I hope that you can join me on this Saturday, October 27^th for a Press Conference at 9:00 a.m. at the Shell Gas Station in the West End. This gas station is located at 1355 Ralph D. Abernathy Boulevard, SW (at the corner of Ralph D. Abernathy Boulevard and Langhorn Street, SW). Of the over 200 businesses that are located in District 4, this gas station is one of the trashiest and dirtiest businesses in the area. The City of Atlanta Code Compliance office has cited this individual on many occasions over the last 5 years. We had him in Municipal Court earlier this year for fire safety violations inside his convenience store.

I believe that many times we tolerate the acceptance of bad service, as well as businesses that are not kept to a higher standard. Over the last five years, I have diligently tried to work with the business owner, Mr. Anwar Ali. Unfortunately his business continues to be un-kept. If you have ever just walked throughout his property, both in the front and in the back of the store, on a daily basis you will see trash in the hedges and paper littered on the grounds of the property. He has not properly repaved the grounds around the gas pumps in 15 years, and has not repaved the rest of the property since he purchased it 15 years ago.

About eight or nine years ago, Mr. Ali purchased the building next door to the gas station at 1335 Ralph D. Abernathy Boulevard, SW (formerly a Kentucky Fried Chicken). At that time Mr. Ali stated to me that the reason he purchased this additional property was to expand and make improvements to the current gas station. No improvements have happened, in fact the old Kentucky Fried Chicken building is still boarded up and now has graffiti on the property. I have asked our Code Compliance officer to cite him for the graffiti.  Mr. Ali lives in Peachtree City and I wonder if any of those gas stations in his neighborhood looks like this run down one in our area.

Again, I hope that you can take time out of your busy schedule to join me for this Press Conference on this Saturday, October 27^th at 9:00 a.m.  RALLY! RALLY! RALLY!

Cleta Winslow

Councilmember, District 4

404-330-6047 (office)

404-216-1701 (cell)

404-331-8929 (fax)

cwinslow@atlantaga.gov