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Residents and board raise College Hill grocery access and pawn-shop reporting questions
Summary
Residents and Assistant Mayor Harris discussed a petition aimed at attracting a grocery store to College Hill, potential transit-route changes to improve access, and concerns about pawn-shop listings and police access to those records.
Assistant Mayor Harris and residents used the board’s public-comment and discussion periods to press two community issues: the possible loss of grocery access on College Hill and public access to pawn-shop listings used by police to trace stolen goods.
Harris said residents and some local businesses and churches have circulated a petition to show grocery retailers there is customer demand in the College Hill neighborhood after a Save A Lot store closed or is at risk. "It's a desperate need in that area for a grocery store," a board member said. Board members asked economic-development staff to explore options and discussed whether bus routes can be adjusted to provide better access for residents who lack personal transportation.
Separately, a resident described repeated break-ins and asked whether pawn-shop listings entered into the regional system known as "Lee's online" are viewable by the public so that victims can search for stolen items. A detective responded that pawn shops enter items into Lee's online and detectives routinely check that system for matches; the detective said the system is a law-enforcement tool and is not generally public-facing but staff would look into options and provide local crime statistics.
Why it matters: loss of a local grocery store can force residents to rely on convenience stores with limited fresh food and raises transit and equity concerns. Access to pawn-shop listings affects the ability of victims to identify and recover stolen property and can influence police follow-up.
What the board asked: members clarified the petition is intended to demonstrate market demand to prospective retailers and urged outreach through economic development channels. The board also agreed to consider transit-route reviews at the next transit-board meeting to determine whether bus service adjustments could improve access.
The board did not take immediate formal action on the petition or transit routing; staff and police said they would follow up with requested information and statistics.
