Things are heating up in Northeast Tacoma. I just received this press release in my inbox:

Save NE Tacoma, a coalition of more than 2500 concerned citizens in the Northeast Tacoma and Federal Way communities, filed a motion on February 13, 2008, in the Pierce County Superior Court to intervene as a party plaintiff in the City of Tacoma's lawsuit against Northshore Investors, LLC, and North Shore Golf Associates, Inc.

The City of Tacoma’s lawsuit seeks a declaratory ruling from the Superior Court requiring Northshore Investors, LLC, and North Shore Golf Associates, Inc., to abide by existing zoning rulings, restrictive covenants and contractual obligations to keep and maintain the North Shore Golf Course for golf course and open space use.

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They descended on McKinley Hill holding signs and chanting slogans. Others joined as the group marched through the neighborhood. Passing motorists honked their horns in support.

The East Side neighborhood residents demonstrated Saturday morning to send a message.

“We’re here to tell the drug dealers and the thugs that we’re stronger than they are!” Dwayne Wegner shouted to the group of 40 people preparing to demonstrate. “Their actions will not be tolerated!”

Instances of apparent intimidation and threats against residents sparked the march.

Tim and Kelly Mulligan, residents of the McKinley neighborhood for the past six years, witnessed repeated apparent drug deals and prostitution. On Jan. 27, they wrote down the license-plate numbers of two cars and called the police with the information.

A resident recently threatened Tim Mulligan’s life, Kelly said. The next night, Kelly was sitting in her car when the same man approached the vehicle, stood about a foot outside her door and stared her down.

They left their home for a week. When they returned, Kelly said they were there about an hour when someone drove on their front lawn and peeled out. Others drove by and stared them down.

The police have been “extremely supportive,” Kelly said, but she said the entire area needs more support.

Her neighbors didn’t let her down on a cold Saturday morning.

“You can tell by the honks and waves that people want things to get better,” Kelly Mulligan said. “This was a pretty good success today.”

The absence of police presence at the beginning of the march underscored the demonstration’s necessity. Officers responded to a burglary at a nearby pharmacy and were arresting the suspects several blocks away while the group of residents was mobilizing, said Lt. Kathy McAlpine, who commands the police sector that encompasses the East Side.

Criminals are feeling increasingly isolated in the neighborhood, she said.

“When we executed search warrants Tuesday, people inside the apartments were clapping,” said McAlpine, who joined the march minutes after it began. “People don’t want drug dealers in their neighborhood.”

The march drew more than just McKinley Hill neighbors. City Councilman Mike Lonergan was in attendance, as was Darren Pen of Safe Streets and four students from Clover Park High School in Lakewood who wanted to show their support.

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I'll be on McKinley Hill this morning for the march against crime in the neighborhood.