Residents and business owners in Fells Point are expressing frustration and concern over what they perceive as a rise in crime in their neighborhood.

Many are directing their anger at city leaders, urging them to acknowledge the situation and take action.

“It makes me very angry and sad,” said one resident.”

One resident who was assaulted while her husband was robbed in front of their home sent a detailed email to her council member, Mark Parker of District One.

In the email, she recounted a traumatic event where her hair was set on fire by juveniles, emphasizing that such incidents are not isolated. She highlighted a “breakdown of public safety and quality of life in the area,” citing noise violations and disruptive motorcycle packs.

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Business owners are also raising alarms following a recent shooting early Friday morning. An 18-year-old and a 20-year-old were shot after a fight near the square. Breah Wood’s boutique was struck by a bullet during the incident. “I was just thinking God forbid we had went out in this area that night,” she said. “It was just terrifying to think that you could walk into a scary situation, and you might not make it out.”

This shooting occurred just months after another incident a block away, where a 19-year-old and a 16-year-old were shot. A business owner at the time expressed concerns about safety, noting, “This area is not really safe,” and “A lot of young kids fighting. So the business is down.”

The resident’s email to Councilmember Parker directly questioned him, asking, “What are you doing to address these issues?” and “What immediate steps are being taken to restore order and protect the rights of residents?” FOX45 reached out to Parker with similar questions but has not yet received a response.

Residents remain saddened by the changes in Fells Point. “There are a lot of residents and businesses here that are doing a wonderful job in trying to make a beautiful neighborhood and a safe neighborhood for families. And it’s just very, very sad,” said one resident.

The full email to Councilmember Parker reads as follows:

I’m a resident of Fells Point and, as you may recall, I was the woman whose hair was set on fire by juveniles in front of my home on Ann Street. That traumatic event, while horrifying in its own right, is sadly not isolated—it’s emblematic of a broader and escalating breakdown in public safety and quality of life in our neighborhood.

Since that attack, the individuals who lit my hair on fire have returned to my home on three separate occasions. I no longer feel safe on my own front steps.

Over the past several months, I have experienced and witnessed a disturbing pattern of criminal activity and unchecked disorder. A homeless man who regularly masturbates in public outside my home has repeatedly threatened to kill me. Just last night, two people were shot in the main square. This follows a summer marked by persistent violence, public drinking, and open-air drug use.

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Every evening, we endure noise violations, vandalism, littering, and increasingly common instances of people urinating and defecating on residential properties, including ours. These are not one-off incidents. They reflect a systemic failure to enforce basic standards of safety and dignity for residents.

As our incoming representative, I am reaching out to ask you directly: What are you doing to address these issues? What immediate steps are being taken to restore order and protect the rights of residents to live in peace and without fear in their own homes? I’m not a ‘hair on fire’ type of person, but my hair was literally set on fire.

Fells Point is a beautiful, historic neighborhood that has been neglected and underserved when it comes to the most fundamental aspects of governance. We cannot afford more delays or vague reassurances. We need a clear plan, visible enforcement, and regular communication.

I welcome the opportunity to speak further and would be grateful for a direct response.