In the early morning hours on Sunday, August 26, 2012, a shooting at NYC's Pelham Parkway Houses at 815 Pelham Parkway North left one victim, believed to be a tenant, dead, and another wounded. The wounded victim was taken to Jacobi Medical Center for treatment. Police are still searching for the suspect, and Vacca urges anyone with information to come forward. This attack follows the violent murder in June of 88-year old Evelyn Shapiro, who was found dead in her Pelham Parkway Houses apartment at 2445 Williamsbridge Road.
In the aftermath of the Shapiro murder, Council Member Vacca quickly secured $4.6 million in City Council capital funds over three fiscal years to pay for security enhancements at both Pelham Parkway Houses and Throggs Neck Houses. Those enhancements will include improved lighting infrastructure, security cameras, and targeted layered access.
“I have put my money where my mouth is and shown that the safety and security of my constituents who live in public housing is among my highest priorities,” said Council Member Vacca. “In the wake of this shooting—the second deadly shooting at Pelham Parkway Houses this year—I urge NYCHA, in no uncertain terms, to do its part by working as expediently as possible to get this security equipment installed. The security of my constituents and their tenants demands nothing less.”
NYCHA has pledged that it will begin installation of the security features before the end of the current fiscal year, which ends in June 2013.