ANNUAL REPORT
City Action Partnership for 2011
SAFETY
CAP’s primary mission is to provide programs which promote safety in downtown Birmingham. Birmingham crime stats are not available for 2011 at this time, but have reason to believe that the downtown CAP District continues to be ranked with the top three safest communities in the metropolitan area.
SERVICES
In addition to security patrols, CAP provides free stranded motorist assistance and security escorts. Last year we responded to approximately 14,250 requests for services in our area. In 2011 we contracted with the Rail Road Park (298) and Children’s Hospital (173) to provide response to requests for services. We received 51 notes of thanks from people receiving our services.
AMBASSADORS & TRAINING
CAP provides “Safety and Service” presentations to businesses and their employees. In 2012, we gave presentations to Alabama Power, Energen (three), Homewood Senior Center, Emmet O’Neal Library (Mt. Brook) and the Hoover Library, approximately 200 people, in addition to presentations at the ONB Breakfast Briefings.
CAP maintains an e-alert system to provide timely information to property owners, managers and citizens’ downtown about street closings and emergency situations, and alert broadcasts, etc. We are members of ATAC (Anti Terrorism Advisory Council) and receive bulletins and training regarding homeland security alerts from the U.S. Attorney’s office. We also participate with MCJEA (Metropolitan Criminal Justice Executives Association) and the Birmingham Regional Chamber’s Safety and Security Committee. All CAP officers are trained in CPR and use of emergency defibrillator. A defibrillator is carried in a supervisor’s vehicle during CAP hours of operation.
CLEAN
A clean, well-maintained and beautiful environment sends a message that the community cares about the area and what happens there, including incidents of crime. The opposite message is sent when trash is allowed to accumulate, windows are left broken and buildings are empty and neglected. One broken window (or trashy area) leads to more and that kind of environment creates disorder, which breeds crime and urban decay. CAP officers assigned to sanitation cleaned parking lots and alleys, removed graffiti, grass, and weeds. Approximately 1,750 pieces of graffiti were cleaned in 2011. CAP partnered with Keep Birmingham Beautiful and Operation New Birmingham (ONB) to host the sixth annual Appreciation and Awards Luncheon for City Public Works employees who keep the downtown clean and beautiful.
HOMELESS
CAP continues to partner with the Street Homeless Outreach Program (STOP) with the Old Firehouse Shelter. In addition to his regular duties, Mr. Glen Robinson acts as a liaison for street homeless and has been directly responsible for assisting 19 people (97 since the program began in 2008) off the street into housing or back with their families. We continue to produce the pocket-sized resource guide booklets which are requested, not only by the homeless, but by many social service agencies. The CAP director served as a member (and past President) of the One Roof Board of Directors and worked on a committee addressing the establishment of the Regional Oversight Board for the 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. CAP balances this work for constructive change with diligent efforts to address quality of life issues for the people who live, work and recreate downtown.
PARTNERSHIPS
We continue to be encouraged with the support we receive from exempt organizations who have found ways to partner with CAP because they believe in the work we do and the benefits they realize. They do this by financial and in-kind contributions. This year, in addition to a contribution from the City, we received approximately $52,800 in voluntary contributions from exempted organizations.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
CAP makes every effort to accomplish our mission in a fiscally responsible manner which reflects the trust given to it by the community and the property owners. The organization was audited for the year 2011 by Frost & Cummings Tidwell Group LLC.