Downtown Dallas Inc. has announced details for its "2022 Comprehensive Public Safety Summer Operations Plan." The organization representing businesses and developers downtown says it worked with Dallas Police and Dallas Area Rapid Transit Police on the plan.
Among the items in the plan is homeless outreach. Dallas Police have been embedded with Downtown Dallas Inc homeless outreach teams for the past 18 months. Those teams will now also be embedded with DART police.
"The goal of the program is to equip these officers with tools other than enforcement, jail, or citations to really have a longer-term impact on these individuals," said Dallas Police Deputy Chief Israel Herrera.
Downtown Dallas Inc. says it has an ongoing collaboration with the city's Office of Homeless Solutions' "rapid rehousing" initiative. The organization says it made a $500,000 donation.
The organization has also launched an app called, "SEE SAY NOW" where people can report non-emergency issues. Dallas PD's Herrera says the app can give people a place to report quality-of-life concerns.
"Some of those quality-of-life issues can lead to bigger things, and that's where we become involved," Herrera said. "It is extremely important, and I know Chief Garcia has mentioned just how important it is that everybody has a seat at the table."
People can also call the Downtown Dallas Inc Security and Clean Teams at (214) 741-1151 or text an issue to (972) 440-1995.
Jennifer Scripps, president and chief executive officer of Downtown Dallas Inc, says businesses are expecting large crowds as office workers and tourists return from the pandemic. She also says the population of people who live downtown has increased from a few hundred in the late 1990s to 14,000 now.
"The good news we've found is the more usage, the safer and more vibrant [downtown] gets," Scripps said. "It's like a big, positive snowball in the right direction. People are drawn then it draws more food trucks because there are more people who come and eat. Bars and restaurants fill up; they're more open at lunchtime as workers have returned. It's really a positive cycle."
Scripps says the construction of new parks has also drawn more people downtown. She says 20 acres of asphalt have been transformed into green space in the past few years. May 3, the third of four parks planned downtown opened near Pacific Avenue and Pearl in the eastern part of downtown.
"We're adding new green space, but in terms of walkability and bringing that sidewalk vibrancy, the more the merrier," Scripps said.
A complete list of Downtown Dallas Inc.'s Summer Operations Plan:
- The expansion of DDI's innovative "relate and refer" homeless outreach program to include partnership with the DART Police Department. DART officers are now embedded with two DDI Homeless Outreach teams to engage and aid people experiencing homelessness Downtown. Dallas police officers will continue to be embedded with separate DDI Home less Outreach teams, as they have been for more than 18 months.
- Ongoing collaboration with the City of Dallas Office of Homeless Solutions to continue rehousing people experiencing homelessness Downtown. In 2021, DDI contributed $500,000 to support the Dallas Real Time Rapid Rehousing Initiative, which began housing people experiencing homelessness Downtown earlier this year.
- The relaunch of the DDI Ambassador position, public-facing customer-service focused employees charged with engaging visitors and residents of Downtown about the best restaurants, retail, entertainment spots, etc., while also focusing on keeping Downtown clean and safe.
- The first full summer of operations out of DDI's new headquarters on the ground floor of The National building adjacent to the DART Akard Station, a more central location for strategic deployment. This is the first time in DDI history that our field operations teams and our corporate employees are located at the same headquarters, helping to streamline our operations and improve communications.
- A communications and marketing campaign pushing the DDI "SEE SAY NOW" iPhone and Android app and dispatch number (214.741.1151) for reporting non-emergency quality of life concerns that do not require an immediate police response.
- Increased on-duty Dallas police park checks and reminders of City of Dallas Park rules.
- Ongoing DDI staff "code walks" to identify and communicate code violations to City of Dallas.
- Continued activations and events throughout the summer at Downtown parks managed by DDI, including Main Street Garden, Pegasus Plaza, West End Square, Pacific Plaza, and our newest and biggest park, Carpenter Park.
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