BALTIMORE (AP) — The Downtown Partnership hopes a joint patrol by a police officer and an addiction recovery specialist will help people feel safer around Lexington Market.

The patrols outside the market on the west side of Baltimore’s downtown start this week.

Officials say previous efforts aimed at quality of life issues around the market such as drug use or illegal vending were successful, but funding and other constraints limited programs to a few days or weeks.

The yearlong initiative is aimed at improving the environment for pedestrians around the market, which also serves as a transit hub. It is funded by a surcharge on properties within the Downtown Management Authority district.

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