Bellingham's downtown ambassadors start Monday

The sun was out and the mood upbeat April 21 in Boundary Bay Brewery’s beer garden, where Bellingham city and business leaders introduced a new “safety ambassador” program that launches on Monday.

Ambassadors from Streetplus, a national safety and hospitality company, will patrol downtown streets seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The city and Downtown Bellingham Partnership unveiled the program Thursday evening in response to concerns among business owners that the downtown had become less safe and less welcoming to their customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On top of that, a staff shortage prompted the Bellingham Police Department to eliminate all special units, including bicycle and motorcycle patrols, the anti-crime team, the drug investigations unit and the behavioral health officer — leaving downtown businesses feeling even more vulnerable.

Ambassadors will coordinate with the Opportunity Council's Homeless Outreach Team to get services to homeless people who want them.