(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Chicago City Council's Licensing Committee has approved an ordinance that would tightly regulate dollar stores, which often the targets of neighborhood complaints.
Ald. Matthew O'Shea has four of the retail outlets in his 19th Ward, with another planned, and he says there is trash strewn around the existing stores. He also says the stores are understaffed and do not respond to complaints.
His proposed ordinance would increase official oversight and ban any new dollar stores within a mile of another one.
But Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th, one of three votes against the measure, said the parent company is changing and owners promise to be better neighbors.
Ald. Jeanette Taylor, 20th, said those promises are too little too late. She says the stores are filthy.
Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Family Dollar are owned by the same corporation. Representatives of the parent corporation sought to block the measure, which now moves to the full City Council.
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