Host Michael Mackie sits down with Quinton Lucas, Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. Get an inside look at Mayor Lucas’s insights on the World Cup and what it means for Kansas City’s future. Hear the mayor’s thoughts on the City’s growing cultural landscape, including the new arts destinations in the 18th & Vine area and the Kansas City Symphony’s new venue in the South Plaza district. He shares where he would like to see the Kansas City Streetcar expand in the future and provides a status update on the South Loop project, as well as who he would like to see at the new Morton Amphitheater. He also discusses the need to continue to grow the number of murals by local artists and films produced in Kansas City. Finally, Mayor Lucas states what he would like his legacy to be in the last year of his tenure.
Michael Mackie:
Hi everyone, it’s Michael Mackie here, coming to you from KC Studio. KC Studio and kcstudio.org is the only regional magazine and website entirely devoted to covering all arts all the time. I’m excited to work with KC Studio on this special podcast that will provide valuable insights into how public transit and the World Cup are shaping cultural expression and events in the heart of our city. So thanks for joining us on this month’s stop of KC Studio’s Artful Connections Along the Streetcar podcast presented by Arvest Bank and sponsored by TIVOL. We’ll be featuring some of Kansas City’s finest cultural arts and civic organizations each month that are along the recently extended Kansas City Streetcar route that now goes from the Riverfront to the Country Club Plaza and UMKC. Streetcar riders are now able to hop on the streetcar at any of the stops and ride to and from their favorite exhibits and events throughout the year. So please take a ride with us.
Support for Artful Connections Along the Streetcar comes from Arvest Bank. Arvest Bank believes that financial confidence should be within reach for everyone. Whether you’re just getting started planning for your future or starting a new chapter, we are here to help you plan and meet your goals every step of the way. Because everyone deserves a financial partner who cares. Arvest Bank. We Believe. For more information, visit arvest.com or visit one of our 20 locations throughout Kansas City.
Hi everyone. I’m here today with Mayor Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, and a very busy man right now. It is a very exciting time for Kansas City. The new and final piece of the streetcar extension was just completed to the Berkley waterfront. Hundreds of thousands of visitors are in town this summer for the World Cup. The new Morton Amphitheater just opened and there was a little announcement about some new baseball stadium coming to Crown Center. Oh, and a new venue is being constructed for the Kansas City Symphony just off the South Plaza. Just a few things, Mayor, just no big whoop.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
No, no, simple times, but always a great time in Kansas City. So good to be with you, sir.
Michael Mackie:
Thank you. And okay, first of all, thank you for being here. I mean, it’s only like the busiest time of Kansas City’s history, but I want to talk about how all these exciting developments like the new Royals Stadium and the Symphony venue can impact or will impact our cultural art scene.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
I think a few things. First of all, we’ve always known that Kansas City has exceptional performers and exceptional companies, the Ballet, the Symphony and beyond, and so making sure that we have venues, not just great venues, and we have some very good big ones, but also that are right sized. You’re seeing a lot of work in the arts and music that is really all about that perfect size where you can get that interaction with the performance and the performer, and I’m very proud of our philanthropic community, our performers, our companies, and making sure it’s reality in Kansas City.
Michael Mackie:
Support for Artful Connections Along the Streetcar comes from TIVOL. For more than a century, TIVOL has helped Kansas City mark treasured moments and create cherished memories with fine jewelry of the highest quality. Visit us at our Country Club Plaza or Hawthorne Plaza locations or online at tivol.com. TIVOL is proud to be a sponsor of this special podcast and to celebrate our city’s vibrant arts community.
What role would you say do you believe the arts play in shaping the city’s identity?
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
The arts are a huge part of the culture of Kansas City. I always tell people when they ask, What is Kansas City? And I say, No, it’s actually vastly more culturally engaging and interesting than you could ever imagine, ranging from the Symphony to, I was just at the Black Movie Hall of Fame. I mean there are lots of things in our city that really tell people that we punch above our weight for a metro of our size.
Michael Mackie:
Facts.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
But we also then are a place where no matter what you’re kind of into, you really have a chance to do it. Some cities will have more volume, obviously, but I think that if you want to get exposed to some sort of artistic area, it’s right here in KC.
