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Midwest Mayors Debated When to Reopen in a Frank Call Midwest Mayors Debated When to Reopen in a Frank Call
(about 5 hours later)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When should businesses reopen? What should be done about residents who ignore stay-at-home orders? Is it possible to balance the restlessness of those stuck inside with the dire predictions of public health experts?KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When should businesses reopen? What should be done about residents who ignore stay-at-home orders? Is it possible to balance the restlessness of those stuck inside with the dire predictions of public health experts?
These questions and others are keeping public officials up at night across America. It’s joblessness versus sickness. It’s cabin fever versus the risk of a real fever.These questions and others are keeping public officials up at night across America. It’s joblessness versus sickness. It’s cabin fever versus the risk of a real fever.
That debate is particularly contentious in the Kansas City, Mo., metropolitan area. The philosophies of various leaders collide across two states — Missouri and Kansas — as well as multiple counties and cities. Some places are set to reopen May 3. Others have picked May 15 as the earliest possible date to begin flipping the switch back on.That debate is particularly contentious in the Kansas City, Mo., metropolitan area. The philosophies of various leaders collide across two states — Missouri and Kansas — as well as multiple counties and cities. Some places are set to reopen May 3. Others have picked May 15 as the earliest possible date to begin flipping the switch back on.
The different views — open up now! let’s wait! — played out with candor on Thursday morning during a conference call of elected officials and public health experts in the Kansas City region. The New York Times was invited by a participant to listen to the call, which provided a behind-the-scenes look at how these discussions are unfolding nationwide.The different views — open up now! let’s wait! — played out with candor on Thursday morning during a conference call of elected officials and public health experts in the Kansas City region. The New York Times was invited by a participant to listen to the call, which provided a behind-the-scenes look at how these discussions are unfolding nationwide.
The push-and-pull was as much about deciding what restrictions to lift or introduce as it was about how to sell those decisions to the public. (The conversation has been condensed and lightly edited.)The push-and-pull was as much about deciding what restrictions to lift or introduce as it was about how to sell those decisions to the public. (The conversation has been condensed and lightly edited.)
After public health officials spoke for about 30 minutes and made clear the region was not in the clear yet because of an expected uptick in cases in rural communities, Stephen Arbo, the city manager in Lee’s Summit, Mo., questioned how the public might react to this news.After public health officials spoke for about 30 minutes and made clear the region was not in the clear yet because of an expected uptick in cases in rural communities, Stephen Arbo, the city manager in Lee’s Summit, Mo., questioned how the public might react to this news.
“I’ve seen the tremendous pressure that’s being put on our elected officials to have a relaxation of the stay-at-home order on an earlier basis. People are finding their own sources of information or they are following the encouragement that they’re seeing on a national level to relax the stay-at-home orders as early as possible.”“I’ve seen the tremendous pressure that’s being put on our elected officials to have a relaxation of the stay-at-home order on an earlier basis. People are finding their own sources of information or they are following the encouragement that they’re seeing on a national level to relax the stay-at-home orders as early as possible.”
“Frankly, I think we’re in a bad spot right now where there’s a lot of pressure on our elected officials who ultimately make the decisions on the stay-at-home orders. I don’t think we’re giving them the level of information and material either to convince them to continue the dates that have been put forth, or to help them understand all of the risks that are involved.”“Frankly, I think we’re in a bad spot right now where there’s a lot of pressure on our elected officials who ultimately make the decisions on the stay-at-home orders. I don’t think we’re giving them the level of information and material either to convince them to continue the dates that have been put forth, or to help them understand all of the risks that are involved.”
Several Missouri counties that include parts of Kansas City said last week that their stay-at-home orders would be extended to May 15. But this week, Clay County reversed course and announced it was ending its orders on May 3, which Cass County also decided to target. Jackson County has kept its stay-at-home order effective until May 15, as has the city itself.Several Missouri counties that include parts of Kansas City said last week that their stay-at-home orders would be extended to May 15. But this week, Clay County reversed course and announced it was ending its orders on May 3, which Cass County also decided to target. Jackson County has kept its stay-at-home order effective until May 15, as has the city itself.
