Nearly 40 Fells Point business owners sent a letter to Baltimore leaders on Tuesday, threatening to withhold tax and permit payments if the city doesn't respond to their requests. The letter comes after recent violence over the weekend, including two separate shootings that injured three people in Fells Point.The owners of "EC Pops" moved to Fells Point from Ellicott City three years ago. The pandemic was tough to navigate of course, but owner Doug Yeakey says in addition to the violence in the neighborhood over the weekend, the problems go even further."There's public defecation, there's trash all over the place. It's just totally disgusting. The other things that were seeing, we're seeing people selling alcohol out of the back of their vehicles, we're seeing those same people giving alcohol to minors, and so that's not doing anything to help the problem. A total 37 Fells Point restaurants, bars and shops have signed a letter demanding what they call basic and essential services. The letter reads in part: "Our elected leaders have closed their eyes and ears and turned their backs on our community for long enough. We are fed up and frustrated, and we now realize that nothing will change unless we demand action."READ: Letter to city leaders from Fells Point business ownersThe business owners demand the following actions: Reliable trash removal Enforce traffic and parking laws through tickets and towingStop illegal open-air alcohol and drug salesEmpower police to responsibly do their jobFormer Baltimore mayoral candidate Thiru Vignarajah said he is acting an advocate and organizer on behalf of the 37 businesses. Vignarajah said the businesses are prepared to hold their city taxes and minor privilege and permit fee payments into an escrow account until the requests are met. The business owners say they're "prepared" to withhold city taxes and permit fees and put them into an escrow account until those demands are met."You'll see motorcycles run literally through a crowd of people. You'll see trash if you come down here in the morning in a Saturday or Sunday, the entire neighborhood is covered with litter," said Nick Johnson, owner of SuCasa."Just like if you rented an apartment and you weren't getting your services from your landlord, you put your money in escrow and that's the intention here. We don't want it to come to that," said Ron Furman, owner of Max's Taphouse.The letter is addressed to Mayor Scott, Councilmen Nick Mosby and Zeke Cohen, City States Attorney Marilyn Mosby and Police Commissioner Michael Harrison."We want more people in the city to take this same stance and same approach because the things that are taking us to the end here in Fells Point you can find anywhere in the city," Johnson said."We're not trying to hurt the city. What we're trying to do is to get them to come to the table and realize this is a problem and it needs to be addressed," Yeakey said. Calvin Harris, communication director for Mayor Brandon Scott's Office, released a statement in response to the letter saying: "Mayor Scott shares the business owners' frustrations over the violence across the city, and has ordered the Baltimore Police Department, Department of Public Works, and Department of Transportation to work collaboratively to address it. The mayor is working tirelessly to hold people committing violence accountable, remove violent offenders from our streets, and identify illegal firearm traffickers so Baltimore residents can enjoy a night out without fear of endangerment."
Nearly 40 Fells Point business owners sent a letter to Baltimore leaders on Tuesday, threatening to withhold tax and permit payments if the city doesn't respond to their requests.
The letter comes after recent violence over the weekend, including two separate shootings that injured three people in Fells Point.
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The owners of "EC Pops" moved to Fells Point from Ellicott City three years ago. The pandemic was tough to navigate of course, but owner Doug Yeakey says in addition to the violence in the neighborhood over the weekend, the problems go even further.
"There's public defecation, there's trash all over the place. It's just totally disgusting. The other things that were seeing, we're seeing people selling alcohol out of the back of their vehicles, we're seeing those same people giving alcohol to minors, and so that's not doing anything to help the problem.
A total 37 Fells Point restaurants, bars and shops have signed a letter demanding what they call basic and essential services.
The letter reads in part: "Our elected leaders have closed their eyes and ears and turned their backs on our community for long enough. We are fed up and frustrated, and we now realize that nothing will change unless we demand action."
READ: Letter to city leaders from Fells Point business owners
The business owners demand the following actions:
- Reliable trash removal
- Enforce traffic and parking laws through tickets and towing
- Stop illegal open-air alcohol and drug sales
- Empower police to responsibly do their job
Former Baltimore mayoral candidate Thiru Vignarajah said he is acting an advocate and organizer on behalf of the 37 businesses.
Vignarajah said the businesses are prepared to hold their city taxes and minor privilege and permit fee payments into an escrow account until the requests are met.
The business owners say they're "prepared" to withhold city taxes and permit fees and put them into an escrow account until those demands are met.
"You'll see motorcycles run literally through a crowd of people. You'll see trash if you come down here in the morning in a Saturday or Sunday, the entire neighborhood is covered with litter," said Nick Johnson, owner of SuCasa.
"Just like if you rented an apartment and you weren't getting your services from your landlord, you put your money in escrow and that's the intention here. We don't want it to come to that," said Ron Furman, owner of Max's Taphouse.
The letter is addressed to Mayor Scott, Councilmen Nick Mosby and Zeke Cohen, City States Attorney Marilyn Mosby and Police Commissioner Michael Harrison.
"We want more people in the city to take this same stance and same approach because the things that are taking us to the end here in Fells Point you can find anywhere in the city," Johnson said.
"We're not trying to hurt the city. What we're trying to do is to get them to come to the table and realize this is a problem and it needs to be addressed," Yeakey said.
Calvin Harris, communication director for Mayor Brandon Scott's Office, released a statement in response to the letter saying: "Mayor Scott shares the business owners' frustrations over the violence across the city, and has ordered the Baltimore Police Department, Department of Public Works, and Department of Transportation to work collaboratively to address it. The mayor is working tirelessly to hold people committing violence accountable, remove violent offenders from our streets, and identify illegal firearm traffickers so Baltimore residents can enjoy a night out without fear of endangerment."
June 09, 2021 at 06:25PM
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/fells-point-business-owners-send-letter-to-baltimore-city-leaders-about-recent-weekend-violence/36664133
Fells Point business owners send letter to leaders following recent weekend violence - WBAL TV Baltimore
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