Huntington Park approves 24-hour check cashing

By WAVE STAFF

Story Created: Feb 11, 2010 at 1:08 PM PST

Story Updated: Feb 11, 2010 at 1:08 PM PST

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HUNTINGTON PARK — Area residents needing a fast loan or to cash a check may do so 24 hours a day at any of the several check cashing businesses in the city who choose to be open those hours and obtain a conditional use permit from the city.

The City Council Feb. 1 approved the new provision by amending the city code, which allows operations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. but permits such businesses to obtain a CUP to operate until midnight.

In a written report to the City Council, Planning Manager Eric Garcia noted that on Oct. 1, 2007, the city approved an ordinance regulating check cashing and advance payday loan businesses.

That was changed Oct. 8, 2008, when a check cashing business successfully argued that it should operate until midnight to serve those whose work schedules do not allow them to do business during the day or early evening with a city permit.

Police Chief Paul Wadley said there have been no problems in the past from the businesses operating until midnight.

But the City Council, which approved the change on a 5-0 vote, warned that under the conditional use permit the 24-hour operations could be taken away if the firms don’t operate under the terms of the conditions, which include the presence of a licensed armed security guard and video cameras covering all internal and external locations.

In addition, patrons are to be discouraged from loitering at the facility.

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