March 2009
1. Clean
& Safe Security Update
2. Notes from the field
3. Neighborhood District Attorney Report
4. Clean & Safe Maintenance Program
5. Comments from Citizens
6. West Side Community Court Statistics
7. Community Work Crew Activity
8. Theft Accountability Class (TAC)
9. Sidewalk Ambassadors
10. Downtown Marketing Initiative (DMI)
11. Holiday Lighting Continues
12. Relief Comes for Portland's Small Businesses
13. OLCC Investigations
14. New Restaurants Opening Downtown
1.
Clean & Safe Security Update
Clean
& Safe is planning ahead for the Transit Mall changes occurring
this spring and fall, setting in place the cleaning, security
and police presence that is integral for citizen safety on
the Mall. Our security and police bicycle patrol officers
are currently working closely with Central Precinct at specific
problem locations including areas along the temporary transit
mall (SW 3rd and 4th) where businesses are reporting a recent
influx of younger gang members who appear to be selling drugs.
Commander
Mike Reese has ordered Central Precinct's Street Crimes Units
and Mounted Patrol to actively address this issue, and they
are coordinating undercover drug missions with these businesses,
our Clean & Safety security and police bicycle patrols and
will follow the hotspots as they appear.
Our security
team is also providing advice and assistance at the Mead Building,
where the city has opened a night shelter through March 30.
In response to cueing complaints by businesses around the
Mead, Clean & Safe recommended that individuals desiring shelter
be pre-screened by Transition Projects, Inc. at their NW 5th
and Glisan location.
Once approved,
the individual is given immediate admittance to the Mead shelter.
Clean & Safe security then maintains a vigil at the location
when the shelter opens each evening and closes each morning.
This protocol has been implemented and the neighborhood businesses
report the situation is much improved. Alliance staff will
work with the city and Transition Projects, Inc. in the coming
months to determine a more appropriate location for winter
shelter beds.
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2.
Notes from the Field
Charlie
Standley, a Clean & Safe security supervisor, responded in
February to a call from a street musician near Pioneer Square
who said he had been robbed by a suspect who was now walking
away. The suspect had taken the musician's tip jar and struck
him. As Officer Standley arrived, citizens pointed at the
suspect and reported that he had also brandished a knife when
citizens attempted to stop him. Officer Standley and Clean
& Safe Officers Vronin and Woodard followed the suspect to
a local market, where they were able to convince him to wait
for the police to arrive and take him into custody. Robbery
and theft charges are being investigated by the District Attorney's
Office Excellent and safe work by our Clean & Safe security
officers.
Also in
February, Portland Patrol Officer Jim Bare arrived on the
scene shortly after an eighty-five year old woman had tripped
on the sidewalk and cut her head. Officer Bare summoned Fire
and Emergency Medical Services and stayed with the woman,
offering comfort while she was treated. The woman is the mother
of a Portland City Commissioner, who sends his gratitude to
Clean and Safe for being on the scene and a job well done.
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3.
Neighborhood District Attorney Update
Congratulations
to our Legal Assistant, Kae Zariwny, who gave birth to a new
daughter, Emerson Cooper, on February 14. Kae and family are
doing well.
The Neighborhood
District Attorney reports reviewing and issuing 97 criminal
cases in February 2009.
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4.
Clean & Safe Maintenance Program Update
The Clean
& Safe maintenance teams participated in a kick-off and 'clean
sweep' of the Chinese Garden to bring in the Chinese New Year.
A Chinese tradition, New Year symbolizes a cleaning out of
the old year. Fittingly, the cleaners remained to sweep the
entire block area outside the garden after the event.
Matt Bellet,
our cleaning supervisor, also reports planning for the spring
transition of the Transit Mall. Keeping the Mall and surrounding
areas looking sharp is a high priority for Matt and his workers.
In addition, Matt presents classes about job searching and
preparing resumes for homeless veterans, and constantly interviews
potential janitors for our Homeless to Work program. Recently
a Portland Police officer told Matt that downtown looks great
"because of what you do."
The cleaners
have taken on an additional task with the new 'Portland Loo'
at NW 6th and Glisan Streets. Providing cleaning and inspections
several times each day has ensured a smooth transition as
the much-needed 'Loo' is available twenty-four hours a day
in Old Town. Clean & Safe security and surrounding businesses
report no issues with criminal behavior at the Loo, and that
it is being used appropriately. Commissioner Randy Leonard,
the architect of the Loo program, has plans to locate several
more of these units around the downtown core and is working
with Alliance staff of determining appropriate locations.
The Cleaning
Supervisor reports the following:
- 2,278
graffiti tags removed
- 1,656
bags of trash
- 660
citizen cleaning responses
- 90
needles
- 365
pieces of drug paraphernalia
- 1,559
restroom inspections and cleaning.
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5.
Comments from Citizens
"We appreciate
what you do to keep the sidewalks around our office clean."
- Monsoon
"Clean
& Safe are always a great help!!" - Voodoo Doughnut
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6.
West Side Community Court Statistics
The West
Side Community Court reports in January that:
- 115
defendants were ordered to community service
- 45
defendants were in compliance
- 64
are working toward completion
- 6 were
unsuccessful and facing additional court sanctions
- 35
jail days saved at $176.00 per jail day = $6,160
A defendant
who had been through the community court in February reported
to Judge Steve Evans that, after participating in the community
service program supervised by the Alliance (which has a job
training and placement component), he had found a job. Judge
Evans waived the defendant's last day of community service
after he provided proof of his employment. The person said
the job 'gives him a sense of confidence.'
