Loop ambassadors work to make State Street welcoming for the holidays – Chicago Tribune

Good morning, Chicago.

Shoppers and tourists were milling about on State Street this week when a woman looking at her phone stepped into a crosswalk. At the same time, a scooter rider, who had no intention of giving in, was speeding toward them.

Alfonso Redditt, an ambassador for the Chicago Loop Alliance, extended his arm and shouted a warning to the woman, who immediately took a step back to avert a collision.

As foot traffic along State Street increases during the important shopping season between Black Friday and Christmas, Alliance Ambassadors will be on site every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., doing all sorts of small—sometimes thankless—tasks to improve the experience of pedestrians .

“I love coming to work … making sure it’s safe and clean out here,” said Redditt, a 57-year-old who led the ambassadors’ first shift on Tuesday.

Ambassadors wearing neon green jackets to show they are there to help patrol the busy stretch of State Street between Wacker and Ida B. Wells drives, home to the Chicago Theater, Macy’s and other famous landmarks.

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