Union Square Business Improvement District Reauthorized by Unanimous Vote of San Francisco Board of Supervisors

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (PRWEB) August 20, 2004

In keeping with the Olympic spirit, the Union Square Business Improvement District (BID) today honored 18 of its “Ambassadors” and “TAGGers” -- calling them “BID Olympians” in a ceremony at Harry Denton's Starlight Room overlooking Union Square. As part of the BID's annual meeting, also held today, BID staff and board called attention not only to their “local heroes” but to the recent unanimous vote by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors reauthorizing the nonprofit BID for another five years. Additionally, 94% of the BID’s constituent businesses voted to keep the landmark program.

“94% approval from the property owners speaks directly to the BID’s successfulness in the Union Square area,” said Jim Flood, Board President for the BID (http://www.unionsquarebid.com) charged with keeping the area around Union Square clean and safe. “The Property Owners see the results of the BID’s efforts on the street and want the BID to continue those results. This guarantees the BID's continued public private partnership to improve and enhance the Union Square area for the next five years. Also, as a resident and business owner in the City, I fully support the notion of expanding Business Improvement Districts Citywide”

“Our job at the Union Square BID is to make it ‘clean and safe’ for everyone,” said Leigh Ann Baughman, BID Executive Director. “The physical improvements are obvious, and our highly trained and highly motivated staff make sure it stays that way. When people in need come to Union Square, our ‘Ambassadors’ and ‘TAGGers’ help them find the appropriate social services they require. Plus, several of our employees are formerly homeless individuals themselves. We provide service and support on a very real, very tangible level. The Union Square area is San Francisco’s front yard. Today -- in the spirit of the Olympics -- we salute the people who work so tirelessly to keep the area clean and safe for everyone -- our BID Ambassadors and TAGGers.”

A unique program of the Union Square BID, the BID “Ambassadors” are a visible presence for safety and maintenance in the BID’s ten-square-block borders. Easily identifiable by their red and blue uniforms, the Ambassadors provide visitors and tourists with a variety of services including directions, transportation information, emergency response, and even help elderly shoppers with their bags as they cross San Francisco’s busy streets. Also part of the Union Square BID’s success are the “TAGGers.” “TAGGers” (an acronym for Take Away Graffiti and Grime ) are the primary caretakers for Union Square and the whole BID district. Seven days a week, throughout the day, they sweep the sidewalks, pick-up and dispose of trash and debris, and remove graffiti from storefronts, buildings, area light poles and street furniture. Sidewalks are steam cleaned twice a month.

“In my 14 years in property management, I’ve never met a more dedicated or professional group of individuals than our Ambassadors and TAGGers,” says Baughman.

The Union Square Business Improvement District (BID) is a 10-block area where property owners assess themselves to make their community cleaner, safer and more vibrant. The BID assessment is used to purchase services that supplement those provided by the City. The Union Square BID contains 97 properties and is roughly bounded by Sutter Street to the North, Stockton and Grant Streets to the East, Market Street to the South and Cyril Magnin to the West.

In 1994, California joined most states in the country and passed enabling legislation for property based business improvement districts (PBIDS). There are currently over 1,000 BIDS in the United States and Canada.

For more information on the Union Square Business Improvement District, access their website at http://www.unionsquarebid.com, or call (415) 421-3135.

Media Contact: David Perry & Associates

(415) 693-0583 // news@davidperry.com

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