Michael Mackie:
You’ve always been a big proponent, a big champion of the South Loop Project, and I know it’s been delayed a little bit, but can you tell us a little bit more about that project? When will it be completed and how do you see it transforming the cultural and artistic life of Kansas Citians?
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
So any of us who have been around here for a while, and I know you’ve lived here for a while now, you’re a young man, so two years tops, and then I grew up here and it is this transformation of Downtown. I mean, oh my God, sometimes if I bump into a Gen Z person, first of all they’re not looking up because they’re on their phone, but nonetheless, I want to say, look around, son, and remember the Downtown of yesteryear, right? Where we did not have this type of engagement activity, the facilities, and I think having that park space is going to be a huge part of how you connect Power & Light District, the Crossroads area, some really good new investments at the Convention Center, the Loews Hotel, and so that is a huge part of what we’re doing in terms of timing. We’re still looking to break ground later this year, calendar year 26, probably a two-to-three-year construction time window, so that’s only by the end of this decade. Don’t know what I’ll be doing then, but nonetheless, maybe I’ll be playing like Frisbee with a dog in that park at some point.
Michael Mackie:
Can I join you? Because I do love a good Frisbee throw with the dog. The Negro Leagues Museum is working on raising money to complete a larger facility. The Boone Theater just reopened, the American Jazz Museum is working on renovating their museum. Tell us more about how the stance on how the city is supporting these projects versus private funding and what your future plans for the 18th & Vine area might be.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Well, look, our goal is always to have as much private money as possible, but we recognize that government is an important investor in ways, and sometimes we’re the first investor in to tell people, no, this is really worthwhile. I mean, I think in the 18th & Vine area, we have seen some of our most intriguing engagement, because when you look at things that seem boring to others, but at Pedestrian Plaza like 18th & Vine is figuring out a plaza before the Plaza does, which is good. We want to actually have people walking and engaging. You don’t want cars flying by them. And so that, I think, will be a positive. The historic Boone Theater renovation is really going to become a film space where you can look at Blacks and film and kind of get a part of that culture too. Investments at the Jazz Museum and then of course Bob Kendrick, a man who can
Michael Mackie:
The Bob Kendrick!
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Yes! I mean the stories — people ask me sometimes where I learned to speak, and I just try to listen to him and take notes. Because he’s just like, and lemme tell you about Cool Papa Bell who in 1941 did this.
Michael Mackie:
He’s so eloquent.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
He’s amazing. And his expanded museum, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum campus that they’re building, a $50 million project there, I think will tell Kansas Citians and show the world really, that this is not just a cultural center because we say so, but because we’re showing up with our investment.
Michael Mackie:
The Kansas City Streetcar has become more than just transportation. It has become a literal cultural corridor, but how does the city envision the Streetcar as a future platform for public art, performance, creativity? The list goes on and on.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
I think that the first thing that we recognize is the Streetcar, and maybe it’s because we’re weird. I don’t know, but in Kansas City, the fact that the River Market, Downtown, the Plaza, Crown Center, Westport almost, are on the same line, is just amazing that you could have a Main Street line that touches all those districts. And so obviously that allows for cultural institutions up and down the way to be a key part of it. What we plan to continue to do is to stimulate the infill development that is between places like let’s say, Westport and Crown Center, to make sure that we are centering. I think a lot of entities that are along it, great performance spaces. I think of the Unicorn Theater as just one example, that are in that space on the Main Street Streetcar line. And of course, we’ll continue to talk about what could expansion East West, 18th Street, 39th Street talk the most, what that could mean for Kansas City longterm.
Michael Mackie:
Do you get out a lot? Do you see a lot of shows? I see you out and about.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Yeah, it’s sad. I’m the guy who is there at the beginning of the show. I never thought I’d be like, hello everyone, and this is sponsored by whatever, but I’d like to spend more time with them, two little kids, age five and two, so I won’t tell stories, but I can’t stay awake through every show, so it’s better that I’m not using up a ticket sometimes.
Michael Mackie:
Duly noted. The Streetcar extension finally has completed its run. It’s now running through the Country Club Plaza all the way to the Riverfront. How do you anticipate that will impact visitors to Kansas City and more importantly for the cultural arts organizations that are sort of surrounding it?
