In Cook County, a dispute has erupted between a local entrepreneur and Calumet City officials over the denial of a permit for a new gas station. Mohammed Abdallah, the businessman at the center of the controversy, is taking legal action, asserting that officials illegally blocked his permit request despite his proposal receiving initial approval and meeting all the city's requirements. The entrepreneur's legal complaint, filed on November 17 in the Cook County Circuit Court, alleges a sudden and unexplained reversal in the city council's decision after a private meeting, as reported by the Cook County Record.
In addition to his legal filing, Abdallah claims racial discrimination played a role in the council's about-face. The project in question aimed to revitalize an abandoned lot at 473 Burnham Ave. with the addition of a gas station and convenience store, potentially stimulating economic growth with job creation and competitive services, including EV chargers for electric vehicles. Despite initial signals of encouragement, including a unanimous recommendation from the city's Zoning Board of Appeals and a 3-2 council vote in favor, Abdallah was later faced with an unexpected motion to reconsider, which did not follow standard procedure due to the absence of a seconding vote, according to details cited in Abdallah's lawsuit and reported by the Chicago Tribune.
Abdallah's attorney, Daniel C. Shapiro of Shapiro & Associates Law, has pointed to the procedural anomaly to argue that the vote to reconsider is "null and void," thus the original approval should stand. The lawsuit further contends that the reversal lacked a "basis, findings of fact, or reasons," leaving Abdallah to pursue restitution for his substantial legal expenses, in addition to seeking the permit to be granted as initially approved.
Further giving credence to the allegations of discrimination, Abdallah, who is of Pakistani descent and has successfully operated more than 20 gas stations around Chicago, told the Chicago Tribune, "They don’t like us, people coming from different country, living the American dream and made a fortune in this country," asserting that jealousy might be at play. Rush Darwish, president of The Arab-American Business & Professional Association, bolstered this viewpoint in his defense of Abdallah, though he acknowledged that "racism is hard to prove" despite suspicions of prejudiced motives behind the council's actions.
While Calumet City officials have not publicly responded to Abdallah's claims or the lawsuit, the case raises pressing questions about the processes and fairness with which business development decisions are being made in the city. The outcome of Abdallah's legal challenge could carry significant implications not only for his own commercial ventures but also for the regulatory environment of Calumet City's local governance.
