Extra safety measures are coming for Asian-owned businesses in Albuquerque. The initiative is part of the Asian Business Collaborative’s (ABC) “Good Neighbor Program,” where shops and restaurants can receive a safety check by an armed security guard. “Within minutes, we’ll be having someone there to make sure everything’s okay,” Melanie Nguyen, development coordinator at ABC, said. It’s an action leaders at the nonprofit organization said has been needed for months, especially in the Duke City. Last January, a female employee at Wonderful Massage was gunned down during an attempted robbery. The business is located along Menaul Boulevard NE. “We’ve seen an increase in anti-Asian hate crimes. Businesses and individuals being targeted,” Nguyen said. “We’ve also seen a rise in burglaries and petty thefts, and we’ve even had some homicides in the last couple of months.”With the help of the program, Asian-American and Pacific-Islander (AAP) businesses are now able to utilize a new tactic when fighting off criminals.The online service is provided by “toServo,” an Albuquerque startup that uses GPS-enabled mobile technology to connect customers to a private security team with high quality, licensed security responders.”Essentially, They can pick. They can obviously give the time and location. They can even do a little pin drop for exactly where the security guard needs to come. They can also pick the level of intensity for the security guard,” Nguyen said. As of May 15, the program is still in its testing phrase. However, the initiative is already being praised by locals. One anonymous business owner, who utilized the service after noting suspicious activity in front of her business, gave the following testimony:”This has moved us very much. It’s really touching to have someone come out to care about our lives and our safety It’s really touching to have given us so much warmth, so much attention, so much care.”Nguyen hopes the opportunity can give Asian-owned businesses a sense of relief for their lives, their employees, and their customers.”I think it’s one of the biggest things that we can offer these businesses,” she said. “Reassurance that we do care for their lives and for their safety of themselves, of the owners, of the employees, and of the customers.”Four AAPI businesses are eligible to be selected for the program, but the nonprofit hopes to expand the opportunity to 20 shops and restaurants by the end of the year. If you or someone you know is interested in applying, be sure to email Xiaodi Wang at [email protected] Leaders said any minority-owned business can sign up with “toServo” to receive security checks. However, they won’t be personally funded by ABC.
ALBUQUERQUE, NM —
Extra safety measures are coming for Asian-owned businesses in Albuquerque.
The initiative is part of the Asian Business Collaborative’s (ABC) “Good Neighbor Program,” where shops and restaurants can receive a safety check by an armed security guard.
“Within minutes, we’ll be having someone there to make sure everything’s okay,” Melanie Nguyen, development coordinator at ABC, said.
It’s an action leader at the nonprofit organization said has been needed for months, especially in the Duke City.
Last January, a female employee at Wonderful Massage was gunned down during an attempted robbery. The business is located along Menaul Boulevard NE.
“We’ve seen an increase in anti-Asian hate crimes. Businesses and individuals being targeted,” Nguyen said. “We’ve also seen a rise in burglaries and petty thefts, and we’ve even had some homicides in the last couple of months.”
With the help of the program, Asian-American and Pacific-Islander (AAP) businesses are now able to utilize a new tactic when fighting off criminals.
The online service is provided by “toServo,” an Albuquerque startup that uses GPS-enabled mobile technology to connect customers to a private security team with high quality, licensed security responders.
“Essentially, [the Asian-owned business owners] can pick. They can obviously give the time and location. They can even do a little pin drop for exactly where the security guard needs to come. They can also pick the level of intensity for the security guard,” Nguyen said.
As of May 15, the program is still in its testing phrase.
However, the initiative is already being praised by locals.
One anonymous business owner, who utilized the service after noting suspicious activity in front of her business, gave the following testimony:
“This has moved us very much. It’s really touching to have someone come out to care about our lives and our safety. It’s really touching to have [ABC] give us so much warmth, so much attention, so much care.”
Nguyen hopes the opportunity can give Asian-owned businesses a sense of relief for their lives, their employees, and their customers.
“I think it’s one of the biggest things that we can offer these businesses,” she said. “Reassurance that we do care for their lives and for their safety of themselves, of the owners, of the employees, and of the customers.”
Four AAPI businesses are eligible to be selected for the program, but the nonprofit hopes to expand the opportunity to 20 shops and restaurants by the end of the year.
If you or someone you know is interested in applying, be sure to email Xiaodi Wang at [email protected]
Leaders said any minority-owned business can sign up with “toServo” to receive security checks. However, they won’t be personally funded by ABC.
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