Business owners complain of W. Steuben loitering
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

BATH - Three West Steuben Street business people last week appealed for a greater police presence in the area, complaining that loitering youths are disrupting their businesses.

Walt Longwell of Longwell Lumber, Stephanie Hillman, owner of Stephanie's Family Restaurant, and Colleen Neeley, publisher of The Courier-Advocate, told the Bath village board crowded West Steuben Street sidewalks were disrupting their workplaces and in some cases driving customers away.

"A lot of my clientele are older people," said Hillman, adding several longtime customers have refused to approach her restaurant when the sidewalk is crowded.

Swearing and disorderly conduct have exacerbated the problem, the three agreed.

Village attorney John Leyden and police Chief David Rouse said loitering is not an illegal act as long as the sidewalk is passable.

Rouse, however, promised to beef up police foot patrols in the area, and the following day initiated "saturation patrols" of West Steuben Street.

At least one arrest followed. Rouse later announced village police responded to a fight near Phatz Arcade, 22 W. Steuben St., and apprehended Otis J. Jackson, 46, who had been recently paroled from the Elmira Correctional Facility.

Jackon was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Police allege he was shouting obscenities at pedestrians in the area "and continued his obscene rant after being told by police to stop."

He was arraigned in Bath village court and remanded to the Steuben County Jail in lieu of $1,000 cash bail or a $2,000 property bond.

Jackson was serving a sentence in the Elmira Correctional Facility for third-degree robbery and second-degree bail jumping.

His parole officer was notified of his arrest, and a warrant for parole violation has been filed at the county jail.