MONTHLY REPORT February 2015
Safety Highlights Field Observations Harsh, frigid weather has been the hallmark of the month of February, and this has inhibited the panhandlers that are not regular visitors to the district. However, there are a few regulars who have turned to using the nearby Riverview Apts. as a shelter from which to venture into the neighborhood, and as a base to retreat to when approached or addressed by Ambassadors. However, by keeping station at the Southeast corner of W.25th and Bridge, Ambassadors can keep these panhandlers in check by preventing them from entering the district unnoticed. In addition, a few panhandlers began using con man tactics this month by entering businesses and giving false information about themselves and their circumstances in an effort to solicit money. After being informed of their descriptions and activities, Ambassadors went to work spreading this information to the local business establishments. Accomplishments On Thursday, February 5th, Ambassador #11 and Team Leader Hughes helped an elderly lady in a wheelchair get across the intersection of W.25th & Lorain. (See photo sidebar) The lady's wheelchair had gotten stuck in the snow and slush that had accumulated on the curbside, and she was unable to move either forward or backward. Ambassador #11 managed to free the wheelchair and help her across the street, while Team Leader Hughes advanced ahead in the crosswalk to make sure that traffic would halt for the lady as she crossed. The woman was quite thankful, since she had been struck at that intersection on a previous occasion and had begun to panic when her wheelchair became stuck. Ambassador #11 prepares to help an elderly lady cross a deep area of slush at W.25th & Lorain.. On Thursday, February 12th, our Ambassadors were informed by the owner of the Blackbird Fly boutique about a con man operating in the area. This individual enters establishments and asks to use their phone to call a tow truck for his car, then claims to be the pastor of Mt. Zion church and takes the opportunity to ask for money for the tow. The Ambassadors spent that evening and the next two days providing neighborhood businesses of the man's description and activities in an effort to curtail this individual's activities. On Friday, February 20th, MVP valets on W.25th Street informed our Ambassadors about a pair of panhandlers who were presenting themselves as a father and son who had just moved into the neighborhood and were entering businesses in order to solicit money and food. Both men had already moved on from the neighborhood, but their descriptions were circulated to the local businesses. On Saturday, February 28th, our dispatcher received a call from management at McNulty's Bier Market, reporting that a man they had ejected from their business was standing outside their entrance being aggressive to passerby. Team Leader Hughes was already nearby that...then he gets a grateful 'Thank you!' after they both make it across the busy intersection. QUICK VIEW Feb 01, 2015 -- Feb 28, 2015 6 Panhandling - Aggressive 42 Panhandling - Passive 24 Safety Escorts Page 2 of 15
location and arrived very shortly after the call was made. Team Leader Hughes encountered the man and asked him to depart the area, and while he did so, he began aggressively shouting at passerby as he moved along. Team Leader Hughes informed our CPD Officer about what was happening, whereupon the individual boarded a nearby bus and hastily departed the area. Page 3 of 15
Safety Statistics Panhandling - Aggressive -- Feb 01, 2015 through Feb 28, 2015 Panhandling - Passive -- Feb 01, 2015 through Feb 28, 2015 Safety Escorts -- Feb 01, 2015 through Feb 28, 2015 Panhandling - Aggressive -- January 2015 through February 2015 Page 4 of 15
Panhandling - Passive -- January 2015 through February 2015 Safety Escorts -- January 2015 through February 2015 Page 5 of 15
Cleaning Highlights Field Observations The heavy coating of snow this month has been both a help and a hindrance to the appearance of the neighborhood. On the one hand, it kept a lot of light, blowing litter out of sight beneath snow mounds. However, when the snow began to melt at the end of the month, a lot of unsightly litter was exposed and yet was difficult to remove, due to being frozen to the sidewalks and curbsides. In addition, the cold temperatures inhibit graffiti removal sprays, preventing us from removing graffiti tags in as timely a manner as normal. Warmer weather is just around the corner and we are looking forward to removing more of these litter and graffiti tags as conditions permit. However, graffiti in the form of out-of-district business flyers have been removed upon sight. Accomplishments On Wednesday, February 25th, Team Leader Hughes and Ambassador #11 went to work at the W.26th and Carroll area, picking up large cardboard litter and other items that had been left over from the Brite Winter Fest event. Ambassador #11 sweeps up cigarette butt litter that's been left in front of the Koffee Kafe......then it's disposed of in a nearby trash receptacle. Safety Ambassadors are just as concerned about neighborhood cleanliness as Cleaning Ambassadors. QUICK VIEW Feb 01, 2015 -- Feb 28, 2015 5 Graffiti - Forwarded for Action Page 6 of 15
27 Graffiti - Removed 3550 Trash (lbs) Page 7 of 15
Cleaning Statistics Graffiti - Forwarded for Action -- Feb 01, 2015 through Feb 28, 2015 Graffiti - Removed -- Feb 01, 2015 through Feb 28, 2015 Trash (lbs) -- Feb 01, 2015 through Feb 28, 2015 Graffiti - Forwarded for Action -- January 2015 through February 2015 Page 8 of 15
Graffiti - Removed -- January 2015 through February 2015 Trash (lbs) -- January 2015 through February 2015 Page 9 of 15
Hospitality Highlights Field Observations The severe cold and snow that opened up the month of February caused quite a bit of difficulty for area motorists and pedestrians, but it also presented us with some excellent opportunities to be of service. From cars stuck in snow after parking in the street, to snowbanks causing difficulty for the elderly to reach sidewalks, we've been there to bring help where its needed most. Accomplishments On February 4th, Ambassador #11 helped dig a car out from a snowbank on curb on W.26th & Chatham, and again on W.25th & Carroll. In addition, he was also able to help an elderly lady climb a snowbank while crossing the intersection of W.25th Street and Bridge Avenue. On February 5th, our dispatcher was called by an employee of the Voodoo Monkey tattoo parlor to inform us that one of their customers was in need of a tire change assistance at the Market Square Plaza. Team Leader McCann was dispatched to help the man in question, and was able to change his spare and get him back on the road again. In addition, Ambassador #11 came to the assistance of a truck stuck in the snow at Dave's Supermarket. Using the shovel that he had with him, Ambassador #11 was able to help remove the snow from beneath the truck and enable it to drive away. Team Leader McCann comes out to help a motorist at the Market Square Plaza who has a flat tire. On Febuary 7th, Ambassador #11 once again came to the assistance of a car that was stuck in the snow in front of Ohio City Burrito. Once he had shoveled enough snow from beneath the car wheels, the thankful motorist was soon on her way again. On February 20th, Team Leader Hughes and Ambassador #19 were dispatched to a motorist who needed a battery jump in the Market Square Plaza. Both Ambassadors completed the assist and were able to see the motorist continue on her way. Initiatives While we're happy to help motorists who're stuck in snow after parking on the street, we are unable to assist by pushing the vehicles themselves. We can, however, assist through the use of snow shovels to get excess snow out from the way of tires, and we'll be including this information as we explain our motorist assistance program to residents, businesses and visitors alike. After changing out the flat tire, Team Leader McCann talks to the motorist while his spare time inflates. QUICK VIEW Feb 01, 2015 -- Feb 28, 2015 445 Business Contact 81 Hospitality Assistance Page 10 of 15
89 Pedestrian Assistance Page 11 of 15
Hospitality Statistics Business Contact -- Feb 01, 2015 through Feb 28, 2015 Hospitality Assistance -- Feb 01, 2015 through Feb 28, 2015 Pedestrian Assistance -- Feb 01, 2015 through Feb 28, 2015 Business Contact -- January 2015 through February 2015 Page 12 of 15
Hospitality Assistance -- January 2015 through February 2015 Pedestrian Assistance -- January 2015 through February 2015 Page 13 of 15
Brite Winter Fest Field Observations On Saturday, February 21, Brite Winter Fest was held in Ohio City. Events at various establishments drew in thousands of happy visitors to the Market District. Our Ambassadors arrived in district equipped with the proper information to assist visitors and residents alike. They gave directions to many local establishments and made sure panhandlers did not remain in the district. Additionally, the Ambassadors were quick to respond to particularly dangerous patches of ice on the sidewalk by breaking up and removing hazardous obstructions on the corner of W.25th and Bridge Ave, along Market Ave, and at W.26th and Carroll Ave. Visitors and volunteers alike expressed their appreciation for the quick response and hard work Ambassadors put in throughout the evening. Ambassadors #11 and #19 work together to clear up patches of ice that were making things hazardous for Brite Winter Fest visitors. Games such as table tennis were just one of the family activities provided every year at Brite Winter Fest. Page 14 of 15
Sammy Slims was one of a number of singers and performers to wow the crowds at this year's Brite Winter Fest. Page 15 of 15 Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)