who isn't a bit drunk on power and I'd be shocked.

Anyway, I wouldn't expect for the Mayor to flat out allow local business owners to completely dictate his decisions, but a compromise would be nice. For example, must be seated stays but 2am comes back.

As for how safe a properly spaced environment is. One of the head Health Department leaders and his family were at a bar/restaurant for the AFC championship game. If he feel safe, I think it's safe.

Is the time limit still 10pm? I think pushing that back to 12am would be reasonable post-Superbowl.

12am currently which I know was a big help. It was also done because of the Chiefs games and guests being forced to leave mid-game. I'm sure a scientist would disagree, but I don't see a massive risk/difference between 12am and 2am.

[KCPowercat]

If I'm a business owner I'd count my blessings to be allowed to do with kcmo is even allowing.

[normalthings]

If I'm a business owner I'd count my blessings to be allowed to do with kcmo is even allowing.

STL has generally had harsher rules and a higher covid rate. I don't think Covid magically spreads faster at 12:01am but I wouldn't doubt if people staying up late drinking pay less attention to the rules. Maybe a % capacity during the day is a happy medium.

[DColeKC]

If I'm a business owner I'd count my blessings to be allowed to do with kcmo is even allowing.

When your customers can drive 15 minutes and go to a bar that's open later and doesn't have a seated mandate? Or when your customers can go to a casino and basically act as normal? It would be one thing if it was a straight across the board situation, but it's not.

[KCPowercat]

Lot of people making a choice between mosaic and tanners OP that has a 1230 last call?

[FangKC]

We all know he's got a chub behind the podium when he's handing out more restrictions. Show me a politician who isn't a bit drunk on power and I'd be shocked.

This is just a stupid comment. Come on. Please. This demonstrates a real immaturity on your part. It really does. You should consider rethinking things before you post.

I doubt the Mayor gets some big thrill out of any of this. You are forgetting that these restrictions are imperiling the City as well because tax collections are way down. The City is going to have to make painful cuts. There are probably going to be a lot of pissed off residents. The Mayor's political fortunes could potentially be ended because of this. A big hole in the City budget, and drastic cuts in services, will be like sink-weights placed around the Mayor's neck because he's the figurehead that people will blame.

Look at Governor Gavin Newsom's approval rating right now. Do you think he's enjoying any of this? He might not get re-elected, or have any future in politics because of this pandemic. But at a certain point, any responsible public servant has to make hard decisions, and sometimes they are very unpopular.

Not all politicians and public servants are as power-mad as you think. Many are rather boring people who just want good and fair governance. Granted there always showboaters in politics, but those exist in all professions.

[DColeKC]

We all know he's got a chub behind the podium when he's handing out more restrictions. Show me a politician who isn't a bit drunk on power and I'd be shocked.

This is just a stupid comment. Come on. Please. This demonstrates a real immaturity on your part. It really does. You should consider rethinking things before you post.

I doubt the Mayor gets some big thrill out of any of this. You are forgetting that these restrictions are imperiling the City as well because tax collections are way down. The City is going to have to make painful cuts. There are probably going to be a lot of pissed off residents. The Mayor's political fortunes could potentially be ended because of this. A big hole in the City budget, and drastic cuts in services, will be like sink-weights placed around the Mayor's neck because he's the figurehead that people will blame.

Look at Governor Gavin Newsom's approval rating right now. Do you think he's enjoying any of this? He might not get re-elected, or have any future in politics because of this pandemic. But at a certain point, any responsible public servant has to make hard decisions, and sometimes they are very unpopular.

Not all politicians and public servants are as power-mad as you think. Many are rather boring people who just want good and fair governance. Granted there always showboaters in politics, but those exist in all professions.

We can’t make jokes around here? You think I really believe he’s rocking a erection behind the podium as he delivers more bad news? Jesus.

My comment about power was broad and clearly many fine people get into politics strictly to help others and are selfless.

His supporters will dismiss the state of the city budget and the required cuts because they’ll champion him as a life saver. This isn’t a hard decision for him as he knows how to tickle his voters fancy.

Newsom’s approval rating is dumping for more reasons than how he’s handled Covid. Perhaps it took a recession and a pandemic for residents to realize what dumpster fire is taking place out there.

[KCPowercat]

Most politicians get into it to help their community. One noted exception just left power.

I don't think anybody is going to dismiss the budget shortfalls and pending cuts. It's sadly inevitable. Even if he left everything wide open, it was going to happen. People were still going to be sent home to work, private organizations weren't going to hold events on their own moral grounds, and people would stay home socially.

[DColeKC]

Most politicians get into it to help their community. One noted exception just left power.

I don't think anybody is going to dismiss the budget shortfalls and pending cuts. It's sadly inevitable. Even if he left everything wide open, it was going to happen. People were still going to be sent home to work, private organizations weren't going to hold events on their own moral grounds, and people would stay home socially.

I guess I've been jaded by all the stories of small level politicians abusing power. For example, getting pulled over and using the, "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?" line. We've seen that happen here locally. Also with the big guys constantly arguing and making it hard to like either side.

[beautyfromashes]

idk, Rex Archer seems pretty tone deaf about all the restrictions. Of course, he doesn't have to worry about the budget. It'd be a close race on who I'd vote as worse city employee, him or Pat Klein.

[KCPowercat]

Rex has really disappointed me through this. It seems he just wants to play the victim of budget cuts and make it out to be he can't do anything. Fine make the point about public health budget cuts, it's valid. Move on and make the best of it. I agree he's been subpar at best.

[earthling]

US hotel occupancy picking up some after typical winter decline. Still can't find recent data for KC.



Minneapolis one of worst markets of top 25...
https://str.com/press-release/str-us-ho ... 3-february

[Link2]

KC metro finished January in the mid-30s for occupancy. Downtown lower than that; which is to be expected right now.

[earthling]

Yeah given that most downtown hotels are more dependent on events and suburban interstate hotels are doing better with road travelers, not surprising downtown is lower than metro. But not great that metro is performing below US avg - although Jan will be lower in most winter areas that aren't winter destinations, compared to warmer part of US.

Was thinking before COVID hit that downtown might be approaching overbuilt territory. Won't be too surprising if some either sit idle and sell over time or convert to some form of residential.