In view of years of rising violent crime in Dallas, council members found that a platform of solution-based ideas to enhance public safety was the winning ticket during the last election.
Now, one of the newest council members has announced a partnership with the Dallas Police Department and the Deep Ellum community to create a comprehensive Community Safety Plan to help curb violence in one of the city’s most historic and heavily-visited areas.
In a January 18 press release, District 2 Council Member Jesse Moreno said that the process of developing a plan will be moving forward and will include input from several community groups, law enforcement, and residents of Deep Ellum. The plan was originally announced at the Deep Ellum Public Safety Meeting last November.
“This Fall, we learned firsthand the benefit of business owners, residents and neighborhood stakeholders coming to the table with our leaders at DPD and at City Hall to address real safety concerns while also balancing neighborhood quality of life and economic needs,” Moreno said in the press release. “I look forward to taking those lessons learned and now going a big step further to craft a community-driven safety plan for Deep Ellum in 2022.”
Deep Ellum is a relatively small part of the City of Dallas, but has experienced more than its share of violent crime over the last several years. More than four hundred businesses exist within the half-mile district, many of them entertainment hotspots. Several high-profile shootings have occurred in the area in recent years, and numerous incidents involving public intoxication and assault are reported to Dallas Police each weekend.
“For many years, the Deep Ellum Community and Dallas Police Department have nurtured a relationship based on a shared commitment to improve the quality of life for every residence and business in the downtown area. My desire is to continue to build upon the work and strengthen our shared commitment to making our entertainment district an even more desirable place to live, work, and play,” Dallas Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Lonzo Anderson said.
“The Dallas Police Department stands eager to address the needs of the residents and businesses in the community. Forging a vested partnership with city leaders and the Deep Ellum Community Team is vital in developing a comprehensive plan to provide a safe environment,” the chief continued.
Moreno, the Dallas Police Department, the Deep Ellum Community Association, and the Deep Ellum Foundation will be arranging public hearings to allow residents, employers, business owners, and others to provide input on what they see as the needs of the community.
Dates have not been announced yet for community meetings, but Moreno said in the press release that the goal is to develop and introduce the plan ahead of the summer tourist season.
“Deep Ellum has a history of being a collaborative community and an entrepreneurial stronghold,” Moreno said. “The district hosts the most robust expanded neighborhood patrol program in Dallas in large part to support its night-time economy. The Public Safety Program was founded by local community leaders to meet a neighborhood-specific need as Deep Ellum continues to grow as the biggest entertainment hub in North Texas. Once again, community leaders are stepping up to partner with the City of Dallas and do their part to meet neighborhood-specific needs.”
