Resident: 'I Fear For My Kids'

The Murdock Street mom was sobbing at times during her plea to council Monday, but her message was clear: Help save our neighborhood.

"I'm afraid for my kids on the weekends," the woman, who asked only to be identified as Allison, said. "I don't feel safe in my own neighborhood."

She was among a half-dozen residents to address council about an independent club operating in the neighborhood—one they said brings in "trash" from surrounding communities.

Markus Solobay said that since last November, his car has been vandalized three times, and twice he caught people urinating on his property.

Then there are the beer bottles and cans patrons throw onto the sidewalk and lawns. There are fights. Sometimes gunshots even ring out—as police said they did as recently as Sept. 23.

"I don't smoke anything and I don't drink anything, but I have people ringing my doorbell at two or three in the morning asking for drugs," he told council. "We just need some help down there."

"We are moving forward with an aggressive approach," Mayor David H. Rhome assured those in attendance, adding that he would have more information at next week's council meeting."I wish there was a magic wand I could waive and make it go away, but there's not."

He added that the police department had been asked to check the area every hour over the past week to monitor activity there.

But that wasn't good enough—or quick enough—for Councilman George Coleman, who suggested the borough send a certified letter to the club to outline issues residents and police have brought forth, and to put it on formal notice.

"My heart breaks for you people," he said.

He and council President Joe Milioto also asked the borough solicitor what steps would have to be taken—and how much documentation would be needed—to have the bar declared a nuisance.

In the meantime, police Chief R.T. Bell told residents to call the department any time there is an issue there—no matter how minor it might seem.

"I heard more complaints tonight than our call sheets show," he said.

When residents in attendance told him they were scared of retribution, Bell then made them a promise: that he would put dispatchers on notice that unless a caller on Murdock specifically wants to see an officer, police will not visit those who make complaints.

"Just make the phone call," he told them. "I understand your fear."