Dozens of Fells Point businesses say they are prepared to hold their city taxes, minor privilege fees and permit fees hostage until Baltimore increases police enforcement and municipal service in the area, according to a letter signed by 37 neighborhood restaurants and storefronts.
The announcement comes after three men were shot Saturday night on Thames Street and Aliceanna Street.
“What is happening in our front yard — the chaos and lawlessness that escalated this weekend into another night of tragic, unspeakable gun violence — has been going on for far too long,” said the letter addressed to Mayor Brandon Scott, Councilman Zeke Cohen, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby and BPD Commissioner Michael Harrison.
The businesses plan to place the funds withheld into an escrow account until the city meets four demands:
- Pick up the trash
- Enforce traffic and parking laws through tickets and towing
- Stop illegal open-air alcohol and drug sales
- Empower police to responsibly do their job
The letter said that the minor crime that police “ignore” is what lead to incidents like the weekend shooting.
Good for them. It’s time for citizens to take back their neighborhoods all over the country. By withholding funds from the government, it will get their attention and hurt them. Citizens will have to take the law in their own hands if government won’t help. You look around at how damorats are eroding this great land. It’s time to take out the trash.
I have a friend who recently retired from the Baltimore City police force. Since Freddie Gray, their attitude is go ahead and kill each other and then afterward we will come over and write up a police report for you as a service!
They did this to themselves when they made the police the bad guys.
Hold your tax dollars and watch your electricity get turned off. On electricity no air conditioning. Nice try though.