“Initially funded by the Fordham Road BID, the patrol ambassador security program has been expanded thanks to a $50,000 investment by Verizon.
Photo ET Rodriguez
At the start of the year, Fordham Road’s Business Improvement District (BID) installed five patrol ambassadors — each licensed New York state security guards — to patrol the Bronx’s busiest shopping corridor amid crime concerns from merchants and pedestrians.
The program, which is funded by the BID and was slated to run through February, found some external backers, including Verizon, who donated $50,000 to not only keep the program going, but also expand patrolling hours, Fordham BID officials told the Bronx Times.
Verizon operates a physical storefront on East Fordham Road.
The financial investment extends patrolling from 2-6 p.m. to 12-6 p.m on Wednesdays through Saturdays for a 300-plus store shopping district that is averaging a pedestrian count of 80,000 daily.
Additionally, according to Albert Dalipli, Fordham Road BID’s director of marketing, other partnerships — such as collaborations with nonprofits Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO) and Greyston Foundation — have allowed the program to include transitional employment and workforce development.
“Through these partnerships, our experienced team of Patrol Ambassadors are mentoring and supervising a rotating group of apprentices for a 10-week period,” said Dalipi. “These apprentices are individuals from the local community that have recently completed their security guard training and are looking for jobs. Through this model we are able to provide valuable job training, job placement support, and a pathway to employment for individuals in the community that have barriers to employment.”
Four of the five original patrol ambassadors were previously out of work before the program kicked off, with the security position paying them $18 an hour.
Fordham Road BID’s new security program hopes to drive…
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