Pubdate: Wed, 19 Apr 2006
Source: Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MN)
Copyright: 2006 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Contact:  http://www.spokesman-recorder.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3508
Author: Lauretta Dawolo

CORNER STORES UNDER FIRE

Minneapolis Has Formed A Special Task Force To Address Convenience Store Issues

Last week we described how neighbors on Minneapolis' Northside have 
launched an "Action Against Corner Stores Campaign" demanding that 
local convenience stores stop the sale of drug paraphernalia, keep 
their stores clean and sanitary, and improve security around the 
stores by discouraging loitering and installing adequate lighting and 
cameras. This week we look at the City's response to the problem.

There seems to be a lot of "passing the buck" among the business 
owners targeted by the Action Against Corner Stores Campaign. "[The 
owners] have sold to their cousins," said Jennifer Baxa, a member of 
ACORN's Northside Neighbors United! "Now they can say in their 
defense that the complaints are not their problem, but that of the 
previous owner. Each store is independently operated and no one takes 
responsibility."

Ricardo Cervantes, deputy director of Licenses and Consumer Services 
for the City of Minneapolis, said, "This does not take away the 
responsibility they have. Owning a license is a privilege. They are 
responsible for proactively discouraging the activity around their 
property. Failure to do so is a violation of the law.

"That's the purpose for this office," Cervantes said. "[The owners] 
are supposed to do everything they can to ensure safety, health, and 
livability. They are accountable to the residents and to the system."

4-U Foods, formerly Wafana's, on 24th and Lyndale Ave. N., has 
staggering police statistics with a high price for taxpayers. "On 
average, each call costs $225, and there is a booking fee for every 
arrest," said Jose Velez, policy aide to Fifth Ward City Council 
Member Don Samuels. One of the stores that continue to switch 
ownership, 4-U Food's record of police calls substantiate its 
reputation as a Northside "hot spot."

Reports read by Cervantes show that between January 1, 2005, and 
February 19, 2006, there have been 1,376 responses to this address, 
129 police reports filed, and 160 arrests for criminal activity 
(including citations). Of those calls, 99.7 percent occurred during 
the business hours of 8 am to 10 pm. Fifty-four percent were 911 
calls, which means the other 46 percent were proactive stops; 84 
percent were narcotics calls; two calls reported a shooting, three 
calls reported robbery, two calls reported a stabbing, and 15 calls 
reported fighting and assault.

Neighbors say it is no wonder they are fearful living around a place 
with such a horrific track record. "We pray for a green light when we 
pass there," said Baxa.

The City has become involved as well. The Northside Convenience Store 
Taskforce has been involved in this capacity since late December 
2005. The task force is made up of representatives from the City 
Attorney's Office (community attorney), the Minneapolis Police 
Department (eventually representing every precinct), the city 
council, food inspection, zoning, food stamps and electronic benefits 
transfer (EBT).

"We are trying to include any agency that has business to do with 
grocery stores," said Cervantes. "The mission is to identify the 
grocery or convenience stores that have been known to cause problems 
in the community and make an effort around enforcement. We want to 
review the issues surrounding grocery/convenience stores, including 
loitering, drug trafficking, sale of drug paraphernalia, littering, 
and other crimes that occur in the proximity of these stores.

"There are four stores so far that have been approached [by the 
City]. We are processing the new list and adhering to the regulations 
and safeguards and considering an ordinance or system change for 
better enforcement," Cervantes said.

Council Member Don Samuels and two African American Star Tribune 
reporters recently spent a day working undercover in Wafana's. For 
the approximate eight-hour period, more than 90 percent of all the 
customers were young Black males between the ages of 16 and 25. "One 
of reporters heard [a customer] asking for baggies, and the store 
owner said 'Come back tomorrow,'" Samuels said. He also suggests that 
there is a peculiar confidence about the store owners: "They are so 
insistent and emotional... They defend themselves saying they don't 
sell these things; then you find out they do.

"One gentleman advocated for the stores, then had to abandon them 
once he found out. There's such a duplicity of culture within the 
preponderance of convenience stores... They say they're working hard. 
When guys threaten them, they call the police, and they still sell. 
It is still unknown if those business are truly viable in the 
community," Samuels said.

"It's important for the community to give its voice," he continued. 
"[These store owners] get the impression that the community is 
accommodating [them, and] it's just the civil servants and police 
officers that are making their life hell," he said.

"This confidence... When you see a recent immigrant who you would 
expect to be intimidated by this demographic, said to be violent, and 
you are still able to do business 365 days of the year -- there's 
either arrogance or complicity. Everyone else is scared, so there has 
to be something going on...and I say that as an immigrant, as someone 
who knows what it's like to be in an unfamiliar place," said Samuels.

The owners of these stores are mostly Middle Easterners, but D'Andre 
Norman, lead organizer for Northside ACORN, says, "This is not a race 
issue, because young Black men who own barber shops are able to keep 
[trouble] away. These stores attract a certain element," he said.

Another target location that is actually in the process of getting 
its license revoked is Uncle Bill's on Plymouth and Sheridan Ave. N. 
Ali Hassan Meshjell, owner of Uncle Bill's, agreed to stop selling 
single blunts, which may have been motivated by a reporter witnessing 
the exchange between an ACORN member and the business owner.

"He gave us $300 to $400 worth of blunts, then joined ACORN, but I 
think he gave it up too easy," said Veteran ACORN member Beverly 
Stancile. "[He] acted in innocence as if he could not understand why 
people would want him shut down."

The statistics recorded for his location would answer that question. 
After the sale of the business from the original owner, there was a 
44 percent reduction of calls from this location, but also a 200 
percent increase in narcotic calls (made by residents), a 200 percent 
increase in robberies, a 33 percent increase in fights, and a 150 
percent increase in police reports. Not only did activity increase, 
but the new owner has not been reporting it. "Who are you truly 
servicing?" asks Cervantes, "because we don't believe it's the 
community. You're enabling folks to hang around...then come the other 
crimes.' Meshjell also owns apartments above his store, and there 
have been complaints from neighbors about his tenants. "We would like 
to keep [stores] open for those who are actually selling and buying 
groceries versus closing the store due to the owners' track records," 
said Baxa.

ACORN is pleased with the City's input, but they also favor a more 
inclusive process. "We've asked for someone from ACORN to be on the 
task force," said Norman. "We're waiting to hear back from Don 
[Samuels]. We want the community to have a seat at the table. The 
community has an interest in resolving the problem and has the 
ability to influence store owners. We want to work with [the City], 
but we can't if they're not communicating with us."

"There is a combined effort, but not a collaborative effort, "said 
Samuels. "We want the community to put pressure along with the City."

"It's currently internal, but ACORN's input is welcome," said Cervantes.

The fourth location targeted by the City, Big Stop (26th and Knox), 
has had its license revoked, and the new applicant has been denied. 
The store owners failed to comply with the "Crime Prevention Through 
Environmental Design" (CPTED) policy, which is a law requiring 
business owners to adhere to design plans proven to help prevent 
crime. The sale of drug paraphernalia, combined with a 
double-entrance driveway, led to consistent congestion in the area.

Four stores only mark the beginning of this battle. ACORN members 
have identified many more problem sites and continue their efforts to 
prevent crime in the community by insisting that convenience stores 
clean up their acts and become responsible neighbors.

For more information on ACORN or Northside Neighbors United! contact 
D'Andre Norman or Brandon Nessen at 651-642-9639.