Shops and offices in Downtown Dallas are getting ready for a spike in visitors during the summer. Downtown Dallas Inc. calls its campaign, "Dedicate to Downtown."
"We know a lot of people aren't familiar with [Downtown Dallas Inc] and the vital, daily services we provide in Downtown Dallas," says President and Chief Executive Jennifer Scripps.
Scripps says its ambassadors are available in busy areas and can answer questions about landmarks or events. She says they can be useful both to people who have just moved to the area and also tourists who may be in town for a conference at the convention center, Omni or American Airlines Center.
"The hundreds of thousands of conventioneers might think they're at Klyde Warren but they're at a different park. A lot of times, we're helping them get from Point A to Point B within downtown," Scripps says.
Downtown Dallas Inc also urges people to download the "See Say" app. Users can request a walk to their car, report graffiti or report an issue with a person or infrastructure.
"There's been tremendous change downtown the past few years, new restaurants, parks, attractions," says Sgt. Brian Cruz with Downtown Dallas Inc's security team. "All along the way, DDI has been a constant force to make sure we put our best foot forward for visitors, residents and workers."
Cruz says the organization's security team works with Dallas Police, DART Police and Dallas College Police to handle safety downtown.
"I feel really safe walking around downtown," one woman said Wednesday afternoon. She said she works downtown but lives Uptown. "I ride DART every morning by myself every morning and afternoon."
But she and others say they have noticed an increase in homeless people in the area.
"I wish the city could do more to increase shelter beds," one man said.
Downtown Dallas Inc says its security and police focus on outreach to ensure homeless people know what options are available for shelter, job training and treatment.
"The first thing is we engage with the unhoused population prior to an incident occurring. Then we educate them about the services available to them, and we encourage them to seek out those services even if it means we give them a ride there," says DART Police Chief Charles Cato. "Finally, the last piece would be enforcement. We only do that when that behavior escalates to the point where there's a violation of the law or public disorder."
More information about the See Say app is available at https://downtowndallas.com/live/clean-safe/see-say-app/
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