Tribune-Review: Safety escorts soften up Downtown
By Mike Seate, Tribune-Review
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The term "escort service" is nothing new to the Downtown area, but lately those words have a less-salacious meaning.
Since 2006, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership has been offering free safety escorts for people who, for whatever reason, may be wary of strolling the streets of the Golden Triangle unaccompanied.
The Partnership employs several full-time people seven days a week. That makes the Partnership''s safety service more available and more plentiful, seemingly, than taxicabs on Downtown streets.
On the surface, it seems like a great and maybe even long-overdue idea because Downtown''s manners have declined in recent years along with the size of its retail core. I''ve written my hands sore about the need for young folks to conduct themselves more professionally in public, though I''ve probably got a better chance at bringing back argyle socks and sweater vests than finding a sympathetic ear.
