These cameras could wipe the smile off bad guys’ faces. There’ll soon be several hundred security cameras installed to help improve safety at these two east Bronx city housing projects. After two years of waiting since the original city funding was approved, some 2,531 residents at the Pelham Parkway Houses will shortly be seeing 375 security camera installed there.

Residents at the Throggs Neck Houses will see similar security cameras installed, thanks to almost $5 million in city funding obtained by City Councilman Jimmy Vacca. Vacca, officials from the NYC Housing Authority and others inked the final paperwork on Friday, Feb. 28 to begin installation work after the two-year red tape funding wait.

With a large population of senior citizens living in its 23 six-story buildings, the move for security cameras at the Pelham Parkway Houses, off Williamsbridge Road and Astor Avenue, was sparked by the murder of an 88-year-old grandmother two years ago. Vacca previously secured funding for security cameras now in place at two senior citizen NYCHA buildings in his district, at Middletown Plaza and Boston Road Plaza.

“Cameras make developments, as well as the surrounding residential communities, safer,” he noted. “I put my money where my mouth is by getting city funding in place,” said Vacca. “Now, the finalization of the Pelham Parkway camera design means we are moving full steam ahead. I’ve told NYCHA very clearly we will accept no delay.”

Pelham Parkway Houses Tenants Council President Donna Goodall said she hoped the cameras – both interior and exterior – could be installed and working hopefully by sometime in May after the two-year wait for the actual funding. […]