Roselawn business owners cite shootings, trash and unregulated hookah bars; councilmember says ordinance coming

Scotty Johnson, chair of the Public Safety and Governance Committee, heard multiple public comments about repeated shootings, property damage and nuisance activity near businesses on the 7500 block of Redding Road in the Roselawn neighborhood.

The Roselawn complaints came during public comment from Todd Dawson, owner of Dawson Heating and Air Conditioning at 7523 Redding Road, and Thaddeus Dawson Sr., landlord and former owner of the business. Todd Dawson said, “we've had 3 shootings this past weekend” and that his property has suffered vandalism, including “liquor bottles, nails thrown in our parking lot,” which he said has left tenants afraid. Thaddeus Dawson said people living above the business are regularly disturbed on weekends and that he picks up bottles and trash outside the building.

Carrie Douglas, treasurer of the Roselawn Business Alliance, read a statement from Ronald L. Mosley Sr., the alliance president, saying the group “does not want nor do we need businesses like Infinity Rose, Miami Hookah, and Vibes hookah bars in our community” and warning voters they will raise the issue at the ballot box.

Mark Jeffries, a committee member, told the Roselawn speakers he has been working with “Mister Mosby and the administration” and said, “Within the next week, we'll be offering an ordinance, to regulate hookah bars. So more to come on that.” Jeffries added that other cities have regulation and that Roselawn currently has none.

The speakers characterized the hookah bars as operating late and drawing nonlocal patrons; Todd Dawson said police told him “probably less than 1% of the people who are causing this disturbance actually are Roselawn people.” The transcript does not provide documentary evidence for the police statement, nor does it show a licensing determination; committee members did not record a vote or formal action at the meeting to adopt a regulation.

Discussion: Public-comment speakers framed the problem as a public-safety and nuisance issue centered on the 7500 block of Redding Road and linked it to nearby hookah bars and an allegedly invalid liquor license at a club. Committee member Jeffries described ongoing staff and council coordination and announced his intent to introduce a regulating ordinance within a week.

Direction versus decision: Jeffries’ statement is an announcement of intent to introduce legislation; no ordinance text, motion, referral, public hearing schedule or vote appeared in the transcript. The transcript does not show the administration or legal staff presenting proposed regulatory language or an enforcement plan.

Community impact and next steps: The comments asked the committee to address shootings, property damage and late-night disturbance by establishments on or near Redding Road. Committee members acknowledged the concerns and one member announced forthcoming ordinance language; the timeline and legal details (licensing, hours, enforcement, penalties) were not provided in the meeting transcript.

Ending: The committee did not take formal legislative action at this meeting on hookah regulation; based on the committee member’s remarks, an ordinance introduction was expected within about a week, and follow-up committee or council materials would be needed to show text, fiscal impact and any public hearing schedule.