CID Ambassadors are essential to a clean and safe community

“Stay at Home” may be the new normal in Kansas City beginning Tuesday (March 24), but that has only inspired the Downtown and River Market Community Improvement Districts to double-down on their daily mandate to keep its neighborhoods clean and safe.

Mayor Quinton Lucas ordered Kansas Citians to stay-at-home now through April 24, except for “essential activities.” The order is a leading element of the City’s efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. Grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and healthcare facilities are among those the order identifies as “essential.”

Community Improvement District (CID) Ambassadors – and the roles they play in supporting the KC Police Department and in lifting up Downtown and the River Market – will remain on duty, as they work to keep its neighborhoods clean, safe and secure.

“We have been in contact with the International Downtown Association and local health officials and have implemented all protocols to keep our Ambassadors safe and help slow the progression of the virus,” said Sean O’Byrne, executive director of the CIDs and vice president of business development for the Downtown Council.

“We have been in communication with the Mayor’s Office, the Chief of Police and the KCATA,” he said. “We want our team to be part of the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus and COVID-19.”

In addition to the CIDs’ basic services, Ambassadors have begun treating high-traffic areas such as bus stops and streetcar stations.

“One of our main objectives is to keep the people who are riding the public transportation system safe,” said Santos Ramirez, CID operations director.

“While waiting for the Metro or KC Streetcar, people can spread germs by touching the shelter, grab bars and informational kiosks,” he said. “We will spray a non-toxic disinfectant on these spaces until the stay-at-home order expires.”

O’Byrne said all Downtown and River Market CID services are in operation during the stay-at-home order, including feeding the homeless and at-risk persons in Downtown.

Due to a waterline break at the Downtown Community Kitchen, O’Byrne said they have moved lunch service for those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless to Morning Glory Ministries, 1112 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo. Operated by NourishKC,  this service will continue while the waterline and other damages are repaired at the Community Kitchen facility, 1444 East 8th St.

“We are committed to helping our Downtown and River Market families, tenants and visitors during this time,” O’Byrne said. “We also will strive to create an environment that is prepared and ready to continue our amazing revitalization, once this pandemic is over.’

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To contact the Downtown or Rivers Market CIDs, call the central dispatch at 816-421-5243 or the security mobile phone at 816-820-3475.