Mayor Signs Vallone’s School Surveillance Camera Bill
By John Toscano

The council had passed the bill unanimously and, as the mayor signed it, he praised Vallone (D–Astoria) for his more than two years of work on this crucial matter.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed City Councilmember Peter Vallone’s school surveillance cameras bill into law, saying “Surveillance systems are one of many tools to ensure the goal of safe, secure learning environments for all students.”

He added, “This bill advances those efforts while providing the Department of Education and the New York Police Department the discretion to determine which schools have the greatest security challenges and allocate resources as necessary.”

In describing the bill's provision, the mayor noted it requires the Department of Education (DoE) in consultation with the Police Department to install security cameras where they are appropriate for safety purposes.

He emphasized, “The bill permits cameras only in areas where individuals have no reasonable expectation of privacy, such as entrances, exits or stairwells. The number, type and location of the cameras are at the discretion of the DoE and the NYPD.”

The bill further requires the two departments to conduct a review, by the end of 2006, to determine which schools require cameras. A report will then be submitted to the City Council indicating the findings of the review, the mayor said.

Vallone, who was seated alongside the mayor as he signed the bill into law, stated, “Our children are our most precious gift from God and unfortunately in this day and age, education now must go hand in hand with security.”

The council had passed the bill unanimously and, as the mayor signed it, he praised Vallone (D–Astoria) for his more than two years of work on this crucial matter.

The mayor noted: “The Department of Education and the NYPD are committed to expanding the use of security systems in our schools. The Department of Education’s five-year capital plan includes $119.9 million to provide state-of-the-art surveillance systems in schools that have no operational system as well as providing upgrades for schools that currently have antiquated surveillance equipment.

“This school year, which is the first year of the plan, video surveillance systems are being installed in 36 locations, including all 16 Impact School buildings. Furthermore, the School Construction Authority has begun including digital video infrastructure as part of its standard design for all new school facilities.”

Vallone pointed out that of the approximately 1,300 schools under the DoE’s authority, only 155 currently have cameras installed. He said that both the DoE and NYPD have concluded that increasing the number of schools that have cameras installed in them would work toward reducing crime in schools.

As recently as 10 days ago, Vallone noted, Assistant Chief Gerald Nelson, commanding officer of the NYPD school safety division, testified before the council Committee on Public Safety, which Vallone chairs, that cameras are, in fact, an excellent and effective deterrent to crime in schools.

Also recognizing the effectiveness of cameras in schools, the DoE has allocated $120 million towards installing security cameras in up to 145 additional schools, Vallone said.

As part of a pilot program resulting from his bill, Vallone funded the installation of security cameras in every school in his district, covering Astoria, Long Island City and part of Jackson Heights.

School sources have stated, the lawmaker said, that cameras have prevented numerous acts that one would think unheard of in the past. One school official stated that the cameras prevented sexual acts between students from occurring inside a school.

Although shocking, according to numerous officials, this is something that has become all too common, Vallone said, adding, that the cameras have also prevented students from sneaking in and out of school, prevented criminal acts, such as graffiti, vandalism and assault, and could help prevent sexual predators from entering schools through doors which are presently not monitored.

“It is clear cameras will prevent crimes, keep the right people in, keep the wrong people out, and may help prevent terrorism,” Vallone stated. “This bill is a first big step towards my goal of putting cameras in every school in the city.”