Store owners and city officials are struggling to revive a deal aimed at curbing sales of drug-related items in one of Washington, D.C.'s most troubled neighborhoods, the Washington Post reported June 21.

Only two business owners showed up at a press conference on the deal, and neither signed the agreement, which called on stores to stop selling items that could be used as crack pipes, rolling papers, and baggies commonly used to package drugs.

Ward 8 leaders reacted angrily to the snub. "They totally disrespect the black community," said Anthony Muhammad, a Ward 8 Advisory Neighborhood commissioner, of the business owners. Phil Pannell, executive director of the Anacostia Coordinating Committee, called the collapse "devastating."

Gary Cha, president of the Korean American Business Association of Greater Washington, said business owners wanted some amendments to the deal, notably a requirement to monitor illegal activity in and around their stores. "The retailers said, 'We don't want to put a noose around our neck and hope they don't tug on it,' " said Cha. "We want to improve the relationship with the community. We don't want to go backward."

One hoped-for benefit of the deal for store owners was that it would be an alternative to local communities challenging the liquor licenses of problem stores. The liquor-license tactic was seen as the impetus for getting store owners to engage in talks with community leaders this year.