Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced a series of steps intended to reduce crime and increase public safety in New York City Housing Authority housing complexes. The multi-part plan involves re-assignment of police officers, additional money for physical security and lighting improvements in NYCHA buildings and expanded hours and programs at community centers located in NYCHA buildings.
Carriage Horse Ban:
During the Q&A Mayor de Blasio was asked about his campaign promise to ban carriage horses immediately upon taking office:
Update – Full Q&A:
On topic questions included whether the NYPD has ever had a similar program to check in on residents, whether the announced plans will likely have an impact on citywide crime rates, the impact of reduced stop & frisk activity on gun violence and the legacy of stop & frisk, what is new in today’s announcement, whether there is a specific anti-gang component in the plans announced today, whether the City plans to open additional community centers in NYCHA buildings, whether the community centers will include additional private organizations and programs, how NYCHA will deal with residents breaking newly-installed lights, where the funding for these plans is coming from, whether the recent Grant Houses raid will lead to changes in large-scale takedown methods and what assurances the mayor can offer that the long term promises made today will be kept.
Off topic questions included the status of the mayor’s stated intention to ban carriage horses, the recent near-miss of two drones and an NYPD helicopter, whether Uber’s announced price reductions are unfair to yellow cabs, how the mayor will fulfill his stated promises concerning a living wage, why no NYCHA locations in East New York were selected for the plans announced today, the selection criteria for the NYCHA locations covered by the plans announced today and details about door/entry security in NYCHA buildings.