Carson Ross, the mayor of Blue Springs, Mo., in Jackson County, worried about the conflicting dates.Carson Ross, the mayor of Blue Springs, Mo., in Jackson County, worried about the conflicting dates.
“I am getting pushback from my constituents. All these different stay-at-home dates makes for confusion. I’m also afraid that after May 3 there will be a compliance issue. People will start to reject the May 15 date, and when that happens, I have to ask what will we accomplish? My guess, to answer my question, is absolutely nothing. We’ve got to get on the same page. That’s the problem. Sometimes, if it’s confusing to us as elected officials, it’s certainly confusing to our constituents.”“I am getting pushback from my constituents. All these different stay-at-home dates makes for confusion. I’m also afraid that after May 3 there will be a compliance issue. People will start to reject the May 15 date, and when that happens, I have to ask what will we accomplish? My guess, to answer my question, is absolutely nothing. We’ve got to get on the same page. That’s the problem. Sometimes, if it’s confusing to us as elected officials, it’s certainly confusing to our constituents.”
Carol Suter, the mayor of Gladstone, Mo., which is in Clay County, said the decision to reopen on May 3 was based not on politics but on recommendations from the county’s health department. That date aligned with states like Kansas and Colorado, she said, and most communities in the region were on board with May 3.Carol Suter, the mayor of Gladstone, Mo., which is in Clay County, said the decision to reopen on May 3 was based not on politics but on recommendations from the county’s health department. That date aligned with states like Kansas and Colorado, she said, and most communities in the region were on board with May 3.
“There seems to be a lot of macro regional consensus around the third. What we’re starting to see is that lack of voluntarism. There’s no way to enforce this stuff, so you have to have the confidence of the population to voluntarily comply with these rules. As I drive around and as I’ve observed, even in my own neighborhoods, we’re starting to lose that.”“There seems to be a lot of macro regional consensus around the third. What we’re starting to see is that lack of voluntarism. There’s no way to enforce this stuff, so you have to have the confidence of the population to voluntarily comply with these rules. As I drive around and as I’ve observed, even in my own neighborhoods, we’re starting to lose that.”
“We already know there are businesses in the region who are open who shouldn’t be. We can have great medical, very technical explanations, which we’ve just gotten, which are impossible to communicate to the population in general as justifications.”“We already know there are businesses in the region who are open who shouldn’t be. We can have great medical, very technical explanations, which we’ve just gotten, which are impossible to communicate to the population in general as justifications.”
A better course, Mayor Suter continued, would be to appeal to residents’ good senses.A better course, Mayor Suter continued, would be to appeal to residents’ good senses.
“To encourage people going forward to really act on their own sense of personal responsibility and accountability for their own health. If you’re vulnerable, stay in. If you’re a business owner and you can’t provide a safe environment for your employees, don’t open. Have people work from home. To try and continue long-term deadlines is going to be a losing game.”“To encourage people going forward to really act on their own sense of personal responsibility and accountability for their own health. If you’re vulnerable, stay in. If you’re a business owner and you can’t provide a safe environment for your employees, don’t open. Have people work from home. To try and continue long-term deadlines is going to be a losing game.”
Dr. K. Allen Greiner, the medical officer for Wyandotte County, which includes Kansas City, Kan., cautioned against moving too quickly.Dr. K. Allen Greiner, the medical officer for Wyandotte County, which includes Kansas City, Kan., cautioned against moving too quickly.
“As everybody knows, the public health officers are on record with the May 15 date. That’s based on public health science. It’s a compromise already. There’s a lot of public health science that suggests you should actually wait two incubation periods to assess whether an outbreak has been completely controlled.”“As everybody knows, the public health officers are on record with the May 15 date. That’s based on public health science. It’s a compromise already. There’s a lot of public health science that suggests you should actually wait two incubation periods to assess whether an outbreak has been completely controlled.”
“If we are in a situation that we’ve got to keep compromising — which worries me medically and from a public health perspective — we have to have staged stay-at-home information that, in the first stage, really doesn’t change much of anything.”“If we are in a situation that we’ve got to keep compromising — which worries me medically and from a public health perspective — we have to have staged stay-at-home information that, in the first stage, really doesn’t change much of anything.”
