Operation Safe Corridor
We're all hoping for a safer Center Square
Officials in Albany announce details Thursday of the extension of the "Safe Corridor" program to new Lark Street and Central Avenue.
Part of the project will involve signs around the city that will direct pedestrians along what the program deems the safest route. The goal is to have as many people as possible along certain routes to prevent crimes from happening. There will also be "Safe Haven" business stickers given to participating business, as well as special LGBT-friendly rainbow stickers given to some businesses in the Lark Street and Central Avenue areas.
This is a program that's been used in many other cities and has been in place in Albany's Pine Hills neighborhood since 2007. [TU]
The new one will be a partnership between the city government, the APD and the Lark Street and Central Avenue Business Improvement Districts.
There are a bunch of issues that go along with this sort of program. Are businesses ready for the responsibility that goes along with being a "safe haven?" And does designating certain streets as "safe" mean that other possible routes might become less safe because fewer people travel down them.
The program could be helpful. And it's encouraging to see attention to the issue. But real change will probably only come from stepped-up policing and increased engagement with the public.
Updated at 6:15 pm
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Comments
Glad that this problem is being acknowledged; and I hope such acknowledgement continues at deeper levels. I'd like to see all of Albany safe. Imagine a safe Arbor Hill. I think this idea may palliate, but will not cure.
... said Sab on Sep 7, 2011 at 6:07 PM | link
PR as policy.
Signs? Really? Walk around the city some time and look at all the "block of the year" signs with Mayor Jennings name on them( just don't do it at night or alone) if you want to see what good signs do.
Do any of these people spend any time on Lark Street? It already is the place everyone walks through in that part of town. Maybe the next thing Jennings can do is make 787 a "Safe Corridor". At least he'd be able to put up more signs with his name on them.
... said codemonkey on Sep 7, 2011 at 6:26 PM | link
I asked this over on TableHopping too: how much have the other safe corridors worked? Last I remember when they went up while I was still an undergrad at UAlbany there were still plenty of report of crime in (not just near) those corridors.
... said AlbanyNick on Sep 7, 2011 at 10:29 PM | link