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7.
Community Work Crew Activity
Crew supervisor
Marcus Marchard reports the crew concentrated their cleaning
efforts under the Burnside Bridge and the Naito Parkway along
with downtown in February. The crew supervisor personally
found a large garbage sack with several containers of prescription
drugs inside. He turned it over to a Mounted Police patrol
officer, who found the grateful owner through Central City
Concern.
The crew
supervisor reports:
- 770
block faces cleaned
- 63
bags of trash removed
- 48
hours spent at Loaves and Fishes
- 440
street cleaning hours
- 61
showed up for crew
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8.
Theft Accountability Class (TAC)
The Alliance's
Theft Accountability Class (TAC) is currently at a 79 percent
success rate since inception. The program has consistently
lowered the recidivism rate significantly versus defendants
who do not participate in the program. Recently, a large Minnesota
city had heard about TAC's success and inquired about the
program. We happily shared information about TAC as we are
proud of this very innovative program.
This month
at TAC:
- 68
sentenced to attend
- 23
successful completions (79 percent)
- 6 failures
resulting in jail sentences
- 39
open cases
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9.
Sidewalk Ambassadors
The Ambassadors
assisted the Alliance's holiday lighting manager in February
with tree counts in the retail core for next years seasonal
lighting program. There was also some time for crime prevention
and excitement as Ambassador Greg Hempel intervened to break
up a fight that spilled into the street at 4th and Morrison.
The combatants stopped and departed quickly when he urged
them to stop and threatened to call the police. On a lighter
note, Ambassador Greg also delighted a couple from Alaska
who had come to Portland to sample beer by offering them a
"Brew Ha!" and mapping out several local breweries where they
could best experience what Portland has to offer.
Once again,
the Ambassadors were called upon to assist TriMet during their
latest downtown MAX closure due to the construction of the
Green Line. Former Ambassadors Merlin Varaday and Kean Glassmeyer
came out of "retirement" along with current Ambassador Greg
to help direct Trimet passengers through downtown during this
weekend transition.
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10.
Downtown Marketing Initiative (DMI)
The Downtown
Marketing Initiative has produced a comprehensive program
for spring; these promotional efforts serve as an important
economic development tool given the ongoing economic conditions.
The DMI marketing program includes broadcast media, promotional,
website, an
e-newsletter, transit and public relations and programming.
Important highlights of the program are:
- Monthly
themed website updates on www.downtownportland.org;
- Real-time
Smart Park capacity information;
- An
updated "Seek the Unique" retail promotion for Spring and
Valentines Day;
- Tri-Met
transit advertising, featuring in February "Seek the Unique"
and March "Delectable Dining" promotions;
- Media
outreach including a KGW story with Joe Smith in support
of the Transit Mall Block-By-Block business facade program;
- Radio
promotions and advertising supporting "Seek the Unique"
with specific highlights on downtown's Romance District
on SW Broadway for Valentine's Day; and the prix-fixed dining
promotion and Indie Wine Festival partnership for the month
of March.
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11.
Holiday Lighting Continues
The Mayor's
Downtown Retail Vision Task Force, which seeks to identify
a defined vision for the future of the downtown core and a
signature retail concept for the area, has recommended several
short-term enhancements to the retail core to assist with
retail vitality, safety, and branding. As a result, Mayor
Sam Adams has requested that the Downtown Business Improvement
Districe extend the Holiday Lighting Program throughout the
year. Mayor Adams feels this will communicate the message
that the retail core is safe and welcoming during evening
hours. The Board of Directors for the Business Improvement
District approved a pilot program this spring, extending the
duration of the Holiday Lighting Program until April 1. The
board will will review the results and make a determination
about permanently extending the lighting at their annual meeting
in May.
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12.
Relief Comes for Portland's Small Businesses
The U.S.
Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it is making
low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans available to Oregon
small businesses economically impacted by the severe winter
storms. The loans can alleviate temporary financial burdens
small businesses are experiencing, including payroll and other
bills they are unable to pay due to the storm's impact. SBA
is offering working capital loans of up to $2 million at an
interest rate of 4 percent with terms up to 30 years.
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13.
OLCC Investigations
A Good
Neighbor Agreement (GNA) has been signed by the Downtown Neighborhood
Association and the owners of Club Rouge, an adult entertainment
bar that wishes to open at 403 SW Stark. The OLCC is continuing
its investigation of this application and may host a hearing
in April on whether or not to grant a license to these owners.
Newly
opened Ibiza Restaurant at 915 SW 2nd Avenue has been identified
as serious public safety risk by the Portland Police. Ibiza
is currently operating under a temporary liquor license; four
violent incidents have reportedly occurred on premises in
the first 45 days of business. Police have issued an unfavorable
recommendation to OLCC regarding this establishment, reporting
that the licensees have engaged in blatantly illegal activity.
OLCC continues its investigation of this application and has
not yet ruled on whether to grant the licensee a permanent
license.
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14.
New Restaurants Opening Downtown
Two new
restaurants will be opening soon in downtown. The Original
at the Courtyard by Marriott will offer a retro-futuristic
diner concept. Nel Centro at the Hotel Modera is David Machado's
newest restaurant, and will feature a menu based on the culinary
traditions of the French and Italian Riviera.
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