Enhanced Old Town Safety Efforts: A Work in Progress

‘Pretty recent’: Enhanced Old Town safety efforts work in progress

Jessie Burke, chair of the Old Town Community Association, discusses the recent implementation of increased patrols in the Old Town Entertainment District, a move initiated by Mayor Wheeler. While the effort to enhance safety through street closures and pedestrian-friendly measures is not new to the area, it marks a reinvigorated attempt to address safety concerns. Despite the absence of some promised enhancements like improved lighting and metal barricades, the presence of police patrols is seen as a positive step towards revitalizing Old Town. Burke highlights the urgent need for these measures, pointing to the high rates of shootings and homicides in the neighborhood. The initiative is still in its early stages, but there is a collective optimism about its potential to improve safety and contribute to the neighborhood’s revival.