CRIME UPTICK IN UTICA MUNICIPAL HOUSING AUTHORITY UNDERSCORES URGENT NEED FOR NEW SECURITY CAMERAS; SCHUMER CALLS FOR OVER $240K IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO EXPAND SECURITY CAMERA NETWORK
In Last Two Years, Utica Municipal Housing Authority Has Endured Significant Uptick in Crime; Federal Funding is Needed to Address Safety & Security Needs of The Nearly 4,000 Residents in the City of Utica’s Public Housing Schumer Calls on U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development to Approve Utica’s Application for More Than $240K in Federal Funding to Help Bolster Security System in Utica – Urged HUD Secretary Today in Personal Phone Call Currently, None of Utica’s 5 Housing Developments Have Adequate Security Surveillance
Last week, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, in a personal phone call to Julian Castro, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), urged HUD to provide $243,906 in funding to help expand a network of security cameras at the City of Utica’s public housing buildings and developments, including the Adrean Terrace, N.D. Peters Manor, and F.X. Matt Apartments, as well as Gillmore Village and Humphrey Gardens. This funding, through HUD’s Emergency Safety and Security grants program would be a critical supplement to the work that the City of Utica is already doing to improve safety and surveillance at this site. In the last two years, Utica’s Municipal Housing Authority has seen an uptick in crime and drug-related activities in its buildings. Amongst the higher crime statistics, the Authority saw a shooting occur adjacent to the Gilmore Village property last year. In addition, drug activity in the city and vandalism for the Authority have also increased over the past two years. The City of Utica operates nearly 1,000 housing units within five buildings and developments. None of these facilities possess adequate security surveillance. This funding would help improve Utica’s ability to monitor the property and address safety and security needs that threaten the residents living in its apartments and developments.
“Too many of the City of Utica’s public apartment buildings and housing developments are without security cameras, and in light of the significant increase in crime and drug-related activities in the last two years, it’s clear that additional security measures are needed to keep residents safe,” said Schumer. “I am urging HUD to provide federal funding that can supplement the City’s laudable efforts to expand the security camera system in its five buildings and developments. A better camera security system which will help keep residents safe and improve law enforcement’s ability to track down and arrest wrong-doers.”
“We are working to be as proactive as possible here at the Utica Housing Authority and that means dealing with the uptick in crime head-on, working with Senator Schumer on a plan to beef up our security operations,” said Robert Calli, Interim Executive Director of the Utica Housing Authority. “We want to keep our facilities safe and our residents, too. This federal opportunity could not come at a more crucial time and Senator Schumer’s personal advocacy means a lot.”
The Utica Municipal Housing Authority (UMHA) has seen an increase in crime and drug-related activities during the last two years. This grant will allow UMHA to install surveillance camera systems, lighting, security doors, speed bumps, two-way radios and other security improvements in connection with its public housing developments. These security measures will allow the security department to reduce violent criminal activity and discourage drug-related activity as well as reduce increased threat levels that posed to the health and safety of UMHA residents.
HUD’s Emergency Safety and Security Grant program awards funding to public housing authorities to address emergency, safety and security needs at their public housing properties. Funding can be used for measures to fight crime and drug activities.