Kansas City business owners want something done about homeless camp underneath I-70
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Business owners near Interstate 70 and Sterling Avenue in Kansas City are fed up with a growing number of crime reports and people sleeping and trespassing in the area. The problem has gotten worse during the pandemic, they say.The I-70 bridge over Sterling Avenue served as a shelter on Wednesday KMBC 9 Investigates saw sleeping underneath the bridge.”It’s getting worse every day,” said Cindy Neal, who runs Neal’s Gallery and Frame Shop. Neal says customers are reluctant to come to her shop because of what’s happening. She says people have broken into nearby businesses, stolen a fence gate, and slept right outside doors in the Sterling Plaza strip mall. She’s fed up.”It’s just dirty and nasty,” she said. DrumMagazines.com gun store owner Charles Weston is growing tired of the homeless camp, too. He said someone came rushing into his business recently to tell them about a pile of trash burning near his gas meters.”We’re talking alcoholic people, talking people with mental illness literally sleeping sometimes out in front of the store,” he said.Weston said he’s asked for help from Kansas City police and the Missouri Department of Transportation. But Weston said he has not received any long-term solutions.Both MoDOT and KCPD officials say they’re working together to find solutions.MoDOT spokesman Markl Johnson sent KMBC 9 Investigates the following statement:”MoDOT is not a law enforcement agency and therefore we do not have the authority to displace or remove citizens from our right of way. “However, we do have “no trespassing” verbiage on most of our bridges and overpasses for law enforcement purposes. “In addition, before we can perform any cleanups on our right of way, all citizens must be removed. However, due to the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus, and according to current CDC guidelines, it is our understanding that currently unsheltered citizens are not allowed to be displaced. We continue to work with the City of Kansas City and the Kansas City Police Department to identify solutions for persons experiencing homelessness on our right-of-way.”Kansas City police spokeswoman Leslie Foreman said the department has recently reached out to people in the area to address quality of life issues, including bringing social workers to help. She agreed the COVID-1- pandemic has made the task more difficult. Officers have not made any arrests, she said. “We have been working with MoDOT to continue to try to find solutions and work to improve quality of life for the community.”Meanwhile, business owners say they don’t know where to turn next.”It’s a never-ending cycle for MoDOT, I’m sure,” Neal said. “But this is the worst it’s ever been.”KMBC 9 Investigates will continue to report on the situation as people work to find solutions. If you have any tips about the issue, email investigative reporter Matt Flener at [email protected].
Business owners near Interstate 70 and Sterling Avenue in Kansas City are fed up with a growing number of crime reports and people sleeping and trespassing in the area.
The problem has gotten worse during the pandemic, they say.
The I-70 bridge over Sterling Avenue served as a shelter on Wednesday KMBC 9 Investigates saw sleeping underneath the bridge.
“It’s getting worse every day,” said Cindy Neal, who runs Neal’s Gallery and Frame Shop.
Neal says customers are reluctant to come to her shop because of what’s happening. She says people have broken into nearby businesses, stolen a fence gate, and slept right outside doors in the Sterling Plaza strip mall. She’s fed up.
“It’s just dirty and nasty,” she said.
DrumMagazines.com gun store owner Charles Weston is growing tired of the homeless camp, too. He said someone came rushing into his business recently to tell them about a pile of trash burning near his gas meters.
“We’re talking alcoholic people, talking people with mental illness literally sleeping sometimes out in front of the store,” he said.
Weston said he’s asked for help from Kansas City police and the Missouri Department of Transportation. But Weston said he has not received any long-term solutions.
Both MoDOT and KCPD officials say they’re working together to find solutions.
MoDOT spokesman Markl Johnson sent KMBC 9 Investigates the following statement:
“MoDOT is not a law enforcement agency and therefore we do not have the authority to displace or remove citizens from our right of way.
“However, we do have “no trespassing” verbiage on most of our bridges and overpasses for law enforcement purposes.
“In addition, before we can perform any cleanups on our right of way, all citizens must be removed. However, due to the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus, and according to current CDC guidelines, it is our understanding that currently unsheltered citizens are not allowed to be displaced. We continue to work with the City of Kansas City and the Kansas City Police Department to identify solutions for persons experiencing homelessness on our right-of-way.”
Kansas City police spokeswoman Leslie Foreman said the department has recently reached out to people in the area to address quality of life issues, including bringing social workers to help. She agreed the COVID-1- pandemic has made the task more difficult. Officers have not made any arrests, she said.
“We have been working with MoDOT to continue to try to find solutions and work to improve quality of life for the community.”
Meanwhile, business owners say they don’t know where to turn next.
“It’s a never-ending cycle for MoDOT, I’m sure,” Neal said. “But this is the worst it’s ever been.”
KMBC 9 Investigates will continue to report on the situation as people work to find solutions. If you have any tips about the issue, email investigative reporter Matt Flener at [email protected].
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