WCIU Reporter Diana Guiterrez interviewed Robert Grillo of Free from Harm at City Hall about shutting down illegal slaughterhouses in Chicago. “Our aim is to make history in the city that once promoted itself as the slaughter capital of the world by going
The interview was recorded on September 16th, one week prior to the anticipated meeting with top city officials from the Departments of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, Zoning and Department of Public Health.
Diana Guiterrez then met Grillo again outside City Hall on September 23rd after this meeting to get a sense of what was discussed and what next steps would be. Watch the video below for details.
In this meeting, Robert explains that he and attorney Valerie Schramm argued that there are at least three major zoning violations in Title 17 of the Zoning Ordinance that disqualify 15 of the 16 remaining slaughterhouses from BACP’s Retail Food Establishment License (RFE). 9 of
“The counterargument from city officials at this meeting for continuing to perpetuate what we see as an error in licensing is unsatisfactory,” says Grillo. Officials just reiterated the August 26, 2019, statement from BACP Commissioner Rosa Escareno in which she states, “in looking at the 14 locations you have noted as running afoul of the 200 foot restriction and/or the Special Use requirement, the City can’t determine with certainty whether these businesses were licensed incorrectly.”
Grillo says he is determined to reach the goal of ending illegal slaughter in Chicago through engaging residents and business owners in areas affected by these businesses, leveraging mainstream media coverage, holding rallies and other peaceful actions at City Hall and working with city officials.
