Using a new downloadable app called See Say, those living and working in downtown San Antonio soon will be able to report non-emergency concerns ranging from graffiti and trash to maintenance and safety concerns immediately without having to dial 3-1-1.
Now in testing, the app — a project of downtown advocacy group Centro San Antonio — is expected to launch this fall.
See Say encourages users to report real-time concerns that take place downtown directly to Centro’s headquarters. Officials with the organization said they will respond to non-emergency reports submitted through the app in an average of just over three minutes.
Centro San Antonio CEO Trish DeBerry said the app will help improve the safety and cleanliness of the center city. If users encounter an issue, they will be able to upload details such as a location, time, description and photos. In turn, Centro will deploy one of its ambassadors or a crisis response team to resolve the matter, she said.
The organization has completed a two-month pilot of See Say with a group that includes downtown property owners, San Antonio police leadership, bike patrol officers, City of San Antonio staff and groups providing homeless services. The app will undergo an additional pilot phase before its projected fall rollout, DeBerry added.
DeBerry said she hopes the direct line between San Antonians and the organizations involved will develop stronger ties between the community and those working to improve it.
“This platform creates a direct line of communication between the community and the teams actively working downtown every day,” DeBerry said in an emailed statement. “It gives people confidence that concerns can be reported easily and addressed quickly.”
While Centro works daily to improve the downtown experience, DeBerry said the app will broaden its reach by empowering individuals to point out problems that need a rapid response.
“I believe, by and large, downtown is safe,” she said. “But whatever we can be doing to put the power of safety in the user’s hands so that they feel comfortable as they’re traversing downtown is a net positive.”
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