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Homeland Security Office to train Union Square BID Staff July 27

27 July 2005 - San Francisco, CA: As part of its ongoing efforts to keep the Union Square area “clean and safe”, staff of the Union Square BID will be briefed by local members of the Office of Homeland Security on a variety of counter-terrorism measures on Wednesday, July 27, 2005.

“Every day, our BID Ambassadors are first responders to a variety of issues in and around Union Square and Hallidie Plaza,” said Leigh Ann Baughman, Union Square BID Executive Director. “Sadly, in today's world, we need to make sure our training includes the very latest information and resources to protect against all possibilities.”

“This training is designed to broaden the awareness of our community partners and ensure the safety of our citizens and visitors,” said Lt. Sharon Ferrigno, Office of Homeland Security officer with the San Francisco Police Department.

The Union Square Business Improvement District (BID) is a 10-block area where property owners assess themselves to make their community cleaner, safer and more vibrant. The BID assessment is used to purchase services that supplement those provided by the City. The Union Square BID contains 91 properties and is roughly bounded by Sutter Street to the North, Stockton and Grant Streets to the East, Market Street to the South and Cyril Magnin to the West. In 1994, California joined most states in the country and passed enabling legislation for property based business improvement districts (PBIDS). There are currently over 1,000 BIDS in the United States and Canada.

A unique program of the Union Square BID are the BID“Ambassadors” -- a visible presence for safety and maintenance in the BID’s ten-square-block borders. Easily identifiable by their red and blue uniforms, the Ambassadors provide visitors and tourists with a variety of services including directions, transportation information, emergency response, and even help elderly shoppers with their bags as they cross San Francisco’s busy streets. Also part of the Union Square BID’s success are the “TAGGers.” “TAGGers” (an acronym for Take Away Graffiti and Grime ) are the primary caretakers for Union Square and the whole BID district. Every morning they sweep the sidewalks, pick-up and dispose of trash and debris, and remove graffiti from storefronts, buildings, area light poles and street furniture. Sidewalks are steam cleaned twice a month.

Another important program of the BID is the “Code Adam” Program to help find lost children.

“Our ambassadors and sweepers are always on hand for big public events like the Lunar New Year Parade and the annual Macy’s Holiday Tree Lighting to help tourists with directions and make sure that any lost young ones are quickly and safely re-united with their loved ones,” said Baughman. “During big events, with so much hustle and bustle, we want to make sure that visitors to the area keep especially tight watch over their personal belongings, purchases, and their young children who might become separated in large crowds. Our 'Code Adam' program -- which operates all year long -- is an intense, immediate and highly successful program to match lost children with their parents. If a BID Ambassador spots a child that is alone, the child is approached to get a description of their guardian or parent. While police and other Ambassadors are alerted about the situation, the Ambassador stays with the child until their guardians are located. It also works in reverse as sometimes Ambassadors are approached by parents who have become separated from their little ones.”

For more information on the Union Square Business Improvement District, access their website at www.unionsquarebid.com, or call (415) 421-3135.