Private citizens will be able to pursue civil cases against the owners of suspected drug houses under a new initiative conceived by City Council member Adam McFadden.

Rochester Street Watch is being piloted in the Thurston Road neighborhoods in the 19th Ward, where McFadden announced the initiative this morning.

Citizens who live within 200 feet of "disturbed" properties will be able to file lawsuits under the city's nuisance laws. They will be represented in civil court by volunteer attorneys. Two attorneys are on board now, McFadden says. He hopes to have eight.

A number of other people and agencies are involved in the effort, including property management experts, addiction rehabilitation services, and landlords and property owners.

Surveillance cameras installed around the city have pushed much of the drug activity indoors, McFadden says. The goal of the program, he says, is to basically hound the dealers to death, creating a neighborhood culture that rejects drug activity outright.

Police Chief David Moore attended the press conference and says that the program has the RPD's full support. The initiative will not interfere with or disrupt pending criminal investigations, McFadden says.

Punishments may include fines, eviction of tenants, and seizure of the property by the city, McFadden says.