S.T.O.P., Safety Net Project Condemn NYC Launch of ‘Command Center’ Tracking Homeless in Real Time

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View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P., Safety Net Project Condemn NYC Launch of ‘Command Center’ Tracking Homeless in Real Time   [NEW YORK, NY, 1/10/2020] -- Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy group, and the Urban Justice Center Safety Net Project, a legal service provider for low-income New Yorkers, condemned New York City’s launch of a “command center” tracking Homeless New Yorkers in real time. The command center, which was fully unveiled to the press yesterday, uses video monitoring and reports from city workers to create a real-time map of suspected homeless New Yorkers, enabling tracking by the NYPD.   SEE: New Homeless Command Center Opens in NYC https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/new-homeless-command-center-opens-in-nyc/2257539/   A look at the new street homeless joint command center with Mayor Bill de Blasio https://www.pix11.com/news/local-news/a-look-at-the-new-street-homeless-joint-command-center-with-mayor-bill-de-blasio   “The surveillance that was first sold to the public with the promise of fighting terrorism is now being turned on the homeless,” said Albert Cahn, Executive Director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project at the Urban Justice Center. “This sort of surveillance is not just Orwellian, it’s blatantly unconstitutional. New Yorkers cannot have their locations tracked by the NYPD simply because they don’t have a home. This sort of command center sets the precedent for every New Yorker to be tracked.”   “New York City’s move to further tie its Department of Homeless Services to the NYPD is alarming and regressive,” said Scott Wagner, Managing Director, Urban Justice Center - Safety Net Project. “Police are not social service providers. Surveilling and harassing homeless people is only going to lead to more incarceration of poor people, particularly New Yorkers of color, and less trust from those on the street toward outreach workers and shelter providers. Instead of pursuing these Giuliani-esque tactics of harassing poor people out of public view, New York City needs to immediately provide housing to all those on the street, and immediately implement a Housing First approach for people to move into that housing.”   The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project is a non-profit advocacy organization and legal services provider hosted by the Urban Justice Center. S.T.O.P. litigates and advocates for privacy, fighting excessive local and state-level surveillance. Our work highlights the discriminatory impact of surveillance on Muslim Americans, immigrants, and communities of color.   The Urban Justice Center's Safety Net Project combines direct legal services, litigation, research, and policy to achieve economic justice for low- and no-income residents of New York City.   - END –   CONTACT: S.T.O.P. Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn;