Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space

"A community’s physical form, rather than its land uses, is its most intrinsic and enduring characteristic." [Katz, EPA] This blog focuses on place and placemaking and all that makes it work--historic preservation, urban design, transportation, asset-based community development, arts & cultural development, commercial district revitalization, tourism & destination development, and quality of life advocacy--along with doses of civic engagement and good governance watchdogging.

Monday, March 27, 2006

Think police equines for nightlife crowd control

The Washington Times reports, in "Adams Morgan on watch" that local merchants in Adams-Morgan are seeking to hire security-"ambassador" personnel to augment street security presence during late night "datparts," in part because the DC police department can't provide as many officers as the area probably needs. (This is associated with the creation of the Adams-Morgan Business Improvement District.)

I think the solution might be to have mounted police patrols from say 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, both in Adams-Morgan on 18th Street and Columbia Roads, and on U Street as well.

police20on20the20horse.jpgPoliceman on horseback in Georgetown. (Source: a GMU student weblog.)

Police departments argue that horse patrols are effective in crowded areas and provide a more easy-going way to interact with people who might otherwise be unruly.

Google Image Result for http--www.usenta.org-images-ride-dc_police10.jpg.jpgU.S. Park Police officer near the Washington Monument. Photo from Usenta.

I think it's worth considering for these highly crowded inebriated late night "last call" situations.

adams-morgan-18th-street.jpg18th Street NW, Adams-Morgan at Night. Photo by Declan McCullagh.

Index Keywords:

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home