NYC Mayor Eric Adams revealed on Monday that the city is allocating $1.6 million to roll out a new security measure for roughly 500 bodegas throughout New York City: emergency alert devices known as “SilentShields” that allow workers to discreetly notify the NYPD during a crisis.
The funding, issued through a special emergency grant, will go to the United Bodega Association. The initiative focuses on bodegas located in neighborhoods with higher crime rates, aiming to better protect employees and patrons from violence or theft.
Adams explained that the SilentShields system will be tied directly to surveillance cameras inside the bodegas and linked to NYPD networks. This setup will enable officers to view incidents as they occur and respond more swiftly to threats.
“Bodegas are part of the heart and soul of New York City. They are on every corner; they are there for us at all hours. As we continue rolling out our ‘Best Budget Ever,’ I’m proud to announce $1.6 million in funding to equip an estimated 500 bodegas across the five boroughs with ‘SilentShields’ that will immediately connect bodega staff with the NYPD in cases of emergency,” Adams said.
Calls for emergency buttons grew louder after a fatal stabbing inside an Inwood bodega last month left one person dead and injured two more. Just days ago, a shocking incident in Brooklyn saw a gang disguised in NYPD uniforms rob a bodega at gunpoint, with surveillance footage released by police.
“This program will bring peace of mind to our bodega owners, while protecting the working-class New Yorkers who work and frequent bodegas. Our bodegas are essential to New York City, and, with this investment, we’re telling these small businesses: Your city has your back,” he added.
{Matzav.com}
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