Center City guards help tourists

For the past 18 months, security guards doubling as tour guides have been roaming the streets of Center City. Unarmed, uniformed security guards sensitive to the needs of residents and tourists now walk beats in downtown Philadelphia. The community service representatives receive training courses in self-defense and public speaking, as well as in city ordinances and Philadelphia history. "Community service representatives provide public safety and hospitality service." said Nancy Goldberger, director of public information for the Center City District, an area of Philadelphia in which merchants pay extra money in return for services such as cleaning and security. She went on to explain that the representatives work with the public by giving directions and safety tips to tourists while maintaining a presence on the streets. "They serve as additional eyes and ears [for the police] and are in contact with police radio," said Goldberger. "They are involved with the Wednesday 'Make it a Night' program, and are generally trying to make people feel more comfortable in Center City." Roy Stoner, the district's director of community service, said, "Feedback within the community suggests that there is a perception that downtown Philly is safe, and many think that the CSRs have been a big part of that." Last year, for instance, the number of reported crimes dropped 20 percent last year. One of their main assignments are the covering of Philadelphia conventions. "[During conventions] the representatives are deployed into hospitality corridors, the suggested route between the host hotel and the convention center," Stoner said. The CSR program has been putting representatives on the streets of Center City from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily since March 1991. The $2.1 million spent annually on the program represents 32 percent of the Center City District's budget. However, some University students feel that it is a waste of money. "The city does not have the funds for it," said College sophomore George Salmoiraghi. "It's a nice idea, but [the CSRs] are actually glorified tour guides." "In a lot of major cities an unarmed cop would be laughed at," College sophomore Carlye Pollack said. Other students felt differently. "It depends upon what roles they have and where they are," College junior Christina Goletz said.