WGN: Shop owners threaten to close over uptick in violence in Park Manor

Earlier this week WGN did a story which quoted Haim Brody of Market Fisheries, 6th Ward Ald. Roderick Sawyer, and Park Manor neighbors Pres. Darlene Tribue over shooting incidents near 71st/State. The concern, the businesses are losing money because their customers are often afraid of their safety. It's hard to have a thriving business sector if business owners are losing money because the areas where they set up shop are unsafe.

Let's allow Mr. Brody to explain:

Haim Brody, the president of Market Fisheries, says his family has owned the popular fish market on 71st and State since 1957. But now he fears he may have to leave because of escalating violence, drug dealing and harassment of customers.

"We've had four shootings here in the last four days," Brody said. "It's just impossible to do business. We have open drug dealing on the street, open drug dealing, many numerous transactions here; we have little children walking to school have to go through all this stuff."

In scenes captured on tape, shoppers and community members walking near 71st St. are forced to take shelter or run away when shots ring out. Brody says 16 people have been shot on this block alone since the beginning of the year, and it's starting to take a toll on the businesses around him. He and other business owners along 71st St. are fed up.

And Ald. Sawyer let's us know what's being done about it:

"I want answers, but I know one thing: there's a cancer over there that we need to get cut out real fast" Ald. Sawyer said. "We're adding, beefing up patrols in the area and let's just say we do have ongoing, undercover operations consistently."

Here's hoping for some solutions soon! 

You might have seen something here on this blog about Market Fisheries before.