February 2008
1. Downtown's
crime drop continues for third consecutive year
2. New Clean and Safe director named
3. Clean and Safe Security update
4. Community Court update
5. Sidewalk Ambassadors tour performing arts
destinations
6. Downtown Retail Council looks at panhandling
7. New Dining Guide coming out this spring
8. Business Census and Survey underway
9. Leadership Portland applications due in
April
1.
Downtown's crime drop continues for third consecutive year
In November
2005, Portland Downtown Services, Inc. (PDSI) began the enhanced
Clean and Safe Security program, a three-year project to reduce
and prevent crime downtown. According to Central Precinct's
recent crime statistics, the Business Improvement District
shows a 16 percent decrease in crime for 2007. This decrease
is the third consecutive year that downtown Portland has seen
a decline in crime, for a total reduction of almost a third
- 29 percent - over the last three years.
Several
factors are contributing to this decrease including:
- A partnership
between the Alliance, the Mayor's office, Portland Police
Bureau's Central Precinct and Central City Concern focusing
on repeat low level criminal offenders;
- Seven
additional armed Clean and Safe security officers patrolling
downtown streets; and
- An
increased effort to keep downtown clean and graffiti free.
These
statistics show that the funds paid by the downtown business
and property owners for the security and cleaning programs
are benefiting not just their businesses but also our entire
city. Additionally, the collaborative approach the City, Central
Precinct and downtown property owners have taken to address
criminal activity has made an enormous difference in making
downtown safe and livable for everyone who lives, works and
visits downtown Portland.
The downward
trend in crime took a noticeable dive after November 2005
when the Alliance joined in a partnership with Mayor Potter's
office, Central Precinct and Central City Concern to provide
a treatment option for chronic low-level criminal offenders,
which has resulted in a 71 percent decrease in criminal activity
among that offender group since the program began. The Clean
and Safe program, which employs individuals transitioning
from homelessness to housing, also helps maintain the safety
of downtown by providing round the clock cleaning services,
including the removal off approximately 2,000 graffiti month
to improve the livability downtown.
Additionally,
beginning in December 2005 downtown property owners increased
the amount of funding security to hire seven additional Clean
and Safe officers who streets on foot and by bike days a week.
These officers closely work with Central Precinct, alerting
police to criminal activity. At that time Central Precinct
assigned a fourth bicycle officer work with Clean and Safe,
at additional charge to the Business Improvement District.
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 2.
New Clean and Safe Director named
Norm Sharp
joined the Alliance in February as the Director of Downtown
Clean and Safe. He is responsible for programs involving the
security, safety and cleanliness in the Business Improvement
District (BID). He also oversees the Sidewalk Ambassador Program
and the BID's involvement in the Westside Community Court.
Norm grew
up in the Tigard area and after military service became a
Portland Police Officer, retiring as a Lieutenant after 25
years. Some of his assignments with the Bureau included, patrol,
undercover vice and narcotics, SERT, Gang Enforcement Team,
and patrol sergeant. His last assignment was as a Shift Lieutenant
at Northeast Precinct prior to retiring in 2002.
After
leaving the Bureau, Norm worked for Portland Patrol Inc. as
contract security supervisor, and he brings the downtown security
experience into his position with the Alliance.
Norm's
pastimes are sea kayaking, long walks (he walked 530 miles
across Spain in 2002) and spending time with his family.
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3.
Clean and Safe Security update
During
January the Clean and Safe security patrols engaged in 15,758
interactions with individuals on the streets of downtown Portland
as they continue to enhance the safety and security of citizens
in the Business Improvement District. These contacts included
6,626 business assistance and referral contacts, 4,627 pedestrian
contacts, 81 arrests, 168 exclusions and an additional 152
non-enforcement problem solving contacts.
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4.
Community Court update
In January
the 7,600th defendant was assigned to do community service
downtown since the program began in 2002. Last month 104 defendants
were ordered by the Westside Community Court to perform community
service on the Westside work crew. The work crews removed
68 bags of trash and cleaned 1,043 block faces in the Business
Improvement District.
Thirty-eight
defendants successfully completed the Theft Accountability
Class. The Downtown District Attorney Legal Assistant reviewed
a total of 127 misdemeanor cases for prosecution and 112 of
those cases were issued for prosecution.
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5.
Sidewalk Ambassadors tour performing arts destinations
During
January, the Sidewalk Ambassadors toured the Arlene Schnitzer
Concert Hall and the Antoinette Hatfield Hall, following up
with a viewing of the two films presented by the Theater in
the Square, featuring the things that make Portland great
and a history of the Pioneer Courthouse. The Ambassadors participated
in the Park Block 5 groundbreaking, the Old Town Chinatown
Arts and Culture committee monthly meeting, as well as receiving
a presentation by Bryan Meyer from New Avenues for Youth,
who requested Ambassadors' assistance in his outreach to homeless
youth.
- Business
modifications: 23
- Business
visits: 418
- Publications
distributed: 1,575
- Information
requests: 2,757
- Service
calls: 99
- Total:
4,872
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6.
Downtown Retail Council looks at panhandling
The Downtown
Retail Council is currently exploring new anti-panhandling
educational campaigns and day shelter funding programs that
will roll out later in the year. In addition to raising funds
through charitable initiatives, the Council intends to spearhead
a multi-media anti-panhandling public education campaign that
reinforces the fact that giving cash handouts to homeless
only exacerbates their problems including drug and alcohol
abuse.
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 7.
New Dining Guide coming out this spring
The Alliance
is putting together the annual Dining Guide, listing all restaurants
in the I-5 / I-405 loop. The guide will be released in late
March. This year's guide includes 500 dining locations, and
features advertising from select members. The Dining Guides
are distributed through the Ambassadors, at the Travel Portland
Information Center in Pioneer Courthouse Square, and through
select hotel concierges. This year, the Dining Guide will
feature an easier to read map and improved paper quality.
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8.
Business Census and Survey underway
The Alliance
is conducting follow up on the 2007 Downtown Business Census
& Survey. The Census collects a 100 percent employee count
by industry type of all businesses, not for profit entities
and governmental agencies in the I-5/I-405 loop. If you
have not completed the census, please visit www.downtownportland.org.
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9.
Leadership Portland applications due in April
 Are
you ready to take your leadership skills to the next level?
Applications for the Leadership Portland class of 2009 are
due on April 15, 2008.
Participants
in the Leadership Portland program build knowledge and insight
on major issues facing the Portland community and region through
monthly education days and community projects, and further
develop their leadership skills. The program is a unique opportunity
to connect with peers from a variety of Portland's businesses
and nonprofits. Representatives from businesses and nonprofits
of all sizes are encouraged to apply.
Visit
www.portlandalliance.com/member_services/leadership_portland_application.php
for more information or to apply online.
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