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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 318-06
September 4, 2006

MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND COUNCIL MEMBER YASSKY ANNOUNCE $600,000 ALLOCATION FOR INSTALLATION OF CLOSED CIRCUIT TV SYSTEMS AT TWO BROOKLYN PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and City Council Member David Yassky today announced plans for the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems at two New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) public housing developments - the Wyckoff Gardens and Gowanus Houses.  The CCTV system will be installed in and around lobby areas, building entrances, seating areas, and in elevator cabs in an effort to increase security for residents by deterring crime, and to help police and prosecutors identify and apprehend perpetrators. Currently, there are 37 CCTV systems installed in NYCHA developments across the City. Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis Walcott, New York City Housing Authority Vice Chairman Earl Andrews, Jr., NYPD  Deputy Inspector Thomas Delehanty and public housing residents attended the announcement at Wyckoff Gardens in Brooklyn.

"New Yorkers have the right to feel safe in their communities and today I am happy to announce our Administration's newest efforts to make public housing in this City safer than ever before," said Mayor Bloomberg.  "With the installation of closed-circuit cameras we are putting in place a crime-fighting tool that has proven effective while simultaneously creating a stronger feeling of security among residents.  I commend Council Member Yassky for his leadership in securing funds for this surveillance program."

"Despite tremendous accomplishments in reducing crime, there are areas of this City that still experience daily violence," said Council Member Yassky.  "We have to dedicate public resources to the New Yorkers that need our help, and I am determined to do all I can to get our neighborhoods the  resources they need to fight crime.  Security cameras at public housing developments will do that by giving police a 24-hour-a-day presence.  But, more importantly, we are sending a clear message to criminals by asking for these cameras: We stand united against violence in our community; and we will not tolerate it anymore."

Council Member Yassky's $600,000 allocation in City Council funds to NYCHA for the installation of CCTV comes as part of $5.8 million in City Council allocations for Fiscal Year 2007.  In addition to the Gowanus and Wyckoff sites, the additional funding will cover a number of NYCHA developments in other boroughs including South Beach Houses in Staten Island, Boston Road Plaza in the Bronx and LaGuardia House in Manhattan. 

"NYCHA has experienced historic reductions in crime which is consistent with crime reductions across the City," said Vice Chairman Andrews.  "Under the CCTV surveillance program since 2002, crime has been reduced by an additional 9.5% in NYCHA developments.  The addition of CCTV systems at NYCHA's will continue to reinforce the downward trend in crime. At Gowanus Houses the number of crime incidents between 2002 and 2005 decreased by 28% and here at Wyckoff Gardens by 46%." 

The Housing Authority will issue a Request for Proposals for the purchase of the cameras and installation services by the end of the year for these two housing developments.  The project is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2007.  Wyckoff Gardens is home to 1,137 residents and consists of three, 21-story buildings with 527 apartments.  Gowanus Houses is a 14-building development with a population of 2,889.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser/Silvia Alvarez   (212) 788-2958

Sheila Greene/ Howard Marder   (NYC Housing Authority)
(212) 306-3322




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