New York City is introducing panic buttons in approximately 500 bodegas to enhance safety amid rising violence in corner stores. This $1.6 million initiative, announced by Mayor Eric Adams, addresses recent alarming incidents and aims to provide instant alerts to the NYPD, bypassing traditional emergency response delays. The project uses SilentShield technology, ensuring deployment remains discreet. Advocates like Fernando Mateo have long sought this safety measure, which officials believe will deter crime by creating uncertainty among potential criminals about which stores have the devices.
"Instead of just having the cats keeping away the rats, we're going to have a direct connection with the police to keep away those dangerous cats that try to rob our stores," Adams quipped at a press conference.
"For so long, we've been asking for panic button technology," said Fernando Mateo, spokesperson for the United Bodegas of America.
"No one knows who would actually have a device or not... that adds to the omnipresent and the element of surprise that we're looking for," Adams elaborated.
"People get shot in here; we just want to ensure the safety of our customers and our staff," said Abdul Saleh from Sal's Deli.
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