By Rick Moran
Over the weekend, a fight broke out near the 1,163-resident migrant shelter at the former Standard Club, 320 S. Plymouth Court. It was one of several brawls that have erupted at shelters across the city.
Most of the shelters are in residential neighborhoods dominated by small businesses. And the friction between business owners who complain the loitering migrants are destroying their businesses, residents who feel unsafe, and the migrants stuffed into shelters could blow wide open at any time.
Chicago alderman sounds the alarm over an increase in prostitution, drug sales, and fights at migrant shelters in the city. Stores near the shelters say they’ve seen more instances of shoplifting. pic.twitter.com/61O2lZESVs
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) August 21, 2023
“I don’t think any of us care that there is a shelter there. It is the fact that there are zero attempts to control the situation and we don’t feel safe here,” said Brandon Vulpitta, the owner of Brando’s Speakeasy, a popular karaoke bar near the shelter on Plymouth Court. “Our clients don’t feel safe anymore.”