Three investments needed for a safer Saint Paul

The recent elections in St. Paul were a turning point for our city. We’ve committed to moving forward with organized trash collection. We’ve put new elected officials into office and reaffirmed ones with long-standing histories in St. Paul. Amidst these changes, one thing remains the same – the need to prioritize public safety.

It has been a tragic year for our city, and we grieve with those affected by this surge of violence. Much of the recent debate on how to stem this violence has been focused on how many new police officers are needed. There are deep disagreements throughout our community on this issue. However, there are a number of things we can do that we should all be able to support.

As the leaders of the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance and the Greater Saint Paul Building Owners and Managers Association, we are focused on tackling this issue on behalf of Saint Paul’s residents, employers and overall economy. We know that public safety is a key factor in attracting and retaining residents, employers, jobs, workers and visitors – and that our ability to further this kind of economic growth is at risk in St. Paul.

As the City finalizes its 2020 budget, we are asking the Mayor and City Council to consider three important investments to make St. Paul safer. These recommendations have emerged from many months of research and meetings with the police department, business leaders, building owners, national experts and other downtown stakeholders. City staff and elected officials have been helpful in exploring these opportunities, and we cannot wait any longer to make them a reality.

The first investment we are calling for is the creation of a joint safety communications center.

This center – a resource many peer cities have – would coordinate public and private security and safety resources so that information, technology and support can be leveraged in the name of public safety. Downtown businesses and property owners are willing to consider making private investments in this type of center, but we need the City to make a financial commitment as well. We estimate there are over 100 private-sector certified security staff members in downtown who are disconnected from one another and can only communicate with police through the 911 dispatch. Coordinating these resources will avoid tying up police officers with nuisance issues and allow them to more efficiently and effectively respond to pressing crime and safety needs.

The second investment is the Community Ambassadors Initiative, a unique program aimed at early intervention and redirection of at-risk youth.

Mayor Carter has been working to raise the profile of this initiative, which we know can make a huge impact at a great value. According to Saint Paul Police Department statistics, juvenile arrests decreased by 63% in the areas where Community Ambassadors were present. Those areas also saw an improved environment overall. To see even greater results, we need an ambitious budget increase from the City and continued support from the private sector.

Finally, the Downtown Alliance has been looking into the feasibility of a business improvement district in downtown St. Paul.

These districts are organized and funded by property owners and administer clean and safe programs that improve public safety. Every city larger than Saint Paul employs a similar program in their downtown, and they have proven to be effective. Academic research has concluded that districts reduce things like robberies and violent crime an average of 8% to 12%. Cities like Denver and Philadelphia reported reductions in crime of 27% and 40% after implementing their clean and safe districts. The Downtown Alliance had a successful pilot program last summer and is currently working with a group of private building owners who are considering a district in downtown St. Paul. While privately organized, that district would only be viable if the City and County agree to pay their fair share based on their downtown office and commercial properties. We urge the City and County to financially support this private sector commitment if it moves forward in 2020.

We know that a city’s downtown center can greatly impact its surrounding communities. A safe, thriving downtown is a safe, thriving Saint Paul, and we ask our city leaders to prioritize these investments as they budget for St. Paul’s future.

Joe Spencer is the president of the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance. Joe Spartz is the president of the Greater Saint Paul Building Owners and Managers Association.