The de Blasio Administration today kicked off National Safety Month by announcing the installation of new closed-circuit television cameras at 22 public housing developments, representing an investment of $15 million in City and State funding. These comprehensive security upgrades will strengthen security throughout NYCHA developments and improve the quality of life for more than 42,000 residents.
“We are continuing on our promise to improve the quality of life for public housing residents” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “These installations will help more than 42,000 New Yorkers feel safer in their homes, and are a vital tool in our efforts to decrease violence and illegal activity in our neighborhoods.”
“Security upgrades are crucial to improving safety, and we’re making them across our portfolio with the support of our City and State partners,” said NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye. “These security cameras will benefit over 19,000 NYCHA families and bring us one step closer to our NextGeneration NYCHA goal of creating safe, clean and connected communities.”
With the $15 million in City and State funding, NYCHA has installed 599 new CCTV cameras and upgraded 38 existing cameras at 121 buildings. The Authority is aggressively expanding security measures throughout its portfolio, installing cameras, exterior lighting, and layered-access control (LAC), which uses key-fob technology to provide building entry access to residents. Since 2014, NYCHA has spent more than $171 million installing and upgrading nearly 4,000 CCTV cameras, bringing the total number of cameras to approximately 14,0000. NYCHA has also installed LAC doors at 32 developments.
As part of the Mayor Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety, a comprehensive strategy to reduce violence and increase neighborhood safety at the 15 NYCHA sites, $140 million has been allocated for security enhancements, including lighting, CCTV and LAC doors, with funding from the City Council and Speaker, the Mayor’s Office and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. NYCHA has completed the installation of 4,469 state-of-the-art, energy efficient LED lighting fixtures at 11 of 15 MAP sites, and work is underway at 3 sites. By the end of this year, 14 of the 15 sites will have brand new lighting. The next phase of security enhancements will include the installation of CCTV and LAC. CCTV installation is complete at 1 site—Butler Houses— and work is underway at 13 MAP sites. Most of the sites are estimated to be completed by the end of 2018.
In addition to MAP, NYCHA is installing safety lighting at 4 developments with $9 million in City and State funding. To date, work has been completed at one site—Ravenswood Houses.
The State has committed approximately $50.6 million for security upgrades, including safety lighting, CCTV, and LAC at 74 NYCHA developments citywide. The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York is administering these funds and projects. To date, DASNY has completed two projects.
U.S. Representative Nydia M. Velazquez said: “There can be no higher priority for NYCHA than ensuring the residents’ safety, and these installations will advance that goal. I am pleased to see the City take these steps and will keep fighting for resources at the federal level to ensure we are adequately investing in housing security measures like these.”
“I commend Mayor de Blasio on the completion of installing new high tech closed-circuit television (CCTV) security cameras throughout 22 NYCHA public housing developments as part of his Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety initiative,” said U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat. “These security enhancements are critical to our efforts to ensure safe and secure communities for tenants and families.”
“More than ten years I allocated funding to bring security cameras to the South Beach and Berry Houses, the two NYCHA developments in my old City Council district. I did this because cameras make these developments safer,” said Staten Island Borough President James Oddo. “The fact is, whenever I speak to NYCHA residents in developments that have cameras they are happy with the cameras, and when I speak to those in developments without them they indicate a desire for them. Cameras at the Todt Hill Houses will have the same positive effect they have had on other NYCHA facilities.”
“Crime prevention continues to be a critical public safety concern, especially in Bronx’s NYCHA housing. I am thankful that 22 of our city’s public housing developments received new, state of the art cameras, which will mark a significant step of progress in improving safety at NYCHA,” said Council Member Vanessa Gibson, Chair of the Public Safety Committee. “Cameras deter would-be criminals and allow residents to feel safe walking around their communities. I applaud Mayor de Blasio, Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice’s Director Elizabeth Glazer, Chair & Chief Executive Officer of the New York City Housing Authority Shola Olatoye, for prioritizing the safety of public housing residents and for their ongoing commitment to the safety and security of all New Yorkers.”
“I have continuously made safety and security a priority, allocating millions of dollars over the years for security cameras in my district,” said Council Member James Vacca. “These cameras will serve multiple purposes, by deterring crime and assisting in the apprehension of the perpetrators when crimes do occur. Everyone deserves to live their lives safe from criminal activity. I hope these installations make NYCHA developments throughout the city a safer place to live.”
“Though the overall crime rate across New York City is down 2.8% thanks to the incredible work of the NYPD, the crime rate in NYCHA developments hasn’t fallen at the same rate,” said Council Member Mark Levine. “Increasing security measures in our public housing communities is essential to making these developments safer, and I thank NYCHA for investing in the Douglass Houses.”
“The safety and well-being of our community members is essential to the health of our district, which is why I am proud to have allocated over $1.6 million dollars for security enhancements for NYCHA developments in the 35th Council District,” said Council Member Laurie Cumbo. “With new security cameras, upgrades, and safety-lighting installations in Walt Whitman, Farragut, Lafayette Gardens, Atlantic Terminal and Ingersoll Houses, we hope that residents can feel a more present sense of safety on the grounds and in their homes.”
“I want to thank Mayor de Blasio and NYCHA CEO Ms. Olatoye for making safety a priority in our NYCHA Housing developments,” said Council Member Andy King. “Everyone deserves to feel safe in their homes. And, we as elected officials have a responsibility to increase the safety, peace of mind, and visibility of our communities through measures such as this one.”
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