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Mayor de Blasio Announces 100 Security Cameras to be Installed in Brooklyn

January 10, 2020

Part of City’s ongoing efforts to prevent anti-Semitic hate crimes

NEW YORK—Mayor de Blasio announced that the NYPD will be installing 100 new security cameras in Williamsburg, Crown Heights and Borough Park. The surveying will begin immediately, and the first 30 cameras will be installed by March. The NYPD will work with community members to identify the best locations for the remaining 70 cameras with installation to follow for a total of 100 cameras.

This announcement builds on the City’s ongoing efforts to prevent anti-Semitic hate crimes The NYPD has increased deployment in these neighborhoods, and now have over 150 additional officers patrolling and building relationships in the community. The NYPD’s Intelligence Bureau has also launched the Racially and Ethnically Motivated Extremism Unit (REME), a new unit within the NYPD's Intelligence Bureau that brings together groups to detect, prevent and investigate domestic terrorism and organized hate groups. The Department has also installed more than 20 light towers in these neighborhoods.

“An attack on the Jewish community is an attack on all New Yorkers. These new security cameras will increase the NYPD’s visibility into these neighborhoods, and help our officers on the ground keep New Yorkers safe,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“The NYPD stands with members of the Jewish community. These new security cameras will support our increased patrols and the targeted deployment of Counterterrorism officers at key locations to ensure that everyone is safe,” said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. “We also need the public’s help—if you see anything suspicious, call 911 or flag down a police officer right away. There is no place for hate in NYC, or anywhere.”

“These investments by the New York Police Department are important tools in our fight against hate crimes,” said Deborah Lauter, Executive Director of the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes. “Along with our commitment to strengthening communities through neighborhood coalitions and providing educational resources for our schools, the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes continues to work alongside New Yorkers to ensure everyone can feel safe in their neighborhood.”

“New York City stands united against anti-Semitism and we are fully committed to ensuring that our Jewish neighbors can feel safe on our streets. The Council will continue to work with the NYPD and with all Jewish New Yorkers to fight anti-Semitism. That means added security measures to protect our communities, as well as through spearheading educational and community building initiatives,” said Speaker Corey Johnson.

“The weeds of hate will not be allowed to choke away the healthy garden of diversity in Brooklyn. We must use every tool in our toolbox to address the scourge of anti-Semitic assaults in our borough head-on. I support the installation of security cameras and an increased police presence in areas that are seeing the highest concentration of attacks, and look forward to working with Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Shea to ensure we are taking appropriate steps to protect Orthodox communities throughout the city,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

Councilmember Chaim Deutsch, Chairman of the NYC Council’s Jewish Caucus said, “Cameras are one of the most effective law enforcement tools at our disposal, particularly in regards to combating hate crimes. That’s why I joined with Councilman Kalman Yeger in allocating more than $2 million for cameras in our districts around houses of worship, parks, playgrounds, and schools.  I am very pleased and grateful to learn that the Mayor is expanding this with 100 additional cameras, as well as new light towers, and the influx of 150 officers within these targeted communities. These are significant and vital resources in the fight against the hatred and antisemitism that has infiltrated our city.”

“Our city must stand together against hate. All New Yorkers should feel safe, and we must all work together to make sure no one is afraid in our city.  I commend Mayor de Blasio for increasing NYPD outreach efforts to safeguard our diverse communities at risk and thank the NYPD for heeding my call to include hate crimes data in CompStat reports to increase local transparency and accountability. The rise in hate crimes is unacceptable, and we must look at using every resource possible to make sure to protect all New Yorkers,” said Council Member Mark Treyger (Coney Island/Gravesend/Bensonhurst/Sea Gate).
  
“In the face of an alarming spike in hate crimes--especially those targeting Jewish New Yorkers--our city must take urgent action to protect vulnerable neighborhoods,” said City Council Member Mark Levine. “The addition of these cameras in key locations is an important step towards ensuring safety in the neighborhoods that have been directly targeted in this wave of vile attacks.”

This is one part of the City’s ongoing effort to stop anti-Semitism. Earlier in January, the Administration announced the launch of Neighborhood Safety Coalitions in Williamsburg, Crown Heights and Borough Park. These individual coalitions will identify and address issues that drive hate-based crimes, bringing together stakeholders from across their communities. They will meet community members where they are — in schools, on street corners, in religious institutions — to be a regular presence to deter acts of hate.

The coalitions are based on a successful model already used by residents in East Flatbush and Williamsburg/Bushwick through the Mayor's Office to Prevent Gun Violence, in which community groups, neighborhood leaders, and clergy have worked together with local police precincts to dramatically reduce gun violence in their communities.

The Department of Education is committed to ensuring schools are welcoming, inclusive environments for all students and will be implementing hate crime awareness programming this month for middle and high schools in Williamsburg, Crown Heights and Borough Park, including workshops with community partners and leveraging existing social studies curricula and resources. Curriculum on hate crimes will be launched at middle and high schools in these neighborhoods beginning in the 2020-21 school year. These curriculum resources will also be available to middle and high schools citywide.

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