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Cash for cameras: city gets $4 million for surveillance videos

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Cash for cameras: city gets $4 million for surveillance videos

POSTED: Monday, July 27, 2009, 12:50 PM

Patrick Kerkstra

Rep. Chaka Fattah has just sent over a press release announcing $4 million in new Department of Homeland Security funding for street surveillance cameras in Philadelphia. See below for details.

Rep. Fattah Announces $4 Million Grant
For Philadelphia Crime Surveillance Cameras

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), a longtime advocate of police surveillance cameras for crime-fighting, announced today that the City of Philadelphia will receive an immediate grant of $4 million for cameras, with more aid expected later this year.

“I am pleased to announce that this money is on the way. Surveillance cameras have been shown to turn high crime areas into safer streets,” Fattah said. “This is critical infrastructure for our Philadelphia Police Department and I made a commitment to fight for this program.

“As a member of the House Appropriations Committee I will continue to advocate for funding that will expand the use of this crime-fighting tool in Philadelphia.”

Funds for the surveillance camera initiative will be coming from the Department of Homeland Security, which announced today it is releasing the money.

In addition, Fattah said an additional $1 million that is “in the pipeline” for Philadelphia camera in the agency’s FY2010 budget, which is under consideration in the House of Representatives.

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