Enhancing Urban Vibrancy: Downtown Dallas Inc. Unveils Comprehensive Public Safety & Quality of Life Plan

As Downtown Dallas continues its remarkable resurgence, welcoming thousands of workers back to the urban core and witnessing a vibrant return of its convention and tourism industries to pre-pandemic levels, maintaining a secure and inviting environment has never been more crucial. Today, Downtown Dallas Inc. (DDI) proudly announced the rollout of its 2022 comprehensive Public Safety Summer Operations Plan – a proactive and multifaceted initiative designed to elevate both public safety and overall quality of life across the city’s dynamic heart.

This ambitious plan underscores DDI’s unwavering commitment to ensuring Downtown Dallas remains one of the safest and most appealing urban centers in the nation. It represents a significant investment in the community, with the majority of DDI’s substantial $10 million annual budget dedicated to its comprehensive clean and safe initiatives. However, DDI emphasizes that this monumental task is a shared responsibility, built upon robust partnerships with critical organizations and the active engagement of everyone who lives, works, and visits Downtown.

A Strategic Approach to Urban Safety and Livability

The 2022 Public Safety Summer Operations Plan is a testament to strategic collaboration, forged in partnership with the Dallas Police Department (DPD), Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Police, and various other governmental and community stakeholders. This initiative officially commences as DDI enters its bustling summer programming season, promising an array of free public events across Downtown’s iconic parks each week, from captivating movie nights and invigorating salsa lessons to calming yoga sessions and inspiring art exhibits. These events not only enrich the community but also enhance the sense of safety and vibrancy in public spaces.

Jennifer Scripps, DDI President & CEO, articulated the organization’s core philosophy, stating, “Our city center remains one of the safest Downtowns in the country, and we intend to keep it that way. While a significant portion of our annual budget is dedicated to our clean and safe initiatives, we recognize that we cannot achieve this alone. It demands strong partnerships with the Dallas Police Department, the DART Police Department, and the vigilant eyes and ears of our residents, workers, and visitors.”

Key Pillars of the 2022 Public Safety Plan

The comprehensive plan is built upon several interconnected tenets, each designed to address specific challenges and enhance the Downtown experience:

Expanded Homeless Outreach: A Compassionate and Collaborative Approach

• **Integrated “Relate and Refer” Program:** DDI is expanding its innovative “relate and refer” homeless outreach program by incorporating a new partnership with the DART Police Department. This strategic integration means DART officers are now embedded directly with DDI Homeless Outreach teams, working collaboratively to engage with and provide crucial aid to individuals experiencing homelessness in Downtown. This builds upon an already successful model, as Dallas police officers have been embedded with separate DDI Homeless Outreach teams for over 18 months, fostering trust and delivering sustained support to those most vulnerable.
• **Commitment to Rehousing Initiatives:** DDI continues its vital collaboration with the City of Dallas Office of Homeless Solutions, focusing intensely on the rehousing of individuals experiencing homelessness in the Downtown area. In 2021, DDI made a substantial contribution of $500,000 to bolster the Dallas Real Time Rapid Rehousing Initiative. This critical funding has played an instrumental role in accelerating efforts to house people experiencing homelessness Downtown, making tangible progress in providing stability and support since the initiative began earlier this year. This partnership underscores a commitment to finding long-term solutions rather than merely addressing symptoms.

Revitalizing Community Engagement: The DDI Ambassador Program

• **Relaunch of DDI Ambassadors:** The much-anticipated relaunch of the DDI Ambassador position marks a return to proactive, public-facing community engagement. These dedicated employees are customer-service focused, tasked with providing essential information to both visitors and residents about Downtown’s premier restaurants, diverse retail options, and vibrant entertainment venues. Beyond offering guidance, DDI Ambassadors play a crucial dual role in actively contributing to Downtown’s cleanliness and safety, acting as visible deterrents to undesirable activities and serving as immediate contacts for non-emergency concerns.

Operational Excellence: A Centralized Hub for Enhanced Coordination

• **New Centralized Headquarters:** This summer marks the first full season of operations out of DDI’s newly established headquarters, strategically located on the ground floor of The National building, adjacent to the DART Akard Station. This more central location significantly enhances DDI’s capacity for strategic deployment of resources and personnel. For the first time in DDI’s history, field operations teams and corporate employees are co-located at the same headquarters, fostering streamlined operations, improving inter-departmental communication, and strengthening overall team cohesion, leading to more efficient responses and coordinated efforts.

Empowering the Community: The “SEE SAY NOW” Initiative

• **Advanced Reporting Tools:** DDI is amplifying its communication and marketing campaign to promote the “SEE SAY NOW” iPhone and Android app, alongside its dedicated dispatch number (214.741.1151). This initiative empowers the community – residents, workers, and visitors alike – to report non-emergency quality of life concerns that do not require immediate police intervention. By providing accessible channels for reporting issues such as litter, minor code violations, or suspicious but non-urgent activities, the “SEE SAY NOW” program ensures that DDI’s Field Operations teams can respond swiftly and efficiently, while also freeing up emergency services for critical incidents.

