Public Housing Could Soon Be Under Surveillance

Marisa Yamane
KHON2
Tuesday, February 26, 2008

The Hawaii Public Housing Authority wants to install security cameras at all public housing projects throughout the state.

The money would come from tax payers.

It would cost several million dollars for the security cameras, money which the Hawaii Public Housing Authority is requesting from the legislature.

Advocates say the cameras would help deter vandalism and other crime, which would save the state money in the long run.

There are 68 public housing projects throughout Hawaii.

The largest is Kuhio Park Terrace, also known as KPT.

"Now we're putting in major modernization for our elevators so when we spend millions of dollars to do this we don't want these facilities to be damaged," said Chad Taniguchi, Hawaii Public Housing Authority Executive Director.

In the past, vandals have damaged the elevators and fire alarms at KPT.

As part of an overall solution to curb crime, Taniguchi wants to install security cameras at all of the state's public housing projects.

"This is something other public housing authorities have done quite well on the mainland, it's also something the private sector has done for many years now," said Taniguchi.

"It would be a good thing to monitor things because there's so much people here at KPT," said Tasha Esteron, Kuhio Park Terrace resident.

The Hawaii Public Housing Authority has requested $6.4 million dollars from the legislature for capitol improvement projects, part of which would be used to fix and modernize the elevators at KPT.

The rest would be used for security cameras.

Full article here.