Pot Foes Not Swaying Darien Official

DARIEN, IL — Opponents of legalizing recreational marijuana seemed to hold out hope at a Darien City Council meeting earlier this month that Alderman Tom Chlystek would switch sides on the issue of allowing marijuana sales in town. In an interview with Patch last week, the alderman said he would not.

While many nearby suburbs are banning recreational marijuana sales, the City Council in September voted 4-3 to allow them. The majority noted a city survey showed most residents supported allowing such sales. It's a survey that opponents contend the city failed to do enough to advertise.

Chlystek, who represents the 4th Ward, said his vote was the right one, but he acknowledged opponents of recreational marijuana are "very, very against it."

"But I don't feel that's the majority of people in my ward. Veterans have reached out to me that marijuana has helped them with their pain," the alderman said.

Chlystek also said the city should not pass up the opportunity for the sales tax money that would come from marijuana sales.

"Why should Darien property taxpayers pay additional taxes when there is this tax revenue?" he said. "We have pension obligations. There is an opportunity for more revenue, and this is a legal business in Illinois."

He said he was neutral when the topic came up in the fall, but he decided to support recreational marijuana after a majority of residents taking the survey indicated they wanted it.

At a City Council meeting in December, representatives of two businesses told aldermen they were interested in setting up marijuana businesses in Darien. But officials said the chances of getting a license in Darien were remote, given the competition statewide.

The council voted 5-2 against allowing marijuana shops in Brookhaven Plaza, where one of the businesses was planning to operate. Chlystek said he joined the majority because he shared concerns about a recreational marijuana shop being in the center of town.

In the September vote, those favoring marijuana sales in town were Chlystek, Thomas Belczak, Eric Gustafson and Lester Vaughan. Voting against were Joseph Kenny, Ted Schauer and Mary Sullivan.