Downtown dead?

Apparently not. The city is hiring some downtown security guards.....From next week's council agenda....
"Approve the Authorization to Hire Six Community Service Officers, in the Amount of Approximately $508,000.00 Annually"Background:
The downtown area is a thriving business area that brings thousands of Peoria citizens and visitors to the area each day. The Police Department has identified the need to have a larger staffing presence in the area to keep it safe and welcoming. Events in the area typically bring thousands of individuals downtown. Community Service Officers (CSO's) provide the department with a unique way to serve our citizens and visitors. Community Service Officers would be unarmed but still have a focus on public safety as well as customer service. Community Service Officers would be a civilian position falling under the AFSCME bargaining unit. CSO's would be provided with numerous law enforcement related training courses, but they would not be sworn personnel and would not have law enforcement powers. CSO responsibilities in the downtown area would be the following: respond to and make reports of a minor nature, assist the
public with information and provide a security presence, monitor parking decks, initiate police reports when appropriate, assist with traffic control, monitor events at the Civic Center and River Front, respond to parking issues, and attend community events. CSO's can also be assigned other responsibilities as needed or requested.

Perhaps buildings are having more lights off because of the increased energy costs?

Four Peoria Chiefs pitchers just combined for a 1 hitter. Now fireworks.

What's up with the owners of the Associated Bank building letting people live there and use the gym??It seems to me downtown looks dead at night due to the number of vacancies in the high rises. I need to get an updated skyline picture at night from the East Peoria side to prove my theory.Go down there on any weekend night and you'll find it's far from dead on the ground level. Question for the peanut gallery. Why do we need unarmed officers downtown during the day? Would they not be better off at night, or do people actually feel unsafe during the day? If it boosts the convention business, I'm all for it. What would really be a big upgrade is if they can ever get the Madison block moving.

I was very surprised that the Riverview plaza story came up. How is it the city didn't know that the owners were allowing people to live in the basement, use a gym? I would think the owners would get a citation and a fine, because no one except repair contractors are supposed to be inside.On the issue of Community Service Officers:
www.centralillinoisp roud.com/news/local- news/downtown-peoria -community-offiThese officers will deal with issues that are non-violent ones, but will call in actual police if warranted. Also, they will help monitor, patrol big events. Currently detectives from that division are being pulled, and that's costing overtime. After the new officers come on board, detectives will be able to focus on solving cases. Disclosure: I was involved in shooting/editing that story.

@PeoriaChronicle : Here's a skyline picture from about midnight tonight.