YOUNGSTOWN - Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown unveiled a new "Downtown Safety Action Plan" alongside Youngstown Police Chief Carl Davis and other city officials.

During a press conference at the Phelps Street Gateway downtown Tuesday, Mayor Brown and Chief Davis addressed issues with unruly crowds and underage drinking at two specific bars in the city. 

"The Hookah Bar and The Social bar have been are the two locations that have been identified as the two main focal points for disruptive gatherings characterized by unruly conduct, that includes fights, underage drinking, and many other unlawful activities," said Chief Davis. 

Chief Davis also mentioned that because these issues have put a strain on the department's resources, they have had to reassign officers from their patrol duties from other parts of the city to handle bar crowds downtown. 

Both the Circle Hookah and Bar and The Social bar were officially put on notice by Chief Davis. 

According to Mayor Brown, the "Downtown Safety Action Plan" also aims to protect the millions of dollars the city has invested in the downtown corridor. 

"This plan is rooted in our ongoing conversations with business owners, stakeholders, and residents who care deeply about downtown," said Mayor Brown. "We've made major investments in the downtown corridor, and now we're reinforcing those efforts with a focused plan to address safety. There will be a zero-tolerance policy for illegal activity that threatens the progress we've made." 

During Wednesday's press conference, Youngstown State University President Bill Johnson says that the university will also be working with the city to support the safety plan. 

"We have so much optimism around what's happening to improve downtown Youngstown, and to bring the community downtown, that's what we're all about, the seamless integration between the campus and downtown, it's an ongoing effort," said Johnson. 

Johnson also says that any YSU student that acts irresponsibly downtown and is charged, will also face a student conduct issue on campus. 

This plan comes in the wake of a campaign organized by downtown business owners to support independent mayoral candidate Derrick McDowell. The "Downtown for Derrick" coalition includes business owners of Casa Di Canzoneta, Penguin City, V2, and Avalon Downtown. 

The coalition says they are frustrated with the city's direction, and having no stake in the decisions involving them. 

Joey Mamounis, campaign manager for the coalition spoke with 21 News last week on why the coalition supports McDowell over Brown. 

"To put it very simply, the downtown has been going in a direction they don't want to see it go," said Mamounis. "This has been going on for years, you know it's driven away business, it's driven away customers and business owners." 

Business owners have mixed feelings on the announcement. 

Some say they don’t see enough crime downtown to warrant the plan. 

“People aren't aware that downtown has never been a bad place, it's not a bad place. I would walk my children, my grandchildren out front at midnight and not worry about it. So, it’s all about what the optics really are and what the public perception really is,” Mark Canzonetta, the owner of Casa Di Canzonetta said. 

Others say the panhandling has been so bad customers have been changing times they are visiting restaurants and want to see the laws enforced.

“I believe what the mayor said is going to happen. I just don’t  know what time frame it's going to happen in. For me as a business opener the sooner the better like if it happened yesterday that would be wonderful,” Barry Hammond, the owner of the Octave said.  “So, I'm hoping within the next week or so that something’s going to be addressed to slow this down.”

Mayor Brown will go against McDowell in the general election this November.