The ACLU of Kansas & Western Missouri intervened on behalf of a man who was charged with violating the city's trespassing ordinance in May. The ACLU asked that the case against Nicholas "Wick" Thomas be thrown out because he was using a sidewalk in Westport at the time of his arrest. On July 18, the city prosecutor dismissed the charge.
The case highlights the occasional ambiguity between what is private and what is public space in Westport. Thomas is not the first individual to complain that the line gets a little fuzzy in the shopping and entertainment district.
A feature story in The Pitch last year described how individuals who misbehave in Westport are sometimes told that they are "banned" by the private security force employed by a Westport merchants' association. Technically, the ban applies to businesses and other private property that make up the Westport community-improvement district, an area that stretches approximately from Broadway to Waddell and from 40th to 43rd streets.
Jon Engelman, the executive director of the Westport Regional Business League, explained to the The Pitch that the ban was "basic Private Property Rights 101." Charles Renner, the Westport community-improvement district's attorney, said the security force respects the difference between public and private space. "I don't believe that you have instances of people being detained for trespass from being on public property," Renner said.
So why then was Thomas charged with trespassing for using a sidewalk outside the Jerusalem Cafe? In a statement about the dismissal of the charge, ACLU legal director Doug Bonney says Thomas' case shows that Renner's statement is "incorrect."
The ACLU says it is interested in hearing from other individuals who have been prosecuted for trespassing on public streets and sidewalks in Westport.
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First off....you're reading the pitch. Second, ya heard of the Civil War....the Battle of Westport ring a bell? The "Delmar Loop" popped up in the 50's....stl just had a bigger budget. Suck it St. Louis.
Umm actually I live in St Louis now near the Delmar loop. Have you heard of The Loop?? Its what Westport is still trying to be with no luck!!
America's Pub is still better than Tanner's. And I don't even go to America's Pub.
Westport is the best though.
People that enjoy non-corporate chains in a relaxed atmosphere (with the exection of America's Pub). There are many great restaurants that are not going to be found in Mommys Boy South OP neighborhood. But, please keep frequenting your local Tanner's or Applebee's so we never have to meet.
Thank You.
Im going to respond to this story with the same question that I responded to the original "Banned " story in the Pitch last year with. "Who the fuck hangs out in Westport?" Thank you,
Could they also explain why the private security force employees are allowed to shine their flash lights into other people's vehicles when they are not present?
Could the security force explain the difference between "private and private space" to me too?
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