Glenwood Houses Tenants Mull Security Camera Installation
By Dara Mormile

Concerned Glenwood Houses tenants (above) show interest at meeting. City Councilman Kendall Stewart (at right)speaks about security measures.

Installation of video cameras at the Glenwood Houses was one of several quality of life issues discussed at last week’s monthly tenant association meeting.

“Some residents have expressed to me that they want to know the possibility of having security cameras in our buildings,” said Carolyn Walton, president of the tenants’ group, at the outset of the June 21st meeting in the Glenwood Community Center.

City Councilman Kendall Stewart responded, “There are many ramifications we have to consider and discuss since we are dealing with federal property. We cannot just put up cameras. It’s something I would have to discuss with the Housing Authority.”

New York City Housing Authority spokesman Howard Marder later told the Canarsie Courier that in order to install security cameras in any development, the local councilman has to acquire funding and equipment.

“There is not enough money for the Housing Authority to install the systems,” he said. “Developments that have security cameras were chosen by the New York City Police Department due to a high level of crime.”

Marder also noted that the cost of cameras depends on the size of system needed.

“Full scale units are monitored by the Police Department 24 hours a day,” he said. “Small scale units are usually monitored by tenant patrols and only allows police to review tapes when the need to identify suspicious activity arises.”

PSA 1 Police Officer Brian McGinn assured residents that crime has de-creased in the area by 17 percent in the past 28 days.

“There have been no major crimes in this area, but if residents notice any-thing they are concerned about, I urge them to call PSA 1 or the 63rd Pre-cinct and let us know in confidence as soon as they see something,” he said.

While some residents complained their calls go unanswered, Walton en-couraged them to keep calling the po-lice, as well as 3-1-1, adding, “I know it’s frustrating, but if you don’t continue to make those calls, there is no record of any complaints or documentation by the authorities.”

The Glenwood Houses Tenants As-sociation is not scheduled to meet again until the third Tuesday in Sep-tember.

Dara Mormile