DAYTON, Ohio -- A prominent downtown businessman wants the city to take action immediately when it comes to all of the downtown problems that have occurred recently.

Sandy Mendelson appeared at the city commission meeting Wednesday morning to talk about his concerns. He said he is concerned about the recent rash of violence and said he wonders how much longer he will remain downtown.

His business stretches for five city blocks and is located near the baseball stadium. Mendelson's business has been there for 43 years.

He told city commissioners that they need to clean up the mess downtown and told them it needs to be done now – not a year from now.

NewsCenter 7 has been reporting that there has been crime and violence downtown that has involved young people. The area that has mostly been affected is around Third and Main and Fourth and Main streets.

The most recent incident was a near riot, according to the city manager, and it took more than 20 officers to get control of the situation.

Mendelson said a lot is at stake if the city does not take action immediately. He said people are scared to come downtown, which would affect his business and others.

The city manager, Jim Dinneen, said he wants Mendelson, other business owners and residents who are upset with the downtown problems to go to the Regional Transit Authority Board and make sure they follow through on things that the city has asked them to do. City leaders want the RTA to move the downtown hub, redesign bus routes and hire more security downtown.

Mayor Rhine McLin said Dayton has zero tolerance for the violence that has occurred downtown. She said there are short-term and long-term plans of action. However, she said the city needs help from the RTA.