CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from a story published on Jan. 4, 2021.
Cleveland City Councilmember Mike Polensek is working to stop the renewal of a liquor license for Gas USA, located at the corner of St. Clair Avenue and E. 123rd Street.
The gas station has been known a "hot spot" for crime in recent years, seeing multiple shootings and other illegal activities.
“This establishment has been a major source of violence in the Glenville neighborhood,” Councilman Polensek said. “When I hear elderly women tell me they are afraid to walk down the street because of the characters hanging at this establishment, my response is this is totally unacceptable and outrageous.
Councilman Polensek, who represents Ward 8, said that in previous years, he has received more complaints from Gas USA than from any other liquor-license holding facility in the area.
According to an email sent from Councilman Polensek's office, since Jan. of 2019, the Cleveland Division of Police has been called 23 times to investigate issues at the location.
“These included 7 felonious assaults, 8 assaults, a homicide on July 6, 2020, 3 menacing, 1 ethnic intimidation, 2 carrying a concealed weapon, and another homicide on November 4, 2020. Also, on December 20, 2020, two customers were shot near the gas pumps,” the decision by the state noted.
“The renewal of this permit would burden police resources and substantially interfere with the public decency, sobriety, peace, or good order in this neighborhood,” the denial noted.
Editor's note: the video in the player below is from a story published on Feb. 11, 2021.