Bodegas are a crucial part of NYC’s culture, and earlier this month Mayor Eric Adams introduced a new initiative titled, “SilentShield,” to protect bodega owners and their customers throughout the five boroughs.
A total of $1.6 million in funding will be put towards the United Bodega Association (UBA) for security and technology improvements, including the installment of panic buttons in over 500 bodegas.
Soon, bodega staff will be able to alert the NYPD at the press of a button in cases of emergencies. The 500 bodegas in which these “SilentShields” will be installed include those with the heaviest crime.
Not only will the panic buttons alert the police, but they will be connected to cameras within the bodega that let officers monitor the situation in real-time and respond faster…