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
So first of all, the Streetcar itself being an atttraction, I rode it earlier this summer for a game with the Kansas City Current, and I like to play weirdo in some ways, and so I just hopped on the train and most people left me alone and somebody was like, are you the weather guy on Channel 9? I’m like, no.
Michael Mackie:
They thought you were Bryan Busby?
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Busby, he’s much more famous, but you may have seen me once. But anyway, after that
Michael Mackie:
Were you still wearing a suit?
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Yes, I was a little dressed up, so maybe they just thought I came from tornado coverage immediately to the Streetcar. What I realized, the people who were riding, there was a lady from Merriam, there was somebody else who was from Lee’s Summit. It is bringing in so many people to these great parts of our city. I think the big work for all of us and the institutions along the line, is to tell people, you may be coming for the Current or the City Market, or who knows what, but hop off and be part of going to a show at the Phoenix or going to a show at the Unicorn or anything along the line. The Art institute working with the Nelson-Atkins and the Kemper Gallery have set up a wonderful art walk in their part of the streetcar line. I mean really there is a lot there that I think people could be engaged with, and we’re doing our marketing work to share it.
Michael Mackie:
I tell newbies who come to Kansas City, just get on the Streetcar and go get lost. Just go hop on, hop off.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
It’s one of the best things that you can do. I mean it doesn’t take that long, not that long. And frankly, there is something interesting in just about every spot.
And so that’s where I think that people are going to figure it all out.
Michael Mackie:
You are preaching to the choir. What’s on your wishlist for future extensions on the Streetcar, I mean 18th & Vine area, maybe the airport? I mean the list goes on and on. What do you see for short- and long-term expanded transportation?
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
I have probably three things that I’ll list and I’ll see if I remember all three. One, yeah, 18th & Vine, the 18th Street link kind of through the
Crossroads, going that East West I think is big for us. I would like to see us bridge the state line divide too. There’s been some talk with the University of Kansas Health System of what does it look like down at 39th Street. Tight road, but nonetheless, right, getting it expanded another way. And then the Grand Kahuna is how do we get to the airport?
Michael Mackie:
The airport.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Right. And having that connection to the airport. I feel like we’re already a great city. We’re a wonderful one, but like in Pinocchio, I’m a real boy! I mean it would just be this, I’m a real place now, when you could really get everywhere you need to be. I think that’ll be great for KC.
Michael Mackie:
Oh, if we can just make it to the airport. Next up, St. Joe. I mean, why not just go to Des Moines?
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Exactly. Hey, now you’re talking. The Iowans. They’re such big fans of their sports teams. I feel like they just fill up the streetcar, a bunch of Iowa and Iowa State people like, we’re just here for a game, but, always love ’em.
Michael Mackie:
Everybody is upping the ante. The Symphony is building a new facility in South Plaza. The KC Rep is looking for a new building for their near future. What I want to know is how are these new venues going to add, in your opinion, how are they going to add to the buildings like the Kauffman Center, the list goes on and on, the Folly, things like that.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
It is such an interesting time, and I certainly spent way more time than I would’ve liked in the last few years talking about facilities both for performance spaces, sports teams and others. What you are seeing is this kind of 365-day-a-year use for a bunch of them. These aren’t just say, the Symphony building a location, it is how do they make that part of their mission, ranging from summer camps because there is money in all the things that, many things that kids do, to having evening events, more educational environments, smaller shows, almost like a black box theater type setup. You’re catching lots of people doing that now, and I think that’s great for Kansas City. What we are seeing is while our media consumption changes, you still have people wanting to be together, wanting to be around each other. And that is where I think those facilities will continue to strive. For the bigger facilities, the Music Hall, the Kauffman Performing Arts Center and others, you obviously will continue to have those larger spaces, which themselves are now event venues in many situations. And so I think it just means the more the merrier for a strong artistic community.
Michael Mackie:
Leading up to the World Cup, were you excited, nervous? What were you?
