By Mark Scott and Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Buffalo unveiled the first of its neighborhood surveillance cameras Thursday morning at the corner of Busti and Porter Avenues. Four more cameras will be installed in the coming days as part of a pilot project.
If they work well, the city will expand the surveillance system citywide.
Mayor Byron Brown said the cameras are designed to help police fight crime.
"Let me say again to the bad actors out there, particularly those who are engaged in gun play in this city, we are coming and we are coming hard," Brown said. "This technology is going to be on the streets. We are going to make it very uncomfortable and very difficult for that kind of activity to continue in the city of Buffalo."
The Common Council and Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority have already approved $4.4 million for a system of 40 cameras. The cameras include technology that will provide nearby residents with free wireless Internet access.