CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS Crry oF Cricaco ‘Awaron Couch. CHamaen Buoder so Goverment Openanions Gry Haut = 3n0 Fuoom Eoucanon avo Got Dever Ghnesoor humors 60602 Hovana mo Rea. Eorare ‘Teieowone! (312) 744-8921 utes ano Eniics Transronrarion AND Puouc Wa Raymonp A. Lopez AvoerMan, 157TH Wano 1650 West Gann Street Chicado, humors 60636 ‘Tevernone: (773) 306-0837 December 17, 2016 Commissioner Maria Guerra Lapacek Dept. of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection Commissioner Judith Frydland Dept. of Buildings Dear Commissioners: | am requesting your immediate collective assistance in closing down Mercado 43, located at 2557 W. Pope John Paul I! St, and Taqueria La Cantera, located at 4311 S. Rockwell St. Both establishments adjoin each other. These problematic businesses are kitty-corner to James Shields Elementary School, which has several hundred students. BACP inspections have produced no actionable violations. | have requested several times for CPD intervention at these locations because of persistent gang & drug activities as far back as August 2015. Three police commanders & sixteen months later, | have seen no sustainable progress in halting this activity. Something different needs to be done immediately. In the months since these businesses were brought to my attention, there have numerous 911 calls for service, particularly involving gang shootings and the open-air drug market allowed to exist at the front door of the restaurant. Last week a shooting took place at this location while students were outside for recess. Then today, at 3:25p, two cars pulled up and unloaded over 30 rounds of high-caliber rounds on the location, killing ‘two instantly with two more in critical or serious condition. One of those instantly killed was a local disabled man with no gang ties - an innocent victim in a tragedy that could have been avoided. Please help my residents avoid more carnage by closing these locations immediately. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me directly at 773-490-0821. Until then I remain,