Asheville Downtown Association Survey - Downtown Safety Initiative

Impacts of City of Asheville Downtown Safety Initiative

Beginning on May 1, 2023, the City of Asheville launched a 60-day initiative to address safety related conditions in downtown. Because our 2023 ADA Downtown Survey was instrumental in the City's decision to undertake this initiative, we are sending this updated survey with similar questions related to public safety and cleanliness to gauge any effect the Safety Initiative has had on respondents' experiences downtown since it has been underway.

Please take a few minutes to respond to this survey about your experience as a business owner, employee, resident or visitor to downtown. Surveys are the best tool we have to share concerns with City and County elected officials and staff, as well as other business organizations.

The survey will remain open through Friday, June 30. However, responses received by end of day Tuesday, June 20 will be shared at the City's internal team retreat on June 22.

We will not share the names of businesses and associated answers. Responses will only be identified in the aggregate.

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* 1. Name:

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* 2. Business Name (enter N/A if resident):

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* 3. Email address:

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* 4. What is your primary interest in downtown?

A downtown business owner

A downtown business employee

A downtown resident

A downtown visitor

A downtown property owner

Other (please specify)

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* 5. Please rank the following issues as they have impacted downtown since May 1, 2023, with the top answer being your most serious concern.

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* 6. Rank the following safety issues as they relate to your experience in downtown since May 1, 2023, with 5 being the most pressing priority for your business/downtown and 1 being the least pressing priority (the pre-filled responses are commonly identified in surveys, meetings, and other communications with ADA members and downtown businesses).

	1	2	3	4	5
Illegal or nuisance behaviors (panhandling, smoking in parks, minor trespassing, noise)	Illegal or nuisance behaviors (panhandling, smoking in parks, minor trespassing, noise) 1	Illegal or nuisance behaviors (panhandling, smoking in parks, minor trespassing, noise) 2	Illegal or nuisance behaviors (panhandling, smoking in parks, minor trespassing, noise) 3	Illegal or nuisance behaviors (panhandling, smoking in parks, minor trespassing, noise) 4	Illegal or nuisance behaviors (panhandling, smoking in parks, minor trespassing, noise) 5
Criminal activity (theft, shoplifting, harassment, assault)	Criminal activity (theft, shoplifting, harassment, assault) 1	Criminal activity (theft, shoplifting, harassment, assault) 2	Criminal activity (theft, shoplifting, harassment, assault) 3	Criminal activity (theft, shoplifting, harassment, assault) 4	Criminal activity (theft, shoplifting, harassment, assault) 5
Drug and alcohol activity (use, sales, overdoses)	Drug and alcohol activity (use, sales, overdoses) 1	Drug and alcohol activity (use, sales, overdoses) 2	Drug and alcohol activity (use, sales, overdoses) 3	Drug and alcohol activity (use, sales, overdoses) 4	Drug and alcohol activity (use, sales, overdoses) 5
Lack of enforcement of rules in parks and public spaces	Lack of enforcement of rules in parks and public spaces 1	Lack of enforcement of rules in parks and public spaces 2	Lack of enforcement of rules in parks and public spaces 3	Lack of enforcement of rules in parks and public spaces 4	Lack of enforcement of rules in parks and public spaces 5
Decrease in police presence downtown	Decrease in police presence downtown 1	Decrease in police presence downtown 2	Decrease in police presence downtown 3	Decrease in police presence downtown 4	Decrease in police presence downtown 5
Vandalism, property crime	Vandalism, property crime 1	Vandalism, property crime 2	Vandalism, property crime 3	Vandalism, property crime 4	Vandalism, property crime 5

Other (please specify)

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* 7. Have you had staff or customers express concerns about feeling safe downtown since May 1, 2023?

Yes

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* 8. Please explain and identify specific areas if relevant.

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* 9. On a scale of 1-to-5, rate how safe you have felt in Downtown since May 1, 2023 during the daytime?