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
I was actually excited. I think that we spent so much time in the buildup and the chat and looking at the different surveys that sometimes said we’re great, sometimes said we weren’t. And I recognize that Kansas City is first of all a community that works incredibly well together. No state boundaries, no things that were getting in the way. Public safety ready, public transportation. I mean I still remember I was at a press conference, this was back in April or March, and in Lenexa, and they were talking about yes, and with this bus you can get from Liberty to Lenexa in like 40 minutes. I’m just like, oh my. That’s never existed in our city. So I hope more than anything that we look at a lot of these great moments now and say, let’s keep this. Let’s keep this energy, let’s keep this transit connection and let’s build that for the future of Kansas City.
Michael Mackie:
Speaking of, how can we capitalize once the World Cup is over in the next month or so?
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Well, in my dream world, I remember being a kid, not to age anyone, but watching the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, right? And Atlanta, cool place before that, right? Fine, good companies. But after that point, even if we didn’t want them to be in the center of the world, Atlanta was like, oh no, I’m a big deal. There are films recorded here. We’ll be in the center of hip hop music. We will have all these types of entertaining things and of course be a huge corporate headquarters. I want Kansas City to have that same vibe, which is not so much that it was cool, a World Cup was here. Instead the story is, oh no, we never let our foot off the gas and we will keep this moving. We will not just have great major events, the best in shows, these spaces that people all around the country are saying, I need to be there.
Michael Mackie:
I interviewed Will Forte a little earlier today, and I did not know this. He and Tiffany Haddish are coming to Kansas City in August to shoot a movie. Did you know that? I didn’t know that.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
I think I was supposed to have known that, but I may have lost track too. The film office in Kansas City does outstanding work.
Michael Mackie:
Yes!
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
And that is a growth engine for us. If we can do more in the film and media space, I know people like you have been central to that for years. That is another place we could do good work.
Michael Mackie:
How do we get cameos in that? We’re going to have to, can you pull some strings? I wanna
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
We will definitely get you one, and man, get in a Hallmark movie. I never knew how many people watched those. I had one little cameo and then, like ladies on from Pennsylvania was like, I never knew!
Michael Mackie:
I didn’t know that! Which one?
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
I got to cameo in the Holiday Touchdown movie.
Michael Mackie:
No!
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
I played the mayor. It was amazing.
Michael Mackie:
What a stretch.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
It still took me like four takes, and all I have to say, oh hey folks, and Hallmark Universe. Now I’m in my IMDB. I think I have three entries — two sad documentaries, one gorgeous Hallmark movie. I hope to build more up.
Michael Mackie:
Just take a minute to pat yourself on the back. That’s good stuff.
Support for Artful Connections Along the Streetcar comes from Arvest Bank. Arvest Bank believes that financial confidence should be within reach for everyone. Whether you’re just getting started planning for your future or starting a new chapter, we are here to help you plan and meet your goals every step of the way. Because everyone deserves a financial partner who cares. Arvest Bank. We Believe. For more information, visit arvest.com or visit one of our 20 locations throughout Kansas City.
Alright, so as we head into the literal final stretch of the World Cup and as you head into your last year in office, what cultural projects, events, moments, what do you hope is going to leave sort of a lasting impression on visitors, on residents? The list goes on and on.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
I think what I am very proud of that we have been able to do during the eternity I’ve been in office, you remember COVID and all this other stuff?
Michael Mackie:
Please don’t remind me.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
It’s been forever it feels like! But I think that we invested in great cultural communities in Kansas City. Southwest Boulevard and the West Side continues to see great investment long-term, the West Bottoms, the Riverfront, 18th & Vine. What I’m proud of is that while still seeing growth Downtown and hopefully we really get the Plaza moving soon, we have lifted up so many of those areas that have always been cool and been nifty, but aren’t just satellites, but can be the center of our growth for the future. So that’s a legacy of mine. I think my last thing for the last year is just,
Michael Mackie:
I was just going to say
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Let’s get the Plaza off to the good direction it needs to be. I think we have new good ownership. There’s a lot of talk about density. My friends, density is a good thing. We want people walking around, and hopefully we leave them in a good spot.
Michael Mackie:
Support for Artful Connections Along the Streetcar comes from TIVOL. For more than a century, TIVOL has helped Kansas City mark treasured moments and create cherished memories with fine jewelry of the highest quality. Visit us at our Country Club Plaza or Hawthorne Plaza locations or online at tivol.com. TIVOL is proud to be a sponsor of this special podcast and to celebrate our city’s vibrant arts community.
