Baltimore’s Little Italy neighborhood has new security measures in time for the holiday season. The goal is to increase security, reduce crime, and make residents and visitors feel safe in the neighborhood. This includes installing more outdoor lighting, fresh paint on street signs, additional cameras, valet parking and a license plate reader on President and Pratt streets.

“We are the safest community, and we want to keep it that way,” said Giovanna Aquia Blattermann, owner of Café Gia. “We never dreamt that we would have the ability to do all this. It’s almost like a gift to Baltimore because the city is backed up.”