Unresolved Query Points Regarding Eric Adams's Broadened Monitoring in New York City's Public Housing Districts
NYCHA CCTV Cameras Integrated with NYPD's Surveillance System Amidst Controversy
The integration of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) CCTV cameras with the New York Police Department's (NYPD) Domain Awareness System (DAS) through the city's unified platform, Big Apple Connect, is ongoing, but the process has been shrouded in controversy.
Recent reports from August 2025 suggest that the NYPD, under Mayor Eric Adams' administration, is expanding surveillance access to NYCHA cameras using Big Apple Connect. This move is aimed at enhancing the NYPD's real-time monitoring capabilities within NYCHA properties. However, the expansion is described as quiet and secretive, with community members and NYCHA residents often unaware or excluded from meaningful input on these surveillance measures.
The exact locations where the NYPD is expanding surveillance through Big Apple Connect are not specified. The NYPD has networked CCTV cameras at one NYCHA development so far, but the exact locations are not disclosed. The agencies' narratives about the video surveillance component of Big Apple Connect have rapidly changed over multiple interviews and email exchanges.
The NYPD has connected CCTV cameras at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments to the department's city-wide surveillance software, called the Domain Awareness System. The NYPD spokesperson confirmed that Big Apple Connect allows for real-time access to NYCHA footage, enabling remote viewing instead of physically going to NYCHA to watch the CCTV footage. However, it remains unclear whether more of the existing 200+ NYCHA developments will be networked after this year.
The NYPD has not confirmed whether they have coordinated with NYCHA on the implementation of the video surveillance component of Big Apple Connect. It's also unclear whether NYCHA was aware of how the NYPD was using its cameras. NYCHA initially stated that Big Apple Connect is not intended to support NYCHA's CCTV cameras, but later declined to comment when this was found to be untrue.
The NYPD has not specified how the expanded access to NYCHA footage will be utilized in their operations. The NYPD's usage of facial recognition software alongside the Domain Awareness System is unclear for the footage captured by NYCHA's cameras and streamed to that system. The NYPD has not confirmed whether they will use the video footage captured by NYCHA's cameras in the same way as they use footage from other sources alongside the Domain Awareness System.
The expansion of surveillance is marked by institutional disconnect, with public hearings highlighting tensions and opposition to broader NYCHA policies, including issues of privatization and demolition of public housing. However, specific public discussion about the CCTV integration is limited. This suggests the integration effort is moving forward without strong community endorsement or transparency.
In summary, NYCHA CCTV cameras are increasingly integrated into the NYPD's Domain Awareness System via Big Apple Connect as part of an expanding surveillance program led by the Adams administration, with limited public transparency and notable opposition from NYCHA residents.
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