NYCHA - Completes Williams Plaza Cctv Camera Installation

NYC Housing Authority


Press Release


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 29, 2013
Contact: media@nycha.nyc.gov, (212) 306-3322

New York City Council Member Steven Levin and New York City Housing Authority Announce CCTV Camera Installation Complete at Williams Plaza

Council Member provides allocation of $430,000 in City Council funds for safety and security enhancements at Williams Plaza

New York City Council Member Stephen Levin, New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Chairman John B. Rhea, and Williams Plaza Resident Association President Chaim Babad formally announced the completed installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in targeted areas of NYCHA’s Williams Plaza. The cameras should greatly enhance security and reduce the likelihood and incidence of crime at the development. NYCHA is only able to provide this additional security because of discretionary funding provided by elected officials such as Council Member Levin.

We must do everything in our power to ensure the safety and security of New Yorkers residing in public housing,” said Council Member Stephen Levin. “By installing additional security cameras here in Jonathan Williams Plaza, we are one step closer in making our community a safe place that all women, men, and children deserve.”

“The safety and security of our residents is of great importance to NYCHA, and installing CCTV cameras deters crime and enhances the quality of life of our residents,” said NYCHA Chairman John B. Rhea. “Through our roadmap for providing safe and secure housing for our residents, Plan NYCHA, we have been actively working with all public housing community stakeholders, including the NYPD, to ensure that issues of safety and security are addressed through a more collaborative approach. Council Member Levin’s work in securing funds for the cameras is a key example of such collaboration, and we appreciate and salute his support of the NYCHA community.”

The City Council capital funding at Williams Plaza provided for the installation of 30 new cameras, an upgrade to the 43 existing cameras, and the infrastructure to connect all the cameras to a Security Operations Center, where all cameras can be viewed in one place. All five buildings now have CCTV coverage. NYCHA, the NYPD, and Resident Association leaders worked together to determine camera locations at each building. The CCTV security systems are strategically placed to monitor key areas such as building entrances, street corners, elevators, and equipment rooms. The NYPD can access footage in cases of reported criminal activity.

“The installation of these cameras really makes a difference in our community by helping to reduce crime,” said Williams Plaza Resident Association President Chaim Babad. “We are grateful to Council Member Levin for all his help and to NYCHA, and delighted that the installation is complete.”

Since the inception of the CCTV surveillance program in 1997, NYCHA has installed 7,397 security surveillance cameras of varying scale at 601 buildings in 116 developments citywide. NYCHA is on track to complete installation of CCTV, along with layered access control, at 85 development sites by the end of 2013.