Can we talk about murals? Because they’re really becoming the thing that Kansas City is known for, and they’re impressive.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
People don’t think about murals every day and how just special they are. And actually to tell you a brief story, I like to kayak on the Missouri River sometimes. It’s kind of interesting, takes hours, it’s a good time…
Michael Mackie:
I didn’t know that about you.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Yeah, it’s a blast! And I’m riding by kind of downtown, and I saw not just murals but muralists, like painting these wonderful projects and all of that. It all kind of started from this idea of, we have a ton of walls, flood walls, walls, barriers along roads.
Michael Mackie:
Our walls have walls.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Yeah, exactly, right? We just love walls like we love parking spaces here. We really are into it. And so the idea was, well, how do you engage more of them and make them more attractive? How do you reduce graffiti? And usually artists actually have respect for other artists. And then a funny thing happened, which was that lots of people said, no, I’m into that. And some people said, I’ll just come do it myself. Now, fortunately, I think as we should, we pay people a small stipend to come and grace our community with their artwork. But you can see it along the Missouri riverfront. You can see it really in the East Bottoms. So that’s around the Rieger Distillery, KC Current not far away. So you have a lot of that there.
Michael Mackie:
The whole port area is kind of my favorite.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Isn’t it so cool that an area that literally 15 to 20 years ago you would go to . . . I remember the 4th of July show, River Fest, you’d be like, oh God, it’s hot! Not like God bless us. It was a lovely thing for Kansas City, but now you have this neighborhood. When I walk through there, I’m like, look at these kids. They’re playing volleyball and such. So that is I think part of our muraling project too, because while we talked about the performing arts, the visual arts are a big part of what Kansas City is as well. When you have an anchor like the Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, like our wonderful UMKC Conservatory too, I’m back on the performing side. You realize that we have just so much great talent. So that is kind of what we’re looking into with murals, and it’s not just a Downtown thing. We’re looking at how we can expand it in other places. I was on the east side of Kansas City the other day, about 31st and Prospect ish, saw a beautiful mural as you kind of head out towards the stadiums. And so that’s a good opportunity. And then I mentioned it earlier, but the Art Walk that you have the opportunity to do, get off the Streetcar right next to the Kemper art museum and then you have a chance to–
Michael Mackie:
The Arterie. I love that.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Yes, The Arterie. I’m always scared I’m pronouncing it wrong. I said like Artery first. They’re like, no, no hard D ish sound. But no, it is cool. And I think the thing that’s probably the best about the Arterie is that it reminds us that the arts is actually accessible for all of us. You can often make the mistake of believing that you have to be a VIP, or a great philanthropist, or someone in the know, someone who gets to hang out with Michael Mackie. But even for us lesser types right now, there’s this great opportunity so yeah, get off the train and yeah, go see something. And the Art Institute has exhibits and displays more than you would think. Obviously the Kemper Gallery does and the Nelson-Atkins is part of that too.
Michael Mackie:
Ooh, and they’ve all really stepped up for World Cup. I mean–
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Big-time.
Michael Mackie:
The exhibits, everything.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Big-time. And I think that when you look at everybody saying that, yeah, this whole idea of a beautiful game isn’t just about our visitors, but it’s about us. And what I hope for our remaining time left in the World Cup for Kansas Citians who maybe didn’t get out for something, go explore. Because the World Cup isn’t just about the world, it’s about you. It’s about Kansas City, it’s about your family, your friends having the chance to do this, something that’s very special.
Michael Mackie:
There are currently about 18 cajillion bajillion international visitors in Kansas City. What is the buzz? What are you hearing?
