Eager to see how this will go.

It’s a systemic issue, not an “over welcoming” issue.

It’s so absurd. I live in the neighborhood and yes, the store sucks. I wish it offered things besides alcohol and gambling machines but to say this corner store or corner stores are the ROOT issue to why we have violence, homelessness, or drug issues is ridiculous. Elected officials are looking for quick fix answers that don’t involve them actually having to find money for community services. I’ve inquired with community members advocating for the closing about what their plan is to ensure this doesn’t become vacant or just another store with the same issues and no one has a plan in place. Like community grants targeted at community focused business or a nonprofit or fundraising to buy the lot and redevelop it. It’s a shitty building and to think it won’t just sit vacant like many buildings on meadowbridge and Brookland park is very wishful thinking. They are scapegoating the store, which is at best idiotic and at worst dangerous. They aren’t even taking the correct punitive approach, which would be busting the nearby drug homes and dealers who are selling drugs and shooting people.

Also, love how our councilperson is condoning gambling machines but was fully behind One Casino /s.

I would vote for you.

Is this the NAACP guy that tried to disband the local chapter after the national org disowned him?

Thank you for keeping the original title.

The same.

It’ll go nowhere

ellen robertson is a terrible city councilperson so it's not surprising that she wants to take the cheap/easy/low hanging fruit route and blame the store.

> Also, love how our councilperson is condoning gambling machines but was fully behind One Casino /s.

Nobody can say they weren’t consistent 😉

Unfortunately these convenience stores have been like this for years. I remember walking into one in southside one day and seeing a big white brick that looked like cocaine behind the counter. Turns out it was some kind of legal substance used to “cut” or dilute powder drugs. Next to that item were digital scales, and behind those were a bunch of dime baggies. Literally everything you need to be a drug dealer short of the actual drug. And that’s not including the crack pipes, boner pills, and obvious stolen merchandise for sale. Oh and outside of this store were guys also selling drugs right out in the open.

I understand the gut reaction from community members to shut these shops down, but I agree that is very short sighted and not treating the root problem.

JJ Minor never met a camera he didn't love

Based off the email I got following the emergency community meeting, they’re only focusing on penalizing the store, even though plenty of other points were made about other issues and ways to work on this. I live close by and wish the focus was more on building up the community instead of putting blame on the shop for a systemic issue.

I am all for shutting this fucking place down or at the least restricting them to daylight hours. If you provide a "safe" loitering space you get this. 2 ridiculous shootings and a murder around the corner in the last 6 months were enough.

Kinda wild those giving a pass to the store and crying something something systematic.

The store owners systematically installed slots and systematically decided to allow dozens to loiter on property who are seemingly up to no good.

So yes - it is the stores problem. They can remove slot machines, stop preying on people and tell folks to fuck off the property when they’re loitering.

But all of that is anti-corner store so good luck playing hearts and mind with the ‘community leaders’ on this one.

Oh yeah people only get murdered when “loitering,” honestly there should be a curfew because “these people” “can’t be trusted” “to act right”

Slot machines didn’t cause this murder.

Community is communism

Oh you’re right, totally my bad, the 25-30 people consistently hanging outside the front door must have been there for sour straws and suddenly caught a whiff of suddenly induced systematic derangement.

How did slot machines cause a guy to shoot people?

Gambling addiction -> borrowing money -> playing slots and losing said borrowed money -> beef

Cool, let’s ban alcohol in these places too.

OK, that's fine by me too, lol.

The Northside community is already in discussions regarding a Community Agreement for the store that would help determine what goods & services are offered.

Lol, we should just have alcohol prohibition, cuz “these people” can’t “act right,” huh?

You asked for an answer and I gave you one.

FYI I don't think beer and slots are the reason this store has been shot up twice in a few months now. One stop doesn't have the same problem, does it?