Posted on 12/03/2017 5:44:07 AM PST by grundle
Earlier this month, Councilwoman Cindy Bass introduced a bill to better regulate the hundreds of “stop and go” convenience stores that operate predominantly in Philadelphia’s low-income neighborhoods. Among its stipulations, the controversial measure would prohibit any physical barrier that separates cashiers from customers at these so-called “nuisance” establishments – including protective bulletproof glass.
According to Bass, these storefronts take advantage of the city’s lax restaurant liquor license provision while contributing to a variety of quality-of-life issues in low-income communities. Content to rely solely on the sale of cigarettes and alcohol, along with a bag of Doritos or two, many of these business owners don’t even sell the food that they advertise.
“Nuisance establishments like stop-and-gos harm neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia in several ways,” Bass tells Philly Mag. “First, they contribute to increased crime. On any given day, you can find people in front of these businesses selling ‘loosies,’ or loose cigarettes, and engaging in other nuisance behaviors like loitering, public drunkenness, possible drug sales, and even public urination.”
Much like check-cashing establishments and lenders that charge exorbitant interest rates, Bass says, stop-and-go convenience stores target Philly’s most vulnerable – especially in her 8th District, where you can find more of these establishments than public schools. “Kids can buy candy, soda, and snacks while adults buy liquor by the shot, black-and-milds, and other adult products,” Bass explains. “Children aren’t allowed in bars, so why should they be allowed in establishments that operate in this manner?”
To be sure, Bass is not calling for a total ban on all convenience stores across Philadelphia. “We need them to operate in ways that contribute positively to the neighbors, community, and our city,” she says. “We must also separate what a convenience store is and does versus what a restaurant is and does.” To do so, Bass’s bill would separate businesses seeking restaurant liquor licenses into two distinct categories with different requirements.
“My law creates licensing categories for small establishments and large establishments. Business owners applying for the large establishment license may sell alcohol and must also provide tables and seating for at least 30 patrons. Under my bill they must prove ‘regular and customary’ preparation and sale of food, have a publicly accessible restroom that patrons may access without going through a food preparation area, and may not contain any barrier between the food server and the customer, as is done in a restaurant.”
Businesses that are deemed large establishments may continue to operate as a convenience store, just without bulletproof glass and the ability to sell booze past 2 a.m. Since the bill’s introduction, a legion of storefront owners has come forward to criticize its potential conditions, claiming that their employees will be less safe as a result. Bass dismisses this notion, pointing as evidence to the large number of bars and other after-hours businesses that operate in rough neighborhoods without a protective barrier.
“I take concerns about the safety of all residents very, very seriously,” says Bass. “As I’ve said, my office is open to working with businesses to help address any safety concerns business owners and employees have. … As a result of these strengthened provisions, my bill aims to help ensure that businesses who apply for licenses as restaurants are actually operating as the spirit of the law intends. It will help increase quality businesses for residents and communities, and it will help fortify the reputation of businesses in our communities who are already operating in compliance with our state and city laws.”
This bill provides an open season on shopkeepers. Next, they will complain about ghetto food deserts.
” Milo is attacked because he creates an unsafe situation..!”
“Liquor stores attract bums and it’s their fault cuz they’re creating an unsafe situation..!”
you notice how popular that stupid thinking is becoming..?
They’ll say ANYTHING to explain away the pathology in ghettos.
What will they say after they drive away the liquor stores..? they’ll say it’s a “booze desert” or something.
It’s against the South Korean merchants. The thugs can’t shoot and rob them in the normal fashion. The Black leadershipship is upset over that fact.
This is so their favorite boys can just waltz right in and take what is “rightfully” theirs at the stores of plenty, from the “oppressors”.
Same reason why they are taking guns from non-violent people and deliberately leaving them in the hands of violent criminals.
Agreed. I could/should have written “open season on Korean shop owners.”
> Prohibit bulletproof glass <
Why stop there? Alarm systems and security cameras should have to go as well. And door locks, too. All of these items are insults to the community!
In many places the USPS has barriers up to protect them from the natives.
Places that sells nothing but booze, smokes, and junk food are skirting licenseing laws. Basically convienence stores calling themselves restaurants. Probably accept EBT for the sale of such items, too. When I first read about this I was concerned, but this article makes more clear the intention of the ordinance.
Because they are scammers running illegal businesses. Have to root them out.
The long term result Bass’s moronic bill will be the shuttering of these inner city businesses. Then the same idiot will whine about the inner city being without essential stores.
Congratulations.
You found a 5 day old article that’s been beaten
to death on this Forum a half dozen times.
OCD much?
I haven’t been on FR much lately so the story was new to me. Even when I come on regularly, I miss lots of stuff.
This idiot councilwoman doesn’t even live anywhere near these “war zones”. She lives in a relatively nice part of the city while dictating what shop keepers in basically war zones should do? Then they’ll blame racism when no one opens any stores in these areas.
I don’t live there, never would, but I hope they pass this bill. It’ll force them all to head into the nice, WHITE, liberal neighborhoods to get their stuff. It’ll be awesome to watch them try to integrate with the White, Compassionate, Liberals that care about them so much. Need to do some reality TV at the nearest Whole Foods. It’ll be great.
But, on a more serious note, it’d be interesting to see them worry about food stamp fraud or laundering/wiring money for their muslim brothers, back home.
Who wants to bet me that there are activists for BLM on that city council?
I've mentioned this on a similar thread.
Many of these black city council or alderman types in big cities are hundred-thousandaires.
Their job is to rabble-rouse at city meetings in front of a local TV crew and loudly denounce the conditions in the part of the city they represent, to keep their residents angry and pissed off.
Then at the end of the day, they pick up their kids from a private school in the suburbs and sleep comfortably while their residents continue to rob and shoot each other.
What a vunch of jerks!
There’s no such thing as “bullet. prof,. glass.” You may find bullet resistant, but not Bullet proof.
“It’s against the South Korean merchants.”
I have a feeling you are correct. I can see at least three reasons the Koreans would be hated: They are intelligent, they are industrious, and they own a business.
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