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
So look, there is great buzz. I have not yet been out to a 5 a.m. bar and I…
Michael Mackie:
That’s on you, Mayor.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
I am unlikely. I know that there are some people who can just go till 5, and then the next morning 7 a.m. they’re like, I’m back. No, I think what you are catching is that the dynamism we expected of Kansas City is really showing up. It is full districts. We have this great opportunity to I think show off some great places. Fan Fest is beautiful, at the World War I Museum and Memorial, and I think that the buzz you’re catching is that people are pleasantly surprised by what Kansas City is all about. Now, at a certain point, I don’t want people to be surprised when they get here and just kind of like, oh, you are useful and cool. But for now our goal is to say, yeah, and I will say this about the bus. We are just beautifully, in some ways, in a troubling amount, humble here in the Midwest. How many of us say we’re a great place to be from? No, no, no, no. We are a great place to be. And I think you were catching that from more Kansas Citians, and if there was ever any moment you were wondering about it, it’s the fact that there are visitors from around the world who are sitting in our same bars, at our same restaurants and saying, this place is pretty cool. It’s time for us to believe it.
Michael Mackie:
And eating all the barbecue, so much barbecue. Barbecue.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
God yes.
Michael Mackie:
Hashtag barbecue!
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Yeah.The annoyance is, though, they’re all so darn fit, cuz they live these walking lives.
Michael Mackie:
They’re the worst.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
I know. And I’m just like, go back to your beautiful Argentina! Live your great life somewhere else!
Michael Mackie:
We haven’t touched on Morton Amphitheater. You, before we started this interview, you dropped a couple names. Who are you looking forward to seeing or potentially seeing?
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Oh my gosh! First of all, Morton Amphitheater has every act I feel like who’s alive and even some who are not. I feel like–
Michael Mackie:
It’s such a mixed bag!
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
It’s amazing to me that the artists ranging from let’s say a Rod Stewart to, gosh, there’s some Bob Dylan tribute band coming. I have a young staff who’s like, are you going to that? And I’m like, how are you into this at all? But I think what you are going to catch this summer is, and I love every venue in our region, don’t get me wrong, but it’s close in. It has this opportunity to, I think, be a really central, cool venue for Kansas City in a neat space if you haven’t seen it yet. And I think that’s going to fit well with Starlight. It’s going to have some great comedy shows and are really entering into that great live comedy space and they’ve been doing that every summer. I think that this is kind of a performance revolution for Kansas City, and I expect it to just keep going for a long time.
Michael Mackie:
Real talk. Who have you not seen perform that you want to come to Kansas City? Who needs to come to Kansas City and make an appearance? Full stop.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
That Is a great question, and everybody just dates themselves in this because you’re like, I want to see this person. Fun fact randomly though, before I get to your answer, I saw Keanu Reeves play at the City Market.
Michael Mackie:
Dog something. What’s his — Dogstar? I can’t, I just pulled that out of the ether.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Like the late 1990s. They had actually awesome shows at the City Market back then, and so that was interesting. He actually, his band played as the opening act for the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
Michael Mackie:
Oh, whatever happened to them?
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Right? Who knows? So I’m not going to go back to 1998 and bring that back, although God bless all of ’em. Hope they’re doing well.
Michael Mackie:
It was the ’90s. It was a different time.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Yeah, exactly. You know, for me, I think that I would love to see, I mean, I missed Kendrick Lamar when he was here, and I think he has been. And so that would be a neat one for me. And then I saw Earth, Wind & Fire last summer. That was kind of a cool bucket list. I was about to say, it’s more that I miss shows that are good. Lionel Richie was around not long ago. And then the thing that I would love to see, I would love to see, speaking of the Symphony space, a lot of these cool new spaces, the way they’re making real money is they get an artist like a Taylor Swift in a tiny space
Michael Mackie:
uh huh.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
so everybody’s paying 15 grand for it. I ain’t got it like that, but I would love to see a show with a Beyonce in that type of space, which I think would be just exceptional.
Michael Mackie:
Speaking of, what’s still on your to-do list for your final year of term?
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Oh my gosh! I think that I was about to crack a joke, but some people get sensitive, so I’ll be good. I was saying I hope the Royals win another pennant, but the season’s been up and down and so we’ll see how they’re doing in August and beyond. But I think for me, I’m pretty happy with where we’ve been at 18th & Vine, where we’ve been on the west side. So maybe the one thing we can do, there have been some border war fractures. Maybe my ending thing can be like a bring everyone together, Mr. Rogers type of, we’re all friends. Our region is great. We realize we can all be cool together, and I’ll try to build that up with, there’ll be a new governor in Kansas in January, of course. We’ll have a new executive in Jackson County, Missouri. There’s a chance to get everything off on the right foot.
