Mayor de Blasio, Comptroller Stringer, NYCHA Chair Olatoye Announce Beginning of Security Camera Installation at Boulevard Houses and Five More Housing Developments Around the City

June 11, 2014

Mayor’s office, Comptroller’s office, and NYCHA completed process for submission and review of 46 camera contracts in less than a week

NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Comptroller Scott Stringer today joined public housing residents in East New York, New York City Housing Authority Chair Shola Olatoye, and Council Member Inez Barron to announce the start of a long-overdue security camera installation at Boulevard Houses in East New York, Brooklyn, and five other developments around the city, in an effort by the administration to engage and be more responsive to the needs of public housing residents.
 
The Mayor spoke at the development where two children were stabbed last week, one fatally, while riding an elevator. In the wake of the tragic assault, Mayor de Blasio promised to review the steps required to approve funds for camera installations and expedite the process to complete the installation of cameras at 49 developments before the end of 2014.
 
In a collaborative and coordinated effort among the Mayor’s office, NYCHA’s new leadership, and the Comptroller’s office, the city was able to expedite the review and approval of 46 contracts for cameras at 49 locations in less than a week. NYCHA is now on schedule to complete the installation of cameras at 49 developments by the end of 2014.

The Mayor lauded all the entities involved for their stepped up efforts that enabled Boulevard’s installation and several others to start this week. In addition to Boulevard Houses, NYCHA is starting this week the installation work at Fort Independence (Bronx), Pelham Parkway (Bronx), Bailey Houses (Bronx), Latimer Gardens (Queens), and Baisley Park (Queens).

“The installation work that begins today is the result of a highly collaborative process among City Hall, NYCHA and the Comptroller’s office. It comes to show that when there is a will—there is a way,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The safety and security of families living in public housing is a priority for my administration, and we will continue to work to find ways to give NYCHA residents the quality of life they deserve.”
 
“I want to thank Mayor de Blasio for prioritizing the expansion of cameras at NYCHA housing throughout the five boroughs,” said Comptroller Scott Stringer. “My office worked hand-in-hand with the administration to ensure that this process moved forward without further delay. The more than 400,000 New Yorkers who call NYCHA home deserve to feel safe. This is a step in the right direction, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Mayor, my colleagues in government, and NYCHA residents to improve public safety and quality of life in their communities.”

“We are committed to doing things differently, resetting our relationships, and becoming a more transparent, next generation NYCHA,” said NYCHA Chair Shola Olatoye. “As we move forward now to install these cameras with a more efficient and timelier public process, thanks to Mayor de Blasio and Comptroller Stringer, as well as our own revised capital programs, we’re able to do even more for our residents. And that’s what matters most.”

“Security cameras are a common sense solution to enhance security and keep the 600,000 New Yorkers who live in public housing safe,” said City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “I thank the de Blasio administration and Comptroller Stringer for their swift action to expedite camera installations at Boulevard Houses and dozens of housing developments across the city and applaud my colleagues in government for working together to improve quality of life for NYCHA residents.”

“I appreciate that the de Blasio administration has stepped up to show leadership for the future of our residents in public housing,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “For years, NYCHA has fallen short of its commitment to its tenants, leaving too many in unsafe and unhealthy conditions. The installation of security cameras at Boulevard Houses, just a week after the fatal stabbing of 6-year-old PJ Avitto, is far more than a symbolic act. In fact, the approval of over 90 security camera contracts in less than a week shows the city’s commitment to safety. We need to approach other issues facing NYCHA developments with the same energy, urgency and expediency, and I look forward to working with Mayor de Blasio, Chair Olatoye, and other stakeholders to get that done here in Brooklyn.”
 
“I am happy the work has begun on the installation of the cameras. We look forward to having a crime deterrent, with hopes that I, and all residents—especially the children—can sleep better at night,” said Inez Rodriguez, President of the Boulevard Houses Resident Association.

The $500,000 camera installation at Boulevard had been funded by the New York City Council, as part of $27 million earmarked for security systems at 49 developments around the city. The work begun today will bring 17 cameras to nine Boulevard buildings. They will be installed in locations determined through a collaborative effort that is being replicated citywide and that includes residents, NYCHA property management, the NYPD, and local elected officials.
 
The complete list of the 49 developments receiving cameras is below: 

MANHATTAN

1. BARUCH HOUSES
2. BARUCH ADDITION
3.  DE HOSTOS
4. DOUGLASS HOUSES
5. EAST RIVER HOUSES
6. HARBORVIEW TERRACE
7. JOHNSON HOUSES
8. LINCOLN
9. WSURA A (120 W. 94 ST)
10. WSUR B (74 W 94 ST)
11. WSUR C (589 AMSTERDAM)
12. IRA ROBBINS SENIOR HOMES
13. TAFT REHAB HOUSES
14. 99 FORT WASHINGTON
15. VLADECK HOUSES
16. CORSI HOUSES

BRONX

17. ADAM HOUSES
18. BAILEY HOUSES
19. BETANCES
20. BRONXCHESTER
21. CLAREMONT-FRANKLIN HOUSES
22. DAVIDSON HOUSES
23. EASTCHESTER GARDENS
24. FORT INDEPENDENCE
25. MARBLE HILL HOUSES
26. MCKINLEY HOUSES
27. MIDDLETOWN PLAZA
28. MILLBROOK
29. MITCHEL HOUSES
30. MONTEREY HOUSES/TWIN PARKS
31. PATTERSON HOUSES
32. PELHAM PARKWAY
33. SOUNDVIEW
34. THROGGS NECK

BROOKLYN

35. BOULEVARD HOUSES
36. BORINQUEN PLAZA
37. CYPRESS HILLS HOUSES
38. FARRAGUT
39. HOPE GARDENS
40. HYLAN
41. MARLBORO
42. SHEEPSHEAD/NOSTRAND
43. SUMNER HOUSES
44. TAYLOR WYTHE HOUSES
45. TILDEN HOUSES

QUEENS

46. BAISLEY PARK
47. BEACH 41ST HOUSES
48. OCEAN BAY/EDGEMERE HOUSES
49. LATIMER GARDENS