Store owner wants apology from Lima councilman

LIMA - A local business owner demanded a public apology Monday from 6th Ward Councilman Derry Glenn for referring to "foreign people" owning area convenience and gas stations.

Glenn did not offer an apology and had to be ordered by council President John Nixon to stop speaking.

Last week, Glenn held a news conference to say he was investigating the idea of banning store owners from selling smoking pipes and other drug paraphernalia or requiring them to hide the merchandise from minors' view.

The items are showing up in area stores now that "foreign people" are running them, Glenn said at the news conference.

Fahim Eddir, who is of Palestinian descent but an American citizen for 40 years, owns two convenience stores in the city. He spoke to council, saying he was offended by Glenn's remarks.

"Clueless xenophobia has no place in public service. It's bad enough Arab-Americans get disdainful looks from people in these difficult times. Surely you yourself have felt the sting of racism in your lifetime," Eddir said. "It serves no purpose to legitimize hatred in the name of politics."

Eddir also brought up Glenn's ownership of a home in which a Jan. 4 fatal police shooting occurred during a drug raid.

"If your actions are designed as a cover for your own shortcomings, I won't allow it," Eddir said. "Lima citizens deserve better. The divisions in this community are well documented. You do an extreme disservice with your blatant anti-foreigner rhetoric."

Glenn said he wasn't talking about Eddir's specific stores, and is trying to fight a drug culture in his ward in which children see adults buying crack pipes.

Council President John Nixon told Glenn he was missing Eddir's point and that his comments were disrespectful. Glenn began to argue, but Nixon banged his gavel and told Glenn he was out of order.

"Have another press conference. You can respond that way," Nixon said, which brought applause from the audience.