When I pulled into the parking lot of a beeper business in Westwood to meet Mary Kuhl and her neighbors, they were waiting in a green SUV with the windows rolled up tight against the vision-blurring, radioactive sub-woofer rap from a Buick as big as a nuclear sub.

        The guys leaning against the public nuisance on chromed wheels, hooking up with drive-through customers, could have been encyclopedia salesman, I suppose. But from what I've seen in other neighborhoods, I'd guess pharmaceutical salesmen, specializing in controlled substances.

        Residents of Avondale, Madisonville and other neighborhoods are nodding their heads. They already know what it's like to be infested by drug dealers.

        Fighting back

        When the dope boys move in, the neighborhood starts to let go and slide downhill. First the appearance goes: White Castle wrappers and empty Pepsi bottles sprout like toadstools around bus stops and in front yards. Then behavior gets bizarre: loud music, racist insults, threats, casual profanity and guys walking around with their pants a quart low. Junk starts to pile up: old mattresses, rusting cars with no wheels or windows. And crime: brazen drug deals, robberies, assaults.

        In Westwood, crime is up about 30 percent this year. Statistically, that's 15 rapes, 329 burglaries and two murders from January through August 2002. In human terms, it's a steadily rising background thump of anxiety. How many killings does it take to traumatize a quiet family neighborhood? How many break-ins before people pack it in and move beyond the beltway?

        Mary Kuhl isn't moving. She and her neighbors are fighting instead.

        They organized a rally on Sunday to show support for their local police. Two years ago they formed a group called Westwood Concern. This was their second “Hands Across District 3” rally, and they say it makes a big difference.

        It pays off

        “We've noticed more support from District 3,” she said. “And it's uniting our community. People who were afraid are now realizing that other people are working on our problems and they're getting involved.”

        Randy Hamann says the crime increase that threatens his neighborhood could be worse if not for dedicated cops. “Our efforts are paying off.”

        The Westwood neighbors blame increased federally subsidized Section 8 housing that has filtered in as big housing projects were torn down and replaced with fewer units.

        Ms. Kuhl says city leaders are wrecking safe family neighborhoods, and then wimp out to noisy protesters who make heroes of criminals and bad guys of cops.

        “We need to do a backbone check of all city council members,” she says. When the cops need political backup, “You can't find them with a search warrant.”

        The Westwood neighbors say Cincinnati needs to hire more cops and support the ones it has. “It's not a race issue. It's a behavior issue,” says Ms. Kuhl.

        Heads are nodding all over town.

        E-mail: pbronson@enquirer.com. Past columns at Enquirer.com/columns/bronson

Bush already has most Tristate votes
Bush visit to draw protesters
English Woods plan hits a snag
Hearing to address mall fate
Violent weekend: 5 dead, 6 hurt
BRONSON: Support your local cops
Community thanks police, firefighters
Cinergy plaza, parking deck razing begins
Goodall to visit homeless shelter
House explodes just as family leaves
Anti-prostitution efforts paying off
Movies under the stars attract neighborhood kids
$200,000 grant could aid Tristate children
Community shows pride in new Goshen school
Light-rail plan, tax levy attract unlikely partners
Campaign Notebook: The 'Hammer' is back
Capitol Notebook: A kinder, gentler advertising campaign
Democrats give $65,000 to Burnside campaign
Election Q&A: Ohio governor's race
Campaign Cash: September contributions
Candidates urged to send info to Enquirer
Conner call got trooper suspended
Dockside betting hurting Turfway
Kenton Co. police seek armed carjacker
3 suspects charged in auto dealer burglary
'Alias' star has kind words for alma mater
Anti-tobacco group OKs $7M for grants
Free heart disease seminar scheduled
Glider flight to honor Wrights
OhioReads schools score lower on test
Pharmacies pull cold remedy off shelves
Police chaplain investigated for alleged abuse
Science museum makes lower fees permanent
Ship-maker cuts workforce 20%
WKU makes Mammoth investment