I moved to Portland in October 1999 for many reasons and fell in love with the city because it was safe, diverse and had great job opportunities, along with a great school system and an outstanding school of higher learning (the University of Southern Maine).

I don’t generally write letters to the editor, but after Monday night’s 5-4 City Council vote to revoke the liquor license of and essentially close the doors on Sangillo’s Tavern, I was compelled to write and state the view of a resident in that neighborhood.

Ever since that bar opened, I’ve seen the lack of management and responsibility to not only their business, but also the neighborhood in which they reside. Many days and nights, individuals have left that bar intoxicated and have gotten into cars and driven off.

Often there are altercations on our street at night, around or after closing time and in many other instances that were clearly stated before the City Council by the Portland Police Department, whom I extremely support.

My neighborhood is rapidly changing and is growing with the growing of the Old Port and its expansion to our neighborhood with new hotels and restaurants, along with young families residing just doors away.

I am not happy with the developer who recently purchased multiple properties and has left them vacant, allowing transients and others break in and squat in those buildings, causing further headaches for police.

The closing of Sangillo’s is a step in the right direction. I support Councilors John Coyne and Nicholas Mavodones in most cases, but I respectfully disagree with both of them on this vote. Councilors Cheryl Leeman and Jill Duson have now lost my support and, more importantly, my vote!

Jim Ward

Portland