Few Smiles for These Cameras

Just because it didn't like my decisions when I held the co-op presidency, the new board of directors at my co-op used the surveillance camera system to create video clips of me just looking at the "management" mailbox and then e-mailed the clips to all the shareholders, to insinuate that I could be possibly stealing their mail. If I had broken into the mailbox to steal its precious mail they would have been able to create much better video clips. As you can see, we have idiots for our board of directors.

manager trying to record and possibly deter? Cameras in public areas like the lobby, the mailroom and the vestibule can provide tenants with protection and security. Also, if a tenant or visitor were to fall and file a claim against the building, management would have video evidence of what occurred.

licensed security guards

And people wonder why free-standing, single-family homes are so popular in America.

If the cameras are there to really pick up evidence of criminal activity or illegal subletting, it's not an issue. If residents are starting to be harassed and threatened with eviction for ridiculously minor matters such as missing a recycling day or making a mistake with the trash, tracking slush into the lobby, or vaguely defined 'disturbing' conduct (such as limping or putting on weight in a building full of fitness freaks), then you've got a real problem. At least if you're building's a rental you've got some protection in your lease. A co-op? Fuhgeddaboudit.

the cameras are there less for security then to make sure the tenants who are on lease are living there. it happens sometimes that the tenant of record are leasing it out. if you do not fit that description, i would not worry - in that case they would only be used as safety measure.

Do tenants really think that every move they make and every word they say is so compelling and fascinating, that their landlord would spend hours "spying" on them through security cameras installed in common areas of buildings? Those who do must have enormously overinflated egos. How interesting can it be to watch a person walk down a hallway, take mail out of a mailbox, open a door, close a door, or chat with someone in the foyer? Spying?!?! I mean really! Get over yourselves!

I am glad to see that security cameras in common areas are legal and commonplace, and that this cannot be construed as harassment. As a landlord who has been visciously harassed by tenants upset about security cameras I installed to provide security to myself as well as to them, I resent tenants taking the perspective that reasonable efforts by landlord to curb crime and/or provide security, is in some way "harassment". Such tenants seriously need straightening out. I resent tenants' entitled view that they have a right to privacy in public spaces or common areas. If you want privacy, go to a private place. Stop harassing those who are trying to protect you and themselves. Surveillance cameras can be of enormous help in deterring crime and/or helping convict criminals -- the whole desire of criminals is to be able to go about their business unseen, and security cameras don't allow them that luxury. I am a landlord and I have put security cameras onto my property to help deter crime and protect my renters. If you don't like it, find someplace else to live.

Unfortunately, criminals are now wise to cameras. We had a case where a man tried to break into an apartment when a female tenant was at home. He was unsuccessful, but did so much damage that the door had to be replaced. A review of the camera recordings showed him wearing a baseball hat and keeping his head low. When nearing a camera, he would place his hand on the brim to obscure his face. We never did get a good view of him, but the local precinct said he was familiar to them from other incidents.

I was a rent warrior for too many years, and at one time the manager put a smoke detector opposite my door, pointing into my apt - special treatment for me- I was too oblivious until it was pointed out to me, nobody else had a personal hallway smoke detector - so I took it down and found the camera

then periodically I would moon the camera or smile and make obscene gestures, we wanted to figure how to put a porn feed into it

then I put a piece of tape over the lens, they took it off and I put it back on...

Finally I took it down altogether and the police and lawyers got involved, so I took it to court (I was in Court a lot) and asked the manager to say that it was his, which he did and then I never saw it again (they had denied ownership previously)

Rent laws oblige you live in your apt as primary residence, which very loosely is 183+ days per year , very loosely

so these cameras track your comings and goings, which was fine this was my primary residence

I wanted to subpoena the 'moon' tapes - the lawyers liked that - that was my test if the videos were actually viewed or not, I was going to ask for a freckle count...or something

my roommate used to say goodnight to his GF when she left, he in the nude in the doorway

X-rated FCC where are you ?

BTW

Allegations of harassment by managers are only allegations until established

About 20% of a random (never scrutinized) building of rent law tenants are illegal, I learned generally and in my building

"Public safety" is the domestic equivalent of "national security." Anytime that anyone, anywhere, and for any reason uses either one of those terms, everyone else is supposed to get glassy-eyed, bow down, and forget to ask the most basic of questions, like "Prove it."

When a new owner took over our rent-stabilized building, he was on a hunt to rid the building of anyone who didn't have a lease or was subletting. So he installed cameras on all the landings and they were disguised as electrical outlets. There was a large metal box at the top of the stairway going to the roof, and when I asked the gentleman installing it what it was, he answered, it was a new security system. Of course, later we found out, the new owner was literally watching who went in and out of each apartment, and started getting rid of illegal tenants. He went so far as to have a detective park in a car in front of the building, watching everyone's comings and goings. He finally succeeded in getting rid of about half the building. (Not to mention how he started ripping the building apart all at once, replacing wiring and plumbing to make life miserable for those of us who were legal and staying.) Don't underestimate anything these greedy landlords will do. This guy was a snake.

I live in a Chelsea condo with no doorman and a locked main entrance which is incredibly porous, as people often let any other soul in who looks relatively normal. For a while, someone repeatedly stole packages that had been left by UPS or FedEx in our lobby. At the time we had a tiny hidden camera and were able to confirm a fellow in a hoodie, whose face we didn't see but who's silhouette appeared repeatedly, taking package after package.

So we put in a bigger camera that was easily seen by anyone entering, and pointed it right at the spot where packages are left. No more thefts.

Plus it has helped in tacking down the occasional owner who does something utterly stupid and damages public space.