Maintaining Public Spaces: Parks, Codes, and Community Events

• **Enhanced Park Safety and Rules Enforcement:** The plan includes increased on-duty Dallas Police park checks and proactive reminders of City of Dallas Park rules. This measure aims to ensure public spaces remain enjoyable and safe for everyone, deterring activities that might disrupt the peace or compromise safety.
• **Proactive Code Compliance:** DDI staff will continue to conduct regular “code walks” throughout Downtown. These systematic inspections are designed to identify and communicate code violations directly to the City of Dallas, ensuring that infrastructure and public spaces are well-maintained and compliant with city regulations, contributing to a consistently high standard of urban aesthetics and functionality.
• **Vibrant Park Activations:** Throughout the summer, DDI will continue to host a diverse array of activations and events across the Downtown parks it manages. These include beloved green spaces such as Main Street Garden, Pegasus Plaza, West End Square, Pacific Plaza, and the newest, most expansive addition, Carpenter Park. These events are not only sources of entertainment but also crucial for fostering community engagement, encouraging positive utilization of public spaces, and enhancing the perception of safety through increased positive activity.

Leadership and Collaboration Driving Success

This expansive initiative is spearheaded by Albert Sanchez, DDI Vice President of Public Safety & Field Operations. Sanchez brings a wealth of experience, having served 10 distinguished years with the Dallas Police Department before joining DDI in 2019, where he continues to contribute as a Dallas Police Reserve Officer. His leadership is critical in integrating law enforcement expertise with DDI’s community-focused mission.

“We now boast the best overall DDI Field Operations leadership team in the history of this organization, encompassing decades of invaluable experience in security, homeless outreach, and customer service,” Sanchez affirmed. “We are in a constant cycle of meeting and assessing intelligence to continually refine our strategies, ensuring the safety of Downtown’s populace and maintaining our parks, streets, and sidewalks as clean and welcoming spaces. This vital intelligence is, in part, generously provided by the people who live, work, and visit Downtown – by making sure to call us at 214-741-1151 or by downloading and utilizing our See Say Now app to report any non-emergency quality of life concerns.”

DDI’s Field Operations team members are frequently called upon to respond to reports and app requests concerning a range of issues, including sleeping in public, smoking in parks, panhandling, and essential tasks like litter removal, graffiti abatement, and sticker removal, all contributing to the aesthetic appeal and functionality of Downtown.

Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia emphasized the crucial role of collaboration in achieving shared safety objectives. “The top priority of the men and women of the Dallas Police Department is keeping our city safe. Partnerships with organizations like Downtown Dallas, Inc. are paramount in our public safety mission,” Chief Garcia stated. “We are deeply committed to maintaining a robust relationship with the dedicated teams that comprise DDI’s Security, Clean, and Homeless Outreach divisions. Together, we work tirelessly towards keeping our city cleaner and safer for everyone who calls Dallas home, works here, or visits.”

Chief Garcia recently visited with the DDI Field Operations teams, personally expressing his gratitude for their indispensable collaboration with his officers. “You’re part of our team,” the Chief conveyed, acknowledging their vital role. “We couldn’t accomplish what we do without you, so thank you for the invaluable assistance you provide to us, to the residents of Dallas, and to all visitors to this great city.”

Geographic Reach and Future Outlook

The core operations of this comprehensive plan will be concentrated within the Downtown Improvement District (DID), a clearly defined area bordered by I-345 to the east, I-30 to the south, the North Stemmons Freeway to the west, and the Woodall Rodgers Freeway to the north. Beyond these boundaries, DDI remains actively engaged with key stakeholders in surrounding neighborhoods, extending its commitment to public safety beyond the immediate core of Downtown.

The DART Police Department also echoed the sentiment of partnership and a progressive approach to urban challenges. DART Police Lt. Donovan Collins, commander of the Central Business District, articulated, “The Dallas Area Rapid Transit Police Department is committed to working collaboratively with partners across our 13-city service area to ensure the safety of our riders. We firmly recognize that criminalizing homelessness is counterproductive to achieving sustainable solutions, which is precisely why we are so enthusiastic to embark on this new and vital partnership with DDI.”

The strategic alliance between DDI, the City of Dallas, the Dallas Police Department, DART, and DART Police is characterized by constant communication and coordinated action. DDI personnel regularly share critical intelligence with DPD and DART police officers and supervisors, often providing key information that aids in solving crimes and preventing future incidents. The leadership of these organizations convenes regularly, holding strategic meetings to coordinate efforts, assess emerging challenges, and adapt strategies to ensure Downtown Dallas continues to thrive as a safe, clean, and welcoming destination for all.