Michael Mackie:
I saw you did the walk down, you took a Saturday, you did a walk down Troost. Do you enjoy that sort of thing?
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
I love it. I love it. And I wish I had more time to do that. You can drive by a place a thousand times, but if you’re on foot, you really see the people, you see the conditions, and frankly, I think you see where you can have some impact. So I plan to continue to do that as long as it’s warm enough. The heat doesn’t bother me. The cold, I ain’t going to slip on ice though. But no, I think that that is something great we can do.
Michael Mackie:
You need to wear your sensible shoes, Mayor, when you’re out on the ice.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
I never thought I would go old man, sensible shoes, but now almost every day.
Michael Mackie:
It’s just one slip and fall. You break your hip. Down!
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
I’m going to give props to Sly. When he was mayor and I was on council, I was like, I’m going to wear the fancy wingtips. And now I’m like, man, I get it. My feet feel good at the end of the night.
Michael Mackie:
Have you had a highlight over your tenure? I’m really putting you on the spot here. This was not a question I was going to ask, but what’s been the highlight? What’s been the feather in your cap?
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Oh my gosh! I mean, there have been so many just exceptional moments where I had to pinch myself. I mean, I’ve been to the White House a number of different times. Only Joe Biden invited me. I don’t get invited as much these days, but that’s all good. And I think those have been cool. Here in Kansas City, I think that I still just love, every now and then I’ll do a school visit and the kids get so excited. Maybe just because, and you’ve done this before, because you’ve been on TV, even though I’m like, no, there’s a famous person right there.
Michael Mackie:
No, I’m not. Bryan Busby.
Ladies and gentlemen, Bryan Busby! And it has been, it’s just been cool. That’s rewarding to spend time with kids at a school. And I have loved that. At the different celebratory parades, having the chance to speak to a crowd of a million people, which is just strange.
That is bonkers.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
People haven’t done that since the 1900s. I feel like I was like William Jennings Bryan and, “Gather Around, Kansas City!”
Michael Mackie:
Hear ye, hear ye!
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
“As We Tell the Story of America!” And so that has been cool. But I’ll tell you what we’re doing right now. World Cup. I mean, had you told this kid from Kansas City growing up on the east side that Kansas City would get this type of glow-up? And I know I’m behind on my phrases.
Michael Mackie:
It is a glow-up. You can use that phrase. It’s exactly what it is.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
I would’ve never believed it, and so I’m just taking it all in.
Michael Mackie:
After this is all said and done, are you going to have that weird sort of post World Cup like postpartum? Are you going to be like, [panting] or are you just going to catch your breath?
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
I think so. I mean, there’s part of me, I’m terrible at golf, but every summer I’m like, I’m going to just get out and find all this time. And so there’s part of me that’s like, Hey, maybe if we can just keep the calendar frozen, then I will do a share of that. I will catch up on a lot of things at home. But I don’t think that’s the case. There’s just so much to get done in Kansas City. I know my time is finite in this position, and I want to make sure I can get this city into the best position possible for its future.
Michael Mackie:
I always tell people I’ll sleep when I’m dead. I will sleep when I’m dead. Well, this is literally the busiest month ever for you. So I owe you one, Mayor, for coming in and being on our podcast today. Thank you for being on Artful Connections Along the Streetcar. I owe you one.
Mayor Quinton Lucas:
Great to be with you.
Michael Mackie:
Thank you.
Thank you so much for joining us today on our monthly stop of the Artful Connections Along the Streetcar podcast presented by Arvest Bank and sponsored by TIVOL. You can find this podcast and our future stops wherever you find your favorite podcasts. As a reminder, this is Michael Mackie for KC Studio, Kansas City’s only full-time magazine, website, and e-newsletter with professional journalists covering the cultural arts region. Go to kcstudio.org to check out all our upcoming arts events, our latest podcasts, and to sign up now to receive your free, yes, just like the Streetcar, your free magazine six times a year in your mailbox, or to receive our weekly newsletters at kcstudio.org/subscribe. Thanks for riding with us during this month’s episode.
