- Seattle, Washington, Opens A New Operations Hub For Its Growing Downtown Ambassadors Team. For KOMO News, Michelle Esteban reports that Seattle has opened a new street-level command center for its ambassador program at Third Avenue and Pine Street. Downtown Seattle Association President Jon Scholes explained to the news station that the location was chosen deliberately: “This is the lobby of our city… It’s the 50-yard line. It’s everybody’s neighborhood, and it needs to be healthy, safe and welcoming for everybody.” The new facility will serve as an operations center for the ambassador program, which provides a daily presence downtown by helping to clean, beautify, and assist visitors.
- Cleveland, Ohio, Safety Ambassadors Celebrate Milestone—Responding To More Than 13,000 Security Checks While Helping Keep Downtown Clean And Safe. For Cleveland 19 News, Mike Mason reports that Downtown Cleveland Incorporated’s ambassador program conducted more than 13,000 security checks, provided more than 400 safety escorts, collected 759,000 pounds of trash, and removed more than 3,000 graffiti tags in 2025. Downtown Cleveland CEO Michael Deemer explained to the news station that the ambassadors are “an integral part of downtown Cleveland,” with uniformed safety ambassadors serving as a “walking hospitality presence” and providing “additional eyes and ears” to enhance public safety downtown. Beyond safety and beautification work, ambassadors are also trained to connect people experiencing homelessness with services.
- Colorado Springs, Colorado, Safety Ambassador Program Helped Connect People To Housing While Reducing Calls For Police Intervention. For The Gazette, Debbie Kelley reports that Colorado Springs’ Clean & Safe pilot program has logged 1,600 contacts with people experiencing homelessness, 1,500 business check-ins, and 3,500 visitor interactions since launching last summer. Program leaders say the initiative is helping connect people with services while addressing concerns around cleanliness and safety. According to newly released data, two-thirds of individuals who engaged with the homeless outreach team are now “actively pursuing housing” or have been rehoused or returned to stable housing. Downtown Partnership CEO Chelsea Gondeck said those outcomes “wouldn’t happen if [ambassadors] weren’t out there building rapport.” Meanwhile, Clean & Safe teams handled 2,066 security incidents with police involved in only 2.7% of those cases.
