Revitalizing downtown Selma is one of the many goals the city is trying to accomplish, but in order to do that, citizens need to feel safe and protected.

Safety is one of the main factors in bringing people downtown, and a new ordinance the council is working on could cut down on crime.

“This is a continuing effort to try to provide safety downtown,” said Council President Corey Bowie. “With the revitalization of downtown and the entertainment district, safety is going to be paramount.”

To give people a sense of comfort and to make it easier for law enforcement to identify criminals, the Selma City Council is considering an ordinance to require security cameras at nightclubs.

“This is something that we look forward to trying to provide an amicable, safe environment for the patrons who come downtown,” Bowie said. “People must feel safe coming downtown, and I can say that the club owners have done a tremendous job in working with the city council on their end.”

The ordinance, which is still in its early stages, would require club owners to have security cameras both inside and outside.

“From the club owner’s side, it is more of an asset to them because if something were to occur in their club, they can just roll back the footage, and it would take away the hearsay out of the equation,” Bowie said.

“As far as the patrons that attend the club, they may feel a lot safer, and if they feel that way, then the revenue from the clubs might have a tendency to go up.”

Club owners have had no problem working with the city council in the past, Bowie said, and he expects there to be no problem with the security camera ordinance.

“People want to feel safe when they go out, so we try to as city government and as a private business work hand in hand to eradicate some of the crime,” Bowie said. “You will never nullify all of the crime, but you pretty much try to curb it.”

Bowie said nightclub owners are required every year to present a safety plan to the city council and police chief William Riley.

“Since we have been working together collectively, the incidents from the clubs and surrounding areas have pretty much gone down,” Bowie said.

While there have been recent shootings and a botched robbery at Selma nightclubs, Selma Police Chief William Riley said crimes at nightclubs are down compared to previous years.

“It is not at the level that we’re used to having in previous years,” Riley said.

Riley is all for the ordinance.

“It would be much easier for us, and it would be much easier for the owners,” Riley said. “It would make the people that frequent these establishments feel a whole lot better, and it would send a message to the individuals that like to stir up trouble.”

Bowie said he wants to meet with club owners before bringing the issue up for a council vote. If passed, the ordinance could go into effect within a year’s time to allow club owners enough time to purchase and install cameras.