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Q&A
Successful security program and priority recommendations
0:28:37
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168 sec
Council Member Chris Banks asks about what a successful security/fire safety guard program would look like and the priority recommendations from the DOI report. Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber outlines key elements of a successful program and emphasizes the importance of all recommendations.
- A successful program requires guards to be present 24/7 and utilizes modern technology like geofencing
- Recommendations include physical improvements (e.g., proper workstations, clear signage) and technological solutions
- All 12 recommendations are considered priorities, with geofencing technology highlighted as a significant step forward
Chris Banks
0:28:37
The report reference to they reference to the contract has failed.
0:28:44
What would a successful partnership between NYCHA and the security guard fire slash fire safety guard program look like?
Jocelyn Strauber
0:28:52
Well, I think ultimately in in a public safety context, fire safety security, you know, success is is you you you don't there's there's no partial success.
0:29:02
Like, you've gotta have fire guards on the scene twenty four seven.
0:29:05
You've gotta have the security guards that you hire present for the period that you hired them.
0:29:10
I think what our recommendations do here is to try to use it, you know, use the technology that's now available, you know, geofencing, for example.
0:29:19
There there is the ability to to know based on an app that can be put on a phone that a guard can be in possession of.
0:29:26
There is the ability, you know, to actually know whether someone is where they're supposed to be when they're supposed to be there.
0:29:33
And so our recommendation, certainly we want we want, you know, physical things like a a podium, a desk where the security guards can actually sit and be present.
0:29:43
That wasn't true in every lobby where they were supposed to be.
0:29:46
We want there to be clear signage so when residents see that there are issues, there's a number for them to call to report concerns.
0:29:53
But we also think you should make you should take advantage of the technology that we now have so that you don't have to rely on handwritten time sheets and in person inspections and even review of CCTV footage, which obviously those TVs should be operable.
0:30:09
They should be remotely viewable, that will also help.
0:30:12
But I think if you use some of the technology that we've recommended and that NYCHA has agreed to use with any contract going forward, you will have a more foolproof way to ensure that the people that you hire are where they're supposed to be, that you're getting what you paid for, and also that if they're not there that that you will know.
0:30:32
Right?
0:30:32
Because there can be alerts that are pinged to managers when someone goes outside of the geo fencing zone they're supposed to be in for the period of their shift, for example.
Chris Banks
0:30:42
Well, of the 12 recommendations in your report, which would you say are are priority items for NYCHA to avoid this kind of situation in the future?
Jocelyn Strauber
0:30:52
Well, I would say they're all priorities.
0:30:54
And we really do try to be judicious and not make recommendations that we don't think are important.
0:30:59
But I think the geofencing technology that we just mentioned is gonna be the, you know, a a very significant step forward in in reducing the risk of human error and reducing the risk that someone can falsify a time sheet, which is difficult to, you know, to identify in real time if you don't have that kind of technology.
Chris Banks
0:31:21
Well, do you think we can achieve a combination of the two?
Jocelyn Strauber
0:31:24
I think we can.
Chris Banks
0:31:25
Yeah.