Residents who complained to Coatesville council Monday night about abandoned buildings, trash laden streets, and corner drug dealers found a sympathetic ear among council members.

Nancy Coates of Fleetwood Street has been complaining to city council to do something with this boarded up building.

"The streets are filthy; trash is everywhere. Drug dealers are on ever corner," said Nancy Coates of Fleetwood Street who has been fighting for months to get the city to do something about an abandoned building and high weeds on her block she claims are attracting everything from rats to snakes. "I'm afraid to go to my car because of these critters," she said.

City Codes Director Damalier Molina said he has had the building listed for condemation. And Assistant City Manager Kirby Hudson said the owners are being cited. "Now its costing them money,"he said.

Ben Bruton said three years ago he bought a home on Cedar because of what then was being touted as the city's $700 million revitalization. "Unfortunately, I bought into that vision and bought a house in Coatesville," he said. Now, he said, all he sees are streets covered with trash and drug dealers on every street. "I am not comfortable," he said.

Bruton called on council to share their vision for Coatesville, suggesting they do it at the next council meeting. ". . .because we don't see it here. Help me vigorate my faith," he said.

Council Member Kareem Johnson said he, too, is frustrated with the amount of trash on city streets and that is why council is looking at toughening up the city's littering ordinances "It just looks bad when you down gown Main Street," he said

Johnson said that every two weeks he and a group of other men go into different neighborhoods and clean up the trash. "It only takes a week or two and it's back the way it was," he said. Johnson said he and others have knocked on doors to let them know they were there to clean up the trash. "Sometimes they come out and help. Other times they just set their and watch," he said.

Council President Karen Jorgenson said she, too, was frustrated with the trash and graffiti. "The most difficult thing is how do we get people in Coatesville to change the way they behave," she said.

"The trash is horrible," said Council Member Patsy Ray who has regularly complained about trash littered streets in the Second Ward. "We all have to clean up our city or we all have to move out," she said, admitting that sometimes that means picking up other people's trash.

Council Member Robin Scott said residents who spot what they suspect to be illegal drug trafficking need to call the police. "I know it's hard. It was hard for me the first time, but it does make a difference," she said.