“It is all about personal responsibility and safety and saving lives.”“It is all about personal responsibility and safety and saving lives.”
Quinton Lucas, the mayor of Kansas City, Mo., the largest city in the region, said public safety — not confusion over the dates — should guide the decisions they were making.Quinton Lucas, the mayor of Kansas City, Mo., the largest city in the region, said public safety — not confusion over the dates — should guide the decisions they were making.
“A few things on the call give me grave concern.”“A few things on the call give me grave concern.”
“I just can’t candidly say, ‘Well to hell with the fact that we don’t have a proper setup yet for testing, that we don’t have a proper setup for how we’re dealing with our social determinants of health disparities.’ And what I cannot simply say is, ‘Well, good luck to everybody over 60 or overweight in Kansas City, Mo., with some higher likelihood of infection,’ because that’s a heck of a lot of us.”“I just can’t candidly say, ‘Well to hell with the fact that we don’t have a proper setup yet for testing, that we don’t have a proper setup for how we’re dealing with our social determinants of health disparities.’ And what I cannot simply say is, ‘Well, good luck to everybody over 60 or overweight in Kansas City, Mo., with some higher likelihood of infection,’ because that’s a heck of a lot of us.”
The mayor added that he had friends who were happy their gyms were scheduled to reopen on May 4, and that such optimism has made the jobs of elected officials even tougher.The mayor added that he had friends who were happy their gyms were scheduled to reopen on May 4, and that such optimism has made the jobs of elected officials even tougher.
“We have lost actually the narrative such that it’s going to be very hard for any of us, either elected or public health officials, to actually kind of pull back in and say, ‘Well, maybe the tattoo parlors, the gyms, everything does not need to open on Day 1.’ I think in some ways that’s the brilliance of May 15. It does allow us to at least have time to say, ‘What does winding down look like?’ rather than just a, ‘Let’s be fair to every business.’”“We have lost actually the narrative such that it’s going to be very hard for any of us, either elected or public health officials, to actually kind of pull back in and say, ‘Well, maybe the tattoo parlors, the gyms, everything does not need to open on Day 1.’ I think in some ways that’s the brilliance of May 15. It does allow us to at least have time to say, ‘What does winding down look like?’ rather than just a, ‘Let’s be fair to every business.’”
Updated August 6, 2020 Updated August 4, 2020
“I get that it’s difficult. I think that’s kind of our jobs is to actually make sure we’re giving that messaging of what are the necessary steps to protect public health, rather than doing a kind of, school’s out on May 4 or May 16 that leaves us in, I think, a more precarious situation.”“I get that it’s difficult. I think that’s kind of our jobs is to actually make sure we’re giving that messaging of what are the necessary steps to protect public health, rather than doing a kind of, school’s out on May 4 or May 16 that leaves us in, I think, a more precarious situation.”
Mayor Ross of Blue Springs responded.Mayor Ross of Blue Springs responded.
“I appreciate what you’re saying, Mayor Lucas, but again, if you have noncompliance, a date doesn’t make any difference. That’s what we’re all dealing with as elected officials. But again, I also listen to my constituents and what they’re saying. And matter of fact, I just got a text that just came and said, ‘We’re adults.’ And I understand that. ‘We can take care of ourselves.’ So you’re going to get those kinds of things. But again, my big issue is the confusion by the different dates.“I appreciate what you’re saying, Mayor Lucas, but again, if you have noncompliance, a date doesn’t make any difference. That’s what we’re all dealing with as elected officials. But again, I also listen to my constituents and what they’re saying. And matter of fact, I just got a text that just came and said, ‘We’re adults.’ And I understand that. ‘We can take care of ourselves.’ So you’re going to get those kinds of things. But again, my big issue is the confusion by the different dates.
And Mayor Lucas of Kansas City, Mo., weighed in again.And Mayor Lucas of Kansas City, Mo., weighed in again.
