Block by Block makes a difference in downtown Jackson, Mississippi
Downtown Partners ambassador Calvin Jackson pedals down Capitol Street in downtown Jackson on Tuesday. Unarmed ambassadors patrol the streets from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. (Rick Guy/The Clarion-Ledger)
Guards patrolling, cleaning up downtown
Private company’s workers hired to make improvements to area
Blair Goldstein
Some private security guards in downtown Jackson are trading in guns for brooms.
Starting this week, the Kentucky-based company Block by Block has taken over daytime patrols of downtown. Their duties include scraping gum from sidewalks, removing graffiti, giving directions, picking weeds and escorting people to their cars.
There are no guns involved.
Downtown Jackson Partners organizes private security for the area with money collected from downtown businesses. Ben Allen, the group’s president, said downtown communities across the country are moving to programs like this.
“This is just the way it’s done now,” Allen said. “We are going to have downtown ambassadors on the street.”
Between three and nine “ambassadors” will patrol downtown Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on foot, scooter and bicycle.
Nighttime and Sunday coverage will remain with the traditional security firm that has patrolled Jacksonfor years, Wackenhut.
Allen said he expects some downtown businesses will resist the change. But many area business leaders say they think the new firm sounds like a good addition.
Chris Grillis, who owns Lamar Restaurant on Lamar Street, said he did not know about the new security firm. But he said if done properly, the group could bring a positive change to downtown.
“They’ve got to be courteous,” Grillis said. “They have to be really nice. It takes special people to do that. They will be the face of the city.”
Steve Long, the owner of Steve’s Downtown Deli & Bakery on Congress Street, agreed. He said he already has seen some of the workers cleaning the city.
“I saw them polishing parking meters and scrubbing down the fire hydrants,” Long said. “It was pretty cool.”
Blair McBride, executive vice president of Block by Block, said his workers try to make improvements to the area that city employees do not have time to do. They may scrub a dirty trash can lid or pick up litter. The workers also do some landscaping.
Block by Block works in 32 cities nationwide, including New Orleans.
When problems arise, McBride said his workers have two- way radios to notify their supervisor.
The company then contacts police.
He said workers are trained to take detailed descriptions of any potential suspects and to follow the suspects at a “safe” distance.
“We think one of the most important things we do is to develop a good relationship with police,” McBride said.