Hikind Says Shomrim Not In Control Of Security Cameras – Or Does He?

The Brooklyn Daily reported yesterday that the $1 million in government funds given to Borough Park, Midwood and Kensington, Brooklyn, would be given to Agudath Israel of America and the cameras would be administered by Shomrim. Dov Hikind now says this isn't exactly true – or does he?

Dov Hikind

Hikind posted this on his blog today:

There's been some misinformation circulating regarding the Leiby Kletzky Security Initiative.

To be clear:

• The contracted security company will be responsible for maintaining the video feed of all cameras.
• There is no organization acting as “gatekeeper” to security video footage; law enforcement will have unlimited access to security video footage.
• Agudath Israel of America’s only role is to administer the financial aspects of the security initiative.

Note, however, that Hikind does not discuss who gets the cameras and why they get them, and where the cameras will be pointed and where they won't. He also does not identify the "contracted security company."

Has that company been selected yet? Was the contract put up for open bid?  Who selected that company? Agudath Israel of America? Is that company owned or controlled in whole or in part by members of the haredi community?

On all these very obvious questions, Hikind is mum.

Why?

There should be complete and total transparency, but there so far is not.

Why?

These questions must be answered openly and transparently by Hikind, Agudah and the state, and backed up with the release of the documents necessary to prove the answers they have given are true.

If this does not happen, it is safe to assume that the parties involved are hiding something – perhaps several things.

And those things are most likely bad for the citizens of New York.

Comments

[CantKnowEverything]

The contracted security company will be responsible for maintaining the video feed of all cameras.
There is no organization acting as “gatekeeper” to security video footage; law enforcement will have unlimited access to security video footage.
Agudath Israel of America’s only role is to administer the financial aspects of the security initiative.

Note, however, that Hikind does not discuss who gets the cameras and why they get them, and where the cameras will be pointed and where they won't. He also does not identify the "contracted security company."

I assume the purpose was to clarify a few points not give an exhaustive breakdown as to where every single camera is, the vector coordinate of where it was pointing, its height above the street, the GPS coordinate of its location.

"where the cameras will be pointed" goodness, this level of detail from a politician! Maybe we can ask Obama for the locations of the cameras after all he is the man on top and should know EVERYTHING!

[Yerachmiel Lopin]

If Agudah is awarding the contracts you better believe they will throw their weight around and the contract recipient will ask "how high?" when told to jump.