by John Alle

As crazy as this sounds, Block-by-Block is paying their Ambassadors between $16.40 to $19.10 an hour, then charging DTSM $32 + + an hour. In addition, DTSM has agreed to continue paying Block-by-Block for 3,900 hours….in advance. There is nobody who is making sure these folks are doing their job.

In the Garages and alleyways, incidents of theft, tire slashings, people sleeping in cars, people dealing drugs, have increased, not decreased. Allied Security has done an awful job, ‘ missing in action’, mainly because they do not show up and walk their assigned areas. When they do show up it is for a total of an hour at intermittent times. The assigned guard has stated he is afraid, and oftentimes will stay away from those sleeping in the garages or dealing drugs. They are armed, he is not. If the Guard sees something illegal he must still call 911. But we have insufficient police officers to even respond at night within 45 minutes to 911 calls on the Promenade and in Downtown. Guards and Ambassadors are afraid and intimidated by a new criminal element that has taken over, especially at night. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2022/06/op-ed-response-to-dtsm-board-chair-barry-snell-and-plea-to-city-council-regarding-safety-ambassadors-and-ambassador-program/