The Blue Line weighs options ahead of COVID-19 restrictions

River Market bar already operates at 50% capacity

CHILDREN LEARNVIRTUALLY.BUT FIRST -- A NEWROUND OF RESTRICTIONS-- INCLUDING CLOSING AT10 P-M -- IS SET TO HITKANSAS CITYRESTAURANTS AND BARSFRIDAY MORNING.AND IT COULD PUSHSOME OWNERS TO TAKELEGAL ACTION.NEW TONIGHT -- 41ACTION NEWS REPORTERANDRES GUTIERREZTALKED WITH ONEATTORNEY ON WHYTHERE ARE CONCERNS.Andres Gutierrez/Reporting/The blue line closes at three inthe morning, the upcomingrestrictions would cost themfive hours of tips and tabs asthey're already hurtingfinancially.

This afternoon, thebar owner sat down with hisattorney to go over theiroptions ahead of Friday'senforcement.Michael Gunter/Attorney/It's affecting everyone, butwhat's it going to cost for thisestablishment?

To close?

Areworkers now going to losetheir jobs?ATTORNEY MICHAELGUNTER REPRESENTS THEBLUE LINE...A RIVER MARKET STAPLETHAT'S TAKEN STEPS TOCONTAIN THE SPREAD OFCOVID-19 BEFORECUSTOMERS EVEN WALKIN.THEY OPERATE AT 50PERCENT CAPACITY ANDTHAT THE OWNER SAYS ISHITTING THEIRBOTTOMLINE HARD.WITH THE NEWRESTRICTIONS THERE'SMORE UNCERTAINTY.Michael Gunter/Attorney/what is a proper time?

Webelieve 10 o'clock is arbitrary.Michael Gunter/Attorney/is the city that's enforcingthisgoing to pay them for lostrevenue?GUNTER AND THEESTABLISHMENT ARE INTHE PROCESS OFFIGURING WHAT'S NEXT.Michael Gunter/Attorney/No decision have been madeas a formal legal actionUNLIKE IN ST.

LOUISCOUNTY WHERE DOZENSOF RESTAURANTS FILED ACLASS-ACTION LAWSUITWEDNESDAY CLAIMING THEST.

LOUIS COUNTYEXECUTIVE LACKS THELEGAL AUTHORITY TODECLARE INDOOR DININGILLEGAL.IF KANSAS CITY BAR ANDRESTAURANT OWNERS DIDTHE SAME, THE MAYORDOESN'T THINK IT'DCHANGE ANYTHING.Mayor Quinton Lucas/City ofKansasCity, Missouri/we are allowed to try to keeppeople safe.

We'll continue tokeep people safe.

We willdefend any litigation and we'llbe successful.HE ADDS THAT HIS OFFICEWITH WORKING TODISTRIBUTE MONEY TOHELP SMALL BUSINESSOWNERS.AS FOR THE NEW CLOSINGTIME OF 10 P-M THE MAYORSAYS ITS'S BASED ONPUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTSSEEING MORE YOUNGADULTS GETTINGINFECTED.India Fernandez/Patron/especially when you are in mydemographic like 20-to-30year olds, like people my ageare not caring about this likethey should be.Mayor Quinton Lucas/City ofKansasCity, Missouri/This is not about any sort ofcontrol.

I'm a mayor, I want taxrevenue.

It's not aboutshutting anything down.

It'sabout keeping people safeand keeping people alive.IN KANSAS CITY.

ANDRESGUTI