Logan residents up in arms after block party denied

LOGAN (WPVI) -- Residents of a block in the city's Logan section thought they had the proper permit for their 4th of July block party.

They rented a bounce house, they bought all the food.

But then two days before the holiday they got a letter stating they cannot shut down the street.

"It's really disappointing. It's really hurtful," says Debra Minnick, who is the block captain in the 4900 block of North 9th Street.

On Wednesday she got a letter letting her know that her block cannot be blocked off for its annual 4th of July celebration.

Minnick reacted by telling us, "You about to make me pass out. We have spent so much money in getting this together."

She and her neighbors have already spent hundreds of dollars on food - even a bounce house for the kids.

Ruby Bellamy of Logan explained the disappointment of the children, saying, "They look forward to having a good time. Close the block off, run up and down the street with their toys and wagons and bikes."

Minnick got the proper permit from the Streets Department on June 23rd. It does state that the permit is subject to additional authorization, but neighbors here have held the block party for more than 40 years and never imagined there might be a problem.

Then the letter that came yesterday stating police were revoking the permit because of recent criminal activity in the area.

"In this area, on this particular street, we don't have any of that," claims Minnick.

Lieutenant John Stanford explained that after a permit is issued it gets reviewed by the district's police captain.

"We try to do that as quickly as possible," Lt. Stanford said.

There has been a recent spike in crime in the neighborhood, including a March murder and then a double shooting that injured a 14-year-old boy on June 20th - both on nearby Ruscomb Street.

Stanford said 35th district police decided having hundreds of people congregate in the neighborhood right now just wouldn't be safe.

He says, "We have to look at the overall safety of the public and the residents that live in those areas. Our intent is not to stop folks from having fun and enjoying the holiday and enjoying themselves. Our number one concern and our number one priority is to make sure people are safe."

Lt. Stanford also added that a number of other blocks applied for permits and police can't have too many streets blocked off - impeding access to the neighborhood. He said these neighbors can still have their party, they just can't do it in the street.