CLEVELAND — A measure that would put any new dollar stores locations in Cleveland on-hold is now being considered by the Cleveland law department and the city administration.
The proposed legislation drafted by Cleveland Councilman Blaine Griffin would place a moratorium on allowing any new dollars store to open in the city until company leaders come up with a better safety and service plan for the neighborhoods they serve, or would serve in the future.
Griffin told News 5 the legislation is gaining national attention, since crime and safety issues are hitting dollar store across the country.
“They have frequent robberies, they often times have employees that have walked out,” Griffin said.
“We wanted to first and foremost stop that growth process, until we really had a chance to look at some zoning tools.”
Griffin told News 5 the Family Dollar on East 116 Street generated 107 calls for Cleveland police over a two year period.
But Griffin said leaders from the "big three" dollar stores are starting to respond.
"The Dollar General, the Family Dollar, the Dollar Tree, a lot of these folks have asked to meet with city council,” Griffin said.
“You have to have a good business model and do right by our citizens and the employees when they bring folks into our neighborhood."
Cleveland Councilman Kevin Conwell agrees dollar stores need to do more when comes to safety, but said he hopes the city will negotiate with company leaders first, and if a moratorium is needed, the city should tread lightly.
“I have had issues and concerns with dollar stores in my community and I had to shutdown a few," Conwell said.
“No ban I think that would get us in trouble.”
“Temporary Moratorium, we need to look at the length of it, maybe six weeks, maybe two months.”
Meanwhile, Griffin said he hopes the legislation could be up for a vote in the summer session, or this coming fall.