“I have a city with a lot of crime, so maybe I’m used to some percentage of noncompliance, which is, for better or worse, what we have to deal with. We always know when we write laws and order them that there may be some noncompliance. I think arguing that we won’t have total compliance actually in some ways gets away from what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to deter people from doing the sort of things that will be detrimental to the broader public.”“I have a city with a lot of crime, so maybe I’m used to some percentage of noncompliance, which is, for better or worse, what we have to deal with. We always know when we write laws and order them that there may be some noncompliance. I think arguing that we won’t have total compliance actually in some ways gets away from what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to deter people from doing the sort of things that will be detrimental to the broader public.”
“To the extent there is confusion, I hear you. I think that the problem is that we’re one of those big jurisdictions that’s a confusion actor — i.e., we’re creating it. What I’m not comfortable saying right now is that as of today, Kansas City, Mo., is just going to move to May 3 to make it all easier for everybody else. I don’t know if any public health information suggests that that’s accurate.”“To the extent there is confusion, I hear you. I think that the problem is that we’re one of those big jurisdictions that’s a confusion actor — i.e., we’re creating it. What I’m not comfortable saying right now is that as of today, Kansas City, Mo., is just going to move to May 3 to make it all easier for everybody else. I don’t know if any public health information suggests that that’s accurate.”
Eileen Weir, the mayor of Independence, Mo., asked the other elected leaders if they would plainly accept the recommendations of the public health experts advising the group.Eileen Weir, the mayor of Independence, Mo., asked the other elected leaders if they would plainly accept the recommendations of the public health experts advising the group.
“Eight days ago, our health directors laid out a set of criteria about what is recommended, the benchmarks that we need to hit to start relaxing the stay-at-home order gradually. Nobody is suggesting that we are going to go from where we are now to where we were on March 11. I think the responsibility of this group is to provide that direction. I would like to ask if we have consensus to accept what was presented to us eight days ago by our health departments about the criteria that needs to be met?”“Eight days ago, our health directors laid out a set of criteria about what is recommended, the benchmarks that we need to hit to start relaxing the stay-at-home order gradually. Nobody is suggesting that we are going to go from where we are now to where we were on March 11. I think the responsibility of this group is to provide that direction. I would like to ask if we have consensus to accept what was presented to us eight days ago by our health departments about the criteria that needs to be met?”
Mr. Arbo, the Lee’s Summit city manager, replied.Mr. Arbo, the Lee’s Summit city manager, replied.
“I wonder if there really is consensus with that. I think that there’s different perspectives.”“I wonder if there really is consensus with that. I think that there’s different perspectives.”
“I do think we’re going to have to show some kind of movement off the May 15 date. I know that that would be a difficult thing to do if it was misunderstood. But I would like to begin seeing if there was some common date, like May 9 or 10, that we start putting in Phase 1, which may frankly not be much different than the stay-at-home orders.”“I do think we’re going to have to show some kind of movement off the May 15 date. I know that that would be a difficult thing to do if it was misunderstood. But I would like to begin seeing if there was some common date, like May 9 or 10, that we start putting in Phase 1, which may frankly not be much different than the stay-at-home orders.”
“Maybe the city halls open back up, but they’re under controlled environments. If we could just show some kind of movement, some kind of relaxation that doesn’t put the society at threat or increase the chance of the spread or put our vulnerable populations at risk, I think we could get compliance for that next week or two weeks or three weeks that we need. But if we just stand firm on May 15 and we have people all around us that are going May 3 and opening up their places, we’re not going to be able to hang on to the May 15 date.”“Maybe the city halls open back up, but they’re under controlled environments. If we could just show some kind of movement, some kind of relaxation that doesn’t put the society at threat or increase the chance of the spread or put our vulnerable populations at risk, I think we could get compliance for that next week or two weeks or three weeks that we need. But if we just stand firm on May 15 and we have people all around us that are going May 3 and opening up their places, we’re not going to be able to hang on to the May 15 date.”
The meeting ended with Mr. Arbo saying he would work with others to create “a menu set of choices” for officials throughout the region to ease restrictions yet maintain public safety. The officials plan to discuss those options during another call next week.The meeting ended with Mr. Arbo saying he would work with others to create “a menu set of choices” for officials throughout the region to ease restrictions yet maintain public safety. The officials plan to discuss those options during another call next week.