By Bill Parry
The city has found a unique way to finance enhanced security at some of the most dangerous public housing developments.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office, using a portion of funds forfeited by French bank BNP Paribas for violating U.S. sanctions, is committing $101 million to fund infrastructure upgrades, such as additional security cameras, permanent lighting and new doors as well as additional public safety evaluation and programming.
“This administration has made building stronger neighborhoods and improving safety in and around housing developments a priority,” Mayor de Blasio said. “I’m proud to announce these important investments, which will go a long way toward bringing down crime in the developments that need it most by improving the physical environment.”
Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance, Jr. added that public safety is a key quality-of-life issue for New Yorkers who are most disproportionately affected by crime.
“Just 5 percent of New York City residents live in public housing, yet NYCHA accounts for 20 percent of all violent crime citywide,” Vance said. “By strategically investing in these communities, we will not only establish the security infrastructure to enhance residential safety, but also build upon our commitment to fairness in the criminal justice system, and the belief that a crime prevented is better than a crime prosecuted.”
Bill Parry
