SAN DIEGO — More police presence is expected downtown after Mayor Todd Gloria and other downtown leaders unveiled a new plan to clean up downtown Monday.
"Our plan outlines a path forward for safety, a vision where families are able to walk down the sidewalks from Petco Park without walking through crowds engaging in open drug use," said Betsey Brennan, President and CEO of the Downtown San Diego Partnership.
The new 5-point plan to improve health and safety includes rapid response on crime, new solutions for the behavioral health crisis, and backing and enacting new state retail theft laws. It also includes a push to reduce trash, clean sidewalks and improve street lighting.
According to San Diego Police, there's a rise in crime in the Gaslamp neighborhood.
"We've seen crimes against persons go up, crimes against property jump into double digits. That's our challenge locally in Central Division. Just last week a man was fatally shot and stabbed in East village by two suspects," said SDPD Captain Ryan Hallahan.
A daytime bike team including a police sergeant and six officers will be patrolling the streets, along with crime suppression teams. He said the focus is going to be on Gaslamp, East Village and the C Street corridor.
According to city leaders, revenue from downtown San Diego makes up 65 percent of citywide revenue, so it's important downtown is thriving.
Mayor Todd Gloria said the camping ban put in place 14 months ago is making a difference.
"When we passed the unsafe camping ordinance in June 2023, the monthly count of people living on the streets of downtown was 1,723," said Mayor Todd Gloria. "Fast forward one year, that count is now well below 900 and has been that way for 6 months now. 900 is still way too many, but it's a positive trendline we want to continue."
The owner of Izola Bakery, Jeffrey Brown, said he applauds the efforts the city is making. He hopes the progress continues.
"If you drive into downtown and exit off of Imperial Avenue, it's terrifying. My customers are literally terrified," he said. "I have this conversation three to four times a day every Saturday. When people are coming from all over the county, from Los Angeles, from Orange County, and they're like 'What is happening?' And I have to say 'We're working on it guys, hang in there with us.'"
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