1-Very Unsafe

2-Unsafe

3-Neutral

4-Safe

5-Very Safe

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* 10. On a scale of 1-to-5, rate how safe you have felt in Downtown since May 1, 2023 during the nighttime?

1-Very Unsafe

2-Unsafe

3-Neutral

4-Safe

5-Very Safe

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* 11. Please add any additional comments on public safety concerns you have experienced in downtown since May 1, 2023 here.

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* 12. On a scale of 1-to-5, how would you rate cleanliness in Downtown since May 1, 2023?

1-Very Unclean

2-Unclean

3-Neutral

4-Clean

5-Very Clean

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* 13. Please rank the following infrastructure priorities with 5 being the most pressing priority for your business/downtown and 1 being the least pressing priority. You'll have an opportunity below to add any issues not listed or expand on issues.

	1	2	3	4	5
Parking (lack of, need more options)	Parking (lack of, need more options) 1	Parking (lack of, need more options) 2	Parking (lack of, need more options) 3	Parking (lack of, need more options) 4	Parking (lack of, need more options) 5
Walkability (condition of sidewalks and crosswalks, ADA accessibility, pedestrian safety)	Walkability (condition of sidewalks and crosswalks, ADA accessibility, pedestrian safety) 1	Walkability (condition of sidewalks and crosswalks, ADA accessibility, pedestrian safety) 2	Walkability (condition of sidewalks and crosswalks, ADA accessibility, pedestrian safety) 3	Walkability (condition of sidewalks and crosswalks, ADA accessibility, pedestrian safety) 4	Walkability (condition of sidewalks and crosswalks, ADA accessibility, pedestrian safety) 5
Transit (more frequency, routes, efficiency)	Transit (more frequency, routes, efficiency) 1	Transit (more frequency, routes, efficiency) 2	Transit (more frequency, routes, efficiency) 3	Transit (more frequency, routes, efficiency) 4	Transit (more frequency, routes, efficiency) 5
Traffic (congestion, timing of lights)	Traffic (congestion, timing of lights) 1	Traffic (congestion, timing of lights) 2	Traffic (congestion, timing of lights) 3	Traffic (congestion, timing of lights) 4	Traffic (congestion, timing of lights) 5
Cleanliness of downtown	Cleanliness of downtown 1	Cleanliness of downtown 2	Cleanliness of downtown 3	Cleanliness of downtown 4	Cleanliness of downtown 5
Need for additional public restrooms in downtown	Need for additional public restrooms in downtown 1	Need for additional public restrooms in downtown 2	Need for additional public restrooms in downtown 3	Need for additional public restrooms in downtown 4	Need for additional public restrooms in downtown 5
Need for more lighting in downtown	Need for more lighting in downtown 1	Need for more lighting in downtown 2	Need for more lighting in downtown 3	Need for more lighting in downtown 4	Need for more lighting in downtown 5
Need for a comprehensive streetscape plan to address sidewalks, bike lanes, street trees, seating, etc…	Need for a comprehensive streetscape plan to address sidewalks, bike lanes, street trees, seating, etc… 1	Need for a comprehensive streetscape plan to address sidewalks, bike lanes, street trees, seating, etc… 2	Need for a comprehensive streetscape plan to address sidewalks, bike lanes, street trees, seating, etc… 3	Need for a comprehensive streetscape plan to address sidewalks, bike lanes, street trees, seating, etc… 4	Need for a comprehensive streetscape plan to address sidewalks, bike lanes, street trees, seating, etc… 5
Need for additional maintenance/management of public spaces, parks	Need for additional maintenance/management of public spaces, parks 1	Need for additional maintenance/management of public spaces, parks 2	Need for additional maintenance/management of public spaces, parks 3	Need for additional maintenance/management of public spaces, parks 4	Need for additional maintenance/management of public spaces, parks 5

Other (please specify)

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* 14. Please provide any other general feedback here about the 60-day Downtown Safety Initiative and your experience downtown since its launch on May 1, 2023.