At a recent press conference in Harlem, key city officials announced a million-dollar initiative to install surveillance cameras in 38 locations in East Harlem, Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood. Spearheaded by Rep. Adriano Espaillat, this initiative aims to bolster security for bodegas and small businesses that have faced increased crime rates. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch highlighted the need for technology in crime prevention, emphasizing that surveillance can aid in solving crimes more efficiently. Additionally, the rising crime against bodega workers has led to increasing calls for resources to ensure their safety.
"It's important that we continue to invest in public safety," Espaillat said, noting that though violent crime rates have gone down in recent months, New Yorkers continue to report feeling unsafe, leaving a negative impact on quality of life.
Tisch said the new cameras will be installed within the next one or two months, and the NYPD will focus on locations near small businesses in upper Manhattan particularly bodegas, which she asserted face disproportionate rates of crime against workers and property.
Tisch emphasized the NYPD's reliance on 24/7 surveillance technology, which she said is essential to crime fighting, noting its use in tracking down attackers in prior incidents.
In 2023, over 230 bodega owners in New York City applied for gun licenses amid rising crime against bodegas, according to United Bodegas of America.
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