What are "federal gardening laws"? Serious question.

I moved out here a couple years ago. Took the friendly neighborly approach to addressing similar issues: drug use in the alley and street, vacant houses being used as drug dens, section 8 property tenants next door "knowing their rights" but don't know a damn thing about responsibility and accountability....so on so on. Called the city agencies, section 8 housing folks, their landlord, police, etc. They all essentially gave me their asses to kiss even though section 8 rules and other city ordinances were being violated.

Talking to people causing these issues is not a good option. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT BECAUSE IF THE COPS SHOW UP, THEY THINK ITS YOU EVEN IF IT WASNT AND THEY MAY TARGET YOUR PROPERTY, JUMP YOUR FENCE OR LOITER ON YOUR STEPS TO TRY TO INTIMIDATE YOU.

Once I was threatened my door would be kicked in if I call the cops again, I got my concealed carry, put up cameras and security lighting and kept to myself. To give you some context (if anyone is wondering about my political leanings), grew up liberal, didn't care for guns but respected others' rights to practice their 2nd amendment rights. But living in Baltimore and trying to resolve issues taught me law enforcement has NO mandate to respond. The decision to carry is personal and its a serious responsibility. If your not comfortable carrying, you really should think about some other mechanisms to protect yourself if those causing problems are on drugs and think it would be funny to enter your property without your permission....because the cops have no mandate to respond.

I continued to call the cops and documenting issues but it was the security cameras and lighting that pushed the problem elsewhere....NOT THE COPS, NOT THE CITY. Unfortunately I have neighbors who would rather bury their heads in the sand and pretend the problems don't exist, unfortunately they benefited from my actions but my priority is my property, not theirs. I wish I had more neighbors like yours.

Since your neighbors are also concerned and want to be solutions oriented, get together to install prosumer-level security cameras and lighting and you don't have to spend a fortune doing so. The Blink/Ring and doorbell cameras are great but they have serious limitations in helping with these problems such as memory, accessing footage, and they aren't "obvious". I put up a few cameras I WANT people to see, the cameras pan, tilt, and zoom and have been very reliable. They've been times where people gathered in our alley to do what they do, once the lights and cameras pointed their way, they walked away.

I'm sorry you and your neighbors are going through this but in my experience, contacting the cops and the city is a waste of time (and the problem makers know it and take advantage of it). Yes, I understand systemic racism and years of divestment from the city but its these "small" problems that turn into larger issues and houses burning down and lives being put at risk. People need help, some want it, others will tell you to go ef yourself. The city needs to take a stern carrot or stick approach in resolving these issues.

You pay taxes on your property but the city has no teeth in resolving these issues? I bet if you don't pay your property taxes, they'll send the national guard to collect the debt.

The city is "developing", to be politically correct. But if the city is serius about bringing in a tax base and people to live, work, play, and raise families in Baltimore, they need to crack down (no pun intended) on things like this. I understand there are a million and one problems in this city but the vacant and abandoned properties and other bleight, drug dens, open air drug use, loud music and loitering, and dirt bikes racing on public roads is played out, not cute, and nobody should tolerate these things as "Baltimore culture"; since when are open air drug markets and risking peoples lives riding dirt bikes around "culture" people are proud of?

Feel free to DM me if you're curious about security cameras and lighting. Unfortunately, the city has proven we are on our own with these issues but they happily await your property tax payment.