United Bodegas of America President Fernando Radhamés Rodríguez, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, and NYPD Chief of Patrol Philip Rivera mentioned the NYPD’s new surveillance cameras at a Monday press convention.
Picture by Shea Vance
The NYPD is ready to put in new safety cameras in 38 places throughout East Harlem, Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood, with funding secured by Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan/Bronx) for a million-dollar safety initiative aimed toward defending bodegas and different small companies from crime.
Espaillat introduced particulars of the digital camera initiative on Monday at Harlem’s twenty fifth Precinct on East 119th Avenue alongside Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, NYPD Chief of Patrol Philip Rivera, and United Bodegas of America President Fernando Radhamés Rodríguez.
“It’s important that we continue to invest in public safety,” Espaillat mentioned, noting that although violent crime charges have gone down in latest months, New Yorkers proceed to report feeling unsafe, leaving a damaging influence on high quality of life.
Cameras defending bodegas
Tisch mentioned the brand new cameras will likely be put in inside the subsequent one or two months, and the NYPD will concentrate on places close to small companies in higher Manhattan — significantly bodegas, which she asserted face disproportionate charges of crime in opposition to staff and property.
The highest cop additionally famous the usage of digital camera surveillance in monitoring down the alleged attacker in a Could assault on Randall’s Island.
“NYPD officers cannot be everywhere all at once,” Tisch mentioned, emphasizing the NYPD’s reliance on 24/7 surveillance know-how, which she mentioned is “essential to crime fighting.”
Lately, crime in opposition to bodega staff has elevated, resulting in some bodega homeowners throughout town calling on native and federal officers to supply anti-crime sources. In 2023, over 230 bodega homeowners in New York Metropolis utilized for gun licenses amid rising crime in opposition to bodegas, in response to United Bodegas of America.
Rivera thanked Espaillat for his assist of the NYPD and for having “never forgotten where he came from.” The NYPD, Rivera mentioned, has “doubled down on precision policing” over blanket enforcement, specializing in areas that police have recognized as excessive threat or significantly susceptible to crime.
Rodríguez spoke to the group worth of bodegas and the significance of defending bodegas and their homeowners from crime. He mentioned his group has been “asking for many years” for larger safety from the NYPD in opposition to violence.
Responding to a query about considerations amongst residents about surveillance, significantly with native and federal initiatives to implement masks bans at protests and an increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detentions throughout town, Tisch mentioned the NYPD is dedicated to following the regulation concerning how footage collected from cameras is used and distributed.
ICE considerations
After the press convention, Espaillat took questions from reporters exterior about his latest try and entry a detention middle in decrease Manhattan the place detained immigrants are being held by ICE. Officers denied entry to Espaillat and Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-Brooklyn/Queens).
Espaillat mentioned the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which he chairs, held an emergency Zoom assembly concerning the incident on Sunday night. He mentioned he’s returning to Washington on Monday and will likely be assembly with legal professionals to debate the legality of the detention middle’s restriction of entry.
“It is clear that the Constitution gives us oversight powers to go into any facility,” Espaillat mentioned. “So, to not get access to the 10th floor at 26 Federal Plaza is troubling. We will be back.”
Espaillat is a part of a rising group of New York politicians talking out in opposition to the detention of immigrants by plainclothes, masked ICE officers at immigration courts throughout town.
Relating to the escalating protests in Los Angeles and remoted demonstrations in New York Metropolis over ICE’s more and more aggressive techniques in opposition to immigrants, the Congress member mentioned he encourages protesters to stay peaceable and criticized President Donald Trump’s administration for sending the Nationwide Guard to Los Angeles.
Espaillat described Trump’s choice to ship the Nationwide Guard to Los Angeles as a “knee-jerk reaction.” The choice to ship the Nationwide Guard, Espaillat mentioned, lies with a state’s governor.
