Aug 20, 2007 1:07 pm US/Eastern
Security Cutbacks Rob Seniors Of Sense Of Safety
by Sera Congi
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Senior citizens at 13 senior housing developments are concerned that a cost-cutting plan jeopardizes their safety.
The Boston Housing Authority proposes to replace security guards with surveillance cameras in 13 of the developments in an effort to cut back on the budget.
However, residents said cameras are not enough to protect protect them, leaving them without a strong sense of security in their own homes.
The proposal comes after years of federal budget cuts to the BHA. It would affect 1,800 residents in the 13 developments and would save roughly $650,000.
Carrie Streater has lived at the Martin Luther King Towers in Roxbury for 16 years. She said a guard at the front door 24 hours a day gives her peace of mind.
"When you can't fight for yourself, you need somebody around who can fight someone off for you," Streater said.
"This is an old people building (with) disabled people, so they should do better than that," said resident Paul Walker. "They should have the security 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
City Councilor Sam Yoon chairs the Boston City Councils Committee on Housing and said the BHA needs to find another way to save money.
"This is one area in which we should really not compromise because a home is (something) you associate as being safe and secure," Yoon said. "It's the wrong thing to take that away from our seniors."
"I don't think it should be done," Streater said. "I don't think it's safe enough for the tenants."
A spokesman for the BHA said there are city ordinances that govern security at the elderly complexes and that the BHA plans to follow those rules.
On Wednesday, a second hearing will be held on the issue at 2 p.m. Yoon said the first hearing was packed with people worried about losing the security guards.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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