Stop Pawn Shop Establishment at 7900 S. Western Avenue
Marie Tyse
Published: September 9, 2012
In an August 17, 2012 letter to the City of Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals, members of the North Beverly Civic Association (NBCA) informed the Board that we are strongly opposed to the establishment of a pawnshop at 7900 S. Western Avenue. Since that time, residents of the 17th, 18th, and 21st Wards have expressed strong opposition as well.
In order to assist those residents, NBCA has created an online petition and paper petitions to be delivered to the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals asking them to deny zoning changes at 7900 S. Western Avenue for the following reasons: Building a pawnshop at 79th and Western is not in the best interest of our community. No members of our population or the Ashburn neighborhood where the pawnshop is to be located characteristically use services provided by pawnshops. A gas station was previously located at 7900 S. Western. Environmental concerns surrounding development of the site have not been adequately addressed. Furthermore, we have learned that Cash America buys and sells firearms. The Chicago Police Department informs us through our CAPS meetings that 79th Street from the Lake, West to Cicero Avenue has one of the highest crime rates in the City. Locating a pawnshop at 79th and Western provides a direct route to the pawnshop for burglary and theft offenders in Chicago.
At an August 13, 2012 meeting with 18th Ward Alderman, Lona Lane and representatives of Cash America we were informed by Cash America Representatives that the Chicago Police Department has a Unit devoted to policing pawnshop records. We absolutely deem this a gross misuse of taxpayer supported police resources. The Chicago Police Department is reported to have a shortage greater than three thousand sworn officers. Yet limited resources are being diverted to sworn officers checking pawnshop records. This is completely unacceptable. Alderman Lane concluded the meeting by telling those in attendance (overflow crowd) that because the attendees expressed vehement opposition to the pawnshop, there would be no pawnshop built at 79th and Western. We are not convinced.
At the meeting, we learned that Cash America was on the Zoning Board of Appeals agenda for their meeting, scheduled for August 17, 2012, seeking zoning changes at 7900 S. Western to permit the establishment of their pawnshop at that location. A large group of residents, including members of NBCA attended the meeting to express our opposition. At the meeting, Cash America requested a postponement until Friday, October 19, 2012. NBCA has created two petitions to be delivered to the Zoning Board of Appeals asking them to deny the zoning changes sought by Cash America. The first is an Online petition, to read more about what we are trying to do and sign the petition, click here: http://www.change.org/petitions/chicago-zoning-board-of-appeals-deny-zoning-change-at-7900-s-western-ave
The Second petition is a paper petition created to be circulated among residents without Internet access. If you know people without Internet access and/or you are interested in signing or circulating a paper petition in your area, please call 773-551-4870 to contact NBCA.