CHICAGO (WBBM) - A man on a mission to give jobs to convicted felons to help them turn their lives around is running into opposition.
It all hinges on a name: Felony Franks.
It has been the dream of Jim Andrews to open a chain of hot dog stands where he gives jobs to ex-felons.
The sign is already up on the first one at Jackson and Western.
Jim Andrews outside his store. (WBBM Photo)
"A hot dog... with a ball and chain on it, and it's under the name of Felony Franks, home of the misdemeanor weiner... Food so good it's criminal," Andrews says describing the sign.
2nd Ward Alderman Bob Fioretti likes the idea of employing ex-felons but hates the name.
He thinks the name and the sign glorify crime.
"Felony Franks? The home of the misdemeanor wiener? Food so good it's criminal? You are actually in a sense elevating the life of crime here in our city and we cannot tolerate that."
John Hunt, an ex-felon who lives several block away, agrees with the alderman.
"It's a good thing if he's going to hire ex-felons because... that's a beautiful thing. But the name? He should change the name... Felony Franks is still making me feel like a felon."
Andrews says most people in the community around Jackson and Western support him.
"I'm trying to take a negative and turn it into a positive. And you know what? The people that will be working here will have a positive attitude. They will be taught the right way to run a business and we will work close with them so that they can better their lives," he says.
He plans to open Felony Franks by the middle of next month
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