It’s been three months since the city started closing the oft-chaotic corridors of Old Town’s “entertainment district” on weekend nights.
Now—with the pilot phase set to end and a planned visit from Mayor Charlie Hales this weekend—the Portland Police Bureau is claiming success.
In a <a href=”report [PDF] obtained by the Mercury, police say they’ve fielded more calls in the district (see map below), but ultimately dealt with less crime.
Compared to the first eight weeks of 2012, police saw about 31 percent more demand at times streets are now closed (between 10 pm and 3 am on Fridays and Saturdays), the report says. But cops actually chronicled around 30 percent less violations.
The reason, police suggest: Higher officer visibility.
“One officer described how she could see position [sic] herself in the middle of the street, see the entire area and intervene more quickly before volatile situations got out of control,” the report says. “Officers also reported taking fewer calls regarding crimes and felt they were better able to exert control over the area by their mere presence (being highly visible and active as opposed to driving through the area or being lost in a crowded sidewalk).”
Assaults, disorderly conducts charges, larcenies and vandalism are all down, according to the report. Drunk driving and liquor law violations have seen upticks. There have been two robberies in the “entertainment district” during this year’s closures.
The police department concedes its findings don’t constitute scientific proof the model has worked—dealing, as they do, with a very small period of time—but notes “the numbers involved are consistent with the anecdotal experiences relayed by officers working in the area.”
If you’ve been in this area on weekends, you know it hasn’t yet blossomed as an “entertainment district” in the vein of the nearby stretch of SW Ankeny now permanently used as outside seating. Despite the road closures, bar patrons still largely stick to the sidewalk and even use crosswalks.
Bar owners and managers in the district have expressed cautious optimism, but tell the Mercury more needs to be done. Some hope, for instance, street seating or food carts might make their way into the zone if the project continues.
That’s an “if” that might be settled in the near future. The 90-day pilot ends Saturday, the same night Hales plans to visit the district.
Police, by the way, say the closures don’t require extra spending on their end, but the city does contract with a company to close the roads—a cost which could seem ripe for culling in a time of tough budget calls.
“30 percent less violations. The reason, police suggest: Higher officer visibility.”
– No shit. Though you can still walk two blocks to NW 6th between Davis and Couch and easily score any drug you want and/or an underage prostitute. Sketchy dudes be pimpin and hustlin; lurkin ready to make you an offer…tonight. Go there. Try it. Just don’t park in the prohibited parking zone cos Cops will ticket you and then tow your shit. $$$
“If you’ve been in this area on weekends, you know it hasn’t yet blossomed as an “entertainment district” in the vein of the nearby stretch of SW Ankeny.”
-Whatever. With the Roseland, Star Theater, Crown Room, Backspace, Ground Kontrol…ect in the area, the so called Entertainment District can be like Mardi Gras on any given night. Even in the dead of Winter which is when the Police were conducting their ‘research’. Fuckin party!
I’d like to point out Tom that only one of the establishments you mentioned above fall within that red rectangle on the map. I’ve noticed more issues from clubs/bars with a propensity to cater to a certain type of “bro” demographic in that area than issues with places that cater to crowds that frequent places like Backspace and Ground Kontrol. In fact it’s why I can’t barely stand going to one of my favorite venues in the city that ACTUALLY falls within that map.
Has any city department ever come out and said a plan didn’t work? CYA rules everything around me.
“Compared to the first eight weeks of 2012, police saw about 31 percent more demand at times streets are now closed (between 10 pm and 3 am on Fridays and Saturdays), the report says. But cops actually chronicled around 30 percent less violations.
“The reason, police suggest: Higher officer visibility.”
So why doesn’t PPD change their uniforms to bright orange?
The police say a lot of things.
The volume of late night noise, disorderliness, fights, loud cars and loud motorcycles has actually gone up in the immediate residential areas surrounding the “no car” zone, since all of the parking has shifted a few streets over in each direction. So, causing negative impact to the residents will cause people to move out of the area, not into the area, which is the opposite tack PDC is attempting to promote.
And, it really doesn’t address the fundamental problem — attempting to reduce crime. It simply shifts it a few blocks.