Senior NYCHA residents are outraged after the agency announced it plans to get rid of security guards at dozens of senior buildings.
NYCHA says it is planning to cut unarmed security guards from 55 senior buildings by June 30.
According to the agency, the cuts would save close to $7 million. At a city council budget hearing this week, NYCHA said the cuts are needed to address a $35 million operating deficit for 2024, and to prioritize core property management services.
However, senior residents say that not having a security guard on site could be a matter of life or death.
“EMS comes here two or three times a week. If no one's there to open a door for them, a heart attack could be going on and somebody could be dead,” said Tenant Association president Diane Johnson.
NYCHA says that most of the 55 buildings have CCTV cameras, but a handful of them don’t.
In a statement, NYCHA said they will work closely with the NYPD to address crime and security concerns at these locations.