Sam Jawhari has lived in the Tremont Community for a long time. He is raising three children, and owns/leases the Fairfield Gas and Auto on Fairfield Avenue. The location of Sam's business has been a garage and gas station for four, five or more decades. Sam is one of the nicest and most considerate neighbors/businessmen in our neighborhood.
He not only sells the cheapest gas around but if you pull in and need air in your tires, or your windshield wiped, etc., Sam provides those services without you having to leave your car - and he pumps your gas too. Many many of the older and long-time residents rely on Sam for their mechanic work because not only is he the only local garage but he offers reasonable prices for his services as well. Often times I have been in need of air or a flat fixed and short on cash and Sam or his attendant came right out and without hesitation fixed helped me out and got me on my way.
Even though Sam has been a true community supporter, recently he has ended up like many other old timers with his business and livelihood in jeopardy as a result of a shakedown wherein he is now being required to go before the zoning board and obtain a variance to establish use of his gas station. If that just the issue, there would be no problem - but, in making that request, a number of conditions are being placed on obtaining the variance. At a long range planning committee, it was brought up that a storefront renovation project loan was offered to Sam and the owner of the property - and the discussions leaned toward the indication that if they did not accept this loan, the area block club and the long range planning committee would not support Sam getting the needed variance to maintain his garage. This would clearly harm the future of his business and without being able to do mechanic work, Sam would not be able to stay in business.
At the OSS meeting last night Sam stated that since the beginning of this ordeal, he had lost a great deal of his daily business and, in a conversation with him he told me that some of his patrons confessed that they had been advised by certain community leaders to not buy gas from him. The is nothing short of a arm twisting - and a SHAME at best, since this falls right in line with trying to run the long time poor people out of Tremont.
Last night we took a vote at the OSS to support Sam and out of the 20 voting members, it was unanimous to give this long-time resident and business owner our support.
If you happen to be in the neighborhood and in need of fuel, it would be appreciated if you stopped in and let Sam pump your gas. He doesn't care if it's $1.00 to a fill up - your patronage would be appreciated.
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