Aldermen, CBA and SSAs Cleaning up Business District
Melinda Kelly, Executive Director of the Chatham Business Association announced during CBA’s monthly membership meeting Tuesday morning that the organization is fighting to rid the Chatham area of bad businesses.
“There will be no more selling cigarettes on the street. If you do not have a tobacco license you cannot sell cigarettes and if you do not have a liquor license, you cannot distribute (liquor),” Kelly said during the meeting.
Businesses with signage and other building code violation issues are going to be targeted as well.
“We’re doing this through the SSAs and aldermen as way to clean up the community,” said Bill Garth, CBA chairman and CEO of the Chicago Citizen Newspaper.
Sixth Ward Aldermen Roderick Sawyer, 8th Ward Ald. Michelle Harris, CBA and the SSAs (Special Service Areas) in the area are indeed working together to clean up Chatham’s business district.
“Ald. Harris and I have been going out with City of Chicago’s Building Inspectors, and CBA to the businesses located east and west on 79th Street and North and South on Cottage Grove,” Sawyer said. “It’s a multifaceted effort to attract and maintain quality businesses on 79th Street. CBA talks to them about the services they offer and the inspector makes them aware of any violations. There’s a desire to see improvements along 79th Street. We all want the same thing; a safe productive environment.”
“If you’ve ever come across gangs of youth loitering near or in front of a store a business you would like to patronize but do not because you’re intimidated by their presence,” Sawyer continued. “The SSAs along 79th Street has a security force that walk the beat and are also in cars. When they see this kind of loitering, they move the guys along. They are a welcome presence in the area. They go into the businesses and they keep a log of the businesses they go into. It’s fairly new yet. They’ve only been in place for about a month now.”
CBA also announced its new address is 800 E. 78th Street. The CBA technology center is located there as well.
Speakers at Tuesday’s meeting included Charles Watkins, Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace Regional Outreach Coordinator from Gov. Pat Quinn’s office who addressed the Affordable Care Act, health insurance market places, and health insurance requirements for small businesses.
Watkins also thanked Cong. Bobby Rush for his efforts and encouraged small business owners and anyone in need of assistance and/or education to visit the Get Covered Illinois website.
Guest speaker, Jennifer Scott, human relations specialist with the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations told the audience that her office is charged with enforcing the city’s human rights and fair housing ordinances in 14 areas that include: race, color, sexual orientation, disability, age, gender identity, credit history etc.
“Our office helps individuals and businesses facing these issues,” Scott said. “Our department uses mediation and conflict resolution and we hear both sides. We’ve also worked with schools. Anybody can call our department.”
Scott also discussed hate crimes and said those crimes are difficult to prosecute.
“The more information you can provide to the police, the better the outcome,” she said.
Speaker Arnold Romeo, director of the Commission on Human Rights, Advisory Council on Equity, congratulated CBA for its work in building up the community and providing education on how to run a good business.
“Businesses bring what the community needs,” Romeo said. “It doesn’t matter the size or the location, there are practices you need to follow. Get to know the community and the community groups and leaders. When you have issues, that’s where you need to go. I think all the businesses in the area should be part of CBA and businesses need to hire from the community. I know sometimes that can be difficult when you have unmotivated workers... Good customer service is so important. Young people need to learn ethics from you.”
For more information about CBA and job and contract opportunities, please visit the website at CBAworks.org.
Latest Stories
- CTU Gathers with Faith-based Leaders to Highlight Recent Tentative Agreement Wins for Students and Educators
- COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER KISHA MCCASKILL TAKES CENTER STAGE AS SOUTH SUBURBAN COMMUNITY UNITES FOR A GREENER FUTURE
- RICH TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR CALVIN JORDAN LEADS HEARTWARMING SPRING CELEBRATION FOR HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES WITH “EASTER JAMBOREE” CELEBRATION
- Local Musician’s Career Spans 50 Years
- Have Questions About Money? The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office Can Help
Latest Podcast
STARR Community Services International, Inc.
