YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Alarmed over the number of fights that occurred in recent weeks, including one Saturday night, a group of downtown business owners has penned a letter to city officials demanding immediate and decisive action to restore safety.

“We, the business owners and concerned citizens of the downtown district, are outraged and deeply alarmed by the violent incidents that have plagued our city center in recent years and have actually escalated in recent months,” the letter reads.

“The most recent outbreak of street fighting – captured on video in the early morning hours of Nov. 1 on Commerce Street between Phelps and Hazel streets – marks an unacceptable escalation that endangers residents, visitors, and businesses alike.”

The letter was sent to media outlets by Joey Mamounis, who has become a spokesman for downtown bar, restaurant and other business owners. He is part of the Prima Group, which is a restaurant and catering company, and also campaign manager of a group of downtown business owners and leaders who support Derrick McDowell for mayor.

The letter came on the day before Election Day, but Mamounis said his group wants its call for action to be about regaining control over downtown safety and is not politically motivated.

According to the police report, multiple cars were summoned to the area in front of The Social, a bar on 112 W. Commerce St., at about midnight because of a fight.

The officers saw “a small group of individuals fighting on the ground outside The Social Bar, with several bystanders standing around and yelling at each other,” according to the report.

According to a witness’ statement, the trouble started inside the bar, after punches were thrown between several men, the report reads. The fight then moved outside.

Two men – Edy Rodriguez and Nijonjo Jackson – and one woman, Gresmile Leo, were placed in handcuffs into the back of police cruisers “until they calmed down” and then issued disorderly conduct citations. Another person was arrested.

“We don’t want to make this about [Mayor Jamael Tito Brown and political challenger Derrick McDowell] exactly, we just want crime cleaned up in the street,” Mamounis said.

A video of the incident that shows girls fighting in the street was posted on Facebook.

“Several fights broke out outside The Social and in the parking lots,” he said.

If there is a single incident of gunfire, the downtown nightlife scene will collapse, he said.

Mamounis said the parking lot on West Commerce Street, between The Social and The Sandbar (formerly called The Hookah Lounge), has become a regular scene for fights. 

Both bars attract a young clientele, he noted.

In July, the city announced a crackdown on downtown crime. For one weekend, there was a large police presence, but that presence has gone away, Mamounis said, and the trouble has returned.

“Fighting in our streets cannot and should not be tolerated,” the letter reads. “This ongoing behavior continues to threaten public safety, drives away customers, and damages the reputation and stability of our downtown area. As invested stakeholders in this community, we refuse to stand by while lawlessness takes hold.  Despite the attempted efforts to curb this behavior during one weekend this past summer, follow up efforts and enforcement were not executed.”

The group is asking for:

  • A visible and sustained law enforcement presence in the downtown area until the threat is eliminated.
  • Swift investigations and arrests of all individuals involved in the recent violence.
  • A public briefing from the mayor and police  chief within 48 hours, outlining concrete steps, timelines and accountability measures.
  • Support and resources for victims and affected businesses.

Andy Resnick, spokesman for the mayor’s office, addressed the issues in the group’s letter, saying The Social continues to be “a “nuisance” to the downtown corridor.

“The city moved to shut it down in 2021 and will not hesitate to do so again,” Resnick said. “Unfortunately, we have a business owner and property owners who refuse to take action to curb the issues there. That’s in direct contrast to the owners of the Hookah Lounge who have taken proactive steps in response to the mayor’s urging to become a positive community partner.” 

Resnick said the mayor and police chief laid out concrete steps, timelines, and accountability measures when they announced their Downtown Safety Initiative in July. “It’s an initiative that has seen direct success and results and is having an impact. The police department has had a continued increased presence downtown, the Downtown Ambassador program serves as a welcoming presence for visitors, a juvenile curfew was put in place, citations and arrests have been up and incidents have been down. Those are the irrefutable facts.” 

As for last weekend’s fight, Resnick pointed out that police responded immediately and took action to end the trouble.

At that July press conference announcing the Downtown Safety Initiative, Brown and other city officials announced ways they would ensure safety from the fights for downtown visitors.

There will be a “heavy and strong police presence downtown” moving forward, police Chief Carl Davis said at the press conference.

The owners of the Hookah Bar and Lounge and The Social bar were put on notice that unlawful activities would no longer be tolerated.

Pictured at top: A fight occurred in the street outside The Social bar in downtown Youngstown on Saturday night.