The Downtown San Diego Partnership has launched a new, enhanced Clean & Safe Program for Downtown, which will provide additional services that property owners have requested, including more beautification and place-making efforts, as well as more safety and maintenance programs. This new program is the result of the Downtown Property and Business Improvement District's (PBID) 10-year extension, which was supported by 82.6 percent of Downtown property owners.
Since 2000, the Clean & Safe Program has been working hard to keep Downtown at its best, with services including 24-7 safety patrol, sidewalk power washing, homeless outreach, graffiti removal, and beautification programs. As part of the renewal, Clean & Safe will provide more services that Downtown property owners have requested. Moreover, the renewal means more lights in trees, more drought-tolerant landscaping on streets, and greater homeless outreach services.
Bahija Hamraz, executive director of Clean & Safe, said, 'Additional Maintenance Ambassadors and Safety Ambassadors will expand our team and reach. We'll also provide additional homeless outreach services, which was a top priority for our property owners.'
Throughout the three-year renewal process, the Downtown Partnership conducted an extensive outreach effort, including the facilitation of over 150 public meetings with property owners and solicitation for feedback through an online survey. The Partnership also received input from the PBID Advisory Board, Finance Committee, Executive Committee, and Board of Directors.
Clean & Safe has been responsible for removing more than 10,475 pieces of graffiti, sweeping more than 74,000 Downtown sidewalks, removing more than 385 tons of debris, pulling more than 44,000 weeds, visiting more than 6,300 Downtown businesses, providing directional assistance to visitors and residents more than 9,100 times, and responding to more than 30,600 security calls since January. During this year's Comic-Con, Clean & Safe removed 22.44 tons of trash, picked up 27,149 flyers, posters, and stickers, and pulled 3,980 bags of trash.
Kris Michell, President and CEO of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, said, 'Clean & Safe has been an important part of Downtown's transformation. Along with our gratitude for the support we've received from the community is a renewed pledge: The best is yet to come.'
The Downtown San Diego Partnership is a non-profit, member-based organization that serves as the leading advocate for the revitalization and economic health of Downtown. The Downtown Partnership represents more than 300 businesses and 11,000 property owners.
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