City District Main Street releases survey results on downtown Orlando safety

POLICE SAY THEY WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WILLIAMS USING SURVEILLANCE VIDEOS. HE’S BEING HELD WITHOUT BOND. MICHELLE: HOW TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES SAFE DOWNTOWN IS A HOT-BUTTON ISSUE RIGHT NOW. ORLANDO CITY COUNCIL JUST PASSED AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD REQUIRE PERMITS FOR BUSINESSES TO SERVE ALCOHOL AFTER MIDNIGHT AND PAY POLICE OFFICERS OVERTIME. BUT NOW LEADERS ARE LOOKING TO GET MORE FEEDBACK AFTER A LOT OF DISAPPOINTMENT. WESH 2’S ANIKA HOPE IS LIVE IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO. ANIKA, HOW ARE THEY DOING THIS? >> THEY’RE USING A SIMPLE ONLINE SURVEY THAT SHOULD TAKE ABOUT 5 MINUTES TO FILL OUT. THEY’RE ASKING ANYONE WHO WORKS, LIVES, OWNS A BUSINESS, OWNS A PROPERTY, OR EVEN JUST VISITS DOWNTOWN TO WEIGH IN. HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE LEVEL OF POLICE PROTECTION IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO? IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT AND REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE AND VIOLENT CRIME IN DOWNTOWN? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING SAFETY AND IMPROVEMENTS IN DOWNTOWN? THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU CAN SHARE YOUR ANSWER TO IN A SURVEY RELEASED FRIDAY. THE NONPROFIT, THE CITY DISTRICT MAIN STREET, SAID IT’S AT THE DIRECTIVE OF CITY STAFF. THE GOAL FIND THE BEST SOLUTIONS AROUND THE AFTER-MIDNIGHT ALCOHOL SALES PERMIT ORDINANCE FOR EVERYONE. >> I HOPE AS MANY PEOPLE FILL IT OUT AS POSSIBLE. IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO GATHERING FORMATION FROM ALL PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE’VE GOT BIG CHANGES AND BIG IDEAS GOING AROUND. >> THAT MEANS VISITORS RESIDENTS WORKERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE MONICA MCCOWN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ORLANDO HOSPITALITY ALLIANCE. >> RESTAURANTS, BARS, AND NIGHTCLUBS ARE DEFINITELY BUSINESSES WITH REALLY NARROW PROFIT MARGINS. THEY’RE BUSINESSES THAT ARE HARD TO SUCCEED IN. AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE BUSINESSES ARE PROTECTED FROM UNDUE FINANCIAL BURDEN TO POLICE THE ENTIRE CITY. >> MCCOWN SAYS SHE IS EXCITED ABOUT THE SURVEY IT ALLOWS THE SURVEY. IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO TYPE IN -- MCCOWN SAYS SHE IS EXCITED ABOUT THE SURVEY IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO TYPE IN THEIR THOUGHTS NOT JUST SELECT PRE-PREPARED ANSWERS. THERE IS LOTS OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OUR COMMUNITY IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO, AND WE NEED TO BE MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS REPRESENTED, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE’RE CREATING NEW ORDINANCES AND LAWS. >> THE SURVEY IS SPECIFIC WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW SAFE YOU FEEL AT DIFFERENT HOURS OF THE DAY DOWNTOWN AND HOW LONG YOU WOULD EVEN LIKE TO SPEND THERE. THE FINDINGS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE MAYOR BUDDY DYER, CITY COMMISSIONERS, AND STAFF AHEAD OF THE SECOND READING OF THE ORDINSA ON MARCH 20. >> WE’RE DEFINITELY VERY OPTIMISTIC. >> THE SURVEY IS AVAILABLE UNTIL WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, JUST 18 QUESTIONS. WE HAVE PUT A LINK FOR YOU TO FILL IT OUT ONLINE AT

Related video aboveThe City District Main Street has released the results from a survey launched in February to hear from the public on downtown Orlando safety. The survey was created to allow time to analyze the data and findings to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, city commissioners, and staff, according to the City District Main Street said. A total of 1,707 people responded to the survey. Of those who responded to the survey, the results showed that one of the top concerns among business owners and residents is safety.The survey results also demonstrated that most people feel the least safe in downtown Orlando between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.The participating groups of people who responded to the survey also said if an additional surcharge tax were to be added to alcohol bills to improve safety, they would support it. Officials previously told WESH 2 the survey was important for hearing feedback from the community. "There are lots of different aspects of our community in downtown Orlando, and we need to be making sure that everybody is represented, especially when we're creating new ordinances and laws," Monica McCown, Orlando Hospitality Alliance vice president, previously said."Safety is on the top of minds from every business, resident and visitor I talk to within our downtown Orlando footprint," City District Main Street Executive Director Nikki Aviles previously said. "Under the Main Street America program, the need for local data and engagement is the driving factor in creating a deliberate path to revitalization and strengthening our commercial district's economy. It's critical that we allow for our growing and diverse community to have a say in finding an equitable solution and this survey is the quickest way to gather that sentiment." Top headlines: 'A giant boom': 4 dead after 2 planes collide near Central Florida lake 3D-printed rocket launch scrubbed Number of Floridians insured by Citizens Property Insurance triples as private insurers raise rates

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Related video above

The City District Main Street has released the results from a survey launched in February to hear from the public on downtown Orlando safety.

The survey was created to allow time to analyze the data and findings to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, city commissioners, and staff, according to the City District Main Street said.

A total of 1,707 people responded to the survey.

Of those who responded to the survey, the results showed that one of the top concerns among business owners and residents is safety.

The survey results also demonstrated that most people feel the least safe in downtown Orlando between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

The participating groups of people who responded to the survey also said if an additional surcharge tax were to be added to alcohol bills to improve safety, they would support it.

Officials previously told WESH 2 the survey was important for hearing feedback from the community.

"There are lots of different aspects of our community in downtown Orlando, and we need to be making sure that everybody is represented, especially when we're creating new ordinances and laws," Monica McCown, Orlando Hospitality Alliance vice president, previously said.

"Safety is on the top of minds from every business, resident and visitor I talk to within our downtown Orlando footprint," City District Main Street Executive Director Nikki Aviles previously said. "Under the Main Street America program, the need for local data and engagement is the driving factor in creating a deliberate path to revitalization and strengthening our commercial district's economy. It's critical that we allow for our growing and diverse community to have a say in finding an equitable solution and this survey is the quickest way to gather that sentiment."

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City District Main Street releases survey results on downtown Orlando safety

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