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UPDATE: Mayor Thompson issues blockade of streets due to violence, drug use

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UPDATE:

Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson held a press conference Friday, expressing her frustration and announcing a new fight against crime in the city.

The Mayor stood on the street and announced that she has shut down Curtin Street in Harrisburg until further notice after at least 15 violent crimes took place in the last 30 days.

"Today is a message, we're giving you a warning that Curtin Street will be locked down with barricades with our police cars," the Mayor told residents.

Mayor Linda Thompson stood on Curtin Street with police officers to stand up against criminals in Harrisburg.

"We're gonna put the perpetrators on notice that we will not tolerate this," scowled the Mayor.

The Mayor says that she got this strategy from Washington DC when they used the method in 2010.

"You don't have a photo ID and you don't live here, you don't get in," stated Harrisburg Police Captain Annette Oates.

Police will be patrolling the entrances to the street until Sunday evening when they will re-evaluate the situation. However, some residents say it's too little too late.

"We're all gonna be prisoners in our own home,” commented resident Rick Weiser. “You gotta show ID to get into your own house; you have to have someone who lives on the block to come on the block. I think they're putting a band-aid over a gun wound."

A wound that some believe can't be healed.

"It's not gonna change anything,” Weiser believes. “Anything they're gonna do just move over to the next street or the alleyway."

The Mayor says this is just the start of a larger battle against crime.

"We will begin to carry this strategy all over the city of Harrisburg until we send a message that we will not tolerate this kind of brazing disrespect for crime in our neighborhoods."

However, late Friday night, we learned that there is a curfew after midnight in the area. Harrisburg authorities hope by enforcing that curfew, it will prevent the violent crime in the area.
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Mayor Thompson has blockaded several intersections in Harrisburg due to ongoing issues with violence and drug use.

One of the areas shut down is Sixth and Curtin Streets.

Also, two adjoining alleys at Seneca and Emerald Streets at Sixth Street are closed to break up drug and gun-related activities in that neighborhood.

There was a call to the area on Wednesday for the report of shots fired, and another one on Friday afternoon.

A press conference and briefing was held at 545 p.m.



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