Tues. March 31, 2009
Downtown Business Improvement District Helps to Stimulate
Local Economy with 40 New Hires
WASHINGTON, DC – The Downtown DC Business Improvement District (BID) has hired 40 new Safety, Hospitality and Maintenance employees, known as SAMs. These red and blue-uniformed neighborhood “concierges” will hit the streets just as the spring tourism season ramps up.
Following graduation exercises on Friday, April 3, the Downtown SAM Class of 2009 will join about 90 BID staff currently patrolling and maintaining the 138-block area between the US Capitol and the White House seven days a week, presenting a visible, professional and welcoming face in Downtown.
“At a time when the local economy is retracting and the unemployment rate has shot up to 9.9%, we’re especially pleased to be able to contribute by hiring these indispensable personnel,” says Richard H. Bradley, the Downtown BID’s executive director.
Without question, the SAMs play an extremely important role in ensuring that the Downtown experience is a remarkable one. They offer directions, notify police when trouble arises; provide after hours escort service to garages or public transportation; engage the homeless; and remove litter, trash and graffiti.
Safety and Hospitality SAMs undergo extensive training for two weeks where they research, explore and become knowledgeable on issues such as crime prevention and reporting, first aid and first responder training, communication skills and homeless services. Four weeks of field training with experienced SAMs follows the classroom lectures, role plays, site visits and drills. This year, 29 are scheduled to graduate from the training program.
Maintenance SAMs, who help keep the streets litter free, paint, plant flowers, hang banners and remove graffiti, participate in classroom training for one week where they learn how to care for trees and work with property managers, Department of Public Works employees and Metropolitan Police Department officers. Almost one dozen Maintenance SAMs will participate in the commencement activities.
SAMs have patrolled Downtown streets since 1997, when the Downtown BID was created. Overall, 70% of the SAM corps are DC residents.
Members of the media who wish to interviews SAMs or take a tour of the Downtown BID area should contact Karen Sibert, marketing and communications director, at 202.661.7560 or Karen@downtowndc.org.
# # #