October 29, 2024
On September 23rd, a coalition of Downtown residents and businesses announced an action plan to reduce crime, improve public safety, and enhance cleanliness in San Diego’s urban core.
The Downtown San Diego Partnership organized a coalition of stakeholders to renew an aligned focus on what is needed for Downtown to be successful. Despite significant steps forward made by coalition efforts in 2022, this progress has not resolved the challenges to the current experience of Downtown for residents, employees, and visitors. Therefore, the Downtown Partnership solicited further feedback from property owners, residents, and businesses to align our collective voices around a new five-point Downtown Safety Plan, which includes:
- Implement Policy and Programs to Address Crime and the Unclean and Unpleasant Pedestrian Experience, Especially in the Dusk and Overnight Hours
- Deploy Dedicated Resources to Address the Behavioral Health Episodes, Rampant Drug Use, and Drug Sales on Downtown Sidewalks
- Implement Funding Resources to Address the Out-of-Control Behavioral Health Crisis
- Ensure State Policy is Enforced and Adjudicated
- Achieve a More Realized Clean and Safe Downtown Experience
Chamber Executive Vice President & COO Jessica Anderson stood in support at the press conference on the 23rd where the new plan was announced, and was joined by Mayor Todd Gloria, Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, the Downtown San Diego Partnership, SDPD, and local downtown business owners and residents.
Chamber Executive Director of Public Affairs Justine Murray participated in a meeting hosted by the Downtown San Diego Partnership focusing on the City of San Diego’s role in the new plan, and was joined by other business organizations, trade organizations, and downtown stakeholders. The Chamber will continue to support the partnership’s efforts, as a clean and safe downtown is not just crucial to the economic vitality of the downtown area, but is crucial for the economic vitality of our entire region.