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REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 26, 2012
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<br />biggest problem now is the ingress/egress of the Munchie Mart. She stated that there is someone
<br />always going in and someone trying to get out. She stated that Ricky plans to consolidate some
<br />lots to make entry and exit easier and safer. She stated that he is trying to make it better for
<br />everyone and the area needs the business.
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<br />Carl Clark, 437 Albert Street, South Bend, Indiana,stated that he moved here six years ago and at
<br />one point in time after dark he wouldn’t have even considered walking down to the Munchie
<br />Mart. But in the last two years, since the new owners have taken over there has been a great
<br />difference. There are no people loitering, it’s just more of an in and out type place, get what you
<br />need and leave. He stated that the Council should consider favorably allowing the expansion and
<br />upgrade of the business.
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<br />The following individuals spoke in opposition to the bill:
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<br />Richard Robinson, 121 N. Chicago, South Bend, Indiana, advised that he is in opposition to this
<br />bill. The new owners have only been there for two years. He stated that the young people still
<br />like to hang out there. He stated that the owners said they would have security from 9-11 p.m.,
<br />but what about after those hours. He stated that they do sell cigarettes individually along with
<br />drug paraphernalia, which no one really can control. He stated that its things like this along with
<br />the gas pumps that are going to bring more people in the neighborhood, a neighborhood that is
<br />already struggling with crime. He urged the Council to vote against this bill.
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<br />Billie Cannady, 206 N. Illinois, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she believes that Western
<br />Avenue will become once again a great corridor into South Bend. She stated that she opposes
<br />at this time the expansion of the Munchie Mart. She stated that she has suspicions of the
<br />business plan overall. She questioned why gas pumps? If you want to expand and create better
<br />commerce and to create a better convenience store then why gas pumps. She stated that it’s all a
<br />smoke screen, it purely for profit. She stated that there are plenty of gas stations on Western
<br />Avenue, they don’t need another one.
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<br />Wendell Johnson, 305 S. Falcon, South Bend, Indiana, advised that when he looks at Area Plan,
<br />what is the criteria of Area Plan, when they have acknowledge that this is a good plan. He stated
<br />that no one has seen a real concrete business plan for this individual, knowing where his
<br />revenues come from to pay back on what he proposes on his $600,000 - $700,00 investment. He
<br />stated that is one thing that we as residents question that the legitimate operations of his business.
<br />He noted that the residents that have stood up against this, notice they intellect, notice their
<br />speech, notice their clarity. They are residents that are outstanding citizens in this city. He
<br />stated that we are not drug heads, we are property owners and want to see our community grow,
<br />but want to see it grow in the right way. He doesn’t wish the owner any ill when it comes to his
<br />future or his prosperity in this country. One thing that he has to understand, not everything goes
<br />just for a dollar. In our community when we have a struggle we want to get there. We have
<br />improved our community as you will see the residents who participate and they all stand up
<br />because they want something concrete and well put together. He stated that we all understand
<br />that our city is struggling for revenue, but we just don’t want you to give us anything that comes
<br />along with a dollar promise. He stated that is all that they are asking, just to look closely before
<br />giving a thumbs up or down.
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<br />Jesse Davis, P. O. Box 10205, South Bend, Indiana, stated that we have seen other locations in
<br />our city that have put gas pumps up, gas stations for instance on Lincolnway West, Bendix, other
<br />places that have for whatever reason seem to be a breeding ground for crime and heavy police
<br />calls and things of that nature. Obviously the Council has to weigh in on that, and take that into
<br />consideration. He stated that he is also curious if the new owner, if there is an relativity, is he
<br />related to the previous owners at all. He stated that they have seen a lot of that where businesses
<br />might get passed down to a cousin or whatever. Also, he has been there for two years and people
<br />are talking about what he has done, clean this up, there is still obviously a lot of crime there and
<br />the phase has been used in many different instances that you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s
<br />still a pig. And just because you cleaned some trash up you have made some people go away,
<br />that doesn’t mean that the element and things that have gone on there aren’t going to happen
<br />again. Maybe we need to sit back and say hey let’s just look at this for a little longer , let this
<br />new owner prove to the Council and the Community and the people in those neighborhoods that
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