photo courtesy of the Montclair Village Association

photo courtesy of the Montclair Village Association Kevin Gilmore, above at La Salle Avenue at Mountain Boulevard in Oakland’s Montclair Village, was one of the “safety ambassadors” working in the business district over the holidays. Not all Montclair Village or city of Oakland short-term pilot programs are successful, but they hit a home run when the Shop Safe Oakland Initiative provided city funds for the safety ambassadors to patrol the streets of Montclair Village eight hours a day, seven days a week except for Christmas and New Year’s days during the 30-day trial period that ended Saturday.

photo courtesy of the Montclair Village Association

photo courtesy of the Montclair Village Association Kevin Gilmore, above, of Oakland, was one of the “safety ambassadors” working in the city’s Montclair Village over the holidays. Engaging with local merchants and offering security to residents and visitors to the area, the ambassadors escorted shoppers to vehicles, monitored problematic individuals and locations, de-escalated tension and conflicts and collaborated efficiently with the Oakland Police Department  when needed.

photo courtesy of the Montclair Village Association

photo courtesy of the Montclair Village Association Oakland’s Kevin Gilmore, above, works as a “safety ambassador” in the city’s Montclair Village over the holidays. Daniel Swafford, the Montclair Village Association's executive director, coordinated the safety ambassador pilot program after energetically pursuing funding and support from the city of Oakland.